got a couple new friends in the mail today....

sigma 70-210 fixed F2.8 with APO glass
http://www.dyxum.com/images/Lenses/293/293_1.jpg

and a minolta 50mm f1.7
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3240/...02f048dd8e.jpg

i got both used off ebay and the seem to work very nicely. very clean and very snappy focus. manual focus on both is nice too. Thank you EBay!!!!

^ nice stuff!

Body:
Nikon D90

Lenses:
Nikon 18-200mm VR
Nikon 50mm f/1.8

Strobes:
Nikon SB-600
vivitar 285HV
Yongnuo YN-460II
MeiKe MK930

CowboyStudio NPT-04 wireless triggers

LowePro Slingshot 202AW bag

Various tripods, light stands, and small and medium convertible umbrellas

that sigma is amazing. the apo glass makes all the difference.

^^Congrats on the new gear, let's see some sample shots now

i will later today.

50mmf1.7
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5132/...89e3ddaa_b.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5054/...11a1f298_b.jpg

sigma 70-210f2.8
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5136/...4f3a5741_b.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5172/...d88b0d31_b.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5176/...57ea1813_b.jpg

unedited
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5051/...ca2287db_b.jpg

unedited
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5060/...9bb1398c_b.jpg

these last were from today, 2/21/2011, and were both hand held. i still need to put the sigma on the tripod.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5054/...a0e38900_b.jpg


http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5213/...f8096813_b.jpg

Nikon D90
Nikkor 35mm F/1.8
Nikkor 50mm F/1.8
Nikkor 85mm F/1.8
Nikkor 105mm F/2.8 VR Macro
Nikkor 18-200mm VR
Tokina 11-16mm F/2.8
Tamron 90mm F/2.8
Nikon SB-700 Speedlight
Manfrotto 488RC0 + Carbon Fiber Tripod

:previous:

how do you like that 90mm 2.8? i was looking at one of those before i got the sigma zoom.

I'll play. ;)

Bodies:
60D
10D
Rebel XS (sold)
Rebel T2i (sold)


Lenses:
Canon EF 28-135 f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
Canon EF 50 f/1.8 II
Canon EF 10-22 f/3.5-4.5 USM (w/Canon EW-83E Hood)
Canon EF 70-200 f/4L USM (w/Canon ET-74 Hood)
Canon EF-S 18-55 f/3.5-5.6 IS (sold)
Canon EF 75-300 f/4-5.6 III (sold)

Accessories:
Canon Speedlite 430EX II
Canon Remote Switch (RS60 E3)
Canon Battery Grip BGE9
Sunpak 6000PG
Canon 200EG Backpack
15" MacBook
Adobe Lightroom 3
Op/Tech Strap (sold)
Meike Battery Grip BG-E8 (sold)


More to come!


Now I just need to make a photo thread in here..... :redface:

I don't know about that, I've read some pretty poor reviews about that lens ,slow inaccurate focusing are among it's many flaws, it's certainly nowhere as good as the latest model Sigma released last year (selling for about $1500 in MTL) and not in the same league as the mighty nikon 70-200 (selling for about $2,500)

what you have read is correct. there are some issues with the lens which is why i got it for about $400. there have been some af issues. i am probably going to send it to get it serviced by sigma. but it doesnt really focus slow. a better way to describe the issue is that it get hung up while focusing if there is a big difference it the depth that you want to focus on.

i would have loved to buy one of the newer versions because a lot of the bugs have been worked out over the year but i just couldnt afford it.

now if i was a professional i would not have bought this lens due to these issues.

A lot of the reviews nitpick stuff that doesn't show up in most photos you'll ever take. My brother, who still shoots film, has this old Kiron 80-200mm f4 manual focus. It looks like a piece of crap but I was amazed at the quality of some shots he took of Brian Setzer in concert last year.

unfortunately It always comes down to money doesn't it ? I laugh when I hear people say "to get great shots - it's not the equipment but the person using it that's important"...yeah right I'll pick any smuck at random give him a nikon d3 with a 70-200mm and tell him or her to photograph an event (maybe a protest march) and I'll guarantee they'll come back with at least a dozen top notch photographs..soo much for talent

Who cares what you sold?

It's good, nice and light and sharp. But I have upgraded to the Nikkor 105mm VR f/2.8 a couple weeks ago. The AF is faster and focusing is silent.

Whoa whoa whoa man, why the hostility? Calm down. I just copied and pasted this from another forum. Why not display what you used to have? To put it your way, "who cares" if I say what I used to have? Some people may be interested in that. I know I am interested in what other equipment people used to have. :tup:

Meh, I guess it came off as arrogant. Almost like adding "filler" to your list.

But, as you stated you just copy & pasted from another forum.

Hostility, sorry man. Not enough coffee this AM.

:)

No worries.

gear makes a huge difference but you have to have the idea first. sure you could stick a moron with a lot of gear and they might come back with some good shots. but stick a real artist behind the lens and it can be magical.