Author Topic: Money burning a hole in my pocket! (Read 12511 times)

apeman · « **on:** May 30, 2016, 03:50 »

Hi Folks,
I have a conundrum! Advice and opinions needed.
I've allowed what i call my 'schwarzkasse' to build up a bit of Money from Picture sales over time - it's now reached a Point where i'm itching to buy something.
I shoot 50% Kids/Family/layflat for stock and 50% aircraft (more as a Hobby). I currently have for this a Canon 7D, and Tamron 17-50 2.8 and a Canon 70-200L f4.

The schwarzkasse has currently €400 available to hit the used market with:

Do i:
A) sit on the Money, let it grow.
B) improve General kit capabilites by buying a grip and speedlight, maybe a tripod ring for the L and 1.4 extender. Or maybe some Studio lighting kit??
C) improve Portrait/stock kit - sell the Tamron and buy the Canon 24-105L f4
D) sell and upgrade the 70-200 f4 to either the 70-200 f4 IS or 70-200 2.8 non IS.
E) improve Airport capabilites by Holding out for a 400mm L f5.6 to come onto the market at the right Price.
F) something else entirely!
G) try to Forget photo Equipment even exists and have a good nights sleep!

thanks guys!

sharpshot · « **Reply #1 on:** May 30, 2016, 04:32 »

G seems the most sensible option but I can never resist spending the money. Why not get the 50mm 1.8? That wont cost much but gives you something new to play with. Probably the best lens I have ever bought.

substancep · « **Reply #2 on:** May 30, 2016, 04:42 »

Seems like you might be having an acute episode of GAS! I would say that you should just hold on to the money. Ask yourself what is it that your current gear cannot do, and if the gear will really be improving your photography. If you're really itching to get something, try borrowing/renting it first, and then think again!

If you REALLY want to buy something, get a yongnuo speedlight and one of those cheap chinese softboxes they sell on ebay for $5. The lenses you currently have are excellent, and it would probably be better to buy lights.

apeman · « **Reply #3 on:** May 30, 2016, 04:49 »

Thanks for the replies!!

Quote from: substancep on May 30, 2016, 04:42

Seems like you might be having an acute episode of GAS! I would say that you should just hold on to the money. Ask yourself what is it that your current gear cannot do, and if the gear will really be improving your photography. If you're really itching to get something, try borrowing/renting it first, and then think again!

If you REALLY want to buy something, get a yongnuo speedlight and one of those cheap chinese softboxes they sell on ebay for $5. The lenses you currently have are excellent, and it would probably be better to buy lights.

Is the Yongnuo also remote usable. The Canon speedlights don't have to be on my camera. I could pick up a 430ex II for around €100.

The tamron is not so great at 2.8 - i get a lot of rejections with that lens. From f4 it's usable though.

I also saw a REX lightbox online for €60-odd.

Quote from: sharpshot on May 30, 2016, 04:32

G seems the most sensible option but I can never resist spending the money. Why not get the 50mm 1.8? That wont cost much but gives you something new to play with. Probably the best lens I have ever bought.

I just sold one of these - I really didn't like it at all! (although it was the original and not eh STM Version)

The Thing is with me right now, as is noticable in my Ports - i don't have any real direction right now. I'm not one of those People that send any old snapshot in for Review though!
Planes are my Thing - but sadly not very saleable!

50% · « **Reply #4 on:** May 30, 2016, 05:16 »

Good luck with the 'Finanzamt' if it's really a 'Schwarzkasse'.

apeman · « **Reply #5 on:** May 30, 2016, 05:27 »

Quote from: 50% on May 30, 2016, 05:16

Good luck with the 'Finanzamt' if it's really a 'Schwarzkasse'.

It's more Schwarz with respect to the Frau than my friends at the Bundeskasse

50% · « **Reply #6 on:** May 30, 2016, 06:24 »

Quote from: apeman on May 30, 2016, 05:27

Quote from: 50% on May 30, 2016, 05:16
Good luck with the 'Finanzamt' if it's really a 'Schwarzkasse'.

It's more Schwarz with respect to the Frau than my friends at the Bundeskasse

lol

eyewave · « **Reply #7 on:** May 31, 2016, 03:30 »

a) the money won't grow while you sit on it
b) a grip is nice but doesn't extend your capabilities much; one speed light alone will never be enough; a tripod ring - helpful, but depends on the subjects you shoot - if I shoot on a tripod I almost always do it with wider lenses; 1.4 extender - I can sell you one for little money, I'm quite disappointed with the quality (on my 70-200 2.8 IS)
c) the 24-105 is not really a portrait lens, much less than the 70-200
d) 70-200 2.8 non-IS might frustrate you, better wait till you can afford the IS version
e) you might wait of a very long time - and f/5.6 might also be frustrating
f) 100mm 2.8 macro (also good for portrait stuff)
g) won't work

sharpshot · « **Reply #8 on:** May 31, 2016, 03:30 »

Quote from: apeman on May 30, 2016, 04:49

...
Planes are my Thing - but sadly not very saleable!

They are very saleable, Cameron Strathdee was doing very well before he sadly passed away but he was great with photoshop. He was also one of the most interesting contributors here. His portfolio might be of interest to you.
http://www.istockphoto.com/portfolio/sharply_done

apeman · « **Reply #9 on:** May 31, 2016, 04:02 »

Quote from: eyewave on May 31, 2016, 03:30

a) the money won't grow while you sit on it
b) a grip is nice but doesn't extend your capabilities much; one speed light alone will never be enough; a tripod ring - helpful, but depends on the subjects you shoot - if I shoot on a tripod I almost always do it with wider lenses; 1.4 extender - I can sell you one for little money, I'm quite disappointed with the quality (on my 70-200 2.8 IS)
c) the 24-105 is not really a portrait lens, much less than the 70-200
d) 70-200 2.8 non-IS might frustrate you, better wait till you can afford the IS version
e) you might wait of a very long time - and f/5.6 might also be frustrating
f) 100mm 2.8 macro (also good for portrait stuff)
g) won't work

Thanks for the reply

I missed a 400L 5.6 last night on fleabay - sold for 510€ (500 was my absolute Limit).
How Little Money are we talking for the extender? It's the 1.4?

I also have the Feeling that no Option is the right Option!

apeman · « **Reply #10 on:** May 31, 2016, 04:05 »

Quote from: sharpshot on May 31, 2016, 03:30

Quote from: apeman on May 30, 2016, 04:49
...
Planes are my Thing - but sadly not very saleable!
They are very saleable, Cameron Strathdee was doing very well before he sadly passed away but he was great with photoshop. He was also one of the most interesting contributors here. His portfolio might be of interest to you.
http://www.istockphoto.com/portfolio/sharply_done

Thanks for the reply! A sad loss - some great Pictures there.
I have the Feeling a lot of the aircraft Pictures are the same aircraft on different Backgrounds. Cetainly do-able from my Point of view. Although, my planes are obviously all Commercial (and therefore commercially marked) and can only be used as Ed. I've uploaded a few to SS and iS as Editorial, but not a sniff of a sale.

eyewave · « **Reply #11 on:** June 01, 2016, 02:47 »

Quote from: apeman on May 31, 2016, 04:02

How Little Money are we talking for the extender? It's the 1.4?

Sent a PM.

increasingdifficulty · « **Reply #12 on:** June 01, 2016, 06:18 »

For airports/airplanes I would pick 400 instead of 200 + 1.4. Or 600 if you can.

The extenders tend to disappoint on zoom lenses and only really work well (good sharpness) on the nice Canon primes (300, 400, 500, 600 etc.). But that will be much, much more than 500 euros...

apeman · « **Reply #13 on:** June 01, 2016, 06:41 »

Quote from: increasingdifficulty on June 01, 2016, 06:18

For airports/airplanes I would pick 400 instead of 200 + 1.4. Or 600 if you can.

The extenders tend to disappoint on zoom lenses and only really work well (good sharpness) on the nice Canon primes (300, 400, 500, 600 etc.). But that will be much, much more than 500 euros...

Yeah, i'm always looking (dreaming, sorry) at the 300 f4 (or 2.

, 400 f4, 500 f5.6. At my local airfield the 70-200L is just about enough.
Of course, making some money out of plane pictures would be a lovely way to upgrade kit, although (as i've started discussing in another thread) i'm not too sure how much of a go-er it is.

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Author Topic: Money burning a hole in my pocket! (Read 12511 times)

apeman

sharpshot

substancep

apeman

50%

apeman

50%

eyewave

sharpshot

apeman

apeman

eyewave

increasingdifficulty

apeman

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