What not to buy.

[mindforge]

Everyone is always asking "What is the best lens?" and the topic of what not to get never really comes up.

The first that I have to bring up is the Nikkor 24mm 2.8D - horrible lens due to chromatic aberration. I have an in home studio and I was playing with a seamless white background with a few flash heads. The studio is brand new and my equipment is pretty good. Well, every image was really clean except for one series, all shot with the 24mm Nikkor. I am still trying to figure out why it is so noisy, could all the noise be caused from chromatic aberration?

The second thing not to buy - a monopod with a bad tilt-pan head. You need a good ball head. I got a Tamron carbon fiber monopod, all I cared for was stability and it was inexpensive, but I spent 4 times as much on the ball head.

Another gear tip: research everything that will cost you over $100 or that will support expensive gear. Getting a new tripod, research heads and tripods. Getting a new lens, research all the lenses you are interested in, even the ones out of your price range.

[tomorrowstreasures]

Good idea for a thread! Hopefully, a lot of good advice will find it's way here!

[mindforge]

Oh yeah. One more thing. Don't buy softboxes when you can make them. I literally mean you can make professional versions with a sewing machine, some fabric and a shower curtain (or applicable material).

The frame is the hardest part to make, but still. If you sat down on a weekend, you can make several softboxes that look and are professional.

I have not done this, I use umbrellas for the most part.

[tomorrowstreasures]

Oh yeah. One more thing. Don't buy softboxes when you can make them. I literally mean you can make professional versions with a sewing machine, some fabric and a shower curtain (or applicable material).

The frame is the hardest part to make, but still. If you sat down on a weekend, you can make several softboxes that look and are professional.

I have not done this, I use umbrellas for the most part.

Is there a pattern available for this?

[Marko]

Just wanted to add that I have an 'Non D series' OLD style autofocus Nikkor lens 24mm F-2.8 and it was on my film camera for many years.

Please don't get confused with 'pre-digital' lenses of the same focal length.
That lens is STILL amazing. It's actually a thing of beauty.
Good thread!
Marko

[kat]

Oh yeah. One more thing. Don't buy softboxes when you can make them. I literally mean you can make professional versions with a sewing machine, some fabric and a shower curtain (or applicable material).

The frame is the hardest part to make, but still. If you sat down on a weekend, you can make several softboxes that look and are professional.

I have not done this, I use umbrellas for the most part.

Ohh..apparently you haven't seen my skills at sewing or construction..

Any what nots for umbrellas?

[mindforge]

Is there a pattern available for this?

I have never seen an actual pattern, but there are several sites that cover the frame.

Here is one site:
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/m...g=content;col1

I have never done this, but I have a friend that made one just recently using PVC pipe, black and white fabric and then a shower curtain and it works well. I'll get the specs from him... he is supposed to help me build one anyway.