More camera questions - Lens hire

[2Tiggies]

I thought I should start a new thread as this is slightly off topic from the existing one and I didn't want to hijack the other OP's one

Would any of you DSLR folk consider hiring a lens to take away with you? I've been coveting a little wide angle lens for a while but there is no way it's going to make the budget for this trip. You can however hire these and I wondered if anyone has some thoughts on this. Here are my considerations:

• I can hire it - or I just don't have it (budget!)
• If I hire it, I have to take it for 3 weeks which is still fairly reasonable and certainly not going to cost what it does to purchase one, but ....
• .... if I like it and decide to buy one later on I'm going to be thinking that the + £80 hire charge could have gone towards the purchase
• I'm worried that I won't use it enough to justify the expense - and equally that I'm going to love it so much that I HAVE TO have it, lol

Any thoughts?

 

[london75]

What camera and which prime?

Could you get second hand off ebay and then sell it again when home if you don't like it?

 

[2Tiggies]

What camera and which prime?

Could you get second hand off ebay and then sell it again when home if you don't like it?

Well that is another option that has run through my mind. And sorry, that's a wide angle not a prime. Focusing issues this morning! I've corrected my original post to avoid confusion x

I have a Nikon D90 and I'm looking at the Tokina 12-24 mm

Second choice is the Sigma 10-20 mm (F4.5, not 3.5) - there are two

 

[london75]

Yeah, that's a bit much to buy if you don't like it although there are quite a few on the bay so selling ought not be a problem.

I haven't got a wide angle either but the samyang 8mm gets great reviews on the Sony Alpha forums I now live on so might be tempted as it's a little more approachable at £160. No zoom though obviously.

Edit: Panamoz have the Tokina for £349 which is a pretty good price considering they sell on ebay for 300 effectively costing you 49 to use it for as long as you want. Depends if you have 349 handy I suppose.

 

[2Tiggies]

Yeah, that's a bit much to buy if you don't like it although there are quite a few on the bay so selling ought not be a problem.

I haven't got a wide angle either but the samyang 8mm gets great reviews on the Sony Alpha forums I now live on so might be tempted as it's a little more approachable at £160. No zoom though obviously.

It's a keep fit lens I have a 50 mm prime which means I do a lot of running around and moving about with the fixed focal length, to the entertainment of my family. It wasn't an expensive lens but I have to say, I absolutely love it! I was going to get the 35mm, but actually glad I got the one I did instead.

I don't NEED a wide angle but I WANT a wide angle. I feel like I keep coming home with the same kind of photos and I have found that a different lens almost forces, if not greatly encourages, me to to see things differently. Evey once in a while I feel like I've got into a bit of a rut and I just wanted to broaden my options. I do know that if I hire a lens, I am probably going to be more conscious of getting at least some value out of it, which in turn will motivate me to make a point of using it. My hope is that it will give me a different perspective on my pictures.

 

[london75]

Google the 8mm samyang then, it's so wide angle it really does create very different photos. It's obviously not the highest image quality in the world but the pictures I've seen have been very appealing.

Here's a Sony thread with examples
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1037&thread=37827964&page=1
In this one he's over processed the image but the original which is much nicer is further down
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1037&message=41526560&changemode=1

 

[2Tiggies]

Hmm, that's just evil You're not supposed to make me want a fish eye as well !

Seriously though, I see what you mean about them being quite different. I do like the wide angle shots, especially the super wide angles Amazing really. You wouldn't look at those and think that they were achieved with a fairly inexpensive piece of glass!

 

[london75]

Hmm, that's just evil You're not supposed to make me want a fish eye as well !

Seriously though, I see what you mean about them being quite different. I do like the wide angle shots, especially the super wide angles Amazing really. You wouldn't look at those and think that they were achieved with a fairly inexpensive piece of glass!

That's it, I think with the quality of the sensors in modern dslrs and a tiny bit of processing in software and you can get gret pictures.

What I actually need next is a tripod that doesn't make me look like a spanner in MK, not sure a gorillapod is up to the weight of my camera and although it has some tricks for hand held shots, the best results are on a tripod by far. Can't bring myself to lug one around with me though.

 

[2Tiggies]

That's it, I think with the quality of the sensors in modern dslrs and a tiny bit of processing in software and you can get gret pictures.

What I actually need next is a tripod that doesn't make me look like a spanner in MK, not sure a gorillapod is up to the weight of my camera and although it has some tricks for hand held shots, the best results are on a tripod by far. Can't bring myself to lug one around with me though.

I have a Velbon carbon steel tripod. It's lightweight (relatively) and holds up to 2. something kg so easily supports my D90 (which is a pretty heavy camera) and a telephoto lens, with external flash attached as well. It folds fairly compact and I just hook it to the side of the camera bag. I don't take it everywhere I go though. It has planned outings and I usually try make those on days where we are park hopping via our resort for a change of clothes/camera kit so that I don't have it with me all the time. It doesn't bother me as I forget it's there, but it does make me have to be very cautious of how I move as backpacks are about the same height as a young child's face and I would hate to turn around and catch a little one with the edge of my tripod

 

[DISWolves]

Does any of the hire places also sell the lens?
If so, could you negotiate part of the hire cost off the price if you decided to purchase?
(or should I say WHEN you purchase! .....if you have done your homework on the lens, it usually means you will buy it )

 

[DISWolves]

What I actually need next is a tripod that doesn't make me look like a spanner in MK, not sure a gorillapod is up to the weight of my camera and although it has some tricks for hand held shots, the best results are on a tripod by far. Can't bring myself to lug one around with me though.

In the past I have hired a locker and left my tripod there during part of the day

 

[2Tiggies]

Does any of the hire places also sell the lens?
If so, could you negotiate part of the hire cost off the price if you decided to purchase?
(or should I say WHEN you purchase! .....if you have done your homework on the lens, it usually means you will buy it )

I'm sure there are some that do, but the prices from one hire company to the next vary vastly and there are some who won't allow you to take the lens out of the country without paying a hefty security deposit, which I suppose is fair enough.

Ha ha, you know me too well Nigel. Yes, wide angle is next on the list as the 18mm on my 18-105 is not quite wide enough for me at times. So it is a when, not an if, but I also have to be practical and sensible about it.

Question for you: do you always stay offsite? I just wondered if you (or anyone else on here) has shot Illuminations from the preferred viewing spot on the Morocco landing. A shame I didn't anticipate the night we booked last year. There had been a big storm late afternoon and early evening that night and Epcot was empty. I have a photopass pic of DD and I standing at the World Showcase at 8.40 pm with not a soul in sight and we were the only two people in the viewing area on the Morocco bridge Wasted opportunity!

 

[2Tiggies]

Just an update for all you wonderful folk who gave advice on here. I have decided to go for the Tokina 11-16 mm

I have also been persuaded that it makes more sense to buy it (and I owe Tom Bricker $5 apparently if I decide I don't want it after using it and then sell it )

Hoping it will give me some new opportunities for some different photos. Now I have to find stuff to sell to afford the dang thing!

 

[DISWolves]

A good choice Lee.
Looking forward to seeing the pics
How about a few HDR.

 

[2Tiggies]

A good choice Lee.
Looking forward to seeing the pics
How about a few HDR.

Ha ha, Nigel, not sure I can afford the necessary software after the lens but could maybe remortgage the house I LOVE HDR photos

I have also progressed from using semi auto modes to manual and loving that too. Monday is a camera day for me - just me n my Nikon

 

[DISWolves]

Question for you: do you always stay offsite? I just wondered if you (or anyone else on here) has shot Illuminations from the preferred viewing spot on the Morocco landing. A shame I didn't anticipate the night we booked last year. There had been a big storm late afternoon and early evening that night and Epcot was empty. I have a photopass pic of DD and I standing at the World Showcase at 8.40 pm with not a soul in sight and we were the only two people in the viewing area on the Morocco bridge Wasted opportunity!

Sorry....only just spotted this one
Never done the preferred location, but again like yourself, last year we came out of Teppan Edo after a long storm. The fireworks had been delayed and we had the show to ourselves. We had a great view from the outside balcony there. Although this is 'side on' to the display, with the Pergoda ??? in the shot, some different dramatic shots could be had. Pity I only had my compact with me and no tripod

 

[chmurf]

Ha ha, Nigel, not sure I can afford the necessary software after the lens but could maybe remortgage the house I LOVE HDR photos

there is a wide range of software, from free (with some drawback) to medium range (between £30 and £100) up to photoshop HDR pro at over £500

why not do some exp. bracketing next monday

 

[2Tiggies]

there is a wide range of software, from free (with some drawback) to medium range (between £30 and £100) up to photoshop HDR pro at over £500

why not do some exp. bracketing next monday

That's actually a really good idea I have lots of experimenting to do. I'd rather do it now than in the parks waiting for a show to start!