I've had a similar question and got some real good answers here. I emailed B&H and asked them about specific tripods and provided the camera & lens & flash I am using. B&H responded without trying to up grade me into bigger better equipment. Good luck.
Many newbies get horribly confused. They don't know what they want to shoot. They are in need of help and mostly understanding. They may have a budget in mind but that may be all. Why not just help them with their questions and extend a little understanding and help them not to feel foolish? It's nice to have all the answers but a lot of us, especially myself, are overwhelmed with the whole process. I started out with a Petri 2.8 and developed my own B&W film. We didn't have jpegs and raw and the post processing available today. If you wish to have an all expert site, so be it. I've been given a lot of help on this site and I really appreciate it. I don't say much and I will certainly not post any photographs because I feel foolish and under qualified to do so and I don't want to be discouraged. I have read the postings on UHH every day for the past 6 months trying to increase my knowledge. I look at the photographs trying to learn how to compose and some of them have me in awe. I like it here because I am learning from some real experts. Sometimes I feel like I am at 30,000 feet and just had a flame out. Not a good feeling. I hope that someday I'll be able to help some poor lost soul lost in the digital world.
I like www.michaelthemaven.com He is a great instructor and has both CD's and download programs on LR & CS6.
Thanks for the good advise. I emailed B&H since that is where I will purchase it and they give such good service. :thumbup:
I'm happy with the carbon legs on the Sunpak. I not happy with the head being so loose with everything mounted. I learned the value of a lens hood the hard way. My thinking was that someone in UHH has a similar combination to mine, D7100, 18-200 and 910 flash. I don't wish to over-pay but I won't pinch pennies either. If I have to purchase a complete unit I will but I'd really like to see what someone in UHH likes. I read UHH every morning and I have a lot of respect for the members even though I don't say much. I appreciate all the help.
I want to stay around $300. The Gitzo report and site blew my mind. I am really confused.
I purchased a Sunpak carbon tripod that has a ball head and a pistol grip. I have a D7100, 18-200 lens and a 910 flash. The head will not support much beyond the camera and the lens at 75. There are so many heads out there that it is confusing to me. I wish to support the camera, the 18-200 extended and the 910 flash. Suggestions will be appreciated. :roll:
The D7100 is a great camera. You wouldn't be unhappy with it.
Thank you all for posting these wonderful photographs. As a novice, I can only say that I enjoyed looking at each one.
Thank you. We've been married going on 34 years and it just keeps getting better and better. :thumbup:
I have more books than brains. One thing that seems to be helping more than anything is the video from Michael The Maven. I am on my third round with it. I extended the time on my D7100's displays to maximum display time so I can follow along and pause. It eats up battery charge but I have 3 so it doesn't matter much. Unfortunately, I am in Midland, Texas, which is butt ugly and very flat. I want to get out to a drilling rig and see what I can turn up. Thank you for all the advise. Maybe in another 6 or 9 months I'll be brave enough to post some photographs.
You are younger than you think. I am 71 and I don't know what I want to be when I grow up. If you can afford it, do it.
Thank you for the advise. I will work with it. I did bite off a lot considering my lack of dslr experience. I bought an 18-200, 35mm, 50 mm and a 70-300 and a 910 speed light plus a bunch of other accessories. I love the 18-200 and 910 speed light. I'm not happy with my tripod as the camera drops with the 18-200 fully extended and i quickly learned the value of a lens hood. I also acquired LR5 and Photoshop C6. To say the least, my boat is loaded. I value the postings on UHH because I respect the experience and the beautiful photographs posted. I have read the postings every day since July.
I went to B&H during Thanksgiving. Wow! What a store. I was on major overload.