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I have a f1.4 and have to agree its excellent. Probably my favourite lens, and really creative when fully open.

I've come accross the above lens on sale second hand for £850 from a work colleague.

I don't know much about Hasselblad, but some basic research tells me they are circa £2,400 new. I'm told this lens isn't very old. I think its a case of more money than sense and now they just want to sell it.

Anyone know if there are many Hasselblad users out there? And if this is likely to be worth more than what I could potentially pay for it? Any profit would help fund some future glass for my lowly canon 30d!

Cheers
Dave

Another vote for the ixus 60 or 70, cracking little cameras, and compact.

Thanks all

With the 322RC2 can you still tilt the camera up and down, when the column is horizontal, and the composition is landscape?

Hi,
I have acquired a Manfrotto 055xpro tripod (the one with the centre column that goes horizontal.) My 3 way head struggles when the column is horizontal position, especially when i'm trying to get a landscape composition. I think a ball head would work best, and one that permits separate rotation around the base plate, any suggestions?

I had a look on e-bay at a benro KS-1, also manfrotto 488rc2 as these give separate base plate panning action.

I would consider a 322 rc2 if I thought it was as flexible as the other 2 mentioned.

Many thanks, Dave

I have the 055 from manfrotto, very sturdy, but heavier than the 190. I bought a £60 velbon last year, and as previoudly said you'll end up getting a better one, so wait and get a better one, it won't cost as much in the long run.
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I use the foundation kit & wide angle adapter on my 10-22, and 24-105 as both have 77mm front ends. I would say unless you can test a standard adapter then go for the wide angle at72mm aswell, like everything in photography if you try and cut corners you end up up-grading in the end, which inevitably costs more.

Incidently I use a 30D with a 1.6 crop too.

Thanks Cheryl,

I had figured that out after thinking a bit more about it.

It would be nice to have a second back up, but I've just bought a lens for this trip, and portable memory isn't something I can really afford, however buying a new lens to come back with nothing is not an option either.

I have to draw the line somewhere...unless I get 6 numbers in the lotto!

It's just gonna be one backup and as long as it's reliable then I will take my chances.
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Thanks ARI,
That was also very helpful. I am wise to not changing the lens if at all possible (thanks to a friend), and I'll remeember the cleaning kit. I hadn't considered a torch so thanks for that.

I'll try and pick up an old epson p2000 over the next 2 months, other devices need attachments, and I want to minimise all the kit. It's going to be 30D, 24-105, AND 100-400. The tripod stays behind.

We are going on honeymoon, and my wife won't want to spend it as a caddy!

Wow, thats a good article. Might have a job convincing my wife to be that we need to remortgage to get all the kit! LOL. Wedding might be off!!! Perhaps I'll mention it....

OK it looks like the column is there to stay. I have now achieved a more useable position with the head on the end of the horizontal column, albeit not as user friendly as the vertical column position. Perhaps I should have opted for one of those quick release heads. oh well.
Thanks to all for input.
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edit: will try latest tip

There is no screw arrangement at the base of the column. With this model the column doesn't have to be removed to go from vert to horizontal. I'm still toying with it now to see how I remove the column.

Quote:Quote:the centre column stops the tripod from going to it's lowest pointBut being the XproB, you can also flip the column onto the horizntal plane in seconds. That's what I do with my 190XproB.


Yes, but I lose the flexibility that I have in the vertical position. I certainly can't achieve a landscape format image.

Cheers Justin, I'll take a look. I assume these devices are all RAW compatible?

Yes, the centre column stops the tripod from going to it's lowest point, of course I can raise the centre column, but I get the same end result!

Hello all,
I'm off on safari in December for 2 weeks. Lucky old me. I am concerned about data storage. I have a canon 30D, and would want to shoot RAW exclusively.

I have 3x 1Gb cards at present, so I reckon I'm gonna have to increase that capacity. I don't want to bring my laptop...size & security issues. I was thinkin of getting a second hand portable storage device; epson p2000 or similar.

I don't know much about these and wonder are there compatibility issues?

I'd also like to hear from anyone who's been on safari. What did you do?

Any advice would be appreciated.
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Thanks, I've sent him a PM.
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Well I'm wondering is the column for the 055XPRO model different to the standard 055 models?

Hi,

Does anyone know if the short centre columns on here will work on the Manfrotto 055XPROB, or are they for the standard O55 models.

Can one actually get a short column for this model? I got one of these yesterday after much waiting, and saving, and it does drop as low as i'd like, which is frustrating.

Any ideas?
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I might bring it into London Camera Exchange tomorrow. It will be one yr old on 9th Sept. So should be covered.

Thing is I don't know how I'd feel asking for it to be repaired for cosmetic reasons?!!! If I was staff in the shop I'd think "what a prat". Maybe I'll use it as a stelthy L from now on. I won't be selling it on, so no worries there, or is there?
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I know it's only an external decoration and doesn't effect the performance, but its disconcerting when you pay all that money.

Peter- got it free after 10 pints of the black stuff!

Hi all,

Tonight the red ring around my 24-105 f4L cracked, and was consequently really loose. I noticed it whilst focussing. I have taken it off before it falls off or cracks in half.

I feel as though it has lost it's identity. It's the only L lens I own, does this happen oftin? The lens is less than 1yr old and hasn't been dropped or used heavily, so I feel a bit gutted. Anyone else experience this?

Dave

Thanks Richie

I am after the Canon 100 f2.8 macro lens, and wonder if anyones got an experience of buying from hong-kong based retaiers on e-bay. Are the lenses ok, and was there much import duty to pay?

I have been toying wth the idea of getting a macro for a few months now. Everyone raves about the canon. Both the Sigma, and the Tamron also are said to be of exceptional high quality, I have heard that the build quality of the Canon is superior, but then I read a forum where some bloke had a tamron 90mm for some 7-8 yrs and couldn't fault it.

The thing about the barrel extending is what gets me, and how this might effect any images that require flash.

I have decided to get the canon, and am still saving!

Anyone bought lenses from hong-kong/ebay? I am weary of them, and also of getting smacked with import duty thus reducing any savings that I might make.

It's very difficult to eliminate vignetting with multiple filters attached to the lens. I had a similar dilema a year ago when I got a 10-22 for my 30d, having p-series at the time. In the end (and much debate) I opted for the Lee system. I can use a uv filter, and up to 3 filters, and I don't experience any vignetting at 10mm. swapping my uv for a polariser (I have a slim one) means I introduce some vignetting at 10mm.

I would think that if Cokin do a wide angle adaptor ring then it is worth getting as it will reduce vignetting.

Worst case scenario: get the Lee holder and wide angle ring (you won't regret it), and I believe they're the same size as Z-pro, so not a complete disaster.
Dave

I will try that jessops idea, and I will be paying much more attention to the lenses used on here for macro, something I hadn't thought of. So thanks to one and all for the advice, I have plenty of food for thought.

Dave