Reading these comments with a bit of amusement, I am reminded of some good advice given to me many years ago: Never argue with an idiot, the unknowing passerby won’t be able to tell the two of you apart.
Aside from all the other good information posted, check to insure the item you want to purchase was originally marketed in the U.S., Some of what B&H sells is used gray market equipment. They do not tell you, you have to ask. Nikon USA will not touch gray market regardless of where you go it. Other brands may have similar policies.
I have gone many times and yes, it is a lot of fun. First, it’s Horsetail Fall, not Firefall. Secondly, it can be a bit of a crapshoot. You have to have water coming over the fall, and you need light. Conditions change rapidly. More than a few times I waited for hours only to have clouds move in at the last moment and block the light. Expect to be there with a couple thousand of your new best friends. Find your spot early, NPS puts traffic and parking controls in place. Plan for more than one day just in case it doesn’t work out on your first attempt. The Valley is beautiful in February, there are many photo worthy locations to keep you occupied.
It is worth it, but plan ahead, accommodations in the park are limited.
Have fun.
Check out Peak Design straps. Easy on and off.
Look where Japanese car manufacturers have set up shop here in the U.S. All right-to-work states where they have eliminated unions and can pay their employees less. Not so much different then the camera industry after all.
I have one, and like it. The 24-70 pretty much stays in the bag these days. Unless you need something faster, I think it will be your go to lens.
I would look on eBay for a good used one. Plenty to choose from. $500.00 won’t get you very far for a new one. You are putting expensive equipment on it so do your research beforehand. Good brands include Gitzo, Manfrotto, and Really Right Stuff . Leofoto and Induro are good as well.
In my mind, DX lenses are a waste of money. FX lenses work great on a DX camera. The opposite can not be said for DX lenses. Some very long zooms don’t even come in a DX format and are used all the time on DX cameras for wildlife photography. I think the guy in the camera story was either ill informed or was trying to move product.
I would go for #2. Get the best lens you can.
I have a Z7 as well as a 810. All the lenses that work fully on my 810, work on my Z7 with the FTZ. My Sigma 150-600 works with the adapter as well.
From Canon:
Canon established a presence in Asia in 1970 when Canon opened a manufacturing facility in Taiwan. Today, Asia has become an important sales & marketing and manufacturing base for Canon with 75,000 employees and operations in 10 countries and regions including China, Hong Kong, India, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Funny, most of what you say is opinion.
On the contrary, the camera does not make the photographer. Some of the greatest photographs ever taken were shot with equipment far inferior to what is available today. It is the skill and technique of the photographer that makes the photograph. A skilled photographer can even get a good photograph using a Canon.