Desire so much that when you make a list of it you realize you can't carry it all. Then you think about what you can carry and really need and the workable kit comes to mind. Buy that and be done with it!

So, what do you think? Will it work? The problem I'm having is that the "ideal" kit and the workable kit are so close but don't quite match. Of course the economically affordable kit and the workable kit are much more similar.

Ideal Kit
2x D300
10.5 fish
24 PC
50 f/1.4 (to be replaced with the 55 f/1.2 AFS VR )
105VR (maybe the Sigma 150)
12-24
17-55
70-200
200-400
1.7 TC
2 x SB800

Workable & In My Budget Kit:
D300
10.5 fish
50 f/1.4 (to be replaced with the 55 f/1.2 AFS VR )
105VR (maybe the Sigma 150)
12-24
17-55
70-200
300 f/4 AFS
1.7 TC
2 x SB800

So basically I drop a D300, the 24PC and swap the 200-400 for the 300 f/4

What do you shoot and how do you plan to carry this stuff has to be asked.

Wow.

If I had to do it with one sweep and had 10 grand...

D3
14-24
24-70
70-200
1.4/1.7 Tele
60 AFS
50 1.4
2 SB 800

If I had more money I would add in the 200-400 later. All set.

Chris

how could you leave off the 24-70? Thats just not possible.

Your "cure" only leads to BAS - Bag acquisition syndrome which is worse.

He solved NAS by replacing it with BAS. But he doesn't have NAS anymore Hey, André, are you in management by any chance?

williamkazak wrote:
What do you shoot and how do you plan to carry this stuff has to be asked.

William, great question. Two actually! I am an amature and a generalist. Thus I could not live without the 17-55 and 70-200 and the 1.7 TC. I find that I run against the following "needs": faster (50 f/1.4), closer (105VR) and am currently evaluating my needs for wider (12-24) for landscapes and longer (300 f/4 or 200-400) for wildlife, etc. I don't do much of the latter but think I would do a lot more if I had the lens to do it. Long glass is the biggest dilemma for me due to cost, weight and size. As for the specialty glass, I want a fisheye for the creative aspect and the 24PC would be nice for many applications I have run into ... but is something I could live without, thus the reason it is dropped on the affordable kit.

Chris Langer wrote:

Wow.

If I had to do it with one sweep and had 10 grand...

Chris, this is my plan over a number of years as my skill and interests keep growing.

BenV wrote:

how could you leave off the 24-70? Thats just not possible.

Easy. I like the DX format and have no plans to ever switch to the FX format. The 24-70 is a usless range for me on DX format. The difference between 17 and 24mm is HUGE but the difference between 55 and 70mm is minor. Unless you are posting wall-sized images that will be seen from 3 feet away, I doupt you will ever be able to tell the difference between the two lenses.

stompyq wrote

Your "cure" only leads to BAS - Bag acquisition syndrome which is worse.

Damb-it! I have been thinking a lot about which bag would work best for all this, and it changes depending on exactly which kit I go with .... GRRRRRRR!


Avi B

He solved NAS by replacing it with BAS. But he doesn't have NAS anymore Hey, André, are you in management by any chance?

Managment! Hey now, let's not get nasty!! I'm an engineer ... managers don't try to think clearly like my original thread.

I have two almost new crumplers I am going to sell so give me a shout!



Rene

Qranc wrote:
I have two almost new crumplers I am going to sell so give me a shout!



Rene


What in hell is a crumpler?


NEVER MIND ... a Google search quickly answered my silly question.

http://www.crumplerbags.com/Cart/index.php?catId=22

Thanks for being an enabler!

R

williamkazak wrote:
What do you shoot and how do you plan to carry this stuff has to be asked.


Carrying it IS a problem. I'm up to I think 10 Nikkors now and I never go anywhere with more than, maybe, 4 of them. I just pick the ones I think will be more useful.

BTW, speaking of carrying, my new 70-200 VR arrived Saturday and yesterday I took it for a walk around the neighborhood. I bought this lens for evening concert and event photography. Man, that lens is HEAVY. I had to keep switching arms to give them a rest.

I'm not that far from "Being There" regarding my dream kit, but financially I am quite a ways away. Not sure if it will happen, but my dream kit is;

D3, D300
35mm f2.0
50mm f1.4
14-24 f2.8
24-70 f2.8
70-200 f2.8vr with a 1.7x teleconverter
105mm f2.8vr
300mm f2.8vr
3 SB-800's

The only thing I need to get I don't already own off that list is the D3, 35mm f2.0, 105mm f2.8 macro, 300mm f2.8vr and 2 more SB-800's. Gee that will only set me back another 12k....yeah in my dreams....I'm ok for now.......

Andre,
Having used the Sigma 150, don't get it. I found it low contrast and to have muted color, I will agree that it looks like a bargain, but it most certainly is not. Also, as someone coming from using the Tamron 90, I can say that the 150mm length is a significant difference and a learning curve.

Justin

i just want to get a 16-85 VR at the moment. now that isn't to bad right? rather reasonable i'd say

Ahh all the usual suspects are posting (where are you gugs ). Andre you sure got our hopes up with the promise of a cure!!

the only cure for extreme NAS is a bottomless bank account, but andre thats a good bandaid to it

bellyface wrote:
the only cure for extreme NAS is a bottomless bank account, but andre thats a good bandaid to it

Actually the only cure for NAS is to take the plunge!

DavidM5 wrote:
bellyface wrote:
the only cure for extreme NAS is a bottomless bank account, but andre thats a good bandaid to it

Actually the only cure for NAS is to take the plunge!

Sorry for debunking your theory, but all you need is just a bigger bag! Maybe a suitcase with wheels? I think Pelican makes something big enough to carry all that stuff you listed!

DavidM5 wrote:
bellyface wrote:
the only cure for extreme NAS is a bottomless bank account, but andre thats a good bandaid to it

Actually the only cure for NAS is to take the plunge!

Yes it is my dream kit!
And to think I was shooting Canon only a month ago!

I don't shoot sports or birds so don't need much above 200mm.
I had a 100-400 during my Canon days and never used it for weddings.

The smaller lenses in the photo are the 16mm FE, 50 F1.4, the 85 F1.4 and the TC17EII.

Generally I like to take at least the following:

D300
12-24
24-70
70-200
1.7X TC
SB-800

If I think I will need it, I add the D200 for a second body. If macro is a possibility, then the 105 or 60 (for my wife.) If film is to be used, then the F5 and the N50, maybe the F100 or N80. I might also take the 17-35. For longer shots, there is the 300 f/4 - or 600 f/4 if I want to break out the big gun. Can't forget the two Gitzo tripods and heads: Wimberley for the 600, RRS BH-55 for everything else. Or maybe the Manfrotto monopod and small Giottos ballhead for a nice portable solution when I'm trying to cut down on weight.

In short, I could take anything, depending on what I'm planning on doing. The last serious trip I took, my camera bag weighed significantly more than my suitcase, and the suitcase was near the 50 pound limit for the airlines! Maybe I'll just buy a bigger car and drive everywhere from now on. If I went for a Subaru Outback, there would be more places I could reach than my current Honda allows.

Give me a 16-85 VR and 80-400 VR and I think I would have a great travel kit though. (I haven't added the 80-400 yet.) I'd have to bring extra stuff for film, but at least it is a good start.

David

DavidM5 wrote:
Yes it is my dream kit!
And to think I was shooting Canon only a month ago!

I don't shoot sports or birds so don't need much above 200mm.
I had a 100-400 during my Canon days and never used it for weddings.

The smaller lenses in the photo are the 16mm FE, 50 F1.4, the 85 F1.4 and the TC17EII.



I shoot weddings as well so I have to ask. Do you find that you use the 70-200 VR less and less as you shoot with the 85 1.4 and 200mm VR?

Tuan

Don't forget all the battery grips and extra batteries. Then filters (circ. polarizer and some system of handling square filters).

Ooh. Now you have to add in a monopod, a tripod (or two), ballhead, gimbal head, and all the clamps, L-brackets, lens plates.

And maybe some extra lighting gear. A Demb Flip-it at minimum, then maybe some light stands and umbrellas.

Anything else for this dream list?

DavidM5 wrote:
bellyface wrote:
the only cure for extreme NAS is a bottomless bank account, but andre thats a good bandaid to it

Actually the only cure for NAS is to take the plunge!