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record highs for the AUD, xhange rates are effectively 0.97...i mean WOW....come on...dont hide...you've all got it...you know...that itchy finger hovering over the "add to shopping cart" or "buy it now" button.

things i've added to my cart but just haven't hit the button yet...
16-35VR
24/1.4
lx5

things i've hovered over...
ZF105
70-200VRII
sw150 filter kit

things i've looked at but then moved on very quickly in case of impulse purchase...
d7000 preorder
200/2
200/4 micro

i cant be the only one...let the truth set you free and admit your NAS...or CAS (?!) lol

Indeed.

Please, provide your parity party purchasing proposals.

Promptly.

I am more motivated by my impending trip South than the Dollar, but I am not complaining
The fact that we have just come into a bit of money helps too.

I have pushed the button on a Gitzo 3541LS & Lumix LX5.
I am hovering over RRS 55BH and associated brackets, and 70-200VRII
I am considering D7000, but want to hold one in my hands before I commit. I much prefer the ergonomics of the D200 to the D70s, and am worried the ergonomics will mirror the latter. The D300s may be a better option for me.
A new bag is in the offing too, as are lots of cards.

The 200F2 is currently in drool territory. I am eyeing off the one on offer here, but suspect it will get about as much use here as it had in its old home. It would be better off elsewhere.

My PPPP is for a 70-200vrii... just hard finding anyone with actual stock at a PPPP Price !!!

Mr Darcy wrote:Lumix LX5..

ohh...pls share your thoughts.

Mr Darcy wrote:I am considering D7000, but want to hold one in my hands before I commit.

I was hoping to be able to post a report of what they're like by now. There was a Nikon event last Wednesday evening, where a play with both the D3100 and D7000 was promised.

While the 3100 was there - and it's a very nice little camera - the 7000 was AWOL. I was not exactly impressed (with its non-attendance), but kept my feelings well contained.

I also had a vigorous discussion with a Nikon person regarding pricing, and let him know where I felt that the D7000 needs to be priced within our market.

One interesting item that he shared with me was that the retailers here do NOT want to see parity pricing. They want to maintain their current margins. What a bunch of morons. Seriously. The market will move, with them, or without them!

Like Greg I have been more focused on the coming trip South than the exchange rate and have made a few purchases in the last month or two.

These have included 300mm f2.8, TC20E III, Gitzo GM3551 monopod, Arca-Swiss Z1 ballhead, Hejnar rail, Sunwayfoto clamps, 16GB Sandisk Extreme CF card, Think Tank 300-600 Hydrophobia rain cover, Think Tank Airport International V2.

I have an Arca-Swiss adjustable L-bracket on the way. I had one sent the day after they were released but didn't realise there were two mount sizes and initially got the wrong one. I was about to pick up an 85mm f1.4G (not necessarily for Antarctica) but lost the chance and I'll wait for another at the same price. I'll get a 14-24mm in due course and probably a Wimberly Sidekick.

The Hejnar rail I'll probably use for long lens support in conjuction with a RRS CB-YS Y-Support. I'll test first to see how useful that would be. If that makes sense I expect to get another rail for single-row panoramas in conjunction with the Arca-Swiss adjustable L-Support, otherwise I'll use the Hejnar rail. I'll also probably get a Sunwayfoto panning clamp for panoramas.

I'm looking at getting some extra gear, what places are recommended since the dollar is so high. Also because my sister in in holidaying at the US so may save some postage!

If the total is $1k or more you'll pay GST when the goods arrive here. Be sure to factor that into your calculations.

Where would you buy from specifically to get these bargains? BHphoto??

surenj wrote:Where would you buy from specifically to get these bargains? BHphoto??

bh, adorama or fleabay

surenj wrote:Where would you buy from specifically to get these bargains? BHphoto??

I bought the tripod ($750) from Adorama, along with some extra feet (Spike & BigFoot) & a Gepe Extreme case.
These last were at fotoreisel for $30.( I bought some there too!) At Adorama they were $18. Postage would have been a killer, but given the tripod was coming anyway, so no big deal. The LX5 came from fotoreisel.

Yes Cam, I bought the blue one. I got home and Pam said "Red & Green? But you're colour blind!" I said "Doh!" Or at least my generation's version of same.

And yes Rooz & Cam, I will try to get my thoughts on the LX5 up some time soon, but I'm busy ATM.

gstark wrote:One interesting item that he shared with me was that the retailers here do NOT want to see parity pricing. They want to maintain their current margins. What a bunch of morons. Seriously. The market will move, with them, or without them!

I am not sure what the Nikon person meant by "current margins" because my view from the front sees an average of 2% on Nikon and Canon gear unless you get lucky. There are some backroom dealing (rebates, budget bonuses) but I hardly see these as "margin".....

Personally I am hovering over a Samyang 85mm f/1.4...and screaming NO to myself and eyeing off the new Nikon trio (24/35/85 1.4)

aim54x wrote:Personally I am hovering over a Samyang 85mm f/1.4...and screaming NO to myself and eyeing off the new Nikon trio (24/35/85 1.4)

imho the samyang is a mistake. if you cant afford the G or a good used D, then the next and only other option would be the sigma 85/1.4 which is looking very tidy indeed.

Rooz wrote:

aim54x wrote:Personally I am hovering over a Samyang 85mm f/1.4...and screaming NO to myself and eyeing off the new Nikon trio (24/35/85 1.4)

imho the samyang is a mistake. if you cant afford the G or a good used D, then the next and only other option would be the sigma 85/1.4 which is looking very tidy indeed.

I'd go without before I buy another Shitma.....

I am tempted by the Samyang purely because the reviews are bordering on unbelievable. But I think I have my heart set on the G...even though I doubt I would ever use any of the 85's for what they were designed for

Sample variation may be a problem with the Sigma 85mm f1.4 though that seems to affect some Sigma lenses more than others. If it's like the 50mm f1.4 according to reviews, the big problem could be focus accuracy which to me is a very important factor.

The Samyang of course is manual focus only. That might be OK for studio shots but is likely to be a handicap for candid portraits.

I've had my eye on a 16mm 2.8 Nikkor fisheye for a while. The price got as low as AU$804 about 2 months back then crept up again, but I've just purchased today from d-d-electronics in Singaopore at AU$761 - under the magic 1K for GSTand even once freight is added it's still under AU$800.

Holy Carp! The Canon 70 200 F4 L is only $651 from DD electronics. Those guys have good prices on lens at the moment!

surenj wrote:Holy Carp! The Canon 70 200 F4 L is only $651 from DD electronics. Those guys have good prices on lens at the moment!

Their prices vary more than their aussie counterpart (d-d-photographics) even though the delivery is handled by d-d-photographics. Generally the Singapore store is lower prices than the aussie one. I've dealt with them before (bought my D700 from them) and they're reasonably quick as well. The aussie site has that lens for $790 incl GST. Interestingly the IS version of that lens is only listed on the aussie site.

stubbsy wrote:I've had my eye on a 16mm 2.8 Nikkor fisheye for a while.

I'm resisting the obvious quip ...

I've just purchased today .... still under AU$800.

Noice ... an absolute PPPPbargain.

stubbsy wrote:I've had my eye on a 16mm 2.8 Nikkor fisheye for a while.

I can see someone hanging on to their D700

that is a great lens at a very good price.

radar wrote:

stubbsy wrote:I've had my eye on a 16mm 2.8 Nikkor fisheye for a while.

I can see someone hanging on to their D700

that is a great lens at a very good price.

Hahaha, yes, might end up being the D300 that goes up for sale just in time for Xmas

Hi All

I decided to take the risk and order through DD Electronics as Stubbsy has done. Well bugger me, I ordered late Friday so I knew nothing would happen till monday and I got my lenses today. That is what I call service. Thanks for posting that site Peter I will be using them again thats for sure.

Regards
Peter

Yep - great value on the dollar. I have not bought any photo gear but did indulge myself with a Sony 3D TV, Sony 3D blu-ray (from the states) and a new Onkyo receiver.

sirhc55 wrote:Sony 3D TV, Sony 3D blu-ray (from the states)

elaborate pls...

Rooz wrote:

sirhc55 wrote:Sony 3D TV, Sony 3D blu-ray (from the states)

elaborate pls...

A little misleading, the TV is not from the States, just the blu-ray player.

The TV is the HX800 and I can highly recommend this series. The player is the S570 which has been modified for both DVD and blu-ray region free.

gstark wrote:Indeed.

Please, provide your parity party purchasing proposals.

Promptly.

Personally I prefer only peeking at possible photographic purchases because my prying partner peruses my perfunctorily platinum plastic payments.

I have actually purchased tickets for the States for next February. Hopefully the PP will still be high-ish by then as I would like to acquire a second hand 1D Mkiii if possible, or maybe a 7D, to partner my 70-200 for my missionary/photographic expeditions etcetera.

We will see.

sirhc55 wrote:A little misleading, the TV is not from the States, just the blu-ray player. The player is the S570 which has been modified for both DVD and blu-ray region free.

Chris, how do you operate the DVD player with US voltage etc? Is it multi-voltage like most camera chargers etc? I ask this because I am in the market for one and have very little idea about DVD players. All I know is that you get much better value for the dollar in the USA than here.

ozimax wrote:

sirhc55 wrote:A little misleading, the TV is not from the States, just the blu-ray player. The player is the S570 which has been modified for both DVD and blu-ray region free.

Chris, how do you operate the DVD player with US voltage etc? Is it multi-voltage like most camera chargers etc? I ask this because I am in the market for one and have very little idea about DVD players. All I know is that you get much better value for the dollar in the USA than here.

You do have to be carefull. The Sony is 110-240 so it’s OK. However, a Pioneer receiver I was looking at from the US was only 120V. I do have a HD-DVD player from the states that is 120V and for this I use a step down transformer. TV is a no-no from the US as the frequencies and format are not compatible.

Many products these days have auto-ranging voltages and this is most certainly the best way to go.

ozimax wrote:Hopefully the PP will still be high-ish by then as I would like to acquire a second hand 1D Mkiii if possible, or maybe a 7D

One way protect from the falling PP, you can purchase a Visa Travel card in USD, that gives you the USD at todays rate minus the banks exchange rate gouge, oops transaction fees. It's a bit of a gamble but if you were to expect the PP to drop significantly, that would help ease the pain.

André

2 x SB-900 for me Arrived yesterday - now have 3 SB-900 and an SB-400 for the portable strobist kit

Not new... but who cares!

Canon AV-1 w/ FD 35-70 f2.8-4

$30 delivered.

Over the last week I've convinced myself to get the 70-200 f2.8 V2.

I have visited the RRS and B&H web pages over the weekend.

New legs from B&H and head from RRS on the way.

(Now only need new face & six-pack!)

the foto fanatic wrote:head from RRS on the way.

which head trev ?

Rooz wrote:which head trev ?

I don't know about trev, but FWIW I went down a similar route. Except it was Adorama (Postage was cheaper Tripod cost the same) & RRS. I got a Gitzo 3541 & RRS BH55 with LR2. Magic.

I also am getting the BH55 with LR from RRS. I must say that I had all sorts of difficulty with their web site - it took me two days to actually get an order confirmed.

My legs are the Gitzo 3530LS, and they are coming from B&H where they were on special.

Looking forward to assembling it all on arrival.

the foto fanatic wrote: I must say that I had all sorts of difficulty with their web site - it took me two days to actually get an order confirmed.

They are in the process of revamping the Website. Yes I noticed some teething problems too, but the new one seems a vast improvement over the old one.

Brought the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM II this morning.
All my gear (except the 100-400) has been a grey import and I've had no dramas with any of it, so I decided on grey again for this lens. It was $1k cheaper than any retail stock in Oz.

Wink wrote:Brought the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM II this morning.
All my gear (except the 100-400) has been a grey import and I've had no dramas with any of it, so I decided on grey again for this lens. It was $1k cheaper than any retail stock in Oz.

Where did you buy from? (If you don't mind saying)

DWI.
It's my second purchase from DWI and the service has been great.
My other gear has come from Citiwide, who I normally find are a bit cheaper, but they don't have any of the more recently released lenses.

trev/ greg,

why the RRS ballhead over any other premium brand like arcatech or wimberley etc ?
why the lever release over screw release ?
if i buy the replacement foot for my 300/2.8VR do i need anotehr plate for that to fit in the QRC or does it fit right in ?

ty.

Chris

I'm not an expert on tripods by any means, except that I'm heartily sick of the slippage I get with my Manfrotto head.

RRS is a company that has been around for twenty years making ballheads primarily and tripods too although they are not as well-known for that. Wimberley and Arca are both certainly very good brands as is Kirk - I don't think you would have an issue with any in that group.

If you are thinking quick release, a lever would have to be quicker than a screw release. Just my thought process - maybe someone could prove me wrong.

RRS lever only works with RRS plates. Their web pages say that the QR screw version will work with any plate, but as plates are relatively inexpensive, I thought I might as well buy the plate too.

Hope that is informative. Greg may have more to add.

Chris

RRS, Arca-Swiss, Kirk and Markins all make great ballheads. The same probably applies to the obscure and cheaper Photo Clam (a Korean brand like Markins). It might even apply to the Chinese SunwayFoto who are clearly ambitious but there is no feedback on their products. Acratech also make good products but their weight-carrying capacity is not as high. I have read you need three times the rated capacity for truly smooth operation without slippage. There are many other alternatives that are not satisfactory. Gitzo, for example, make great tripods but lousy ballheads. Wimberly doesn't make ballheads, they only make Gimbal heads.

Arca-Swiss was the original manufacturer and in theory there is an "Arca-Swiss standard" for the mounts. In practice, RRS, Wimberly, Kirk and I think Markins have a slightly wider mount and a different bevel angle. Acratech and SunwayFoto are compatible with Arca-Swiss. There are also lots of other obscure and often quite expensive brands that are likely to be incompatible with everything else (though you probably won't encounter those anyway).

The usual received wisdom is that lever clamps are not compatible with both RRS and Arca Swiss mounts but screw clamps are generally no problem. However, I have found my Arca-Swiss and SunwayFoto lever clamps work with both Arca-Swiss mounts and an RRS-based third party US rail without adjustment. The rail is tighter but still works OK.

To my mind there are two main advantages to the lever clamps: (1) they are much quicker to operate and usually have a safety mechanism so you can't accidentally release them; (2) they are more secure because you set the tension and that's what you get all the time. With a screw-mounted clamp there is I think more risk of a superficial bond (though other safety measure such as pins may come into play).

When I got my first RRS gear, A BH40 & L-Plate for D200, I really wasn't aware of the other premium brands. I guess that's the real reason behind "why RRS & not the others" for me.

However, I had tried various other QR Plate systems. Can't tell you brands, but they weren't Arca-Swiss style. All of them put a great big plate on the bottom which you couldn't reasonably leave on the camera. SO that meant that first you screw the plate to the camera, then drop it into the plate mechanism - a fiddly process. Then you take the photo, then you take it out of the tripod, then you remove the plate. A painful process, and worse than simply screwing the camera to the tripod.

With RRS OTOH, the plate is very slimline & on the D200 I barely even register it's presence. SO it stays on the camera full time. That makes the quick release system truly quick. I can have the camera mounted on the tripod & secured in less than 5 seconds. That means that I use the tripod more because it is easy to do. That means that my photos are sharper & better composed. I also use the registration markings quite regularly to try landscape/portrait without having to recompose significantly. Or even changing lenses, but leaving the centre of the photo intact.

Why lever? Because it is easier than quicker than screw mount.
Why Screw? because you have more adjustment. This will tolerate other brand plates better. You can also just barely crack it open which makes very fine adjustment easier.
Personally I have standardised on RRS & if I want to adjust slightly, I move the head, not the plate. I also found the screw head on the B2Pro to be a pain. Pointing backwards, it pokes in my face (I am left eyed. that may make a difference.) Pointing forward, it is under the lens and awkward to get to. It is no drama on a lens mount as it comes out the side.
D200 with RRS plate in place:


Not quite so neat on the LX-5 (The extra bit LHS was just to get it to pose for the photo:


B2Pro wit D200:




LR with D200:
 BTW all photos showing the D200 were taken with the LX-5

Finally, on compatibility:

RRS wrote:A Note About Compatibility
There are a number of mail-order companies that sell gear based on the Arca-Swiss quick-release standard. In addition to Really Right Stuff, companies such as Wimberley, Markins, AcraTech, Foba, Novoflex, and Kirk sell gear that is commonly marketed as "Arca-Swiss style" or "Arca-type" or "Arca-Swiss compatible." In general, most of this gear is cross-compatible. For example, a Really Right Stuff L-plate will work just fine with the quick-release clamp on your Markins ballhead. And your Wimberley lens plates will work great with any Really Right Stuff clamp and ballhead. The sole exception to this is our lever-release clamp; read more about our lever-release clamp compatiblity here.

Really Right Stuff plates do not work with any Manfrotto, Bogen, or Gitzo quick-release clamps. Those companies have their own proprietary quick-release systems. They are not Arca-Swiss compatible. Only Manfrotto plates work with Manfrotto clamps. Only Bogen plates work with Bogen clamps. Only Gitzo plates work with Gitzo clamps.

and

RRS wrote:WARNING ABOUT OUR LEVER-RELEASE CLAMPS
Due to wide variations in other brands of Arca-Swiss compatible plates, we recommend using our lever-release clamps only with Really Right Stuff or Wimberley brand quick-release plates. If you own other brand plates, see this note about our plate exchange policy.

Our lever-release clamps are not user adjustable, so the plate that you use in our lever-release clamp has to be EXACTLY the right width. Only Really Right Stuff and Wimberley build plates to the same exacting tolerances. But screw-knob style clamps are much more forgiving of slight differences in plate width since you control the clamp jaws by turning the screw. So all Arca-Swiss style quick-release plates will work in all screw-knob versions of Arca-Swiss style clamps.

To summarize: all Really Right Stuff plates and rails will work in all screw-knob versions of Arca-Swiss style clamps.This includes screw-knob versions of Arca-Swiss style clamps from Markins, AcraTech, Novoflex, Arca-Swiss, and Kirk. BUT only Really Right Stuff and Wimberley plates and rails are guaranteed to work with Really Right Stuff lever-release clamps.

I had forgotten that RRS lever clamps aren't adjustable. That's particularly a problem for other plates since their plates are wider.

Most of the other lever clamps are adjustable, though. Kirk and Acratech only make screw clamps. Arca-Swiss and SunwayFoto lever clamps are adjustable in the same way (SunwayFoto being a clone). Markins and Photo Clam are also adjustable but for Markins you need a screwdriver and that would make it a hassle unless you had just one kind of plate. Mind you, it's best if you don't need to adjust them anyway except initially.

Arca-Swiss lever clamps are too expensive to buy separately (though the price for a ballhead and clamp is OK) and you can only get the Photo Clam lever clamps with a ballhead. So if you want a second, adjustable lever clamp the likely options are SunwayFoto and Markins.

thanks guys for giving me all of that feedback. just to make sure i get this right b4 i order.

bh55 LR ballhead, ( that comes with the QR lever style clamp right ?).
d700 QR plate

now...for mounting the 300/2.8VR...
LCF14 replacement foot
MPR113 multi purpose rail

thats all i need right ?

Ballhead and plate, OK.

LCF replacement foot may well be a good idea for the 300mm f2.8. I just got an ordinary clamp for mine.

I think you're saying you're intending to use the MPR113 rail for mounting the 300mm f2.8 but you don't need it for that because the replacement lens foot already has a plate/ mount built in. It's an alternative.

That 's probably all you need but you haven't said for what. I picked up a Hejnar 10" rail which I hope to find time to test out fairly soon. I'll check it out for use as a single-row panoramic rail with an adjustable Arca-Swiss L-bracket when it turns up and as a long lens support with the RRS Y-bracket (for which I'll use a jerry-rigged substitute for testing). If I find both options are useful to me I'll probably get a different rail for panoramas at the length I find appropriate. Lots of info on related matters here.

thanks mate, that makes perfect sense. the repalcement foot should be sufficient then.