Friday, April 02, 2010

Can’t Stop Buying



Amateur photographer Mei Teng made two major ‘investments’ recently – a tripod and an external flash unit. She wrote in her blog: No more buying of stuff.

I giggled when I read her statement. I told myself the same thing when I bought a Canon flash (580EX II) last year, but now I am feeling itchy again. Here are a few gears in my wish list:


Canon EF 35mm F2

35mm prime lens

A 35mm prime lens will be great for indoor portrait – without the need to fire the flash. While my existing lens can take decent indoor pictures with flash on, sometimes I just wish to turn off the flash to create certain effects.

I am eying a Canon EF 35mm F2, if I can get a used unit at reduced price.


Wide-angle lens

Wide-angle lens exaggerates perspective, and is best for shooting landscape and architecture. Canon’s EF-S 10-22mm is one of the best options for crop camera, but it is also quite pricey. More likely I will consider third-party lenses, such as those from Tokina.

But there is another possibility. Get a Canon 5D mark II camera, and my standard zoom lens will suddenly become wide-angle! There is no need to buy a separate lens for wide-angle shots. (OK, I know your heads are spinning now, baffled by all those photographic jargons.)


Carbon fiber tripod

Light weight tripod

Tripod is essential for taking night photos. I plan to get a light weight tripod before I go to Hong Kong. The one I am using now is too heavy for travel.

Fortunately, my next travel destination is likely to be Java. I am in no hurry to get a new tripod.


Pocket Camera

I hardly bring my DSLR and lenses when I leave home. They are too heavy. A pocket camera would be useful for day-to-day snapshot.


OK, so many things in my mind. But ‘wants’ are not ‘needs’. I must control my desire…


22 comments:

  1. Haha...thank you for mentioning me :)

    Yeah...the Canon 10-22mm is very expensive. I believe so is the 35mm lens!

    People must be quite baffled as to why we photogs go crazy over gear and accessories.

    I might consider a carbon fibre one in the future. At the moment, I will stick to the Manfrotto but not for travelling overseas as it's quite heavy.

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  2. Any tips on starting out with the 580EXII? Briefly went through the manual....and already looks complicated.

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  3. All these must have cost you a few Ks? :( I am not as pro as you guys.

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  4. I have been thinking of getting a Canon macro lens but wants is not needs hence still waiting for the 'desire' to convince the 'control'....:-)

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  5. Hi Khengsiong!

    Baoru here. I've deleted my personal blog already. But please do visit my China blog--

    CNReviews.com

    I hope to see you there! :-)

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  6. well, if you are really into something, i guess it's very hard to runaway from your "desire".. start to save more money to satisfy your hobby.. :)

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  7. Mei Ting
    35mm f2 isn't expensive. Shashinki sells for RM1,195. But given its simple design, it should cost below RM1k.

    Regarding the flash - stick to ETTL and start playing with its 'head'. Perhaps one day we can do wireless flash together :P

    tekkaus
    >5k. And that hasn't include the money I spend on printing photos and joining model shooting group.

    Grass
    Macro lens is not cheap -_-"

    Baoru
    OK noted.

    SK
    Save more money is not good enough. I hope I can make money out of it :P

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  8. Wah you have expensive hobby there! :) Better not let my hubby get too close to you in case you infect him! LOL!

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  9. This 35mm isn't a L series lens then? L series lens are so expensive! Ok...thank you for your advice. I am still figuring out how to use it. I bought a weird looking Lambency diffuser (recommended by Shashinki)....the flash unit looked so funny with the big white diffuser.

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  10. wants vs needs.... totally feel the same with the whole temptation to buy.... each one has it's own purpose!! anyhow.. *controlling* for now..

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  11. Witch
    Photography, as a hobby, is still cheaper than 'playing' with cars.

    Mei Ting
    I can't afford L - except the cheapest one, 17-40L.

    lechua
    The mantra is 'control', LOL...

    wenn
    Yeah, expensive, unfortunately.

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  12. I have a question regarding the use of the 580EXII. Do you use a battery grip? I don't use one and I have problems handholding my camera due to the added weight of the speedlite. I have problem finding the optimal holding position when shooting in portrait. Would like your advice on this. Thanks :)

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  13. photography is a dang expensive hobby. i will acquire one huge ass canggih camera aka dslr when i enter workforce!
    i tend to treasure things more when i buy with my own money :)

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  14. Mei Ting
    I also don't have battery grip. Maybe you can still get one for your camera.

    annant
    You can start with pocket camera.

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  15. I am planing to get a tripod too. Maybe you can consider to get a good camera phone if you are looking for a point and shoot camera.

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  16. Haha, you are getting itchy fingers digging into your wallet for that new gadget?

    I guess it never ends, if you have a passion for photography you will buy, buy and buy! Haha!

    Luckily for me, I am satisfied with my LX3. No need DSLR at the moment. But external flash and wide-angle lens? Hmm, I may just invest a bit in that for my LX3 : )

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  17. Yes, hobbies are not cheap to maintain. Even something so simple as stamp-collecting can be a costly hobby.

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  18. pocket cam? LX3! :P though not exactly pocket-frenly

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  19. Leon
    I do have a Sony Ericsson camera phone. But its image quality isn't so great.

    foongpc
    I believe LX3 can't take external flash.

    happysurfer
    True. There are other most expensive hobbies.

    kyh
    Thanks. Considering.

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  20. A pocket camera and a tripod are great investments (I have both!).

    The first lens I bought (other than the 35 mm) was a 200 mm for portraits and better zoom for street photography. Didn't regret it!

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  21. Zhu
    Oh 200mm! That's great for candid!

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