rahullele

2 hours ago, Brian said:

You now have a case of NAS, Nikon Acquisition Syndrome. Someone let me borrow a Nikon 24-70G many years ago after only shooting with consumer-grade kit lenses.  That single lens was responsible for me spending thousands on Nikon gear over the last 6+ years. LOL!! Your wallet will be crying out in pain from this point on!! LMAO!!

Overall question on minimum and sort of lens you need. I'd 50mm, 24-70 mm and now i've 70-200. I'm very happy with 70-200 and not thinking of any prime in that range. 

but i'm convinced that tamron sp 24-70 is not exactly 24-70  Specially after looking at 70 mm from new lens. i'm guessing it is more of 24-55 ish.  I'm quite determined that i'm going to sell 50 mm in second hand also thinking if i should get tamron out of the door .  

1. what other lens you'd recommend (than 70-200) as must have?

2. is it necessary to have at least a prime ? i used 50 mm extensively over year and i got feeling that it was neither here or there. 

3. Good place to sell used lens ? i've 0 experience with eBay or amazon or selling anything. 

2 hours ago, Brian said:

Sure! I'd love to see samples taken with your Tamron 24-70 and new 70-200.

This is with 50 mm 1.4G. D750 Auto Mode with flash (i don't bother manual mode for casual occasions where i'm going to enjoy my time and not to shoot.) f/5 ISO 800 1/60 Out of camera normal quality JPEG. 

Tamron SP 24-70 f/3.5 1/60 ISO 800 Again Auto mode No flash.

And f/3.2 1/60 ISO 800 with new lens. 

This is not exact comparison and all. But .. wanted to keep same ISO and just see how out of camera looks like. 

Lens is superb. I never knew this kind of quality is possible (or believable ).

I do have Tamron SP 24-70 mm. (which was rated top by DXO mark and hence i purchased it at that time. ) I'll know more when i'll edit but the first impression is ..  This stuff from Nikon is notch above the rest !! 

Let me know if you are interested in ... out of camera JPEG, for all 3 lenses. 

Thanks again Brian. 

i just realized i wasted too much time on this decision and could have used that time on completing courses/editing pictures.

Placed that order to get 70-200E with black Friday rebate. i think i'll receive it by next weekend.

 Hopefully i can focus on learning now. 

Thank you sir. I’ll keep you posted. I don’t see sign of me turning pro any time soon. (Photography work I’m doing is for NGO.) 

I’ll continue saving money and added both lens to wishlist. Fingers crossed.  

1 hour ago, Brian said:

will not work with your D3000.

D3000 was my first body. I’m having D750 and using it most of the time. 

Thank you for your insights. Nikon locked for sure now.

 Even DXO mark site puts f/4 above 2.8 version and shows really good sharpness at wide open f/4. ( not that it’s full proof of anything but another good to know stuff)

so its Between low weight and less money of f/4 against  AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR I’d say. 

I’d sell my 50 mm 1.4G and add that to my (stretch) budget of 1500. I don’t think I’ll get any refurbished copies of new  AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR so early... But in case i do, I’d jump right in ? 

17 hours ago, Brian said:

I'm sure the next question is, "...but what about f/2.8? Won't I need the wider aperture for portraits?"

I’d not say that from portraits ( or bokeh) perspective, but i’d ask that from amount of light needed perspective. 

I’m (.. currently) in Chicago and it’s winter here for next 5-6 months. Meaning whatever event I’m going to get is going to be in indoor lighting conditions. (Which means inadequate lighting conditions.. I don’t know if it’s only Chicago .. but there is strange fascination with very warm colored lighting ... all party rooms got that. ). 

Also (and this is what i heard ) lens do better stop down or 2 ? ( for my 24-70 2.8 i find sweet spot to be 4..). For f/4 if I’ve to go step down or 2, I don’t know how crazy my ISO need to be? 

From that perspective, I’m thinking, I’m not going to buy lens again and again and if i do have 2.8 then given low light, i can use aperture as way out. 

I know tamron 70-200 got focus breathing issue. But it is at (nearly) same price range as nikon 70-200 f/4. 

Hence the question, won’t i need wider aperture as 2.8 ? 

In that case? Focus breathing of tamron is as bad as to ignore $1400 saving I’d do by not going for nikon ? 

I can delay purchase and rent for a while i save more to go for best possible option. 

Hi Brian,

I’m looking for input on where to spend my money next. 

Brief history as below.

First purchase: 2010 : Nikon d3000 kit lens: just for shooting some pictures. (New) 

Second purchase: 2016 Aug nikon 50mm 1.4G : to put on D3000 as portrait lens. (New) 

October 2016: nikon d750 tamron sp 24-70 di vc ( both refurbished) 

August 2017: Damian symonds (all  lasses except skin. Which is galaxy far far away) 

September: I started going out as apprentice photographer. No money. For hobby. Requirement there dectated next purchase. 

October 2017: flash Godox V860IIN (new) 

Now I’ve around $1200 (+- 300) in budget. And inwas thinking 1 of following 3 options. 

1. Sigma 85 mm
2. Tamron 85 mm 
3. Tamron 70-200 mm 

Lot of my pictures with 50 mm, I’ve to crop them a lot. Not that I’ve need for for professional printing at the moment but I realized that I’m going to need 70-200 if I’ve to cover functions like soccer tournament or gala event etc. 

Also I’m find something missing with 50mm 1.4G. As of now I’m thinking if I’d sell it out and add that money to above budget for lens. 

Appreciate inputs. 

Thanks, 

Rahul

Thank you !!

Steps i believe come at the end of workflow. 

1. Auto Transform to correct the level of pictures. 

2. Add grain (or noise to get slight film feel). 

3.Crop 

4. Post crop Vignetting

5. Export all files of an event (20-30) pictures at once as JPEG. 

There could be details provided if there is video/link out there for these, appreciate if you provide those links to me.  I know i'm yet to finish classes but if any of these are covered in specific class, i'd take that one first. Thanks as always. 

I'm looking for some help. i'm pretty sure i'm not first to ask this question. I'd very set workflow for Lightroom/Photoshop and after doing Damiens classes .. i'm pretty clear with lightroom's shortcomings. However replacing that with software you are using for first time (Bridge) is totally different thing.

Damien provided link to me .. for use of bridge and that really helps ...  but i use light room for few other things and i was wondering if someone can help me replacing my workflow (with those minor steps, detailed steps ..). that will be great help. 

Can you please let me know what i've to do to get this?

Please note i'm not taking deluxe class because i'm waiting for monitor calibrator to arrive.

I've found lot of articles on this site (which were available for free) and they helped me a lot. I've donated small money (unto my capacity) as Token of appreciation.

If you will allow me to put details of my entire workflow (which may have some stupid steps and light room use) and help me get that flow streamlined, i'd be more than happy to make donation .