My new toys from a B&H run last week!

[jimim]

So last week was my birthday so my wife and I went to the city for the day to shop and go for dinner at a very close family friend's second new restaurant.

It was the day Jersey got that freaky AM mess of a storm. We finally got into the city after sitting in traffic cause of a wreck for an hour and then Port Authority was full. So 5 hrs later we got down to B&H so I could shop. . . it was my birthday gift.

I went for a bag originally. I'm so happy I just didn't order one cause when I got there the 2 I was looking at were way overkill! Joshua, the kid who helped us, gave me another option. One of the new Kata 3n1's the 35 to be exact. I originally actually looked at it online but it just didn't do it justice with pics. When I saw it in person it was perfect. Not too big like the thinktank and kata I was looking at. It still held my macbook plus an ipad if need be along with 2 bodies and enough lens and my flash. it also has a top section for cloths if need be or for more gear. it also was a bit cheaper. I'm so glad that I ended up going to look vs just buying and shipping to my home! Joshua was awesome! great great guy! but most of the guys who work there are! I can show anyone some detailed pics if they wish. I really really like this bag. I bought it for travel only then when at my destination like disney I can move into a day bag. It is also carryon approved for airlines which is something else I was looking for. I just can't carry 2 bags anymore with 2 kids now. I want all my stuff in one bag.

So then onto the best part of my B&H run. I went to look at some glass for my canon. I wanted to check out the new 35mm sigma. What a great looking and wll built lens. Bigger than I thought but built very very well! I really like the new look sigma has going on. It's expensive though, but we all know that.

My surprise came when my wife bought me the 24-70mm 2.8 II before we left! I have been wanting this lens so it's one less expense out of the way before going full frame cause right now I use the 17-55mm 2.8 and it's for crop only as you all know. I was so excited! I haven't played with it much yet cause it just came. We had everything shipped cause walking all day and carrying that wasn't going to happen especially with icy sidewalks all day.

I just wanted to share with al of you cause I know we are all excited when we get something new for the hobby we love, especially when it's a huge surprise! I was just going for the bag which I needed and got a lens to boot!

Here's a quick pic when I was unpacking my boxes last night while my son was playing a bit. It was like christmas!

This weekend we are going to the last WDCC event at our dealers so hopefully I will be able put it through it's paces at their shop. This is going to be a very mixed emotion event cause it will be the last WDCC signing they have cause of the line not continuing after 20 wonderful years!

thanks for listening, cause I know you all get it vs the people who I work with and friends who are not into pics. . .

jimi

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

Congratulation on the new equipment! What a nice surprise from your DW!!

 

[photo_chick]

Sweet! My sugar daddy needs to go take some lessons from her on how to spoil your spouse. LOL

Have fun with it!

 

[jimim]

Thanks guys. I never ask for anything in general. I always say if I see something I like Dior g the year just let me buy it and I usually never end up buying anything unless its a new ipad or iPhone cause I've been a machead since I was a kid.

We did need the bag to ease life a bit bit the lens was an awesome awesome gift! Kristen has always surprised me with cool gifts. She sat out for a wii for me when dating. She sat out for Xbox actually too. She's a keeper. Lol. Plus she has always supported our wdcc sickness but that's both ours! Lol

I hope this lens was worth it! Lol. I think I'm finally ready for some really good glass. Ask me 2 or 3 years ago I would have said no cause I wasn't good enough but I think I've proved to myself that I have deff improved and I will put it to good use.

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[photo_chick]

I don't think its about being good enough for a lens, I think it's about understanding what a lens can do for you. I think if you appreciate the things a lens brings to the table then it is totally worth the price no matter what your skill level is.

Now I'm just going to stare at the picture of the box and drool a while.

 

[jimim]

I don't think its about being good enough for a lens, I think it's about understanding what a lens can do for you. I think if you appreciate the things a lens brings to the table then it is totally worth the price no matter what your skill level is.

Now I'm just going to stare at the picture of the box and drool a while.

Lol thanks. And that was the biggest reason I never bought a l lens. I think now I have a pretty decent understanding of everything I need to know at this point. I also know that I will have this lens pretty much forever and I deff have shifted the cost of going full frame in my near future now that I have a everyday lens for full frame vs crop. Not that I need a full frame now but at least I'm half there if I want to go in that direction and to tell u the truth I looked at every pic I have taken in the past 2 years and I would say 95 percent ate shot at 24 or longer. I always seemed to be zooming a bit with the 17-55. So I know I won't miss the focal range I have up. I do have the Tokina 11-17mm 2.8 if I need that 17mm again.

Oh and I deff know what a lens can do for u. I always read about how much sharper a prime is and thought it couldn't be all that much but now that I have been using the canon 85mm I see what It can do for me. And I am loving playing with portraits down below that 2.5 f stop region. It's pretty fun.

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[TC09]

... Not too big like the thinktank and kata I was looking at. It still held my macbook plus an ipad if need be along with 2 bodies and enough lens and my flash. it also has a top section for cloths if need be or for more gear. it also was a bit cheaper. I'm so glad that I ended up going to look vs just buying and shipping to my home! Joshua was awesome! great great guy! but most of the guys who work there are! I can show anyone some detailed pics if they wish. I really really like this bag. I bought it for travel only then when at my destination like disney I can move into a day bag. It is also carryon approved for airlines which is something else I was looking for. I just can't carry 2 bags anymore with 2 kids now. I want all my stuff in one bag.

Congrats on the new gear and happy belated birthday! I'd like to see some detailed pics of the bag, if that's okay. I've been looking for a different bag to use for travel. Right now, I use the DaKine Mission Photo Pack, but now I'm looking for something a little more comfortable.

 

[jimim]

Congrats on the new gear and happy belated birthday! I'd like to see some detailed pics of the bag, if that's okay. I've been looking for a different bag to use for travel. Right now, I use the DaKine Mission Photo Pack, but now I'm looking for something a little more comfortable.

Ill totally get some shots up for u either late to ought or by Monday cause we r leaving for a signing event for wdcc tomorrow am. If we get packed tonight ill do it then. It's a cool bag. Very diff I think from what I've had. I thinks it's comfortable. It doesn't have those new gecko straps either. I didn't like them at all.

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[wbeem]

I've really been thinking about picking up the 70-200 VRII ever since the rebates were introduced (and extended!) I haven't seen it at that price in a long time (well, I'm sure you know how long it's been and why.)

Yep! $300 off is just too good to pass up. I'm selling my older version for $1400 and that covers about 2/3rds of the new price. Mine arrives on Tuesday.

 

[jimim]

I was originally going to buy the 24mm and 35mm f/1.4. After thinking about it, and some discussion on another photo group on Facebook, I decided to upgrade my 70-200. That Sigma 35mm is getting some nice marks on reviews. Found a couple on the B&H page that didn't like it, but most were very good. One video review I saw liked the Sigma 35mm better than Nikon or Canon's version.

Not sure if I'll be tempted to go back and get that one before the month is out or not. Those discounts usually only come when you buy a camera body with the lens, so I'm taking advantage while I can.

Canon does that double rebate like 2 times a year now when I buy a body too but this one is for printer and bodies for higher rebates.

Lensrentals website really liked the sigma. I know I read a few things about the back focusing issue with the sigma but lensrentals really didn't talk about it and they had a bunch of copies on hand.

I only took a few pics with it and in the store u ain't telling anything really about a lens copy and that was the store copy anyway.

Iomi

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[wbeem]

Canon does that double rebate like 2 times a year now when I buy a body too but this one is for printer and bodies for higher rebates.

Lensrentals website really liked the sigma. I know I read a few things about the back focusing issue with the sigma but lensrentals really didn't talk about it and they had a bunch of copies on hand.

I only took a few pics with it and in the store u ain't telling anything really about a lens copy and that was the store copy anyway.

Iomi

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I tend to like renting lenses before I buy them. At least the Nikon lenses are pretty consistent, so a rental can actually tell you something about what you can expect.

Sigma and some third party lenses seem to be inconsistent from one copy to the next - or so I've read and heard from others. A friend works at a local camera store and raves about his Sigma 35mm. However, he also said he had to go through a number of them to find the right one. That tells me I'd be better off with the Nikon.

 

[bob100]

So last week was my birthday so my wife and I went to the city for the day to shop and go for dinner at a very close family friend's second new restaurant.

It was the day Jersey got that freaky AM mess of a storm. We finally got into the city after sitting in traffic cause of a wreck for an hour and then Port Authority was full. So 5 hrs later we got down to B&H so I could shop. . . it was my birthday gift.



So then onto the best part of my B&H run. I went to look at some glass for my canon. I wanted to check out the new 35mm sigma. What a great looking and wll built lens. Bigger than I thought but built very very well! I really like the new look sigma has going on. It's expensive though, but we all know that.

My surprise came when my wife bought me the 24-70mm 2.8 II before we left! I have been wanting this lens so it's one less expense out of the way before going full frame cause right now I use the 17-55mm 2.8 and it's for crop only as you all know. I was so excited! I haven't played with it much yet cause it just came. We had everything shipped cause walking all day and carrying that wasn't going to happen especially with icy sidewalks all day.

I just wanted to share with al of you cause I know we are all excited when we get something new for the hobby we love, especially when it's a huge surprise! I was just going for the bag which I needed and got a lens to boot!

Here's a quick pic when I was unpacking my boxes last night while my son was playing a bit. It was like christmas!

This weekend we are going to the last WDCC event at our dealers so hopefully I will be able put it through it's paces at their shop. This is going to be a very mixed emotion event cause it will be the last WDCC signing they have cause of the line not continuing after 20 wonderful years!

thanks for listening, cause I know you all get it vs the people who I work with and friends who are not into pics. . .

jimi

nice- don't know how much it's better it is compared to the 17-55 but if you do go full frame that's the zoom lens to have

 

[jimim]

nice- don't know how much it's better it is compared to the 17-55 but if you do go full frame that's the zoom lens to have

That was the only reason. I k ow its not a huge step up but it's something that I needed to go full frame like I have been saying and dropping all that cash in one shot would have hurt. Now I'm in a much easier way to go full frame when I want.

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[jimim]

I tend to like renting lenses before I buy them. At least the Nikon lenses are pretty consistent, so a rental can actually tell you something about what you can expect.

Sigma and some third party lenses seem to be inconsistent from one copy to the next - or so I've read and heard from others. A friend works at a local camera store and raves about his Sigma 35mm. However, he also said he had to go through a number of them to find the right one. That tells me I'd be better off with the Nikon.

And with canon the new 35 mm just doesn't get open enough I feel for a prime at that cost.

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[Shazzasmd]

Very nice! The one lens I really missed when I went to full frame from the 7D was the 17-55mm f/2.8. We already had the 24-105mm f/4.0, so I haven't been able to rationalize the new 24-70mm f/2.8 II. I hope you tell us how you like it, once you've had some time with it.

 

[jimim]

Very nice! The one lens I really missed when I went to full frame from the 7D was the 17-55mm f/2.8. We already had the 24-105mm f/4.0, so I haven't been able to rationalize the new 24-70mm f/2.8 II. I hope you tell us how you like it, once you've had some time with it.

I will. I'm hoping today when I get home to shoot some pics if nice outside or take a few pics of the kids playing. I just know I could never shoot without a 2.8 in my everyday walk around lens. I feel it's just a staple that is needed for all around shooting over diff environments with increased ease. I could have gone the tamron route which I know people rethinking cause its soooo much cheaper and from reviews is very close in quality but I know I'll get my money's worth out of over the next many many many years.

Jimi

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[Gianna'sPapa]

I just know I could never shoot without a 2.8 in my everyday walk around lens. I feel it's just a staple that is needed for all around shooting over diff environments with increased ease.

Jimi

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My sentiments exactly!

 

[jimim]

My sentiments exactly!

Thanks man!

 

[jimim]

So here are some pics for everyone. I took em with my iPhone since I had everything else in the bag to show you. I just snapped away. I'll explain each pic.

the back. it's one of the styles that you can just go straight backpack. or you can crosses the straps for heavier loads to take weight off ur back. no sternum strap cause of this. this something i didn't like but it's not a huge deal. you can also disconnect a strap a cross it over to make the bag a sling in either direction so u can use the side entrance that u will see later to grab a camera and go. it can be left or right. the back of the bag is also padded up for the labtop cause it's sits next to ur back vs away from ur back which was a must for me cause i want it tucked away safe.



this is the top of the bag that can be used for more gear or some cloths. the later is what kata designed it for. they want it to be for day tripping. oh that's the rain cover it comes with also.



opening for laptop with an extra pad if computer is shorter and u want ot pad it up a bit more. also has buckles to keep it safer also



opening to get to gear below cloths area on top. there are like 6 zippers so u can get in and out any which way along with 4 buckles to keep things safe.



this is the gear area. enough room for me. you can see all i got in there. the other thing that i don't like but again no huge deal. the top row is a bit hard to get too cause of the material but i threw my extra body up there and stuff i don't need as ofter when traveling. again this bag for me was to get from place to place and then switch to a smaller bag, but again if it was in my car for a driving trip for a week or 2 no big deal.



ok so here is the whole point of this bag also. the side entrance. again from either side you can set it up. i'm a south paw so this is how i had it done if in sling mode.











so u can see how you unzip and grab the body with lens on. can hold up to a 28-200 2.8 with ease. along with a full size DSLR. u take the camera out and then have taps on each side that let you get in further for say ur flash in that horrible blurry shot (lol) and then the other saide for say another lens or my hoods in this case.

i think that's pretty cool. again they have zippers all over the creation so u can keep buckles attached so u don't unzip too far but still have other zippers to open it up other ways without disturbing ur side hatch.

boot for a tripod



the kata spine for safety. it's bendable and allows for some cushion is case of a tip over or crush situation.




ya so there u have it. my crappy attempt at telling you all about my new bag! lol

 

[bob100]

I just know I could never shoot without a 2.8 in my everyday walk around lens. I feel it's just a staple that is needed for all around shooting over diff environments with increased ease. I could have gone the tamron route which I know people rethinking cause its soooo much cheaper and from reviews is very close in quality but I know I'll get my money's worth out of over the next many many many years.

true, I too like the f2.8 zooms but many crop users like the Canon 15-85 for the extra focal range. of course, that's not an EF lens