if you cannot afford so much money on lenses (and the prices are really ridiculous, like 1000 dollars for a decent zoom?), I highly recommend you buy a M42 adaptor (only around 10 dolalrs on ebay) and buy M42 lenses from the 60s and the 70s. The only downside is the lack of autofocus, but manual focus suits me just fine for most things I shoot (action shots are difficult). The optics often match L glass on Canon (which go for typically thousands) because lens technolgoy hasnt advanced very much. You can get a decent telephoto prime (200mm) for like 30 dollars; similar optics in modern technology would cost you literally 35 times that.

fyi i have built a rather capable set for less than 350 dollars
290 dollars (used xti with kit lens and batteries)
13 dollars (m42 adaptor with autofocus confirm)
25 dollars (helios 44m-6 - very very good russian lens, insane portrait and macro lens - focal length 58mm f2)
30 dollars (super takumar 135mm f3.5 - good telephoto lens with good bokeh)
hoping to add more

konadora

Singapore66063 Posts

January 21 2010 07:26 GMT

#42

Whoa, thanks for the HUUUUGE lengthy post, took some time to read them haha.

I'm going for a sports event shoot tomorrow (Rugby, just 5 days in... man) so those tips are really gonna help me out a lot. I'll post some tomorrow :D

@phosphorylation:
I don't have that much money T___T I have trouble buying lenses that are like 200USD. (Mainly because I don't have a job, and being a student, I go out a lot

)

Still, your set sounds very interesting, I'll check out the prices and their availability here in SG. Thanks!

NeverGG

United Kingdom5399 Posts

January 21 2010 08:31 GMT

#43

On January 21 2010 16:26 konadora wrote:
Whoa, thanks for the HUUUUGE lengthy post, took some time to read them haha.

I'm going for a sports event shoot tomorrow (Rugby, just 5 days in... man) so those tips are really gonna help me out a lot. I'll post some tomorrow :D

@phosphorylation:
I don't have that much money T___T I have trouble buying lenses that are like 200USD. (Mainly because I don't have a job, and being a student, I go out a lot

)

Still, your set sounds very interesting, I'll check out the prices and their availability here in SG. Thanks!

It took me 4 months to save for my 70-200mm and I have a full time job. My advice is cut back a little bit on your spending and save up for better quality lenses. If you make excuses to go for the cheap options you're going to regret it if you have any intention of really committing to this as a hobby upon a more regular basis.

phosphorylation

United States2935 Posts

January 21 2010 11:39 GMT

#44

unless you are doing sport photography all the time (or is just too lazy to focus manually), i don't see a reason not to deal with the older lenses
optically, they are superb and match the modern equivalents; the leica ones are best lenses period
you will also save so much money, its ridiculous

konadora

Singapore66063 Posts

January 21 2010 12:04 GMT

#45

lol at that rate, it might take me a year or so.. T__T

I'm already cutting back on food and stuff though :D

TimmyMac

Canada499 Posts

January 21 2010 14:34 GMT

#46

On January 21 2010 20:39 phosphorylation wrote:
unless you are doing sport photography all the time (or is just too lazy to focus manually), i don't see a reason not to deal with the older lenses
optically, they are superb and match the modern equivalents; the leica ones are best lenses period
you will also save so much money, its ridiculous

lol, buying leica isn't going to save you any money...

tbh I'd just stick with your 50mm 1.8 for now, until you get a better feel for what you're doing. It's a very capable lens.

ShoCkeyy

7815 Posts

January 21 2010 15:51 GMT

#47

Man, I swore I saw the title saying "getting into pornagraphy" I was like WHAT? Kona is going to be a pornstar? Lol... sorry, I had just finished reading the chinese porno thread ;p <33

United States6173 Posts

January 21 2010 18:08 GMT

#48

Shooting field sports like rugby are really really really fun. I used to shoot two games of American soccer a week for my university's paper (one for girls and guys each). At first I kinda got mad 'cause they just shoved those games onto me, but after I got used to it, I had a LOT of fun.

You're going to want a telephoto lens, though. I had a 70-200 f/2.8 lent to me from the school which was perfect. That lens is seriously godly. It can be used for SO many situations.

phosphorylation

United States2935 Posts

January 22 2010 01:19 GMT

#49

On January 21 2010 23:34 TimmyMac wrote:

Show nested quote +

lol, buying leica isn't going to save you any money...

tbh I'd just stick with your 50mm 1.8 for now, until you get a better feel for what you're doing. It's a very capable lens.

Comparatively no, since most old manual lenses go for less than 100. But still compared to the alternative, the older manual leica lenses are still much cheaper (less than 500)