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Lens? Anonymous
Dear /p
I have a canon 40D and I can't decide between burning my monies on a Tamron AF 17-50mm f/2.8 SP XR Di II or a Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM.

http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/lenses/tamron_1750_28/index.htm
http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/lenses/canon_50_14/index.htm

I already have a canon EF-s 17-85mm f/4-5.6 but it's kinda shit; barrel distorty, soft etc...

So which one of these standards should i get? Should i replace my 17-85 with a tamron or compliment it with the 50mm?
+ will the lack of zoom on the 50mm fuck me off no end?
I need a fast lens because i do alot of low light subject stuff (abandoned factories and whatnot).

Cheers!
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>> Anonymous
get the tamron
>> Anonymous
50mm on a crop-sensor canon (=80mm of film) sucks for abandoned factories, you'd want something wider. Get the tamron; while it has a fair amount of distortion, it's one of the sharpest standard zooms you can get.
>> Anonymous
>>107075
yeah, i've already got a canon 10-22mm for my architectural stuff, i just need something faster for subjects. i guess 50mm would suck for the interior shots though (some of the outer spaces are HUEG)
I also do studio stuff, but i guess the tamron would be cool for that too.
thanks for the advice!
>> Butterfly !xlgRMYva6s
a 24 or 28 will be a better prime (one of which is cheap, the other is v expensive) as it is closer to natural on a crop sensor.
>> Anonymous
>>107078
well, if you want LOL ZERO DoF in your studio stuff, 50mm will be better, but you still have to replace that 17-85 (it's basically the equivalent of Ken Rockwell's prized Nikon 18-200, with all the shittiness, but only half the convenience)
>> ac !!VPzQAxYPAMA
>>107078
As long as you're not going for wide angles, 50mm isn't bad for interior spaces. It's what I always use for low-light stuff indoors.

On the other hand, a better investment might be lighting. Spend that cash on a cheap off-camera lighting setup and you won't need the fast aperture. http://strobist.blogspot.com
>> Anonymous
>>107082
How do I lit an abandoned factory for $400?
>> ac !!VPzQAxYPAMA
>>107084
2xVivitar 285HV: ~$200
PovertyWizards: ~$50
Light stands: ~$100
Rechargeable Batteries: ~$50
>> Anonymous
>>107072
I would probably get the 50mm f1.8 lens (which is very fucking sharp), but it covers around 80mm on your camera (which is fuck all good for archetecture).

With the spare cash you might consider 28mm canon prime, and if your budget would stretch to accomodate it get the sigma 10-20mm (which is a bloody amazing lens).

Another outstanding lens is the canon 17-55 IS USM but that may be waaay overbudget for you.
>> Anonymous
OP here
>>107094
Holy fuck, i had no idea you could get portable lighting so cheap. I'm a bit of a noob when it comes to this sort of stuff, i only got into photography 6 months ago (i got into it through cinematography). Where would you suggest i get all the gear from AC?

>>107081
I would like LOL ZERO dof sometime, but you're right, i really need to replace that 17-85 balls

>>107095
just bought a canon 10-22 in an ebay frenzy, hence me not being able to afford the 17-55. I'll think about the prime once my pocket recovers
>> ac !!VPzQAxYPAMA
>>107128
I got my lighting stand and umbrella and whatnot from mpex.com's Strobist store (which supports Strobist). I think I got my 285HV from either Adorama or Amazon. Got the Cactus PT-04 wireless flash triggers from eBay.
>> Anonymous
>>107133
Ace! i'll seriously consider that.
I'll have to teach myself about strobing, but what the hell, can't be too painful.
cheers!
>> Anonymous
>>107133

So, um, for off camera flash does it boil down to this?

1) Cheap bastard = rig up some cord and have a tethered setup

2) High roller = Pocket Wizards or some wireless transmitter
>> Anonymous
>>107184
btw, if you're REALLY cheap and your camera has a high voltage hot shoe, you may buy some ancient wired flashes instead of aforementioned Vivitars and save even more money!
>> ac !!VPzQAxYPAMA
>>107184
The "Cactus PT-04" wireless flash triggers are only like $20 for a set on eBay. They're not quite as versatile or reliable as PocketWizards, but you'll still have about $300 in your pocket after buying 'em that you can use on coke and whores. Which you can then take pictures of.
>> Anonymous
>>107189

Is there a way to trigger the 90$ Vivitar with a 580EX from Canon?
>> Anonymous
>>107193
AFAIK it's not safe to wire these Vivitars directly to digital Canon stuff, so the best option would be using a wireless flash trigger like the one mentioned in the post above yours.
>> Anonymous
>>107195

Isn't there some kind of wireless transmitter on the 580EX?

I was hoping they'd make a receiver for me to put on the Vivitar and I'd trigger it wirelessly.

I already have a 580EX, I'm just looking for a 'cheap' way to fire it off the camera. Or best, fire it and the Vivitar at the same time.
>> Anonymous
Get the good old peanut. An optical slave is cheap and good enough for a start.
>> Blackadder !!bSWRwu/NqzQ
Not much help to the fellow with the Vivitar, but I know that Sigma's flashes are able to trigger the Canon ones if anyone was wondering.
>> ac !!VPzQAxYPAMA
>>107195
The 285HV is perfectly safe to slap on a digital camera. The 285 (not HV) will fry the bitches. But you can only get the latter used, so if you're buying new, you're okay.

>>107193
>>107200
I suspect that, even if there is a widget that'll trigger a generic flash with the Canon's built-in transmitter, it'll be more expensive than just paying $15 for an extra PT-04 receiver.
>> Anonymous
>>107200
You can use the Wein Peanut Slave or whatever it's called. It triggers optically, so everytime your 580 fires, it fires as well. These things can be put on the shoe terminal of the Vivitars. You can get them from MPEX.com prolly, but ebay should have them I think.
>> Anonymous
>>107200
>I was hoping they'd make a receiver for me to put on the Vivitar and I'd trigger it wirelessly.
Get an optical slave trigger then, which will fire the Vivitar when your main 580EX goes off. (You'll have to put the 580EX in manual mode so the metering preflash won't confuse the trigger, though)
>> Anonymous
>>107204I suspect that, even if there is a widget that'll trigger a generic flash with the Canon's built-in transmitter, it'll be more expensive than just paying $15 for an extra PT-04 receiver.

The Cactus receiver is great for the price but as I understand it, the transmitter would be on my hot shoe and the receiver would be on my flash. But that would only leave me with one flash. Sure, that's enough for most setups but having 2 is better!

This:

>>107205
>>107207

is what I was looking for, something that triggers a second flash if I use my 580 on the camera or bracket.
>> Anonymous
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>>107205
>>107207

Thanks, dudes.

And thanks Vivitar for making a 90$ flash. It looks damn cool to boot too.
>> Anonymous
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This shit is fucking genius. 90$ for the Vivitar and 20$ for this thing.

Fuck the stand for now, I'll just use duct tape.
>> ac !!VPzQAxYPAMA
>>107215
Agreed.

Do note that the Peanut is annoying as fuck to use in low light, though. Unless I'm in a well lit room, mine always flashes right in my fucking eyes if a shadow passes over it for any reason. It's like it waits for me to glance over. Malevolent little bastard.

(I shouldn't have to use mine much anymore, 'cause I got a new 285HV for Christmas. The flash I was using as my secondary wouldn't work with the Cactus triggers, but now I have dual 285s)
>> Anonymous
What flashes are recommended for using with Canon then and would they still be compatible if I added any Canon brand ones?
>> Anonymous
>>107221

What kind of setup do you have with two 285s? Or is the Cactus able to trigger two flashes?

Also, does the Peanut last forever? Is there a battery to replace?
>> ac !!VPzQAxYPAMA
>>107228
The Cactus can trigger both. It's just throwing out a radio signal--anything listening on the right channel triggers.

Peanut doesn't need a battery. It's powered by the light it's triggered by.
>> Anonymous
OP here.
So, i'm thinking of wiring this flash to my camera
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Vivitar-285HV-flash-for-Canon-Rebel-XTi-XT-40D-5D-Pro1_W0QQitemZ170181020310Q
QihZ007QQcategoryZ107934QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD2VQQcmdZViewItem?_trksid=p1638.m122
and peanuting a second flash into a slave.

am i doing something retarded?
>> Anonymous
OP here.
So i'm thinking of buying two Vivitar 285HV's ~ wiring one to my 40D and peanuting the other into a slave.
Am i doing something retarded?

+ can anyone recommend some light stands that fit comfortably into a backpack?
getting to my locations requires jumping fences, scaling rotting masonry etc.
>> ac !!VPzQAxYPAMA
>>107355
Keeping your flash on-camera is moderately retarded in a lot of situations. If it's used directly, it's InstaFail. If it's bounced against a wall or ceiling it's not bad, though unless it's a situation where your light needs to move with you, it means you'll be getting different and possibly hard to predict light with every shot.
>> Anonymous
>>107356
>>107355
I did do something retarded... doublepoast
apologies
>> Anonymous
>>107357
I wasn't thinking so much of having it on my camurah, so much as having the key light on a stand and running a cable over to my camera. Perhaps the cable i'd need would be too long?
>> Anonymous
>>107357Keeping your flash on-camera is moderately retarded in a lot of situations.

In lighting terms, yeah. But for some situations, you just can't have a light stand and move it around. On camera or a bracket gives the best mobility.
>> ac !!VPzQAxYPAMA
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>>107403
Yeah, that's why I only said *moderately* retarded in *some* situations. I've only used my big flash on camera a couple of times, but it worked out well (pic related). It's just if you're in a modeling-type situation where you can have a light stand--and his post implies that he'll have one 285 on a light stand already--that it's not the best idea to leave it on camera.

>>107360
The Cactus wireless triggers barely cost more than a wired setup. I've bought both (was worried the Cacti wouldn't arrive in time for the trip I was going on. Happy ending: They did).

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>> Anonymous
>>107488

Would the wired setup be more reliable than the Cactus?
>> ac !!VPzQAxYPAMA
>>107569
Possibly. In any sort of staged modeling situation, though, I'll take the occasional misfire over having to deal with a bigass wire all the time. I tried shooting with the wire once and it annoyed the bejeezus out of me.
>> Anonymous
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taken with tamron

Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakeCanonCamera ModelCanon EOS 20DPhotographerTommi J?ensivuImage-Specific Properties:Image Created2007:11:14 02:35:53Exposure Time2.5 secF-Numberf/2.8Exposure ProgramNormal ProgramISO Speed Rating200Lens Aperturef/2.8Exposure Bias0 EVMetering ModePatternFlashNo FlashFocal Length17.00 mm
>> Anonymous
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tamron

Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakeCanonCamera ModelCanon EOS 20DImage-Specific Properties:Image Created2007:12:22 13:53:16Exposure Time656 secF-Numberf/8.0Exposure ProgramManualISO Speed Rating200Lens Aperturef/8.0Exposure Bias0 EVMetering ModePatternFlashNo FlashFocal Length17.00 mm
>> Anonymous
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and tamron

Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakeCanonCamera ModelCanon EOS 20DPhotographerTommi J?ensivuImage-Specific Properties:Image Created2008:01:01 18:27:56Exposure Time6 secF-Numberf/8.0Exposure ProgramManualISO Speed Rating200Lens Aperturef/8.0Exposure Bias0 EVMetering ModePatternFlashNo FlashFocal Length17.00 mm
>> Anonymous
>>107569
If you need to fire your flash like 7-10 times per second with extreem shutter speed, then the wire is the only way to go, because it will _always_ trigger and is _always_ perfectly in sync.

But seriously, wires in studio suck, especially if you need more than one speedlight... just imagine the day you'll kick into it and your $5k camera and $2k lens and $1k strobe setup will crash on ground...
>> Anonymous
>>107645

Gaffer tape everything.
>> Anonymous
i have the Canon EF 50mm f/1,4, and im very pleased with the objective.