My dream list is comming true...

[Deckyon]

I am finally getting my new cameras this week. We have the check in hand an only need to get the papers signed off. The lawyer is saying that by Wednesday (tomorrow) we can put the money in the bank. I can FINALLY get my stuff...

Comming from a Canon PowerShot G3 and Pro 1, I am moving to the following:
Canon EOS 1D Mark II
Canon EOD 20D
Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM
Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
Canon Extender EF 1.4x II
Canon Extender EF 2x II
Canon Speedlite 550EX
Spare battery for each camera
Sekonic L-358 Lightmeter
Lowepro Photo Trekker AW II
3 CF Cards (1 for 20D and 2 for 1D Mark II)
2 SD Cards (for 1D Mark II)
Manfroto 322RC2 Tripod Head and 3 extra quick release plates
1 77mm B+W Circular Polarizer
3 77mm B+W UV Filters
1 58mm B+W UV Filter

The store already has all the equipment in except for the 3 quick release plates (on order) and I only have to call them when I am on the way in to pick the equipment up. Now, they are charging the batteries for me.

I am giddy as a child at christmas.

[Belmondo]

Wow. It took me well over a year to generate a similar list, but it was done generally one piece at a time. I can't imagine getting all that gear in one fell swoop.

You're going to have to be very careful to avoid going into sensory overload. That's a lot to learn in a very short time.

Congratualtions.

Tom

[ssim]

Whew. I almost got tired reading the list. Congratulations.

I'll bet you made one salesman a very happy person.

[roanjohn]

:shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:


WOW!!!

I'm .............just............. :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:



Ro1

[Amfibius]

Suggest you do without the SD cards and invest in a portable HDD/CF reader instead, like the Nikon Coolwalker, Nixvue, or the Vosonic X-drive.

[Morden]

That's quite a shopping list! :shock:

[Jonny]

Dare i ask the final total price for all that? I hope you got a good deal!!

[Morden]

Dare i ask the final total price for all that? I hope you got a good deal!!

I would certainly expect some sort of discount for purchasing all of that in one visit! :shock:

[Andy_T]

Why in the world do you want to buy all that gear at once?

Do you start a photography business?

Reason I'm asking is the same thing Belmondo mentioned ... sensory overload. IMHO, there is no way you will be able to enjoy all that new items properly if you buy them all at once.

If I were you, I'd put the money in the bank now and savour the delight of getting the gear ... start with the 1DII, accessories and the most important lenses now and make a plan when you will add new stuff so you can stretch your shopping spree over half a year.

Also, maybe you'd like to find out whether you rather prefer zoom or prime lenses .... e.g. you might squeeze in the 1.8/85 or the 2.0/135 by substituting the 16-35 with the 17-40.

But that's just me.

Best regards,
Andy

[chris.bailey]

Set aside a few hours to get all of that lot registered with Canon and be sure to get it insured properly, that is quite a list. In fact it is close to most peoples dream list I would have thought. I am a few items short of that and having been slowly assembling it over a period of years.

Good as the Lowepro Trekkar is, it is not as versatile as a big camera bag as you need to lay it flat to get access to it. I also have a LowePro Commercial AW which I tend to use a lot more though I would actually hate to have to carry it far :shock:

[Deckyon]

I already have the portable HDD. since the mark II uses both cards. I want to use them both, especially for backups.

I am getting a discount. They are selling me the Mark II to me for $4099 and I am getting discounts on the lenses as well... I am not getting as big a discount as I would want, but it is a high-volume store where this would be an average order for them. Bummer for me, but the sales girl is very happy, as it is her first sale of this size... I am basically getting about 7% to 9% discount. It wil lend up being just about $14500. I am saving tax and then a bit more. Plus, from the things they had to order, I am not paying shipping. I also get a business account with them which will save me in the future.

I am starting a business, hense all at once. The 20D I choose as a backup because it was almost as quick and has the same resolution as the 1DMII. I will be doing sports (soccer at first) and wanted the fast drive rate.

I have been researching the cameras and lenses for the last few months (20D in the last couple weeks - 10D before that) and have tried the primes and zooms and since I cannot buy all the primes at once, the zooms offer the range I need at this time. Still on my list is the 400mm f/4 L USM prime and some other wide angle lenses.

There are specific reasons for getting it all at once. the biggest is my wife said "go for it if this is something I want to do, but do it right" Smart lady...

I already have an appointment with my insurance agent to get this stuff listed correctly.

[ilya]

You got the Sekonic L-358 light meter, its a good one - I just got that as well. I don't see any studio lighting or backdrops though, do you already have that. If not, I'd suggest budgeting about another $1,000 at least to do it right for personal use, or 3x more if you are doing it as a business.

[Deckyon]

I do have some studio lighting and backdrops. My wife has been making the backdrops for me, and I bought the studio lighting at a swap. It will be good enough for family work, but portraits are not the way I want to go. I may do my wife's girlscout troup photos, and my daughter's soccer team as portraits, but I am not sure yet. I will be doing stock photos for a local store for their website. Studio equip (higher end) will come later. Most of my photography is outdoors anyway.

I am going to be sitting down with a few local pros and talk to them about the business side - forms and contracts and contacts.

[iof]

WOW!! Impressive equipment list and an extraordinary wife! What are you doing on the post processing/printing front?

[nosquare2003]

Still on my list is the 400mm f/4 L USM prime and some other wide angle lenses.


There's no 400/4L. I mean that it's not an L lens but a DO lens.

[timmyquest]

makes me want to find someone to sue :shock:

[Deckyon]

Still on my list is the 400mm f/4 L USM prime and some other wide angle lenses.


There's no 400/4L. I mean that it's not an L lens but a DO lens.

sorry, had the F-stop wrong - EF 400mm f/2.8L IS USM. If I remember correctly, I have heard some grumblings about the DO lens being soft, especially on the borders. This was hear-say, not documented that I could find. One of the reasons I want to stick with the L series lenses.

As for printing, I use Photoshop 7 for processing (after raw conversion using Canon software) and for printing (setting size and paper). I have the Canon i9100 printer for the large prints and Epson Photostylus 820 for 4x6 proofs.

[Deckyon]

makes me want to find someone to sue :shock:

This is not by choice. I am against suing just to get money, but we got hit by a drunk driver, and that I hate more than anything. The more the drunk drivers pay, the better. :twisted: We got off easy, in that no one got killed. It only shattered my wife's wrists and required 2 surgeries so far. When the first settlement of $3k was offered, I went off...

Too much gory detail for this topic...

[CyberDyneSystems]

Awesome kit! :shock:

I'm glad that you ae able to have some good come of what was otherwise an awefull expierience.

[Deckyon]

Awesome kit! :shock:

I'm glad that you ae able to have some good come of what was otherwise an awefull expierience.

Thanks. My wife is getting the big present but she is going to get a new truck and other things she wants. She wants the truck more than I want the camera gear. :lol: Everyone is happy.

[BearSummer]

Hi Deckyon,

yep that sure is nice kit and the sekonic is cool (have one but dont have space on my sig for it). I hope you have many hours of fun with it and that wifey loves the truck. Hope that everyone is well and that your wifes surgery goes/went well.

Now we expect you to post some nice images with your new toys.

Best regards

BearSummer

[timmyquest]

makes me want to find someone to sue :shock:

This is not by choice. I am against suing just to get money, but we got hit by a drunk driver, and that I hate more than anything. The more the drunk drivers pay, the better. :twisted: We got off easy, in that no one got killed. It only shattered my wife's wrists and required 2 surgeries so far. When the first settlement of $3k was offered, I went off...

Too much gory detail for this topic...

You've said enough, sorry if i offended you.

$3 grand...a joke. Glad everything worked out, he/she may have just put a shotgun to your head, and for that...they should lose lots.

[jgbeam]

The only major thing missing from your bag is a 1Ds MkII, but hey, Christmas is right around the corner. :wink:

My first reaction was like some others - too much, too soon - build your kit slowly, but what the heck - you can't even get a cheap new car for $14,500. And don't expect your wife to EVER let her guard down again. That's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. :lol:

Have a ball!

Jim

[Deckyon]

timmyquest - No offense taken.

Yes, it is a "once in a lifetime" thing, and I do not ever expect to have that much to throw around again. I wanted to make sure I covered as much as I could. Sure, the 1Ds Mark II would be a nice addition (over the next 10 Christmases) but I am being realistic. Even after looking at all the specs and previews, and comparing the other brands, I still feel the 1D Mark II and 20D combo will give me what I need at this point. I do not expect to have to buy a new digital body for some time. I may get an EOS 1V at some point if I want to start playing with film, but I doubt it. I can now "focus" on lenses and lighting.

[sGu]

you just bought everything i've ever wanted for years ... and i'm still collecting them slowly ... real slow ... :roll:

congratulations!

[briangig]

thats alot of equipment for one person to use all at once. Just send 1/2 to me, and if you need something I'll send it back :D.

[Ballen Photo]

Brad, Sorry to hear about the accident. :shock: I'm glad to hear your getting a fair(I hope) settlement.
That is an AWESOME list of equipment, but I noticed one small flaw, only one 550 EX? Are you going to get the new 580EX? I mean as a backup flash?
Good luck in your new venture.
-Bruce

[Deckyon]

Brad, Sorry to hear about the accident. :shock: I'm glad to hear your getting a fair(I hope) settlement.
That is an AWESOME list of equipment, but I noticed one small flaw, only one 550 EX? Are you going to get the new 580EX? I mean as a backup flash?
Good luck in your new venture.
-Bruce

We are getting what we asked for, so I think it is fair.

As far as the 580EX, as soon as it hits the store, I am getting it. They just did not have one there, and I wanted to see/play with it first. The other flash I want to get is a Macro Ring or Dual flash.

[Ballen Photo]

The other flash I want to get is a Macro Ring or Dual flash.

Nice choice. :D :D :D
-Bruce

[phili1]

Wow do you want to trade wives. Mine does not know about my Camera yet, she will go balstic. she does not think Photography should be my love but she like the money it makes me though..

Good luck and enjoy the equiptment.

[unners]

thats fantastic!
congratulations and all the best with the business!
geez, i get excited just buying a filter!
i do have a 400 f2.8 though :)
cheers
dave

[Tapeman]

You have been doing your homework!

Now you will have to spend a lot of time with manuals.

[DocFrankenstein]

Might as well apply for CPS :?