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DSLR users

I think everyone goes through that when it comes to higher-priced purchases. Unless you have gobs of money of course.

1) Do your research.
2) Find exactly what you need.
3) Find the best price.
4) Buy from a reputible dealer that offers a fair price AND has a good return policy.
5) Evaluate the lens heavily when you get it. (Take lots of pics at different settings & conditions and share those with users of the same body & lens.)
6) If your copy, since their can be high sample variation in lenses, appears to not be up to snuff, RMA it for another or refund.
7) If your copy is good, fire away and don't look back.
8) After market sales for lenses tends to be decent, don't forget.


Edit: My Canon EFS 10-22 was $900 and my Canon EF 24-105 F4L was $1250. I have certainly been there. But both purchases were quite worthy!
 
GTaudiophile has a good list, but the most important part is step 1. More time should be spent researching than anything. Let other people get the lens and test it out before you spend the money (EDIT: This last sentence wasn't meant to sound like it was for this purchase you're wanting, just in general 😛).
 
Originally posted by: blurredvision
GTaudiophile has a good list, but the most important part is step 1. More time should be spent researching than anything. Let other people get the lens and test it out before you spend the money (EDIT: This last sentence wasn't meant to sound like it was for this purchase you're wanting, just in general 😛).
Click to expand...

I've been doing a lot of research, and it's been my #1 on must-have list for a long time, and I'm in a good financial situation to purchase it, but I'm just having stage fright. 😛
 
Yes I feel buyers remorse since for me it's a 'luxury' item and not something I use for profit........at least lenses hold thier value relatively well if you ever decide to sell.
 
I can spend 6 months to a year researching. And never buy an un-reviewed lens. People are going ga-ga over the new Canon EFS 17-55 F2.8IS and there's only been ONE review. People are already going to cash in their entire lens collection for this one $1150 EFS non-L lens! STUPID!
 
Originally posted by: tfinch2
Originally posted by: blurredvision
GTaudiophile has a good list, but the most important part is step 1. More time should be spent researching than anything. Let other people get the lens and test it out before you spend the money (EDIT: This last sentence wasn't meant to sound like it was for this purchase you're wanting, just in general 😛).
Click to expand...

I've been doing a lot of research, and it's been my #1 on must-have list for a long time, and I'm in a good financial situation to purchase it, but I'm just having stage fright. 😛
Click to expand...

Do you know of anyone that'd let you try one out or a store that'd let you demo one? That's all it usually takes to convince me whether or not I want to buy a lens.
 
You can also look around and try to rent the same lens for a day. I know quite a few places do that. Make sure you get an idea of the weight and feel of the thing.
 
Originally posted by: virtuamike
Originally posted by: tfinch2
Originally posted by: blurredvision
GTaudiophile has a good list, but the most important part is step 1. More time should be spent researching than anything. Let other people get the lens and test it out before you spend the money (EDIT: This last sentence wasn't meant to sound like it was for this purchase you're wanting, just in general 😛).
Click to expand...

I've been doing a lot of research, and it's been my #1 on must-have list for a long time, and I'm in a good financial situation to purchase it, but I'm just having stage fright. 😛
Click to expand...

Do you know of anyone that'd let you try one out or a store that'd let you demo one? That's all it usually takes to convince me whether or not I want to buy a lens.
Click to expand...

I already demo'ed it at the local shop. It's a lot lighter than I thought it was, and I snapped a few shots. It comes with a tripod collar so that's a plus. All signs point to yes and I just need to grow a set... 😛
 
If you think you'll get a lot of use out of it and you do have the money to spare, then just go for it.

BTW, I noticed it says 2.8-3.5. I don't know anything about that particular lens, what are the chances that it's not a true 2.8? I mean are you hoping for 2.8 at 200mm?
 
Originally posted by: tfinch2
I already demo'ed it at the local shop. It's a lot lighter than I thought it was, and I snapped a few shots. It comes with a tripod collar so that's a plus. All signs point to yes and I just need to grow a set... 😛
Click to expand...
Borrow mine (in the least gay way possible) and click the Buy button!
 
Originally posted by: montanafan
If you think you'll get a lot of use out of it and you do have the money to spare, then just go for it.

BTW, I noticed it says 2.8-3.5. I don't know anything about that particular lens, what are the chances that it's not a true 2.8? I mean are you hoping for 2.8 at 200mm?
Click to expand...

It stays at f/2.8 until about 115-120mm, then it hits f/3 at 155, and gradually up to f/3.5 at 200mm.

It's for a 2x crop body, so it's really a 100-400 f/2.8-3.5 effective focal length lens. My main walkaround right now is a 40-150mm f/3.5-4.5, so I know I will use the range. I really like the lens I have now, but I find myself at 150mm a lot and needing a little more reach, that's why I want to upgrade.
 
Originally posted by: montanafan
If you think you'll get a lot of use out of it and you do have the money to spare, then just go for it.

BTW, I noticed it says 2.8-3.5. I don't know anything about that particular lens, what are the chances that it's not a true 2.8? I mean are you hoping for 2.8 at 200mm?
Click to expand...

I am pretty sure he knows that.

It'll be F2.8 on the 50mm side and F3.5 on the 200mm side. Not bad.
 
Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Originally posted by: montanafan
If you think you'll get a lot of use out of it and you do have the money to spare, then just go for it.

BTW, I noticed it says 2.8-3.5. I don't know anything about that particular lens, what are the chances that it's not a true 2.8? I mean are you hoping for 2.8 at 200mm?
Click to expand...

I am pretty sure he knows that.

It'll be F2.8 on the 50mm side and F3.5 on the 200mm side. Not bad.
Click to expand...
Not bad at all. If it was 2.8 constant, the lens would probably cost about $500 more (atleast in the Nikon world).
 
Originally posted by: blurredvision
While you're waiting, check out two pics I took over the weekend. I'm very pleased with these. Both were taken with my Sigma 70-300 DG Macro on my D50. SB-600 provided the flash. A lot of PP done in NC4.4 to lighten everything up and work out some WB issues.

http://www.joshpuckett.com/Gallery/water2.jpg
http://www.joshpuckett.com/Gallery/water1.jpg

My favorite is the first, everyone else seems to like the second better. 🙂
Click to expand...

I like the second better too.

I advised my mom to get a D50, and I was playing with it over the weekend. It's a superb cam, but do you find that the auto WB sucks? It's way cold. Is there a firmware upgrade for it?
 
Originally posted by: tfinch2
I like the second better too.

I advised my mom to get a D50, and I was playing with it over the weekend. It's a superb cam, but do you find that the auto WB sucks? It's way cold. Is there a firmware upgrade for it?
Click to expand...
The auto WB does suck somewhat, but I don't mind it at all. I'm a PP whore, plus I have a Whibal to help (it works wonders, trust me) when I remember to use it.

There are no firmware updates for the D50 yet, period.
 
Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
I think everyone goes through that when it comes to higher-priced purchases. Unless you have gobs of money of course.

1) Do your research.
2) Find exactly what you need.
3) Find the best price.
4) Buy from a reputible dealer that offers a fair price AND has a good return policy.
5) Evaluate the lens heavily when you get it. (Take lots of pics at different settings & conditions and share those with users of the same body & lens.)
6) If your copy, since their can be high sample variation in lenses, appears to not be up to snuff, RMA it for another or refund.
7) If your copy is good, fire away and don't look back.
8) After market sales for lenses tends to be decent, don't forget.


Edit: My Canon EFS 10-22 was $900 and my Canon EF 24-105 F4L was $1250. I have certainly been there. But both purchases were quite worthy!
Click to expand...

You spent $1250 on a 24-105 F/4 lens? You could have bought the 24-70 f/2.8 for that.
 
Originally posted by: blurredvision
Originally posted by: tfinch2
I like the second better too.

I advised my mom to get a D50, and I was playing with it over the weekend. It's a superb cam, but do you find that the auto WB sucks? It's way cold. Is there a firmware upgrade for it?
Click to expand...
The auto WB does suck somewhat, but I don't mind it at all. I'm a PP whore, plus I have a Whibal to help (it works wonders, trust me) when I remember to use it.

There are no firmware updates for the D50 yet, period.
Click to expand...

Well, I wish it was a little better. My mom can shoot well from her experience with film, but can't PP worth a lick so basically WYSIWYG out of the camera with her.
 
Originally posted by: tfinch2
Originally posted by: montanafan
If you think you'll get a lot of use out of it and you do have the money to spare, then just go for it.

BTW, I noticed it says 2.8-3.5. I don't know anything about that particular lens, what are the chances that it's not a true 2.8? I mean are you hoping for 2.8 at 200mm?
Click to expand...

It stays at f/2.8 until about 115-120mm, then it hits f/3 at 155, and gradually up to f/3.5 at 200mm.

It's for a 2x crop body, so it's really a 100-400 f/2.8-3.5 effective focal length lens. My main walkaround right now is a 40-150mm f/3.5-4.5, so I know I will use the range. I really like the lens I have now, but I find myself at 150mm a lot and needing a little more reach, that's why I want to upgrade.
Click to expand...


Then it sounds like a nice step up. If you really like your current lens and use it a lot, this one should be even more satisfying. Just think of the nice shots you'll get with it as you click, BUY.

 
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
I think everyone goes through that when it comes to higher-priced purchases. Unless you have gobs of money of course.

1) Do your research.
2) Find exactly what you need.
3) Find the best price.
4) Buy from a reputible dealer that offers a fair price AND has a good return policy.
5) Evaluate the lens heavily when you get it. (Take lots of pics at different settings & conditions and share those with users of the same body & lens.)
6) If your copy, since their can be high sample variation in lenses, appears to not be up to snuff, RMA it for another or refund.
7) If your copy is good, fire away and don't look back.
8) After market sales for lenses tends to be decent, don't forget.


Edit: My Canon EFS 10-22 was $900 and my Canon EF 24-105 F4L was $1250. I have certainly been there. But both purchases were quite worthy!
Click to expand...

You spent $1250 on a 24-105 F/4 lens? You could have bought the 24-70 f/2.8 for that.
Click to expand...

The 24-70 is heavier, lacks IS, and lacks the same reach. All of which were more important to me than F2.8. Besides, I also have a tack-sharp Tamron 28-75 F2.8.

 
Originally posted by: tfinch2
Well, I wish it was a little better. My mom can shoot well from her experience with film, but can't PP worth a lick so basically WYSIWYG out of the camera with her.
Click to expand...
Let me recommend her trying out Capture 4.4. You can download a full 30-day trial. Everything is laid out easy enough for anyone to understand and use, even your mom I'd say. Needs a decent computer to run fast, though.

 
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