Which new kit for Las Vegas?

BeatMaster

BeatMaster

BeatMaster

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Joined
6 Dec 2002
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Heading to Las Vegas in just over 3 weeks and trying decide on what kit to take/buy?

I've got a Canon 450D with the following lenses:
18-55 standard kit lens
50mm (nifty fifty)
55-250mm (nifty two-fifty)

I'm not planning to switch to FF anytime soon so only need to consider lens which suit the 1.6x crop sensor. I wasn't sure to go for an all round 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 or upgrade the 18-55mm to the Tamron 18-50mm f/2.8?

I'm also after a circular polariser which I'm thinking of getting the Marumi DHG Super Circular PL.D but not sure which size buy?

Any thoughts greatly appreciated :)
 
How about the Canon 35 f/2? Much wider and more like a proper 50mm on a crop sensor so useful for low light night shots without the tripod. I'd steer clear of the Tamron 17-50 as it's a plastic fantastic, but then I'm a bit bias as mine broke within a week of getting it (internal problems apparently - replaced with the Canon 35 f/2 which is a much nicer lens if you can deal with a prime)

The other option to look at for CPLs is the Hoya Digital HD range, lets more light in and great IQ. For size, get the one that fits the biggest lens you have (see the front of the lens which should tell you the filter thread sizes) and get step down rings for the rest of your lenses from Ebay (£1-2 each).
 
Tripod and head.

Best time to take photos of Vegas is as it's going dark and you will want a tripod for it.

Kit you have is fine imho.
 
Cheers for the feedback :)

I'm not overly keen on a prime, would prefer a zoom lens of some sort to give a bit more scope without having to change lenses. In terms of tripods, I currently have a very basic one but could do with a decent one. Any recommendations?
 
Manfrotto 190XB would be my recommendation. I have the 055 and it's brilliant however not the best to lug around if you're not specifically going out of your way to use it. The 190x is much smaller but just as good.
 
I wouldn't bother with a tripod unless you going specifically for photography they are a pain to carry about and in a busy place like Vegas a pain to setup and use.

If I were you I'd invest in a Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 VC to replace your kit lens, I know everyone says get the non VC as it is sharper and while this is true the additional hand hold ability that the VC will give you at dusk in Vegas will be invaluable.

If you must take a support take a gorilla pod light weight and can be quickly setup on railings and the like.
 
Considered renting? You'll need to check if their insurance covers you for going abroad but it should be fine.

That way you have a wealth of lenses at your disposal and it'll only cost you a maximum of £100 or so for the week! 2/3 weeks notice should be enough, especially this time of year.
 
Hadn't thought about renting, was going to invest in a new lens. However, which companies do renting?

That's interesting on the VC over non-VC on the Tamron as like you say most places recommend the non-VC for better quality. How much difference? Should be a decent step up from kit lens?
 
I ordered the Tamron 17-50 non-VC in the end as with the f/2.8 should be able to get a fast enough shutter speed to take decent shots, plus got it for £220 delivered :)

Also, ordered a Marumi DHG 67mm CPL, some cleaning equipment and a 32Gb Sandisk Extreme III SD card
 
could get a 35mm prime, that gives the 'nifty fifty' focal length (or near enough) on a crop sensor.

i always found 50mm to be too zoomed in on my d7000. 35mm was nice
 
Just had a look at the 35mm prime and that does look good. I must admit the nifty fifty is a great lens but on a crop sensor it's focal length is too long. Might sell the nifty fifty and buy a 35mm :)
 
BeatMaster said:
I ordered the Tamron 17-50 non-VC in the end as with the f/2.8 should be able to get a fast enough shutter speed to take decent shots, plus got it for £220 delivered :)

Also, ordered a Marumi DHG 67mm CPL, some cleaning equipment and a 32Gb Sandisk Extreme III SD card
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Sure you won't be disapointed with the Tamron, the difference to the VC really isn't anything like as massive as some people make out but like everything online it's either rubish or amazing! I'd take the VC just becuase it gives you the option to shoot at a smaller aperture in low light conditions giving you more options for fore ground placements etc.

I wouldn't have gone with a single 32GB card, I would have split it into smaller cards partly because of concern over loosing all my shots if the card died and more so because if someone nicks your camera it would be extra gutting to loose the shots that insurance can't replace.

james_2k said:
its a good idea. think the fifty is only nifty on full frame.

but still, on crop sensor its actually a decent portrait lens
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I loved my nifty on my crop camera for taking portraits and since I went full frame I hardly use it I have a 35mm prime on ff which is great for general use and I'm looking to add an 85mm to get back to the length of a fifty on a crop.
 
I'm currently using www.lensrentals.com for a couple of 24mm f1.4 L IIs. My wife and I looked at renting from UK firms, however the prices were higher than US firms.

We collected them from a FedEx office in Vegas (you specify collection and return from any FedEx location), and we'll be returning them to a FedEx in San Francisco. The service has been excellent, the prices are good and we've included the insurance option, so no worries about damage. There's a vast range of kit available - anything you could reasonably want, from pro bodies down to small accessories - and I'd recommend it for big ticket items that are not going to be used regularly.

As for tripods - the Manfrotto 190 is definitely a good budget buy, and worthwhile if you're getting serious about photography. They're a pain to lug though, and will have to go in your hold luggage (I wrap mine in clothes, and haven't had issues so far) so the Gorrilapod option might be better, depending on your dedication. I've moved on to a carbon fibre 055, which is more portable, but a serious outlay. Again, renting might be a good option for a decent tripod.
 
You'll love Vegas, it's a mental place infact I'm posting this from my room at Mandalay Bay while I unwind after a mental day out!
 
julianhj said:
I'm currently using www.lensrentals.com for a couple of 24mm f1.4 L IIs. My wife and I looked at renting from UK firms, however the prices were higher than US firms.

We collected them from a FedEx office in Vegas (you specify collection and return from any FedEx location), and we'll be returning them to a FedEx in San Francisco. The service has been excellent, the prices are good and we've included the insurance option, so no worries about damage. There's a vast range of kit available - anything you could reasonably want, from pro bodies down to small accessories - and I'd recommend it for big ticket items that are not going to be used regularly.

As for tripods - the Manfrotto 190 is definitely a good budget buy, and worthwhile if you're getting serious about photography. They're a pain to lug though, and will have to go in your hold luggage (I wrap mine in clothes, and haven't had issues so far) so the Gorrilapod option might be better, depending on your dedication. I've moved on to a carbon fibre 055, which is more portable, but a serious outlay. Again, renting might be a good option for a decent tripod.
Click to expand...

Interesting option but in never quite sure about renting lenses. For example the Sigma 120-300 f/2.8 OS (chosen because in interested in getting one for a trip) chose is $180 to hire for 6 days (and I'm assuming extra for postage and insurance), that would work out at around £130-150 I'm guessing, for less than a week. Now a used version of that lens is around £1k, you could use it and then sell it on after the trip for basically the cost of postage in most cases, saving you over £100. Obviously there are issues with this (finding a used copy can be difficult) but its definitely an option rather than renting, especially if its for more than a couple of days.
 
Amp34 said:
Interesting option but in never quite sure about renting lenses. For example the Sigma 120-300 f/2.8 OS (chosen because in interested in getting one for a trip) chose is $180 to hire for 6 days (and I'm assuming extra for postage and insurance), that would work out at around £130-150 I'm guessing, for less than a week. Now a used version of that lens is around £1k, you could use it and then sell it on after the trip for basically the cost of postage in most cases, saving you over £100. Obviously there are issues with this (finding a used copy can be difficult) but its definitely an option rather than renting, especially if its for more than a couple of days.
Click to expand...

A good point. We did this for another lens we were looking at renting - the TS-E 24mm f3.5L II. With those, it was hard to find a S/H copy, let alone the two we needed (one each) so I kept an eye on Camera Price Buster and noticed one store drop them from £1699 to £1365 back in June, so we snapped up a couple with the intention of selling them after our big USA trip. The price went back up within a day or two, so it was a bit of a fluke.

Thing is, now we have them, we've fallen in love with them...
 
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