The "New Gear/Willy Waving" thread

GTRacer · 1 Oct 2012 at 18:56

I bought an Epson RD1 Digital Rangefinder - I was looking for a Fuji X100 but one of these popped up at the right price, couldn't say no since I already had some lenses for it. It's awesome, proper film camera ergonomics (and check those dials out!) with the convenience of digital. The sensor is old (6mp) but the files are actually quite nice to work with, it pairs up well with my Fuji S5 Pro.

Not my video, but here's one in action (again, those dials = best thing ever):

And a quick photo from it (no processing aside from quick levels and sharpening after resize), couldn't be bothered to take the filter off of my lens hence the flare:

cokebottles · 2 Oct 2012 at 14:05

I've been patiently waiting to wave my willy around in here, and fingers crossed tomorrow will be the day!

...This is probably the only place where I could get away with uttering such a sentence

James J · 2 Oct 2012 at 15:21

cokebottles said:
I've been patiently waiting to wave my willy around in here, and fingers crossed tomorrow will be the day!

...This is probably the only place where I could get away with uttering such a sentence

Wave it well son, wave it well...

cokebottles · 3 Oct 2012 at 09:51

James J said:
Wave it well son, wave it well...

Waving....

^^Ageing 450D absolutely dwarfed!

This is part of a 3-stage purchase (lens/flash/FF body) to get me the basic kit to get out there and start snapping pictures with an eye for building up a client base over the next few years.

Think I might order the 600EX-RT from Digitalrev this morning; hopefully I can get it for Friday (is that overly optimistic?).

Also still weighing up 5D2 purchase compared to waiting for a 6D. Dont think I can justify a 5D3 seeing as Im just starting out...

mrk · 3 Oct 2012 at 09:56

The wireless system in the 600RT is new isn't it? Could it trigger my 430EX mkI when the 430 is set to slave mode or is that optical only? I've not looked into the details much as I never intended on buying the 600RT until only recently but even now I'm at two minds!

Phate · 3 Oct 2012 at 10:17

Ha, reminds me of when I put an 85L on my 40D

I got a pic at home, I'll upload it later.

cokebottles · 3 Oct 2012 at 10:48

Phate said:
Ha, reminds me of when I put an 85L on my 40D

I got a pic at home, I'll upload it later.

Cheers for the advice btw. I got this second hand off TP. Wasnt necessarily looking to purchase right now, but I'd been keeping my eye on the market and this one seemed like a good example for a good price.

Just ordered the 600EX-RT so even with my lil 450D I could get out there till I make a decision on an FF body!

niko · 3 Oct 2012 at 10:55

cokebottles said:
Cheers for the advice btw. I got this second hand off TP. Wasnt necessarily looking to purchase right now, but I'd been keeping my eye on the market and this one seemed like a good example for a good price.

Just ordered the 600EX-RT so even with my lil 450D I could get out there till I make a decision on an FF body!

do you mind saying how much you paid?

cokebottles · 3 Oct 2012 at 11:20

niko said:
do you mind saying how much you paid?

£810 including RMSD. Its a late UY date code, so the lens itself was manufactured 2 years ago - Im told it was purchased through Kerso in July last year. Having visually inspected it only; it looks perfectly mint complete with everything including all packaging etc etc...

...waiting to fire off a few frames and test the focusing, sharpness etc tonight. If all is well on that front then I think its a good price. Even when the mk2 prices settle around £1300 I doubt this will depreciate by THAT much.

niko · 3 Oct 2012 at 11:55

cokebottles said:
£810 including RMSD. Its a late UY date code, so the lens itself was manufactured 2 years ago - Im told it was purchased through Kerso in July last year. Having visually inspected it only; it looks perfectly mint complete with everything including all packaging etc etc...

...waiting to fire off a few frames and test the focusing, sharpness etc tonight. If all is well on that front then I think its a good price. Even when the mk2 prices settle around £1300 I doubt this will depreciate by THAT much.

thank you mate ,sounds good to me !!

dannyjo22 · 3 Oct 2012 at 13:42

cokebottles said:
Waving....

This is part of a 3-stage purchase (lens/flash/FF body) to get me the basic kit to get out there and start snapping pictures with an eye for building up a client base over the next few years.

Yeah same sort of thing as me. I want to go FF but will buy a 24-70 mk2 first while keeping my 17-55. Then I will sell the 17-55 and 50D to part put the funds to a 5d3.

Certainly won't be happening over night

cokebottles · 3 Oct 2012 at 14:04

dannyjo22 said:
Yeah same sort of thing as me. I want to go FF but will buy a 24-70 mk2 first while keeping my 17-55. Then I will sell the 17-55 and 50D to part put the funds to a 5d3.

Certainly won't be happening over night

50D and 17-55mm must give a respectable output im sure. I was considering investment in crop sensor kit and that would have been my route.

I really need an upgrade on all fronts to move things forward - pc/mac upgrade included!

Out of curiosity why are you wanting to go for the mk2 lens?

dannyjo22 · 3 Oct 2012 at 14:44

cokebottles said:
50D and 17-55mm must give a respectable output im sure.

Yeah pretty damn good on portraits and slower moving stuff on all focus points. Not so happy when I shoot football and have to rely on center point and crop composition. I can use the outer points but my hit rate more than halves. Same issues people had with the 5D2 I expect. I will hate giving up that 17-55 but sadly have no choice.

ISO 800 and above and like most crops it's starts to struggle. Yeah you can slide the noise out with LR's awesome luminance slider but at the expense of sharpness to a degree.

cokebottles said:
I really need an upgrade on all fronts to move things forward - pc/mac upgrade included!

I would love a change to an imac as well, but really will just stick with windows until I fall into a pile of money

cokebottles said:
Out of curiosity why are you wanting to go for the mk2 lens?

A few reasons, I can buy it new or will buy it new when it's a bit cheaper and the prices have settled.

I don't like the reverse zoom on the MK1. I guess that's picky but I can't help it

I bought an expensive 2nd hand lens once from TP and it was a disaster so I'd prefer to buy new with lenses over £400. That experience put me off tbh.

An 85mm 1.8 I'd take a chance, other than that I prefer to know the person and how they keep and look after their gear

gary996 · 3 Oct 2012 at 16:35

mrk said:
The wireless system in the 600RT is new isn't it? Could it trigger my 430EX mkI when the 430 is set to slave mode or is that optical only? I've not looked into the details much as I never intended on buying the 600RT until only recently but even now I'm at two minds!

No it will not trigger it wirelessly (hows that spelt?). Optical only

42zx · 3 Oct 2012 at 19:01

Picked up one of these, great bit of glass for the price.

gary996 · 3 Oct 2012 at 19:48

I had a play with the MK2 yesterday at London Camera Exchange along with the Tamron equivelent. Yes its a nice lens but is it worth that much more over the MK1..... Not sure. Must admit the Tamron was very nice though.

cokebottles · 3 Oct 2012 at 19:53

Tamron was an option for me since seeing thatnikonguy's youtube shootout of the 24-70s. I do like the thought of my £800 lens being built to last and take the knocks it inevitably will received should it get put to the use it deserves, hence sticking with the Canon.

An Exception · 3 Oct 2012 at 20:08

Doubt the Canon will be able to withstand more abuse. After-all DR's copy can't take filters any more due to being dropped. Besides isn't that what insurance is for?

I recently got the Nikon 24-70 over the Tamron, however the Tamron's VR was very tempting.

cokebottles · 3 Oct 2012 at 21:42

An Exception said:
Doubt the Canon will be able to withstand more abuse. After-all DR's copy can't take filters any more due to being dropped. Besides isn't that what insurance is for?.

Are you sure that the knock that the DRev 24-70mm took that damaged the filter thread wouldn't not have decimated the Tamron? And with regards to your insurance comment; I doubt it would be advisable for people to adopt the ethos of purchasing equipment with cheese like build quality, and to use it with disregard for it's welfare just because they are insured?

James J · 4 Oct 2012 at 17:17

cokebottles said:
Are you sure that the knock that the DRev 24-70mm took that damaged the filter thread wouldn't not have decimated the Tamron? And with regards to your insurance comment; I doubt it would be advisable for people to adopt the ethos of purchasing equipment with cheese like build quality, and to use it with disregard for it's welfare just because they are insured?

The insurance per month on decent gear is more than likely more than the cost of a filter in the first place. I use filters for 2 reasons, first to save my glass if I smash it into something and secondly to add weather sealing to a few lenses that require a filter to be attached to gain full weather sealing (Nikon AF-S 50m F1.8G as an example).