Brendan said: > I'd look at the Sigma and Tamron lenes, The sigma has > a good reputation here ( I have one and love it ). Now > about he flash, it's not leaving it on overnight, it's > letting the batteries last longer on location, leaving > the flash on so you don't miss a shot, so put that > soldering iron away.
Let me give you an example of what I seem to be doing a lot. I'm planning an ambush this Saturday at a certain trail in a nearby park where a fox seems to pretty reliably come by within an hour or two after sunset. I'd love to catch him stretched out in mid-air as they tend to do when they're running, it's such a pretty posture! I don't know when (or if) he'll come by, I won't have the few seconds it takes to cycle the switch and charge the flash, and I'll only get one shot because he's not going to hang around and pose for me. One shot, and hit or miss, it's time to pack it in for the night. I don't want to miss that shot. If I had a stronger flash I could do this with slower film or at greater distance. If I had the equipment I'd set up studio-style lighting with crossed flashes. But then, more than ever, I can't be getting up every three minutes to turn the flashes back on. There'd be no hope at all of getting the shot if I were making all that racket. In more casual use, auto-off or not, if I think there'll be a slow spell for picture taking I turn the flash off anyway.
