Monthly Archives: January 2012

It happens every time I do a photo meeting and set a the table filled with gear!  I start to think about system building.  It is a natural issue probably faced by al tech reps, or at least those that truly love photography.  You are surrounded by all the latest toys and you wonder what do you  “need” to own or “want” to own.  There, I’ve said it, the two key words, NEED and WANT.  They are two entirely different terms when it comes to camera gear.

 

A NEED is something that you can’t adequately function without. A want is a deep desire based on what you would like rather than what is necessary!  Now, of course, this varies greatly with the individual. My friend and great sports shooter Bill Frakes, needs a dozen pro camera bodies!  He works for Sports Illustrated and probably an compete few assignments with even that few.  He sets up remotes, he has others manning cameras for him, it takes a ton of gear to do his actual job!  By contrast my friend and teaching partner Jim Begley may at most need two camera bodies and  half dozen of less lenses.  Is Jim less of a photographer?  Absolutely not, his work is just as outstanding what he does as Frakes is, they just do very different things!  So how can you figure this out?  Let me try to make it simple.  If you area  photo generalist, meaning you shoots all kinds of things, but don’t specialize in any extreme activity; Sports, wildlife, poisonous reptiles etc, etc.  The list gets easier.

 

For an average photo generalist: (travel, nature, people, close-ups, fine art work)

 

 

 

Need List:

 

 

2 camera bodies (it’s best if they are the same or at least operate much the same.)  (Currently Nikon D4 & Nikon D7000) FX & DX

 

 

A wide angle zoom lens  (I own a 12-24 AF-S f4 and 16-35 AF-S VR f4)  DX & FX  All Nikkors

A midrange zoom lens  (I own a 35-70 AF F2.8 and 24-120 AF-S VR f4)  Both FX  All Nikkors

A telephoto zoom lens (I own a bunch my most used is a 70-300 AF-S VR f 4.5-5.6)  All Nikkors

A Micro lens (I use four 60mm f 2.8 / 105mm f 2.8 / 200mm  f4 / and an 85mm f 3.5 )  All Micro Nikkors, last one a DX lens.  You only need one, I would suggest a 105 or Automatic Extension tubes and a diopter for your telephoto zoom.

Serious tripod and head  (mine is a discontinued Gitzo 1348 and Really Right Stuff BH-55 ball head)

I always carry a small point and shoot, usually the Coolpix P7100 or it’s equivalent, my walk around camera.

That’s it!!!!!

 

I do own a long lens I use when I need extra reach (400 mm f 3.5 Nikkor IF-ED & a TX14B converter)  manual focus.

 

The rest is collecting!  (and yes I collect too!)

 

the pilgrim

 

Got an email, and have to add this: ” If my funds just won’t support that much gear, give me your suggestion for the the lowest cost system that will give me a shot at great images!!??”

Here goes:

Nikon D7000     $1,200.

16-85 Nikkor zoom    Under $600.

55-300 Nikkor Zoom DX lens   Under $400.

Wireless Camera release   $15.

 

 

 

Nikon has released several fast, single focal length lenses, last year.  After some time to shoot them I’m in love!   All are f 1.4 maximum aperture.  85 f 1.4 – 35 f 1.4  and the 24 f 1.4.  They are spectacularly sharp, and very well corrected.  As you would imagine they cost more than $199.   All are just sub $2,000. each!!!   So why would you invest in such expensive glass?  Actually you might if you had to shoot in dismal light, or needed as bright an image as possible for viewing.  If you worked in reasonably good light and had a camera that can shoot in High ISO (6400 and higher)  You can work perfectly well with f 2.8 lenses.   the 24-70 AF-S f 2.8 is a perfect example.  It is razor sharp and reasonably fast. I even find the 24-120 AF-S VR II f 4 to work good in “most” situations.  “Most” is a big word when you are being paid to shoot.  If you have to work in miserable light, you’re gonna want these lenses in your bag.

 

Another reason you may want such fast lenses is to get very shallow depth-of-field.  Nothing is prettier than a soft, out of focus, background when you want to eliminate distractions.  The faster the lens, the easier it is to get that effect.  One other reason to think about this trio is the exclusive Nikon “N” coatings.  The Nano coatings are the ultimate weapon in the battle against reduced contrast due to  flare.

 

All in all, if you have the right reason to buy them, these three great lenses look less and less expensive!

 

the pilgrim

 

Is there anyway to save some money and still enjoy the fast glass???  Sort of, if you own both DX and FX bodies buy the 24 f 1.4 which on your DX body would be a 36 f1.4 and then add the 85 f 1.8 which is costs almost 1/4 the 85 f 1.4.   You would get 95% of the performance at substantially less than half the cost.  So I have a D4 and a D7000 if I own the 24 mm f 1.4 it will be a 24 f 1.4 on the D4, and 36 f 1.4 on the D7000.  The 85 mm f 1.8 is an 85 mm f1.8 on the FX, a 127.5 mm f 1.8 on the D7000.  Pretty cool………………

 

 

 

Every January the KNPA (Kentucky News Photographers Association) has their annual meeting in Lexington, Kentucky.  My wife, who works for Baptist Hospitals, always has a corresponding meeting close by.  We always look forward to going up for this weekend together, she works during the days, as do I, and then we can enjoy some time in the evenings.  One of the few meetings where I don’t have to travel alone.  The kicker that makes this trip extra special is that the Marriott for the meeting is the Marriott Griffin Gate.  Now if you stay in Marriotts a lot you become a Premier Member, then a Platinum Premier, and finally a Platinum Premier Elite member,  If  you stay in Marriotts 75 nights in a year you make the top rating, last year I had 179 Marriott nights!!!!

 

So the very gracious manager of this hotel always puts me in the Presidential  Suite, once stayed in  by George W. Bush (thus the name), plaque below, other famous guests have been Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen,  and other celebrities that have visited Lexington.  This weekends guest, not so much!

 

As I said, I’m certainly not bragging, more like saying how fortunate I feel when I get to share a good time like this with my wife!   God knows what our needs are, and even the desires of our hearts and I think he wants us to all feel special sometimes, as long as we don’t start believing we belong in a place like this!

 

So I will tough it out and try to manage to get by in such a humble abode!

 

 

Till Monday, the suffering pilgrim sends his blessings……

 

the pilgrim

 

Several years ago I was invited to see a film with a Christian brother called Facing the Giants.  It was made by a Baptist church in Georgia and it has since become one of my favorite films.  They followed that film up with Fireproof,  another great Christian film. Yesterday I watched their latest, Courageous and I can highly, highly recommend it, to everyone, especially fathers and grandfathers. It’s about the lives of four sheriffs deputies and their struggle to become better fathers. Break out the tissues, you’re going to need them. This film is a call to fathers to be; the men God has called them to be!

 

A high point in the film is when they take an oath before their chruch to become Godly fathers, this is the oath,

 

I do solemnly resolve before God to take full responsibility for myself, my wife, and my children. I WILL love them, protect them, serve them, and teach them the Word of God as the spiritual leader of my home. I WILL be faithful to my wife, to love and honor her, and be willing to lay down my life for her as Jesus Christ did for me. I WILL bless my children and teach them to love God with all of their hearts, all of their minds, and all of their strength. I WILL train them to honor authority and live responsibly. I WILL confront evil, pursue justice, and love mercy. I WILL pray for others and treat them with kindness, respect, and compassion. I WILL work diligently to provide for the needs of my family. I WILL forgive those who have wronged me and reconcile with those I have wronged. I WILL learn from my mistakes, repent of my sins, and walk with integrity as a man answerable to God. I WILL seek to honor God, be faithful to His church, obey His Word, and do His will. I WILL courageously work with the strength God provides to fulfill this resolution for the rest of my life and for His glory. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.    Joshua 24:15.

 

I challenge every father and grandfather, to watch this film, and take that pledge.

 

Have a blessed weekend,

 

the pilgrim