Decisions, decisions

[Alex]

Hi all,

I need your advice. My modest beginner kit now includes:

D70 body
18-70 (the kit lens)
70-300 G
1 Gig card

My wife decided to give me a birthday present in a form of Nikon gear of my choice.

Option 1: 50 mm f 1.8 lens + 1 gig extra CF card + mini Trekker

Option 2: sb800

I'm inclined towards option 2, although 50 mm would be nice for the upcoming trip to Thailand...

Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Thanks
Alex

[big pix]

.......50mm 1.8 would be nice but you have 50mm with your kit lens, so save your pennies and get the 50mm 1.4 later and take the sb800 as you will get a lot of use from this piece of equiptment......

[Alex]

Thanks, bigpix. I think the same. I have 50 mm, wish it was 1.8 though.

Cheers
Alex

[pl55]

I'm with Bigpix - the SB800 is an awsome flash light - will help you with dayt and night photography . Great with the kit lens and the 70-300 .


You got a great wife. I wish my wife let me buy the 70-200VR for my 50th birthday.


Good luck.

[Link]

I'd recommend the 50mm pack... A good way to get nice depth of field when you take portraits in Thailand. Plus, if you don't take your laptop with you, a second 1 GB card will come handy!

Link.

[Sheetshooter]

As one who generally finds on-camera flash to be something of an abomination I guess I would have to say the lens is the best option. Witht he trip in mind that fast 50mm (or the 35mm 1:2) and a Leitz table top tripod and Leitz ball head would prove most advantageous in capturing images with their natural radiance.

Cheers and happy birthday when it comes around.

[Alex]

Thanks guys. I'm even more indecisive now
Sheetshooter - what is so special about that tripod set up?

Thanks
Alex

[Sheetshooter]

It folds up to next to nothing and is extremely rigid when locked. It can be used in all sorts of ways - on a table (as implied), against a wall or tree trunk, as a chest-pod .... the only limitation is your imagination. And, together with a cable release, it does away with a whole bag of lights.

[Alex]

Thanks for the explanation, Sheetshooter.

Alex

[Antsl]

Hi Alex,

In trying to help you answer your question I would suggest for a start that you have a think about the images that you prefer to make.

If you are likely to be taking lots of photos of friends inside at parties or events then I would lean towards getting the flash; if like me though you prefer to work with available light (so that you do not kill the mood of the scene) then I would be getting the 50mm package.

My advice though from a more financial consideration is that you go for the 50mm, the 1 gig card and the trekker pack. Now considering that you are only going to get f1.4 envy with time my suggestion would be to forget the trekker and put the extra money into the upgrade from f1.8.

Consideration two is that while you are in Thailand have a look at getting an SB-800 over there, simply because they are nearly half the price in Asia as they are in Australia.

Hope this does not get you even more confused!

[Alex]

Thanks, Antsl.

I think the prices in Thailand for photog. gear are more expensive than Australia, unlike in HK and Singapore.

I'm still more inclined to go for sb800 as I take a lot of indoor photos.

I'll keep you posted.

Alex

[Antsl]

Sounds fair .... just remember to buy within a month of travel so that you can claim back your GST as you leave the country! It is about $60 or $70 on the purchase of your flash that will get credited on to your credit card by the Tourist Tax Refund Service while you are away! Enjoy!

[genji]

I think the prices in Thailand for photog. gear are more expensive than Australia, unlike in HK and Singapore.

Alex

i agree, equipment prices in thailand aint cheap as compared to HK.

if you are visiting thailand why not stop over in HK beforehand?

[birddog114]

I think the prices in Thailand for photog. gear are more expensive than Australia, unlike in HK and Singapore.

Alex

i agree, equipment prices in thailand aint cheap as compared to HK.

if you are visiting thailand why not stop over in HK beforehand?

If you want a cheap flight then you can't take both destinations in your travel, unless you go to Europe then you may stopover HKG on the way to or on the way back.

[genji]

I think the prices in Thailand for photog. gear are more expensive than Australia, unlike in HK and Singapore.

Alex

i agree, equipment prices in thailand aint cheap as compared to HK.

if you are visiting thailand why not stop over in HK beforehand?

If you want a cheap flight then you can't take both destinations in your travel, unless you go to Europe then you may stopover HKG on the way to or on the way back.

back from dinner already! thought you guys would stay up much later...

[birddog114]

Yep! Lot of fun guys! a hold bunch of friends around, enjoyed!

[birddog114]

Alex,
Request more and you'll have the approval! a new 80-400VR, it's more nicer!!!!!

[Alex]

Thanks, guys. Birdiy - good to hear the dinner was fun.

So I can claim duty refund on equipment I buy from you provided it's within 1 months of my departure?

Alex

[birddog114]

Thanks, guys. Birdiy - good to hear the dinner was fun.

So I can claim duty refund on equipment I buy from you provided it's within 1 months of my departure?

Alex

Yes, provided you paid GST on your purchases prior to your departure.
Pls. note: Prices in the Bargain section are method order II

[Alex]

Thanks, guys. Birdiy - good to hear the dinner was fun.

So I can claim duty refund on equipment I buy from you provided it's within 1 months of my departure?

Alex

Yes, provided you paid GST on your purchases prior to your departure.
Pls. note: Prices in the Bargain section are method order II

Aha.. Are the prices by method II include GST or not? I will purchase an sb 800 from you birdie as soon as I know the fate of a 3 bids I placed on lenses in ebay. If I get outbid then I'm ordering from you

Alex

[birddog114]

Thanks, guys. Birdiy - good to hear the dinner was fun.

So I can claim duty refund on equipment I buy from you provided it's within 1 months of my departure?

Alex

Yes, provided you paid GST on your purchases prior to your departure.
Pls. note: Prices in the Bargain section are method order II

Aha.. Are the prices by method II include GST or not? I will purchase an sb 800 from you birdie as soon as I know the fate of a 3 bids I placed on lenses in ebay. If I get outbid then I'm ordering from you

Pls. read the the two methods of ordering in the Information section of this forum.
Alex

[Alex]

By the way, did I tell you that after visiting eBay last night, I got lens last bad ??

I got outbidden on one already 17-55 f2.8

Alex

[birddog114]

By the way, did I tell you that after visiting eBay last night, I got lens last bad ??

I got outbidden on one already 17-55 f2.8

Alex

Alex,
With those range of lens, I don't think you can be a winner with a low premium

[Alex]

By the way, did I tell you that after visiting eBay last night, I got lens last bad ??

I got outbidden on one already 17-55 f2.8

Alex

Alex,
With those range of lens, I don't think you can be a winner with a low premium

I hope not, so that I can get the flash

Alex