[NickJ]

That looks like it will be super fun! They do an event like that here at COTA every year. I seem to always miss it somehow.

I hope that you shoot loads photos and share with us.

 

[NickJ]

UGH! Thank you for making me wicked jealous!

Looks like you had a sweet setup. Did you spend much time out on your lanai?

 

[NickJ]

Nice. What do you shoot with?

 

[NickJ]

Nice. I shoot with a 7D and am working though the benefits of going full frame. I just saw that new 5Ds and am kind of swooning. I am hoping that it brings the MkIII down to something that I am more apt to shell out for. The other part of me wants to have the newest and bestest, naturally. However, with the savings, I could pick up a 70-200 f/2.8... Just saying.

I don't really have a "Running Light" rig. I like shooting with the big stuff. It is not convenient at all though. :/

 

[NickJ]

When you travel as much on two wheels as I do, you really start to appreciate the size and weight savings of the smaller stuff.

There a re plenty 5D MKIII's out there now, for greatly reduced prices. To be honest, the MKII is more than enough for most "serious" amateurs. You know how it goes, though. High end camera gear is like nuclear proliferation - a constant battle to "keep up", but - at the end of the day - it's what is behind the camera that matters most.

I couldn't agree more. I earn money with my camera, so I find that I am a little more serious about it than most amateurs. I have found the 7D to be fantastic in many many regards, but the MkI is a very old body at this point, and if I am going to shell out for a new body, it makes little sense to move laterally. The 7D MkII is a great update to the 7D, but I want that full frame. Also, the pixel count of the 5D S is just an exercise in silliness for my purposes. My 7D has a LOT of actuations on it, and I want to move it to a backup or effectively a zoom multiplier instead of a primary.

 

[NickJ]

I am with tonyjuliano on this one. A few generations of camera can mean night and day difference. The sensors are ever evolving to deliver better and better performance. My 7D gets the grains in low light when I even bump it to 3200 ISO with a fast lens (f/2.8). Granted, that is a lot of ISO, but the new 5Ds is boasting double that at 6400. I am excited to see what kind of images will come out of that sensor.

Also, don't forget the image size. 7D puts out 18 MP images. More than enough for anyone really. The 5DS will spit out over 50 MP images. That is a lot of detail. The new sensor will be crispy for sure. That is an exponential evolutionary jump in sensor and the 7D and the 5DS are closer generationally than the 5D MkI and the D7100. The D7100 is a great camera and has a lot of built in "so-it-all-ness" that general consumers want. The 5D lineup is a professional level body. It all depends on what you are going to use them for.

To mirror what tony said earlier... I could slap $20 grand worth of camera and lens in a person's hand, and that does not mean that they will produce anything worth looking at. It is what is in the 8 inches behind the viewfinder that counts. If you know your way around a hobbyist camera and can crank that thing and know it's limitations, you will be able to produce images that move people.

I have much respect for film guys. They had to get it right, or very close. Every time they pulled the trigger it cost them money. Us, not so much.

 

[NickJ]

Send me a PM - I can help you out. And I have NEVER willingly shot a wedding (did a favor for a friend once, though). Even the thought of wedding photography makes my skin crawl.

I am going to hit you up as well if you don't mind. I am always looking to shoot with others. I have been wanting to expand my horizons a little myself.