Re: Need advice: flash and lens.
Hi! Just a short notice. I have Sigma 28-135/3.8-5.6 zoom lens. Bought it off BH for $170 about a year ago. Now it sells for even less. This is quite an average lens. It has only one advantage - versatility. The rest dissatisfies me. Especially the build quality - zoom creep was noticeable already after some 6 months of moderate use. So, my general advise is to stay cautious if not away from Sigma budget optics... Hence, I would recommend Pentax. At least you get some 20 mm more on the long end... --- Boris Liberman www.geocities.com/dunno57 www.photosig.com/viewuser.php?id=38625
Re: Need advice: flash and lens.
on 13.01.03 20:16, Gregory L. Hansen at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I'm looking for a zoom lens that goes to 300mm or so. I can't afford a good one, but I don't want to scrape the $100 bottom of the barrel. I want the second from the bottom of the barrel. Some lenses, which seem about what I'm looking for, from BH's web site are Tamron 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 $189 Sigma 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 $209 Pheonix 100-400mm f/4.5-6.7 $200 Pentax 80-320mm f/4.5-5.6 $200 Pentax is not that bad as far as you use it in 80-200 range. Ont the long end it is quite soft, especially wide open. You can think about SMC-FA 100-300/4.7-5.8 (new silver) - it seems to be better at 300, and as far as I remember it got good review in German Color Foto magazin and in fact it was better than FA 80-320 (sharper and more contrasty at long end). Plus you get portability - it weights only 390 g and is quite compact. I saw it new on eBay for about 120$ -- Best Regards Sylwek
Re: Need advice: flash and lens.
You may want to consider the Vivitar 285s since you are shooting animals you probably wont need ttl if you are far enough away you will just be firing at max power. I think they are under 80 dollars each so you can always replace them. They are pretty hard to destroy and have none of the fancy stuff. Not sure what your guide number requirements are so it's a bit harder to pick a flash for you. The vivitar will run try before it shuts off so no problem there :) You can also chain it to a portable battery pack like the turbo z if you plan on firing a lot. al usefilm.com
Re: Need advice: flash and lens.
Gregory wrote: I'm looking for a zoom lens that goes to 300mm or so. I can't afford a good one, but I don't want to scrape the $100 bottom of the barrel. I want the second from the bottom of the barrel. Some lenses, which seem about what I'm looking for, from BH's web site are Tamron 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 $189 Sigma 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 $209 Pheonix 100-400mm f/4.5-6.7 $200 Pentax 80-320mm f/4.5-5.6 $200 I can recommend either the Pentax or the Sigma as I have them both. I actually have the 80-300 APO Macro Super version of the Sigma which is more expensive than the DL, may be marginally sharper at the long end but I don't think there's much in it if I remember the magazine tests. I think that really, the only differences you'll find is that the sigma comes with a case and lens hood and the pentax doesn't (I don't think) Oh yes, and the new pentax 80-320 is silver (but that should look okay on your ZX-L). For me, the Sigma has the edge for its looks but that's all. --- Wendy Beard Mosaid Technologies Inc 11 Hines Rd, Kanata, Ontario K2K 2X1, Canada
Re: Need advice: flash and lens
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.
Re: Need advice: flash and lens.
Altaf Shaikh said: You may want to consider the Vivitar 285s since you are shooting animals you probably wont need ttl if you are far enough away you will just be firing at max power. I think they are under 80 dollars each so you can always replace them. They are pretty hard to destroy and have none of the fancy stuff. Not sure what your guide number requirements are so it's a bit harder to pick a flash for you. The vivitar will run try before it shuts off so no problem there :) You can also chain it to a portable battery pack like the turbo z if you plan on firing a lot. Well, not *just* animals. I want a flash for general use. I have some used manual flashes now, including one with a three position manual zoom head made by, of all companies, K-Mart. And I've had it up to here [insert proper gesture] with estimating distances and calculating apertures because I'm pushing it past the thyristor specs. TTL metering is possibly the greatest thing that's happened to flash photography since the switching power supply, and I want a peice of that action. I just wish they didn't all have to turn off on me.
Re: Need advice: flash and lens.
Paul Franklin Stregevsky said: Gregory, You didn't state that the zoom must be autofocus. If it needn't be, and if you're lucky and patient, you might find the superb Tokina AT-X 100-300 f/4 in the same price range ($200). Among zooms that reach 300mm, the Tokina is about as good as it gets and a good stop brighter. Well, I'd rather collect auto gear now that I have a new auto camera. As for flash that won't turn off, you might be better served by using a flash that can accept an outboard battery like a Quantum. For maximum guide number for the dollar, you will, of course, want to look at third party offerings from Vivitar and others. Outboard batteries are new territory for me, I have no feel for the availability or use of that sort of equipment. It sounds expensive. Flashes with outboard batteries don't turn off? I do check eBay now and then, but don't know what to think of most of what's offered except that it's in the $100 range that I wanted to step (slightly) above. I'm fairly familiar with ProMaster (and its twin, Ritz Quantaray); the two or three top offerings, the FTD-5600, -5700, and -5950 (GN 130 at 35mm) do shut off, but not several lower models that offer a guide number of 100 at 28mm: FTD-5400, -5500, and 5500DX. By the way, that's 28mm built-in; no I'm looking for auto zoom right now. I have a new auto camera, so I want auto stuff for it. 100 ft at 28mm should be some happy guide number at 85mm or 105 mm. diffuser needed, according to an email to me from Promaster (http://www.promaster.com). These models require the Pentax AF module. Other Pentax AF module? I don't know what that is, but I'll bet it's another $50. Every little cap, swivel, and extension cord related to photography seems to run for about $50. models are dedicated to Pentax AF bodies, but I don't know whether they offer always on; check the site. Ritz is at http://www.ritzcamera.com . I'll poke around and see what I can find. Thanks.
