797 From Venezuela, joined Aug 2005, 1821 posts, RR: 26 Posted (6 years 1 month 1 week 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 2849 times:
Hello guys,
Well, a good friend of mine (A.net photographer) asked me to help him choose between these two magnificent brands as his father is about to open a business on aviation photography down here in Venezuela. He is a profesional photographer and needs help on choosing between the following combinations:
Nikon D200
AF-S VR DX Zoom Nikkor 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF
AF-S VR Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED-IF
Nikon D200
AF-S VR DX Zoom Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF
Nikon D80
AF-S VR DX Zoom Nikkor 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF
AF-S VR Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED-IF
Canon EOS 30D
18-55 kit lens
Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM
Canon EOS 30D
18-55 kit lens
Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM
One other thing he'd like to know is if it's woth to get the pair of lenses Nikkor 18-135 and 70-300 or if it's better to get only the 18-200. Which one's better?
Finally, he also has in mind the Olympus E510 with the Olympus 14-42 kit lens and the Olympus 50-200mm Zuiko Digital f/2.8-3.5 ED. I told him not to go for it, but I ain't no expert.
Well, thanks for your help and thanks in advance!!!
Cheers!
Flying isn't dangerous. Crashing is what's dangerous!
Sluger020889 From United States of America, joined Mar 2005, 456 posts, RR: 2 Reply 1, posted (6 years 1 month 1 week 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 2842 times:
IMO, a "pro" photographer shouldn't need help with this question, and I hope he doesn't plan to make a living off this because not to many can pull it off.
As for the combos above, it all depends on where he will be shooting from. But I'd say the D200 and the 70-300 VR would be the best Nikon Combo. I don't shoot Canon so I'm sure someone else will jump on that side.
I would love to fly a cargo plane full of rubber dog shit out of Hong Kong!
The 70-200 F4 L is a VERY good lens for its price (you can't beat Canon's L glass so forget the IS on the 70-300 and go for the 70-200), the 18-55 is the standard kit lens which is OK.
1. As mentioned above, why does he need help choosing?
2. More importantly, how does he not have an SLR already?
The equipment listed above is pretty good, but anybody hoping to make a living on it is gonna want something better - something along the lines of a 100-400L, 70-200 2.8L, or some of the longer L primes.
This whole thing is very confusing.
Better to be nouveau than never to have been riche at all.
CalgaryBill From Canada, joined May 2006, 686 posts, RR: 6 Reply 5, posted (6 years 1 month 1 week 4 days 7 hours ago) and read 2779 times:
If he's a pro, I'd guess he already has lenses for one brand or another's 35mm body. Might as well stick with what he's got, especially since very little of the gear listed above is "pro" quality.
I second/third/etc the comments above, if he's a pro then he should know what to look for.
Kereru From New Zealand, joined Jun 2003, 873 posts, RR: 50 Reply 7, posted (6 years 1 month 1 week 4 days 5 hours ago) and read 2765 times:
Quoting 797 (Thread starter): He is a profesional photographer and needs help on choosing between the following combinations:
Being a professional I would think he should know what he wants? Buy the pro series Nikon cameras / lenses if he prefers them or Canon if he prefers that brand.
Jwenting From Netherlands, joined Apr 2001, 10213 posts, RR: 21 Reply 8, posted (6 years 1 month 1 week 2 days 13 hours ago) and read 2627 times:
It he's a pro he'll not get much use out of the selected lenses, they're all just slightly better than junk (designed and built for price rather than optical and mechanical quality)...
As a pro he'd not want any kit offered by some camera store, but carefully select his own gear from the best he can afford (and get a bankloan if that's not the best available on the market) and order that.
He's also pretty certain to already have years of experience in photography and a decent selection of equipment, and be able to decide on his own what he needs based on that.
StealthZ From Australia, joined Feb 2005, 5434 posts, RR: 49 Reply 10, posted (6 years 1 month 1 week 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 2518 times:
Quoting Photopilot (Reply 6): A pro wouldn't buy slow amateur lenses.
Some pros use and get excellent results from "amateur" lenses but the big difference is the pro would know WHY they were using amatuer lenses.
A pro that needed a friend to ask a forum such as this these questions is likely doing himself and all competent pros a disservice..... not in asking the question.. calling himself a pro!
Cheers
If your camera sends text messages, that could explain why your photos are rubbish!
Monteycarlos From Australia, joined Mar 2005, 2107 posts, RR: 31 Reply 11, posted (6 years 1 month 1 week 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 2512 times:
Quoting StealthZ (Reply 10): Some pros use and get excellent results from "amateur" lenses but the big difference is the pro would know WHY they were using amatuer lenses.
I'll second that... some of the stuff I have seen come from a 300D with an EF-S 18-55mm kit lens is utterly amazing. Its what people do with their equipment that matters. I am certain that a 'pro' could make any of those combinations work well.
Quoting 797 (Thread starter): Well, a good friend of mine (A.net photographer) asked me to help him choose between these two magnificent brands as his father is about to open a business on aviation photography down here in Venezuela. He is a profesional photographer and needs help on choosing between the following combinations:
His father is a professional photographer or his son (your friend)? Either way, if he needs help deciding then there is something wrong... either he is an extremely poor decision maker or he has an extremely bad relationship with his father for not being able to ask him. Btw, a pro would probably know if they liked Canon or Nikon by the time they got round to selling photos. It seems a bit of an absurd situation.
Jwenting From Netherlands, joined Apr 2001, 10213 posts, RR: 21 Reply 12, posted (6 years 1 month 1 week 1 day 14 hours ago) and read 2483 times:
Quoting StealthZ (Reply 10): Some pros use and get excellent results from "amateur" lenses but the big difference is the pro would know WHY they were using amatuer lenses.
Maybe, but he'd certainly not skimp on optics to buy a more impressive looking body, and especially never buy advertised kits recommended to him by a friend who knows so much about them he needs to ask the opinion of strangers on some internet forum...
UnattendedBag From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 2240 posts, RR: 1 Reply 13, posted (6 years 1 month 1 week 1 day 12 hours ago) and read 2479 times:
Quoting Sluger020889 (Reply 1): a "pro" photographer shouldn't need help with this question,
Quoting AC773 (Reply 3): 1. As mentioned above, why does he need help choosing?
Quoting CalgaryBill (Reply 5): I second/third/etc the comments above, if he's a pro then he should know what to look for.
Quoting Kereru (Reply 7): Being a professional I would think he should know what he wants?
Quoting Viv (Reply 9): If he is a professional, he would not need help.
797, do you plan to respond to this, or are you going to leave everyone in the dark? Have you made a decision yet?
797 From Venezuela, joined Aug 2005, 1821 posts, RR: 26 Reply 14, posted (6 years 1 month 1 week 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 2415 times:
Hehe, incredible how this whole conversation went towards the wrong road...
Ok, let's make things clear around here...
The story begun when this guy, a friend of mine who has some pictures uploaded on A.net, asked me, a forum member, if I could post on the Av. Photography forum the things you've all read.
His father is planning to open some sort of a new business where aviation photography is involved. He won't live of it. All he needs is good equipment to make his pictures the best. Thus, I came to the best place on earth where air-geeks like us provide useful info.
He is an architect and has some studies in photography, I may have mistaken on the 'professional' title, but anyways, I think is kind off-topic to get in this kind of discussion.
Quoting UnattendedBag (Reply 13): 797, do you plan to respond to this, or are you going to leave everyone in the dark? Have you made a decision yet?
Sorry bud, I was traveling and had no access to the net. But yes, I've answered above.
Thanks for your help buds!
797
Flying isn't dangerous. Crashing is what's dangerous!
Sluger020889 From United States of America, joined Mar 2005, 456 posts, RR: 2 Reply 15, posted (6 years 1 month 1 week 16 hours ago) and read 2371 times:
Quoting 797 (Reply 14): All he needs is good equipment to make his pictures the best.
That won't do it, I've seen some pretty horrible stuff come from a 30D and a 70-200 f/2.8 L IS, and on the other hand I've seen some great stuff come from a 300D and a consumer 70-300. It all depends on who's behind the gear.
But back to your question, I believe the best combo possible, from what you've listed, would be the D200 and the 70-300 ED AFS VR . BUt I'm sure some Canon users will chime in as well.
-Joey
I would love to fly a cargo plane full of rubber dog shit out of Hong Kong!
Ilikeflight From United States of America, joined Mar 2006, 366 posts, RR: 1 Reply 16, posted (6 years 1 month 1 week 15 hours ago) and read 2350 times: