Going to Havasupai

[john101477]

Your opinion is dually noted and dismissed because your opinion can be easily researched and proven wrong. Don't like what I have to say, don't read it, think I am wrong? research it for yourself and you will find I am not.
The net is full of ads for crop sensor lenses from people "upgrading" to Fx. Lots of wasted $$$ and it happens a lot!!! What I am saying and have been saying is that if you plan to go to a full frame camera in the near future, BUYING a DX lens will be a waste of money. I never said a dang thing about renting one for the time being, or even using one. The only saving grace with a lens like the 11-16 is that your only loosing about 30-40% of the value if you do buy a FX camera in the not to distant future. You can pick up a used 11-16 for about $500 right now.

 

[cruisertoy]

John and Brian-I appreciate and can see both of the views on the subject of Dx lens purchases. I think a decision has to be based on the the time value of money and the ultimate intent of the photographer. I bought my D90 as a learning tool with the ultimate goal of taking gallery quality outdoor photo's. I could have gone straight into a Fullframe but couldn't justify the costs associated with the body and lenses as I learned composition and the finer points of I went ahead and bought a walk around18-200 Dx lense because I knew it was going to be a while before the full frame switch. I've gotten a lot of use out of that lense and the couple other DX lenses that I own. They owe me nothing as they were stepping stones to where I want to go. That said, now I'm at the point where I would probably buy FX lenses knowing that I was moving that direction. I appreciate all the help guys.

 

[nwoods]

I had a great experience renting a lens from www.LensRentals.com.

Here is my brief writeup:
http://www.expeditionportal.com/for...Camera-Equip-Experience?highlight=lens+rental

I also second what John says. You buy a lens once. You buy many cameras over the life span of that lens. Buy the best lens you can, skimp on the camera (they are all good enough anyway). The lens has a MUCH bigger impact on image quality than the camera will.

 

[robert]

All I'll add is to try to keep the weight down and be sure to pad your equipment if you're hiking down to the river (I busted my butt a couple of times but it had rained recently).

 

[maxingout]

I am a flying doctor with the Indian Health Service, and I spend a couple of weeks a year down at Supai examining patients.

When I fly down in the helicopter, I often use my Iphone to shoot video of the four minute flight down to the village of Supai.

The two most useful lenses to me in Supai are a wide angle lens because the walls of the canyon are high, and at Supai, you are two levels down in the Canyon, and when you walk down to the campground you descend another level further down. So the wide angle is very helpful with the high canyon walls.

I also have a 70-200 zoom that I use to shoot the waterfalls. The flooding has resulted in major changes in the Navajo falls and the falls just above the Navajo falls, and in those locations I find the zoom lens is very helpful.

When I walk down to the Havasupai falls, I use both the telephoto and zoom lenses for those sets of falls.

Those two lenses cover the waterfront pretty well.

The foliage will be very green in the summer when you are there. and in some areas the heavy green foliage will make it challenging to shoot the canyon walls.

Time of day also makes a huge difference in the quality of light. Lots of shadows are present in morning and afternoon, and harsh light is present when the sun is overhead at noon. There are many photographics challenges.

Good luck on your photo trip to Supai.

 

[briansocal]

John and Brian-I appreciate and can see both of the views on the subject of Dx lens purchases. I think a decision has to be based on the the time value of money and the ultimate intent of the photographer. I bought my D90 as a learning tool with the ultimate goal of taking gallery quality outdoor photo's. I could have gone straight into a Fullframe but couldn't justify the costs associated with the body and lenses as I learned composition and the finer points of I went ahead and bought a walk around18-200 Dx lense because I knew it was going to be a while before the full frame switch. I've gotten a lot of use out of that lense and the couple other DX lenses that I own. They owe me nothing as they were stepping stones to where I want to go. That said, now I'm at the point where I would probably buy FX lenses knowing that I was moving that direction. I appreciate all the help guys.

Very good. If you can afford to upgrade the entire system, go for it. You will notice the difference.

That being said, if you are interested in learning landscape photography and will be sticking with your D90 for a while, renting or even possibly purchasing (GASP!) a DX format Ultra-Wide lens is a great investment. You really don't have to wait until you have the most expensive gear to learn, practice, and create great work. The D90 is an excellent camera, the 18-200 is a great general use lens, and you've made some very good decisions thus far.

I certainly advocate buying the best lenses you can at the time, but I don't think anyone should avoid an entire category of focal lengths (ie, Ultra-Wides) just because it forces you into a DX lens to fit your DX camera.

john101477: What exactly am I supposed to be researching? If I'm supposed to research the occurrence of blowhards and camera snobs on ExPo, I think I've already made some significant progress.

 

[john101477]

You know brian if your gonna continue to spout off at the mouth on things you obviously have no clue about and then retaliate by calling names you can pretty much kick rocks dude. My advise was sound considering full frame cameras were mentioned on the first page. I am not a camera or a gear snob but so believe in getting my moneys worth. If a person is considering a jump sooner than later then the purchase is not a great idea. If the OP plans to stay in the Dx ranhe for a while then by all means buy a dx lens. I review lots of gear and regardless of price or brand will tell it like it is. Dont like it? Tough!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Lost Canadian]

So I'm taking a youth group (25 people) down to Havasupai at the end of June. Yes I know its going to be hot but that's when we could fit it into the majority of the schedules out there. I'm one of those shotgun photographers, take as many pictures as possible and sooner or later something turn out..ie I have no real skills. I've been lucky on several of my trips to southern Utah and nailed a few nice photos but I want to increase my odds a bit. With my work schedule I have not had time to take any classes. Any good online instructions out there that I can do late at night? I shoot a Nikon D90, Nikon 18-200 and 50mm 1.8 lenses. I have polarizing filters for both. I know the 18-200 isn't the sharpest lens in the world but its what I have. Is there a lens that you would recommend that I rent? Besides a tripod, anything else I should hump in the 13 miles? Should I pick up some square graduated ND filters? I'd like to practice doing some nighttime star shots before I go so I'll pick up a timer for the D90. This is one of those once in a long time trips (I'll go back but it will be a long time before I do).

I say keep it simple. Don't worry about filters until you know how to take nice shots without them. Master the basics first. Throwing on a grad filter without composing and/or controlling the exposure properly first will probably just lead to really messy unnatural looking images. As for the Tokina, it's a nice lens, I use to own one before I switched to full-frame and never regretted buying it, some of my best pictures were taken with that lens,.... and it's perfect for night photography because its max aperture is 2.8 which is about a 1/2 to 1 stop faster than most DX ultrawides. I bet you could be happy with your D90 for a long long time time, it's a great camera. And even though I now shoot FF, there is absolutely nothing wrong with cropped and the differences are marginal and only really noticed or fully taken advantage of by those who can get the most out of their files and exposures to begin with. Unless you feel your camera is holding you back, which I think you made pretty clear it is not, the whole FF discussion is moot and isn't even one worth considering, at least not at this point....in my humble opinion. Best of luck, and remember, have fun shooting.

All shot with a DX camera and ultrawide DX lens.

 

[nwoods]

Trevor, your images didn't come through for some reason. Knowing your skills, I'd love to see them!

 

[Lost Canadian]

Trevor, your images didn't come through for some reason. Knowing your skills, I'd love to see them!

Odd, I can see them on my phone and my two computers even logged out. Hmmm. They're oldies anyway, I'm sure you've seen them before.

 

[Ryanmb21]

Nwoods, I can see them.

 

[nwoods]

Nwoods, I can see them.

yeah, so I can now. Love the lightning bolt shot

 

[john101477]

Man Trevor IDK why I cant open these bigger but that top and bottom left are some of my favorites from you, although I am sure if I looked at some of the past work you have posted I would say the same about others lol.
To the OP, Trevor is right, that D90 will serve you well, mine still gets a workout here and there. I got hung up on the mention of the FF in the first page and failed to hone in on some of the texts in your first post. As for online tutorials and learning, Youtube is crazy with tutorials, good and bad. You can also check out photographers like Bret Edge, Adam Barker, and night photography great David Kingham. Wildlife photographers Doug Gardner and Moose Peterson... tons of greats.
My previous posts were strictly if you were going FF any times soon and I apologize for not "turning the other cheek" earlier. Hope you have a great trip

 

[cruisertoy]

Thanks John, Brian and Trevor. I think I'll stick with dialing in what I have instead of going too crazy. Rent a lens and call it good. I'll check out the mentioned photographers. As was said, youtube is good and bad and its difficult for guys like me to tell the difference. I have used some of the Photoshop videos on youtube and found a few people I like. It should be a great trip. One of these days I'll take a smaller group on an adventure so I can have a little more free time instead of worrying about 30 people and bringing them home alive.

 

[john101477]

If it is PS tips and tricks, I have found most of the stuff on the Adobe Channel is pretty good. Although I find her a bit dry, Julieanne Kost is one of the best PS evangelist I watch. Between her and Terry White, they do a pretty good job.

http://tv.adobe.com/evangelist/julieanne-kost/