p.2 #1 · Build The Optimum Serious Hobbyist's $2,500 Kit
dmcharg wrote:
50D+17-55 2.8+70-200F4L would be my choice. A really great 2 lens setup. By all means add a prime or TC later but this setup gives you the best of both worlds, excellent IQ and the flexibility of having a zoom. Oh and fewer lens to carry around as well. Either of these lens will deliver excellent portraits so forget the prime unless you need F1.8.
+1 or Tokina 11-16 ,Canon 17-55, canon 55-250 with 40d if you are primarly landscape.
p.2 #2 · Build The Optimum Serious Hobbyist's $2,500 Kit
I'll be forwarding the link to this discussion to a friend (And I think it's a great topic) & I've asked the same question in the Nikon forum. Thanks for the topic, I'm very interested in the advice it will bring as a whole.
p.2 #3 · Build The Optimum Serious Hobbyist's $2,500 Kit
Doesn't it depend on what you like photographing?
And what happens to your images? Print (if so..size) or net viewing?
It is all a matter of taste...with that money I would look at a MF range finder with lenses such as the Mamiya7 and a V700 and basic dev gear.....heaven!!
p.2 #4 · Build The Optimum Serious Hobbyist's $2,500 Kit
To me, "decent AF" rules out the rebel line...I'd go with a used 7D (1000), a used Sigma 10-20 (325), a used Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 non is (325), a 70-200mm f/4 non is (500), a canon 60mm 2.8 (covers portrait and macro for 350 or so). If you'd rather low low light than macro, get a 50mm 1.4.
p.2 #5 · Build The Optimum Serious Hobbyist's $2,500 Kit
This is my actual kit. I do both stills and video. I am quite happy with this setup for both:
* Canon T4i - $600 new in B&S
* Canon 24-105 IS 4.0 - $730 used or $750 new on eBay
* Canon 70-200 4.0 - $420 used on B&S
* Canon 17-40 4.0 - $500
Those are 3 Canon L lenses, all good quality. Total $2,250
For video add:
Canon 18-135 IS STM - $250 as part of T4i kit
For portraits add?:
Canon 50 1.8 - $70 used
That is what I own right now, down from 14-15 lenses in the spring. I also have a 40 mm STM for video, $150.
I don't know if I would have both that and the 50 if I didn't already have the 50.
The 9 cross point autofocus on the T4i is the same as on the 60D, so that is better than some of the older bodies. It also has the newer Digic 5 processor, so it can do hand held multi-exposure noise reduction, in camera HRD, and 5fps with a buffer depth of 22 JPEG. With a fast card it can continue shooting at about 3 fps after the buffer fills.
For video it has auto focus in video mode, as well as both Phase Detection and Contrast Detection auto focus in Live View. It has a touch screen LCD which I really like, plus face tracking auto focus, etc. I am getting rid of my camcorders and using the T4i in their place, stretching the range of DSLR video down a bit.
As a 20+ year pro, I was quite happy to use the T4i for everything. I did add the 5DIII specifically for low light/high ISO event work at 6400 ISO and above, along with the 70-200 2.8 IS.
The T4i is my 2nd favorite camera ever, just behind the Canon 1DsII, which I bought for $8,000 in 2004.
p.2 #7 · Build The Optimum Serious Hobbyist's $2,500 Kit
Easy with $2K set:
Camera body with great AF and a frame rate of 8 fps or better: $600 - 1D2(N) or 5D
Wide angle lens for landscapes + Mid-range, walk-around zoom: $600 - EF 17-40L
Telephoto lens (prime or zoom) for graduations, zoo trips, airshows and the like: $500 - EF 70-200 F4 Non-IS
A portrait prime: $300 - EF 85f1.8 or EF 50f1.4
p.2 #9 · Build The Optimum Serious Hobbyist's $2,500 Kit
Body - 5Dc is an easy choice for $600ish (doesn't get you 6fps though). Like mttran said, 1d2n could be a good choice if 6fps is really important.
WA- tokina 16-28 f/2.8 $600 used. Rivals the canon 16-35 in IQ. Trade off is no filters.
Midrange zoom - Canon 28-70 f/2.8L for $750ish
Tele - 70-200 f/4L non-IS for $500ish
Portrait - Canon 85 f/1.8 or 100 f/2. $300-350
I tend to favor fast apertures so that was my main goal here. Everything on this list has excellent image quality. I'd soon add a 35mm f/2 or 40mm f/2.8 because they are so versatile. I might also suggest dumping a midrange zoom for primes with better IQ.
You didn't mention flashes but since others have, I'll add that Yongnuo flashes are an excellent value for a hobbyist. They are not quite as well built as Canon's flashes but have comparable capabilities for much, much less. For example, the yn-565ex is an exact copy of the Canon 580ex II and only costs $150. If manual flash is ok, the yn-560 is only $60 and has the same power as the canon 580ex II as well!
Also, watch for deals on the Canon direct store's refurbished lenses. They have 20% off + free shipping every few months.
p.2 #10 · Build The Optimum Serious Hobbyist's $2,500 Kit
If you really want to be cheap about your hobby, 1.6X is the way to go.
I have over 40 lens for the EF mount and only kit zoom lens for the EFS body. I am satisfied with what it does and its image reproduction quality. Keep in mind that correct exposure will maximize your output. Kit lens is not as forgiving but you will get your shot when you needed.
The EFS lens combo isn't bad at all.
T3i or 60D or T4i $500-$800 with 18-55 IS
EFS 10-22 used about $600. The best wide and comparable to the full frame quality.
EFS 18-55 IS free with kit. Awesome for budget in a pinch. I always use this for family trips and its IS system works great ( even when I am on the roller coaster ride and taking photo from it )
EFS 55-250 IS $100 with kit or $150. This lens focus pretty fast. Good enough for baseball games I have attended.
EF 50mm 1.8 $100 or 50mm 1.4 used for less than $300
This would give you about less than $2000. This even leaves room for more professional body like the 7D.
p.2 #11 · Build The Optimum Serious Hobbyist's $2,500 Kit
In canon you have some great options that will meet your needs. I'd suggest buying lenses that will be useable/transferable on to a full-frame body should you decide to move that direction in the future. To me it is a no-brainer to begin with the 7D. Although it is maligned by some, with practice it is an amazing universal body. It is my go-to camera for wildlife (a used 7D can be had for around $1000). Next purchase the original 70-200 f4L non-IS. Again, an amazing lens for the money. These can be found everywhere for around $600. I'd also recommend getting a tripod mount for it so that you can use it for slower landscape work. Non-oem mounts can be found for less than $100. So, $1700 spent and $800 to go... Find yourself a used 17-40L lens. Just like the 70-200L, this is a classic, wonderfully sharp and a pleasure to use. Until 2011, these two lenses and a 300 f2.8IS were all I used on various 1-series bodies. The new lenses may be a tad sharper, but the difference is trivial if you know how to process your work. By the way, if you want to go wider, then get a DX (or EF-S series) ultra wide. My wife opted for the 12-24 f4DX vII by Tokina over the Canon 10-22, as we both prefer non-variable apertures and she wanted a wider lens. The difference in sharpness was negligible. Regardless, a high quality wide-angle zoom is around $600. You've got $200 left and I'd suggest you get the new pancake 40mm f2.8 STM. This is a fun a little lens, great for carrying everywhere and is amazingly sharp. You can see the quality in the landscape on this blog post: http://bruceleventhal.blogspot.com/2012/10/tip-96-instinctaf.html I use this lens on my 5D II all the time and love it.
You've go $50 left over, so go take someone out for dinner.
cheers,
bruce
p.2 #12 · Build The Optimum Serious Hobbyist's $2,500 Kit
For crop I'd go with Nikon as I'm a fan of the newer Sony sensors:
-D7000 or D5100
-Sigma 10-20
-Sigma or Tamron 17-50
-Nikon 55-300
-Nikon 85 or 50 1.8G
For FF I'd get
-5D
-17-40L
-Tamron 28-75
-Tamron 70-300 VC
-85 1.8
My personal kit, which ran about $2500 total, is a 5D, 17-40L, Sigma 50 1.4, 85 1.8, and a Sony NEX-5N with kit lens.
p.2 #16 · Build The Optimum Serious Hobbyist's $2,500 Kit
Canon 60D ($800)
Sigma 30 f/1.4 ($400)
Sigma 17-50 f/2.8 OS HSM ($500) [or a Canon 15-85 IS USM if landscape is the focus]
Tamron 70-300 VC USD ($300)
Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 ($550)
That clocks in a bit over $2500. If there were more of a landscape focus, I'd probably toss out the Sigma 30, and get a decent tripod, ball head, L-bracket, and a couple of filters with the $400.
Interestingly, things would be different with Nikon:
Hm, I've got $250 left over. You could exchange the 50 1.8 for a Sigma 17-50 2.8 or what not... just tweak the kit a bit. Or perhaps shoot for a SB-700.
If landscape were the focus, again, tripod, L-bracket, etc., and the lenses would be Tokina 11-16 f/2.8, Nikon 16-85 [or a Sigma 17-50: more generalist], Nikon 70-300.
