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Lowepro CompuTrekker AW
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Review Date: Sep 10, 2005
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Recommend? no |
Price paid: $130.00
| Rating: 5
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Pros:
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Big, holds a LOT of gear. Straps better than other models
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Cons:
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Hard to access, Tripod carrying is terrible. If not laid on it's back to open, front flap can open and spill content out onto the ground.
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Of all the camera backapacks I've tried or seen, this one's the best.
For me, a back pack just doesn't work. The biggest problem is that to get at anything inside, you have to take it off and lay it down. That's great if you have a table or a nice clean spot of grass and have the time to stop and fiddle around. It's not so great if you're standing in the middle of a muddy field, or shooting in a crowd of people.
If this kind of bag fits with your style of shooting, it's the best backpack out there. Just make sure you can work within its limitations.
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Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II
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Review Date: Oct 21, 2004
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 8
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Pros:
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sharp, light, fast, inexpensive
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Cons:
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no USM, cheap construction, no DOF scale
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For the price, this is a must have lens.
It doesn't have USM, so the focus can be slow and it does hunt occasionally in very low light. The motor noise can be obtrusive at times. From the look and feel of it, the lens might fall apart if you lok at it wrong, but I have had no problems so far.
If you want USM, solid feel, extra 2/3 stop, etc. by all means spend the extra money and get the f1.4 .
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Sigma 105mm f2.8 EX Macro 1:1 Lens
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Review Date: Mar 25, 2004
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $320.00
| Rating: 8
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Pros:
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Sharp, Sharp, Sharp. Relatively inexpensive, solidly built.
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Cons:
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kinda slow AF, sometimes goes the wrong way, clunky AF/MF switchover.
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Very nice macro lens, even better w/ a reversed 50mm in front of it. Also works well for portraits wide open. Gives a nice BG blur, but is a touch soft @2.8 that HELPS most portrait subjects. If you want to spend more $$, by all means buy the Canon. If you want excellent results and save a few bucks, get this one.
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Sigma 12-24 f4.5-5.6 EX DG Aspherical HSM
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Review Date: Mar 12, 2004
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $650.00
| Rating: 8
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Pros:
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It's WIDE, WIDE, WIDE! Reasonable price for what it is.
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Cons:
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gelatin filters, not the fastest thing out there
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What can I say, I love this thing. Finally a WA zoom I can afford. I have been using it on my 10D and WOW! It's OK wide open, better stopped down (but what lens isn't). Focuses fast enough, but the DOF is huge, esp @ 12mm. The hyperfocal distance is something like 1.4m @ f11 when it's @ 12mm, so it shouldn't be too hard to get good DOF. I can't really complain about anything. I can't attest to it's full frame performance, since I don't shoot film or a full frame DSLR, but with the 10D, it is great!
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