Hiring camera gear???

[mudder]

G'day all,

I'm one of those that doesn't give a rats bum about which brand of camera I use or the label on the body... I happen to be using Nikon gear because when I first developed by addiction to photography (about 18 months ago) I just liked the way the D70 handled, the general ergonomics etc... Now I'd like to upgrade to the next level for reasons of maximum fine image detail and the ability to print large etc. also I'm after some reasonably low noise higher ISO ability... I'm not terribly fussed about how many frames per second etc, I do mainly landscape with some animal stuff (that's why I'm after good high ISO performance)... I don't do sports...

Anyway, I'm currently weighing up the options of crossing to the dark side and investing in a Canon 5D and either a 17-40L or a 24mm TS-E (tile/shift lens) for landscape. Will chase up probably a 100-400L later once the credit card has recovered...

So, my question...: Does anyone know where I can hire this sort of gear for a few days (maybe a week) to see if it's really what I want to do??? I'm in Melbourne so I assume I'd have to hire from somewhere down here...

Any tips?

[birddog114]

mudder,
You missed out the opportunity of receiving an email from Canon to swap your D70 with the Canon 5D.


Are you serious? but there're lot of Pros & Cons in between.

[mudder]

G'day Birdy,

Ha, the e-mail saga...

Definately interested in trying to work out what my next step is... I was considering the D200 but not sure now, the D2x is expensive and I think I'm becoming more landscape driven...

Assuming I can get the current $500 rebate from Canon, I can get a 5D for roughly the same cost as a D200. I could get a 5D and 17-40L for less than the cost of a D2X, so was considering which way to go...

Haven't tried the 5D so I'd love to try one before I commit to the $'s...

[stubbsy]

Andrew

One thing that came out quite strongly when I was researching the April Fools Day stuff was that the 5D and the D200 were bloody close in quality, but the D200 was cheaper and of course no need to dispose of lenses. See this on DPReview for example and this comprehensive 5 page head to head review of the two at digitalcamerainfo.

And both have banding issues - go figure!

Edit: Whatever you decide though, I'm certain the images you produce will be of the same high quality you currently produce. At those price points, they're all good cameras.

[birddog114]

Assuming I can get the current $500 rebate from Canon, I can get a 5D for roughly the same cost as a D200.

D200 is around $2600.00/ 5D is over $4K, after $500.00 rebate, its price is still the big gap with the D200.

[mudder]

G'day,

At the moment, the 5D appears to be available for about $3600 on e-bay, assuming I can get the $500 rebate that takes it to about $3100... If I'm spending that amount, the diff between $2600 and #3100 isn't the major thing, I just want to be able to stick with a body for a while...

The stuff I've seen from them (have grabbed quite a few canon 5D raw files) have been impressive...

[Glen]

Andrew, would research this thoroughly as stated by Birdy and Stubbsy, you want to make sure there is enough difference to justify extra lenses and cost.

Borges Imaging (03 9646 2399) hire 1Ds MK11 & 1D Mk11 bodies + lenses, would imagine they now have the 5D as well

[birddog114]

G'day,

At the moment, the 5D appears to be available for about $3600 on e-bay, assuming I can get the $500 rebate that takes it to about $3100... If I'm spending that amount, the diff between $2600 and #3100 isn't the major thing, I just want to be able to stick with a body for a while...

The stuff I've seen from them (have grabbed quite a few canon 5D raw files) have been impressive...

$3600.00 on eBay is not Canon Australia stocks, pls. double check!
And no $500.00 cash back on grey import.

The current price of Canon 5D in Australia and Canon Australia stock is varied in between $4300.00 - $4500.00.

[Glen]

Andrew, I wouldn't be going down the grey import route with a camera which may have banding issues. The 'doctor' thread on here says that 1/3 of digital bodies end up visiting the doctor. (or if you are feeling lucky, 2/3rds dont )

[birddog114]

What Canon tries to do is bringing the price of the Canon 5D to the level of 4K mark or a bit over after rebate.

Eventhough, not a real pissing contest in between 5D and D200 in pricing,

While the D200 was prematured release to combat against the 5D in pricing and market share, therefore the D200 is still "NO STOCK" in Nikon warehouses accross the globe due to many factors and issued which we have seen.

Both cams are good to what they were designed for, but their prices are not the same, equal or at least nearly matched.

[Nnnnsic]

It sucks that you're in Melbourne.

The people I work for are looking to rent their Canon kits to photographers last I heard.

[Glen]

Leigh, if the price was reasonable might be worth Andrew's time to come up for a weekend. Borges wanted $275 a day for the top unit

[Nnnnsic]

Wow.

I'll ask my people today or tomorrow how much the kit rental is.

I'd honestly have no idea, what with the range of gear in it.

[birddog114]

Wow.

I'll ask my people today or tomorrow how much the kit rental is.

I'd honestly have no idea, what with the range of gear in it.

What is the kit consisting of?

I might move my business to rental

Buy couple Pelican 1650 and setup our own kits.

[Nnnnsic]

I assume it's the same kit they lent me before.

[birddog114]

Yes, but sometime the photographers do not need the kit as you got or the kit is not suitable for them due to other lenses required by the photographer

[Glen]

Birddy, I reckon about $2k a day for your complete kit. Nice way to make a living


Leigh, Borge prices from last year, body only are 1Ds MK11, $275 day, $412 Weekend, 1D MK11, $220 day, $330 Weekend

D2x same as a 1D MK11

[mudder]

OK, spoke with Wes at Borges Imaging (and I must say he was VERY helpful, seemed a pleasure to deal with, I was quite impressed in that regard) and the duck's guts is:

- Expecting between $200 and $300 or so for 4 days for a 5D body.
- Expecting between $200 and $300 for a 16-35L (they're gonna check to see if they can provide a 17-40L but not expecting it, so I'll probably go with the 16-35)
- Normally 5D = about $500 - $700 for a week or so...
- Expect to be able to work out a deal for both etc...
- Need to work out insurance cover details

Have tentatively booked the body and 16-35L for my Tassie trip, that way I'll have my D70 + 12-24DX and a 5D + 16-35 and will take images from exact same tripod point etc so I should be able to reasonably compare (given the differences in lenses of course)...

Thanks heaps for the info guys... Much appreciated...

[Nnnnsic]

The Canon kit I had covers the range from 17-200... I'd imagine most people wouldn't need much more than that, especially with the full-frame.

Body only? Shit. That ain't cheap.

I'll call em up today and see if they'll tell me.

[birddog114]

mudder,
How can you run a comparision in the between of D70 + 12-24DX and a 5D + 16-35 .
They're too far difference.

[Glen]

mudder,
How can you run a comparision in the between of D70 + 12-24DX and a 5D + 16-35 .
They're too far difference.

You might need to hire a D2X as well Make it a real comparison PS You can hire the famous Sigma 12-24 for $200-300 for 4 days, also my 20mm 2.8 for $200-300, also kit lens for $200-300

[mudder]

The Canon kit I had covers the range from 17-200... I'd imagine most people wouldn't need much more than that, especially with the full-frame.

Body only? Shit. That ain't cheap.

I'll call em up today and see if they'll tell me.

G'day mate,
If you can point me in the direction of a better arrangement, I owe you a beer... Thanks for that...

mudder,
How can you run a comparision in the between of D70 + 12-24DX and a 5D + 16-35 .
They're too far difference.

The idea isn't to really compare a D70+lens to a 5D+lens, I'd expect a shitload of differeence to be honest (totally different market and price-range etc.) but mainly to see just how much difference there is...

I'm tempted to "upgrade" to something, just not sure what yet... I can only compare bodies accurately if I use the same lens, so I assume I can only really fairly compare Nikon bodies, any comparison between Nikon and Canon bodies will involve either different lenses, or the same lens but on an adaptor of some kind, so there'll alwys be variables when comparing across brands...

I was tempted by the D200 and have used a friends D200, bewdiful ergonomics... Just not sure about intimate fine detail with the D200, there'll always be amazing examples offered but it's difficult to get any comparison using same FOV of same subject etc...

... You might need to hire a D2X as well Make it a real comparison...

Excellent idea! Thanks... That would make a more valid comparison for the price range... I'll do that...

[Glen]

Andrew, to be honest I would see if I could do it over one day. Cheaper cost, allowing more to be spent on the final choice.

It is as boring as batshit comparing cameras and four days would be hard to keep the rigor up. I doubt you would want to do it for 4 days. Read the manual the night before then go flat out all day.

I would see if you have other interested Melbourne members who wish to get involved, maybe with a D200 or D2X, less to hire and a wider choice of units to compare.


Look forward to seeing your review.

Good luck

[Nnnnsic]

Indeed.

I've done a comparison between the D2x and the 1DsMk2 using the same range lenses and same test settings and while I haven't posted it yet, they were both as good as each other.

It's not exactly all that exciting.

You find out that the Canon is better at low noise but the Nikon has much more useful focus points (45 focus points that can't be moved and all lay in the centre make the focus points use a practically-DX based logic).

[mudder]

Andrew, to be honest I would see if I could do it over one day. Cheaper cost, allowing more to be spent on the final choice.

It is as boring as batshit comparing cameras and four days would be hard to keep the rigor up. I doubt you would want to do it for 4 days. Read the manual the night before then go flat out all day.

I would see if you have other interested Melbourne members who wish to get involved, maybe with a D200 or D2X, less to hire and a wider choice of units to compare.


Look forward to seeing your review.

Good luck

G'day mate,

I'm going on a four day workshop, dagging around Cradle Mountain so I thought that may be a good opportunity to both try them out in such a nice location, and also on the assumption that I drive the thing OK I'll have some nice images to play with too

Hmmm, wonder if I might be better off just doing the Cradle mountain trip with my D70 and worry about checking out the 5D when I get back... Hmmm...

[Greg B]

Hmmm, wonder if I might be better off just doing the Cradle mountain trip with my D70 and worry about checking out the 5D when I get back... Hmmm...

Absolutely. Checking out new gear in the field is going to be difficult, and less effective than in a more controlled environment.

[birddog114]

Andrew, to be honest I would see if I could do it over one day. Cheaper cost, allowing more to be spent on the final choice.

It is as boring as batshit comparing cameras and four days would be hard to keep the rigor up. I doubt you would want to do it for 4 days. Read the manual the night before then go flat out all day.

I would see if you have other interested Melbourne members who wish to get involved, maybe with a D200 or D2X, less to hire and a wider choice of units to compare.


Look forward to seeing your review.

Good luck

G'day mate,

I'm going on a four day workshop, dagging around Cradle Mountain so I thought that may be a good opportunity to both try them out in such a nice location, and also on the assumption that I drive the thing OK I'll have some nice images to play with too

Hmmm, wonder if I might be better off just doing the Cradle mountain trip with my D70 and worry about checking out the 5D when I get back... Hmmm...

mudder,
In a four days workshop, it's hard for you to experiment all Pros & Cons on both bodies, just enjoy with your D70 and do stuff later when you're free at home. Testing and evaluation required lot of time and in various shooting, workshop won't cut it.

Or if you have lot of spare changes and don't know where to put them, PM me and I'll have my bank account for you to deposit.

[mudder]

Thanks for all the great info guys, it's really helpful, ta...

After thinking about it, maybe I'm better off doing it later when I come back and organising a D2X as well at the same time... That way I can check all my options...

Re: the workshop, we're staying at the lodge at Dove lake and just hiking during the day, so I could rationalise lenses and carry the two bodies in the backpack no worries and would spend plenty of time at each location setting each up so I reckon it wouldn't be too bad effort wise...

Spose I was also hoping that if I happened to drive the 5D right and got some nice images, then it'd be a bonus while I'm there I suppose... Ah well, just gives me a good excuse to go back later, once I've made up my mind huh?

[Glen]

Andrew, comparing stuff is long and arduous. Why ruin a beaut 4 days with that? You have plenty to do without doing everything twice and lugging twice as much. Mate I am envious of you

[sirhc55]

Andrew - leave all of the still cameras at home and take a video