[Aroy]

Originally Posted by frankmehta

Which lens for my D3100. Dental photography??

Depends on your budget.

Go through the Nikon India site and read up macro lense specs, and then decide what suits you best. Nikon India Private Limited

As new lenses are quite expensive, you can go for a pre-owned lense. My son got an excellent Nikon macro with extension tubes from KEH.com. Macro does not require auto focus, hence you do not loose out with older lenses.

To get more information on dental photography Clinical Dental Photography

[s0uljah]

Guys any idea how much Canon centre in Bangalore will charge for a sensor cleaning?

Originally Posted by shyamhegde

Tell me something, are kit lens are so bad that you suggest to stay away from it? Becuase, I always thought it is not a bad idea to start the DSLR innings with kit for a beginner as it is cheap, gives fair idea and experience and allows purchasing good body combination within the possible budget.

Not all 'kit' lenses are created equally, so google will give you the general favourability of a lens.

I used the canon 18-55is for about 1.5 years and recently replaced it because I like to waste money and also only because the AF stopped working (possibly because of it being knocked around, I purchased it used in any case).

Also I think it gives you some flexibility to understand exactly what limitations are from the gear (and what are your shortcomings) before going for superior lenses.

[Ardy]

Condor, MC, Mobike008, Amitk26, Vasudeva, Absynthguzzler, Jaguar and others: Thanks so much for your input. I have ordered Canon 550D with 18-55 IS and 55-250 IS lens kit from the US. I hope to receive it in early December.

Cheers,

[s0uljah]

Originally Posted by Ardy

I have ordered Canon 550D with 18-55 IS and 55-250 IS lens kit from the US.

Cheers,

Great choice, the 550D has some serious capabilities from all the initial stuff floating around on the web. I got the same lens combo when I started, both are serious VFM and try the 55-250 for portraits you will be really rewarded with nice bokeh. I even been using it to shoot 'pseudo' macro as I had no macro lens

[anvancy]

Ill not say that macro-photography does not require auto focus.true manual focus gives you total control but many in the field actually do a combo of both.The superior AF system does a first phase in detecting a sweet spot upon which the photographer can micro adjust to his needs.

AF is simultaneously important as MF.When you shift into non electronic extension tubes or bellows or reverse rings then you dont have AF.but with lenses I feel AF should sit side by side.never miss a moment.
I think frankmehta can opt for the nikon micro 60mm 2.8G.

Anvancy

[shajufx]

Originally Posted by SPARKled

.....A close up lens like a canon 500D is also pretty good if you can source it

I thought canon made a camera in that name

Originally Posted by shyamhegde

Thanks guys. It helped. I totally understand what the message is now, more clearly.

Good, now tell us when you are dumping the kit lens..LOL

Originally Posted by anvancy

Ill not say that macro-photography does not require auto focus.

When it comes to dental field, I also think majority of the shots will be in auto-focus with smaller aperture.

Franky, does D3100 having 'decay detection' technology ?

[anvancy]

Originally Posted by shajufx

I thought canon made a camera in that name


Good, now tell us when you are dumping the kit lens..LOL


When it comes to dental field, I also think majority of the shots will be in auto-focus with smaller aperture.

Franky, does D3100 having 'decay detection' technology ?

canon makes 2.the 500D and the 250D.but in front of that I find the raynox more powerful and better performing.

Anvancy

[shajufx]

No news from Frank, looks like he has started clicking already ! Anyway, here is a summary of what I found from different sources:

Ring flash is common
Dedicated macro lens : budget based
Close up filters : an economical alternative

[shyamhegde]

Originally Posted by shajufx

Good, now tell us when you are dumping the kit lens..LOL

he he.. I will tell you when I do. Well , after buying 50mm f1.8, use it quite often, beside the kit lense. As of now, that is the only lens I could afford. Thank god, DSLR, there is no cost to take snaps

shajufx, I wonder, if you can (dare to) list here on how much you spent on the gears! Your gears and price information must be a benchmark for good deals when put in as summary, benifits many here in various ways.

[anvancy]

Originally Posted by shajufx

No news from Frank, looks like he has started clicking already ! Anyway, here is a summary of what I found from different sources:
Attachment 456209
Ring flash is common
Dedicated macro lens : budget based
Close up filters : an economical alternative

the twin macro light from canon sells for 650 odd $.it is on the higher budget side.

Anvancy

[frankmehta]

Sorry for being absent guys. I tried taking a few macro shots with my kit lens and I think it should suffice for now. Not entirely happy with the real close up shots, but for the work I am doing right now, it's totally ok.
Ring flash and Macro are a 'go' for sure, but not for now, since the general advice I received here will put the expenditure beyond 25k.
Thanks guys.

[shajufx]

Originally Posted by shyamhegde

...if you can (dare to) list here on how much you spent on the gears! Your gears and price information must be a benchmark for good deals

I have posted every purchase and sale details almost same day whenever it happened including the price part. It may not be a benchmark at all, because I made the mistake of spending for lenses which were not really useful to my needs. If I am in the market for a fresh starting with the kind of info I have as of now, I would settle for the following things:

D90 body
Tokina 11-16 f/2.8
35mm f/1.8G
50mm f/1.4D
70-200 f/2.8

Whole thing in grey would be around 1.25 lak, nothing more than that. If I have to cut down on budget, I would avoid the 35mm and 70-200 which would bring down the total to just 75k.

I used and sold the following for different reasons:

D60 body
18-55 VR
55-200 VR
70-300 VR
90mm f/2.8
18-50 f/2.8

Finally what I have in the bag right now: (only around 1.40 lak)
D90 body, 35mm f/1.8, 70-200 f/2.8, 2x teleconverter, SB600 flash, MB-D80 battery pack, ENEL3e 2 batteries, 8 GB 2 cards, Matin strap and blower, Fiesol carbon fibre tripod (CT-3441s), Benro ball head (BH-0), Fiesol Horizontal adapter (VH-40), Fiesol short center column, Lowepro flipside-200 bag. Hope to add a Nikon 50mm f/1.4 soon.

[SPARKled]

Originally Posted by shajufx

Finally what I have in the bag right now: (only around 1.40 lak)
D90 body, 35mm f/1.8, 70-200 f/2.8, 2x teleconverter, SB600 flash, MB-D80 battery pack, ENEL3e 2 batteries, 8 GB 2 cards, Matin strap and blower, Fiesol carbon fibre tripod (CT-3441s), Benro ball head (BH-0), Fiesol Horizontal adapter (VH-40), Fiesol short center column, Lowepro flipside-200 bag. Hope to add a Nikon 50mm f/1.4 soon.

I guess you need a good wide angle and you are through with your kit.

[shajufx]

True, what I lack is the wide angle, which I am trying to compensate with pano stitching. I would put money on a Tokina 11-16 only when I am seriously into landscapes. Sometimes I feel even a single lens like 35mm or 50mm can do a lot of things. Ideally those are the lenses to learn than a zoom lens, as long as you are ready to move front and back when required.

[erohit]

Guys,

I am planning to buy Nikon D3100 from Delhi. Can someone please recommend me what price I should pay for it and where should I buy it in Delhi?

I have seen on Nikon website
Price: D3100 VR Kit: INR 32,950/-
Freebies: Bag + 4GB card

Will I be able to get it for 30K with these goodies?