mrladewig
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 p.1 #10 · Tripod question / 17-40MM or EF 24-70mm | |
I can't speak for the aftermarket battery grips. I have the Canon one for my XT and I don't particularly like it. I only use it when I'm shooting with flash to give better balance and I'll probably use in on vacation when I want to take alot of vertical shots. Otherwise I find it just adds weight to the camera and for my needs, I'm usually trying to reduce weight in my camera kit. I focus on landscapes and do alot of hiking with my gear so camera weight is probably a little more important for me than most.
Based on what you are saying at the top of the thread, you want to focus on cars, people/portraiture/events/some sports.
These things don't have a strong requirement for a tripod. Perhaps your money would be better spent going towards a better flash or a second one and a bit of lighting gear like an umbrella and light stand. I'd recommend that you take some time and read the strobist blog, especially the introduction sections.
$100 doesn't give you enough budget to buy a high quality tripod. You'll likely find that you need a much better tripod than the 100 dollar model a little further down the road and that money will have been wasted.
I agree that the Manfrotto 3021 or 055 (they are the same) is a good baseline for a tripod and well over your $100 budget without a head. I personally chose a nice three way panning head with my first good tripod and I still think there are some significant advantages to this type of head, but I eventually moved to a ballhead because the weight is lower and I take my tripod hiking quite often. The three way panning heads can be a bit cheaper than the ballheads. For $100 more than the Manfrotto, you can get into some of the mid range carbon fiber tripods like Manfrotto, Giottos, Slik or Velbon. Carbon has better vibration dampening capabilities, its usually stronger and lighter than aluminum.
As far as flash is concerned, the 430EX and both 580EX models are E-TTL II compatible. The 430EX power is pretty close to the 580 and its a good starting point. But if you want to have off camera flash, you must get a 580EX, 580EXII or a ST-E2 to control the off camera flash (there are some other solutions too, but within the Canon flash line, this is how you have to do it). The ST-E2 is a specialty item. It isn't a flash, just an IR source for AF assist and a trigger for a remote flash. In this regard it doesn't matter whether you buy the 430EX first or second. You still have to buy a 580 to control it off camera. You can of course opt to buy two 580s as the 580 can be set to slave mode as well, but at roughly twice the cost of the 430, its an expensive way to get a slave.
Anyways, I think if I were you, I would step back and look at my priorities and then focus my purchase power in that direction.
Edited on Dec 14, 2007 at 11:26 PM
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