Check my £1500 shopping list

peterattheboro

peterattheboro

peterattheboro

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So got a nice loan through which will let me get some tidy kit.

This is what I want so far.

Canon EF 70-200mm f2.8 L USM IS - £800
Lowepro AW200 Backpack - £50
Canon Speedlite 580EX II - £320
Canon 50mm f1.8 - £60
Canon BG-E2 Grip - £100?
Canon 2x extender - £200

Then just a couple of CF cards and batteries should tide me over.

Already taken delivery of a 24-70mm Sigma f2.8 and need to replace my old 70-200mm f4 as said in my other thread.

Any suggestions?
 
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If you can get the 70-200 for that price than good on you. I take it you mean the slingshot bag, in which case definitely don't get this. It isn't designed for a lens that big. The single strap really isn't as comfy as a normal backpack with two. The 580EXII is £275 from Kerso and he'll do the 50 for less, too. You can have a BG-E2 equivalent off the bay for less than half that price. There's absolutely no reason to get the Canon one as long as the one you're buying has the extra buttons for the portrait grip. a lot of the other ones also come with batteries, which you'd have to buy separately if you got the official grip.
 
peterattheboro said:
Any suggestions?
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Ummm... I would suggest not buying camera gear on the never-never.

It's bad enough that it depreciates. But the idea that by the time you have finished, the value has gone down (it'll be second hand gear) and the cost has gone up (repayment + interest, versus falling prices) just horrifies me.

Andrew
 
A.N.Other said:
If you can get the 70-200 for that price than good on you. I take it you mean the slingshot bag, in which case definitely don't get this. It isn't designed for a lens that big. The single strap really isn't as comfy as a normal backpack with two. The 580EXII is £275 from Kerso and he'll do the 50 for less, too. You can have a BG-E2 equivalent off the bay for less than half that price. There's absolutely no reason to get the Canon one as long as the one you're buying has the extra buttons for the portrait grip. a lot of the other ones also come with batteries, which you'd have to buy separately if you got the official grip.
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Thanks mate. I'll have a look on Kerso for some other stuff.

Gaffer said:
Ummm... I would suggest not buying camera gear on the never-never.

It's bad enough that it depreciates. But the idea that by the time you have finished, the value has gone down (it'll be second hand gear) and the cost has gone up (repayment + interest, versus falling prices) just horrifies me.

Andrew
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With this equipment, I shouldn't need to upgrade or sell it though. So i'll get some damn good use out of it. And i'll be doing a lot of motorsport next year taking about 1000-1500 shots per event so I really am getting the use out of it.
 
I wouldn't bother with a 2x converter for anything other than say a 300 F2.8 or other big prime, you'd be far better off with a 1.4x.

If you're taking a £1500 loan out, wouldn't it perhaps be better to use that on one really nice thing, instead of a shopping list of smaller stuff it'd be easier to save up for and buy once at a time? (backpack, grip, 50mm)
 
Ah, you added the 2x since I posted.

As above, I wouldn't get one to go with the 70-200. AF is much slower and it softens a lot. I've got one, but I'd have been better off with the 1.4 and wouldn't get it again. If you're looking at doing motorsport, then it's not the combo for you. You'd be better off with a 300 f/4 or something.
 
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A.N.Other said:
Ah, you added the 2x since I posted.

As above, I wouldn't get one to go with the 70-200. AF is much slower and it softens a lot. I've got one, but I'd have been better off with the 1.4 and wouldn't get it again. If you're looking at doing motorsport, then it's not the combo for you. You'd be better off with a 300 f/4 or something.
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I've used a fixed 300mm F4 and I wasn't a fan. At the right distance it's a fantastic lens but not every track is the same so it needs to adjust.

Also I won't be using it just for motorsport. I'm wanting to do some football which some will be done at night so will need a fast f2.8.

I've found it's fantastic for all scenarios.
 
peterattheboro said:
I've found it's fantastic for all scenarios.
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I'm not trying to put you off it, as obviously I know it's a great lens. But the fact remains that with the 2x, it leaves a lot to be desired and that without, 200 is too short for motorsport and getting towards the short side for football, too.
 
um where are you looking to get £800 for the 70-200 2.8 IS?? i think the price you have is for the non IS version.
 
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neil_g said:
um where are you looking to get £800 for the 70-200 2.8 IS?? i think the price you have is for the non IS version.
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I was thinking the same thing, but then I haven't scanned the bay in a while, so I'm not sure what price they're coming in from HK for. Certainly from Kerso, they're a grand.
 
HK prices is not as good now as they are linked to the US Dollar and that has down 30p to the pound since the summer, in fact add postage you are not far off high street prices never mind on the bay !
 
neil_g said:
iirc theres an issue with AF with a 2x on the 100-400.
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The source for this information is the POTN teleconverter FAQ. it says that only the 1.4x TC on a 100-400 will autofocus on a 1D body. I can confirm that this is true for my 1.4x, 100-400 and 1DsIII.

It says that the 100-400 will NOT autofocus with either 1.4x or 2x on an non-1D body. I can confirm that this is true on my 5D.

I might need to register to see the FAQ: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=41922

Andrew
 
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