So, I finally decided on what gear to bring with me on my June trip. My Nikon D3100, my 18-105mm lens and my 35mm 1.8 lens. Thoughts?
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Finally decided
- Thread starter funsized1989
- Start date
CP_alum08
Well-Known Member
What other gear do you have? What do you plan on shooting?
It seems fine at first glance but the 3100 and 18-105 will be pretty limiting in anything other than optimal lighting. Meaning that shooting anything indoors or low-light you will be pushing your ISO to the max and even then the results might not be great. If you're using the 18-105 outdoors and the 35 indoors I think you will be fine, just depends on what you want to do.
It seems fine at first glance but the 3100 and 18-105 will be pretty limiting in anything other than optimal lighting. Meaning that shooting anything indoors or low-light you will be pushing your ISO to the max and even then the results might not be great. If you're using the 18-105 outdoors and the 35 indoors I think you will be fine, just depends on what you want to do.
that's exactly what I'm planning on doing.. using the 35mm for rides (no flash) then the 18-105 the rest of the time.. I may leave the 35mm on it all week, except for Animal Kingdom.
I would suggest you add a flash to your gear... If it were me I would even give up on a lens to take a flash simply because when the lighting is less than you need a fast bright flash is a godsend.
PhotoDave219
Well-Known Member
I would advice against that advice with every fiber of my being. I absolutely hate using and the way on-camera flash looks. That may be what works for you but I've yet to find a decent use for on-camera flash.
Stick with what works for you. 2 lenses sounds just about perfect. Less gear, more shooting. Work on composition and the existing light.
If you have yet to find a decent use for on-camera flash, then I suspect you haven't learned to use it properly. Yes it can cause very harsh shadows if you use it the wrong way, but if you spend time with it and understand it you can get good results.... It might also have to do with the type of camera you are using. Some brands work better than others when it comes to flash systems... The poster is using Nikon equipment which is probably the best when it comes to using flashes. I have a Sony that even when set up the same as the Nikon using equivalent flashes looks like crap compared to the Nikon.
PhotoDave219
Well-Known Member
Okay, look, Dont get condescending with me here.
Brands/flash systems have nothing to do with light. An old Nikon SB-28 firing off the ceiling at 1/4 power will put out 1/4 power of light no matter whether its attached to a Sony or a Canon or a Nikon. It still emits the same amount of light.
Similarly, overhead bright sunlight is always 1/ISO at f/16, no matter what brand of camera you use. Thats just how light works.
A Nikon flash is not designed to work in FULLY AUTOMATIC/TTL mode on a Sony or a Canon. You put it in Manual mode and it works just fine. Of course you have to put the camera in a manual mode too and set everything accordingly.
CP_alum08
Well-Known Member
It's interesting how diverse people are on "one-light shooting". Some people swear by it and some people absolutely cannot stand it. I think a flash can add a lot of creativity, especially at night, but I don't normally use mine during the day. When I do my results have been probably 50/50 with good and bad. I'm by no means a master of my flash but I think it's a good tool to have and know how to use.
So, to the OP I would suggest having a flash and learning the basics but also know that it's not something you will be using all of the time.
So, to the OP I would suggest having a flash and learning the basics but also know that it's not something you will be using all of the time.
WDWFigment
Well-Known Member
Totally agree with you for artistic purposes. If you're going to be taking family photos, you don't always have control over lighting conditions (i.e. Character Spot), so having a flash that you can bounce will give you better results than the pop-up flash or the terrible lighting in many indoor locations. Not great results, mind you, but better ones than the default.
One external flash with a Nikon DSLR also allows you to use CLS to get off camera. I know CLS is a divisive topic, but I've been very impressed with that system for what it is.
First I'm not trying to be condescending.
Actually it doesn't the amount of light it produces is 1/4 of the light the flash can put out, each flash is different and the amount of light that is 1/4 on one flash might be equal to 1/2 on a smaller light.
Lastly I'm not talking about trying to mix flashes from different manufacturers, doing so could damage your camera depending on the trigger voltage. I'm talking about using Nikon flashes on a Nikon and Sony Flashes on a Sony... Unless you are going full manual the programming of each camera is going to play a part in how the flash works with the camera. Nikon in my experience works much better than that of Sony or Canon.
If you don't like to use a flash that is your preference. They can be complicated and some people don't want to spend the time required to use them properly, it is possible that the OP is willing to put in some effort and learn to use them... Doing so would give them more flexibility.
PhotoDave219
Well-Known Member
I prefer to go the pocket wizard route and trigger everything manually, but thats just me.
Then again I'm the person who will bring a gel'd strobe with a grid on it and use a holga at a character M&G just for my own amusements.