[NFS2024]

Originally Posted by vigneshnr

You can try in zoomin.com.
This site gives best rates + lots of goodies like free prints, photo books, discounts on large prints etc.

Flipkart is also good in pricing. You might actually check for Canon 550D which comes with better video capabilities - price below 36k with kit in zoomin
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BTW, I recently picked my Nikon DSLR from Zoomin

Post your pictures anyway Arun.

Do these guys stock lenses as well?

[vigneshnr]

Originally Posted by NFS2024

Do these guys stock lenses as well?

Hi NFS, I don't remember seeing lenses on this page. Pl check on the site any way.

[Ricci]

Originally Posted by throttleking

Guys, I landed up in a great confusion with Nikon D5100 and Canon EOS 550D. Please advice me on which one to buy!

Stills - If you want to shoot in low light, the D5100, it has the D7000/Pentax K5 sensor which is currently the best in terms of noise performance. Slightly faster shooting rate as well at 4fps. Also worth noting that D5100 lacks the AF motor limiting the list of compatible lenses , so you must use AF-S lenses which are more expensive, than AF-D lenses.

Video - The D5100 has a articulated LCD ,the 550D does not but the 600D , successor to the 550D , does. Until the D5100, the Canons offered better options for video, in terms of frame rate, the D5100 closes that gap.

If you plan to buy specific lenses later for specific usage, it helps than Canon lenses are generally cheaper and more easily available than Nikkors, but there are some other brand alternatives.

My current pick would be the Nikon.

[R2D2]

Hey guys,

I have been consolidating and building up my FX/Film lens kit. Some lenses dated back to the early 2000s & were sold off.

The hallowed Nikon 'Trinity' is complete:

a) Nikkor 70-200 mm F/2.8 AF-S VR-II
b) Nikkor 24-70 mm F/2.8 AF-S
c) Nikkor 14-24 mm F/2.8 AF-S

Others:
a) Nikkor 16-35mm F/4G AF-S VR-II
b) Nikkor 28-300 mm F/3.5-5.6 AF-S VR-II (my 'travel' lens)
c) Nikkor 50 mm F/1.4G AF-S

All coupled with Hoya HD/HMC UV filters where possible..I don't take a chance with expensive lenses. Unfortunately the 14-24 doesn't accept screw on type filters.

Cheers!

PS - Camera bodies - Nikon D700, F100, Flashes - SB-900 and SB-80DX

[skartik2]

Originally Posted by R2D2

Hey guys,

I have been consolidating and building up my FX/Film lens kit. Some lenses dated back to the early 2000s & were sold off.

The hallowed Nikon 'Trinity' is complete:

a) Nikkor 70-200 mm F/2.8 AF-S VR-II
b) Nikkor 24-70 mm F/2.8 AF-S
c) Nikkor 14-24 mm F/2.8 AF-S

Others:
a) Nikkor 16-35mm F/4G AF-S VR-II
b) Nikkor 28-300 mm F/3.5-5.6 AF-S VR-II (my 'travel' lens)
c) Nikkor 50 mm F/1.4G AF-S

All coupled with Hoya HD/HMC UV filters where possible..I don't take a chance with expensive lenses. Unfortunately the 14-24 doesn't accept screw on type filters.

Cheers!

PS - Camera bodies - Nikon D700, F100, Flashes - SB-900 and SB-80DX

Can you please share your portfolio if it is online?

You got a great gear there.

[R2D2]

Originally Posted by skartik2

Can you please share your portfolio if it is online?

You got a great gear there.

Thanks skartik2. This gear is the culmination of a school boy's dream...decades in the making. I have not posted any of my photos online as nearly all are of family and friends, mostly personal in nature. I hope to do the gear justice and post some photos on this forum. There is a lot to learn from tbhp members here and I look forward to it

Cheers!

[rajb3125]

Originally Posted by R2D2

a) Nikkor 70-200 mm F/2.8 AF-S VR-II
b) Nikkor 24-70 mm F/2.8 AF-S
c) Nikkor 14-24 mm F/2.8 AF-S

Others:
a) Nikkor 16-35mm F/4G AF-S VR-II
b) Nikkor 28-300 mm F/3.5-5.6 AF-S VR-II (my 'travel' lens)
c) Nikkor 50 mm F/1.4G AF-S

Why 16-35 when you have 14-24?

I get that 16-35 is very good lens but 14-24 is better in every way except weight and filters.

[prasadee]

Originally Posted by bikxsans660

I have used the Canon one though, just wanted to see how it is compared to the Sigma. It really kicks a**. The sharpness at 400 is rated as one of the best. Priced around 1L as compared to 60k for Sigma.

Thanks for your inputs.
I finally placed the order for canon 100-400 IS, my first lens that would be white in color :-)

[navin_bhp]

Originally Posted by prasadee

Thanks for your inputs.
I finally placed the order for canon 100-400 IS, my first lens that would be white in color :-)

Congrats!! You will love every shot you take with it. Get the lens coat for it too. I have it on mine and really like it.

[phamilyman]

throttleking, look up both on DXOmark.com and you won't need to ask us either

[R2D2]

Originally Posted by rajb3125

Why 16-35 when you have 14-24?

I get that 16-35 is very good lens but 14-24 is better in every way except weight and filters.

The reasons for the 16-35 are; portability (slightly lower weight) and zoom range, takes filters & has VR.

The 14-24's bulging front element @ 14mm is very vulnerable but it is an optical masterpiece. This is not a lens I can use everyday.

Cheers!

[shajufx]

Originally Posted by R2D2

The hallowed Nikon 'Trinity' is complete:
a) Nikkor 70-200 mm F/2.8 AF-S VR-II
b) Nikkor 24-70 mm F/2.8 AF-S
c) Nikkor 14-24 mm F/2.8 AF-S
PS - Camera bodies - Nikon D700, F100, Flashes - SB-900 and SB-80DX

Wow, congrats ! Thats an achievement but does not sound good when you shoot only family and friends I forgot you own the D700, now I have someone to bug whenever I have doubts. Mine will reach by 18th/19th. Although not anywhere near your 'trinity' I am standing closer to it with

Nikon 20mm f/2.8
Nikon 50mm f/1.4
Sigma 70-200 f/2.8

After a month's reading, research and bugging 100s of friends non-stop, I placed my order with Adorama for Hoya Pro1D CPL, Hoya Pro1D ND16x and a Sandisk 8 GB Ultra CF card, damage 11.5k with free shipping. My friend will be bringing it on 29th. Excitement is worse than my 5 year old who just got his first Cam today being his birthday (Olympus T-110, 12 MP from Croma for 5k).

[smsrini]

for those who want to understand the impact of changing Aperture, shutter speed, ISO etc., etc., without using a camera..

SLR Camera Simulator | Simulates a digital SLR camera

[R2D2]

Originally Posted by shajufx

Wow, congrats ! Thats an achievement but does not sound good when you shoot only family and friends I forgot you own the D700, now I have someone to bug whenever I have doubts. Mine will reach by 18th/19th. Although not anywhere near your 'trinity' I am standing closer to it with

Nikon 20mm f/2.8
Nikon 50mm f/1.4
Sigma 70-200 f/2.8

After a month's reading, research and bugging 100s of friends non-stop, I placed my order with Adorama for Hoya Pro1D CPL, Hoya Pro1D ND16x and a Sandisk 8 GB Ultra CF card, damage 11.5k with free shipping. My friend will be bringing it on 29th. Excitement is worse than my 5 year old who just got his first Cam today being his birthday (Olympus T-110, 12 MP from Croma for 5k).

Thanks Shaju...it took me time and a lot of courage to buy the entire kit.

I must confess that my photographs are a little amateurish compared with the eye-popping photos I've seen here on TBHP. Coming from a print and slide film background, I am new to the DSLR world and learning PS5. I used Sony PNS digital cameras till I got my D700 last year.

Photographing humans and animals can be just as challenging and pleasing to the eye as a you yourself have proved with photos of your daughter and that of a little girl (a B&W photo) that you took posted long ago. They were fantastic.

I can imagine your excitement, and your kid's too, with the new kit on its way! Since you are going in for a D700 I'd have suggested a Sandisk Extreme (I use the 16 GB) instead of the Sandisk Ultra (4GB, in my bag but as a backup card). The Extremes are 2x faster and the price difference is tolerable. The speed counts if you shoot in RAW+JPEG mode.

The Extreme Pro CF is expensive with a 600x (90 MBps) and UDMA6 capabilities.

As for filters, Hoyas are the best you can get in terms of price to performance ratio.

Cheers!

[shajufx]

Originally Posted by R2D2

.....it took me time and a lot of courage to buy the entire kit......for a D700 I'd have suggested a Sandisk Extreme (I use the 16 GB) instead of the Sandisk Ultra (4GB, in my bag but as a backup card)....As for filters, Hoyas are the best you can get in terms of price to performance ratio.

Thanks for the tips. I know it needs extra courage to even think about full frame . I really hope I do justice to the cost (for me its equal to three D90s in my bag). About Sandisk Ultra, I had cross checked with someone and was recommended to it. I shoot RAW all the time. About filters, Lee or Cokin Z-pro 4x4 were my choices, but it costs too much for a hobby. Neither of them are available too. So had to settle somewhere in the mid region. I will be using it only on the Nikon 20mm that needs 62mm filters and Hoya Pro1D is one of the very few thats reviewed to be free from vignetting.

But for a serious fault-free filter usage, LEE or Cokin (even Singh-Ray) could be the only choice, I mean stacking 2 to 3 filters for a single usage !