[arvind71181]

Originally Posted by coolclouds

Hi Friends,

I have been using a Canon 450 D with kit lens. Can you please suggest me a lens with better zoom for clicking children (outdoor without flash)?

Nothing on big budgets, even I am ok for used stuff.

the cheapest lens would be the 55 250. very good lens and delivers max bang for the buck.

[ajay_satpute]

Originally Posted by SPARKled

Whats the price that a new D800E is available for in India right now?

Only body is for 1,61,00/- as per www. Camshot.in. Very reliable place based my experience over last 3 years.

[R2D2]

Originally Posted by SPARKled

Yes I know a longer lens will be needed and I have been looking at that 600 F4 for all these months. God if only I had not bought that Ford Figo TDCI Tiatanium:

Buying the 600mm is only the 1st dent in the wallet. Next come the support accessories including a gimbal head and a high quality tripod. Plan for another Rs. 75k to 1 lakh for support gear. You don't want a super expensive lens on a budget tripod and head. Trust me you can't hand hold this lens for more than a few moments.

Originally Posted by ajay_satpute

Only body is for 1,61,00/- as per www. Camshot.in. Very reliable place based my experience over last 3 years.

They offer good prices alright. May buy my next piece of kit from them. BTW are they authorised retailers?

[SPARKled]

Originally Posted by R2D2

Buying the 600mm is only the 1st dent in the wallet. Next come the support accessories including a gimbal head and a high quality tripod. Plan for another Rs. 75k to 1 lakh for support gear. You don't want a super expensive lens on a budget tripod and head. Trust me you can't hand hold this lens for more than a few moments.

They offer good prices alright. May buy my next piece of kit from them. BTW are they authorised retailers?

I already have a Gitzo 5541LS tripod and a GM5541 monopod along with the Jobu Pro gimbal head and long lens plates. The 5541LS was bought last year when Gitzo had huge discounts on the older line before the 5542 version came in, so got it for around 35K and the Jobu Pro was bought for less than 20K when they launched the pro 2 version, so got the pro version at a good discount. The Jobu is an engineering marvel and its super solid and super smooth. So support wise I am more than adequately covered.

All I need is the 600 which I guess will be here sooner after the D800 comes in.

Yes I too would like to know if the Camshot D800 carries a Nikon India warranty. Will find out soon enough.

[R2D2]

Originally Posted by SPARKled

I already have a Gitzo 5541LS tripod and a GM5541 monopod along with the Jobu Pro gimbal head and long lens plates. The 5541LS was bought last year when Gitzo had huge discounts on the older line before the 5542 version came in, so got it for around 35K and the Jobu Pro was bought for less than 20K when they launched the pro 2 version, so got the pro version at a good discount. The Jobu is an engineering marvel and its super solid and super smooth. So support wise I am more than adequately covered.

All I need is the 600 which I guess will be here sooner after the D800 comes in.

Yes I too would like to know if the Camshot D800 carries a Nikon India warranty. Will find out soon enough.

Hey I remember someone had PMed me enquiring about a Pune dealer's details for the 600mm pricing about 18 months ago. Guess that was you.

BTW that's a good support kit you have alright. Guess you struck it lucky with the discounts Where did you buy the Gitzo and gimbal head from? What are you currently using the gimbal+plates and Gitzo with?

[R2D2]

just checked Nikon's web site. Camshot is not listed as an authorised dealer. Unless they are registered under a different name.

[SPARKled]

Originally Posted by R2D2

Hey I remember someone had PMed me enquiring about a Pune dealer's details for the 600mm pricing about 18 months ago. Guess that was you.

BTW that's a good support kit you have alright. Guess you struck it lucky with the discounts Where did you buy the Gitzo and gimbal head from? What are you currently using the gimbal+plates and Gitzo with?

Yes I think I had sent you a PM about 6-8 months back when I was ready to buy it.

I got all my support stuff from USA delivered by people who keep visiting India. The Gitzos were obtained from B&H and the Jobu from ebay. Currently there is nothing I own that makes the Jobu gitzo combo to even break into a sweat. Though I have found that the Gitzo is very good for a large spotting scope that I own at high magnifications and long shutter telephoto shots with my 300 + TC that makes my other smaller carbon fibre tripod pretty much useless especially in strong winds winds.

I basically got this support system coz I have been been planning on acquiring a 600 for quite some time now.

[bobster]

Note from the Team-BHP Support : Please avoid typing with excessive dots.........like................this. Thanks

[SDP]

Originally Posted by SPARKled

I already have a Gitzo 5541LS tripod and a GM5541 monopod along with the Jobu Pro gimbal head and long lens plates. ....

SPARKled, that's some brilliant gear ! Stuff that I can only dream of.

Originally Posted by SPARKled

.... Though I have found that the Gitzo is very good for a large spotting scope that I own at high magnifications ....

Slightly OT on this thread, but can you please share the make and price of the spotting scope? I am myself considering a Vanguard Endeavor 82A, which is not very costly, but hopefully would do a decent job.
Any comments/opinions/recommendations?

[R2D2]

Originally Posted by SPARKled

The Gitzos were obtained from B&H and the Jobu from ebay. Currently there is nothing I own that makes the Jobu gitzo combo to even break into a sweat. I basically got this support system coz I have been been planning on acquiring a 600 for quite some time now.

I use very much the same support gear as yourself. I purchased my Gitzo 5541LS and 3541LS Systematics and a GM5541 monopod in 2011 in India so no discounts for me unfortunately. Got them at nearly the same price as I'd have paid in the US at that point in time.

But I use a Manfrotto 055 carbon fibre (with a Manfrotto 468MG or RRS BH55) more frequently than the others primarily due to weight and size and when I only need to use the cameras with nothing heavier than a 70-200 F/2.8. The Gitzos + Wimberley head or Gitzo 5380 head are only for my super telephoto lenses (with or without tele-converters). Support + super teles make for one heavy kit ~9-10 Kgs at its max. Lugging it around becomes a pain over long walks

[SPARKled]

Originally Posted by R2D2

I use very much the same support gear as yourself. I purchased my Gitzo 5541LS and 3541LS Systematics and a GM5541 monopod in 2011 in India so no discounts for me unfortunately. Got them at nearly the same price as I'd have paid in the US at that point in time.

But I use a Manfrotto 055 carbon fibre (with a Manfrotto 468MG or RRS BH55) more frequently than the others primarily due to weight and size and when I only need to use the cameras with nothing heavier than a 70-200 F/2.8. The Gitzos + Wimberley head or Gitzo 5380 head are only for my super telephoto lenses (with or without tele-converters). Support + super teles make for one heavy kit ~9-10 Kgs at its max. Lugging it around becomes a pain over long walks

What super telephotos do you use that need a Gitzo 5541 and a 3541 and a Manfrotto 055 all to be a part of your kit? I thought most people avoid a 3541 if they had a 5541 or vice versa. But thats still OK. But then whats a 055 doing in your kit when you have a 3541?

Originally Posted by SDP

SPARKled, that's some brilliant gear ! Stuff that I can only dream of.


Slightly OT on this thread, but can you please share the make and price of the spotting scope? I am myself considering a Vanguard Endeavor 82A, which is not very costly, but hopefully would do a decent job.
Any comments/opinions/recommendations?

I too dreamt about it for a long time and then realized that if I am going to use a long F4 or 2.8 telephoto I have no option other than spend money on a decent support system.

Avoid the Vanguard coz its not cheap and from the specs that I saw it does not have ED or low dispersion glass which is must for high magnification viewing. Try to get a spotter with ED glass as it does make a lot of differnce. I use a Pentax 80 ED and a 65 ED with a XW14, Baader 17mm and the Pentax zoom.

[R2D2]

Originally Posted by SPARKled

What super telephotos do you use that need a Gitzo 5541 and a 3541 and a Manfrotto 055 all to be a part of your kit? I thought most people avoid a 3541 if they had a 5541 or vice versa. But thats still OK. But then whats a 055 doing in your kit when you have a 3541?

I purchased my support gear before I got the lenses.

I have the 600mm F/4 and 300 F/2.8 as of now. A 3rd big tele will join soon if plans work out. The 5 series takes the gimbal head and the 3 the RRS BH-55. The Manfrotto is my 1st 'serious' tripod and the lightest for only the smaller lenses and body. I don't keep taking the heads off they remain fixed to the legs. .

Each piece of support gear is meant for a specific body and lens combo. For example I don't like carrying the Gitzos if all i will use is the body + smaller lens (by comparison) for example a body + 24-70 F/2.8 or 70-200 F/2.8. That would be overkill and pretty silly. So the manfrotto makes it on my trip or the 5541 monopod. If I also intend using the bigger lenses its one of the systematic legs. The 5541 is only when I intend shooting with only the teles with or without TCs when rock stable support is essential.

[shivshanker]

Originally Posted by SPARKled

Whats the price that a new D800E is available for in India right now? I am thinking of picking up one asap to get a new body after my using my antiquated D50 for wildlife photography all these years. I am primarily looking for a lot of cropping ability that my 6 MP D50 sorely lacks to get more of that bird in frame along with good ISO and AF performance. The 25 MP 1.2X crop is quite intriguing and I am hoping that it should be pretty close to the 1.3 crop that the Canon has had on its pro bodies for all these years. Any help here will be appreciated.

Yes I know a longer lens will be needed and I have been looking at that 600 F4 for all these months. God if only I had not bought that Ford Figo TDCI Tiatanium when i had the funds mid last year

@Sparked, where abouts do you go for wild life around bombay .. other than the local trains.?

On a more serious note, I would like to explore a few places that you can share.

Regards

[SPARKled]

Originally Posted by R2D2

I purchased my support gear before I got the lenses.

I have the 600mm F/4 and 300 F/2.8 as of now. A 3rd big tele will join soon if plans work out. The 5 series takes the gimbal head and the 3 the RRS BH-55. The Manfrotto is my 1st 'serious' tripod and the lightest for only the smaller lenses and body. I don't keep taking the heads off they remain fixed to the legs. .

Each piece of support gear is meant for a specific body and lens combo. For example I don't like carrying the Gitzos if all i will use is the body + smaller lens (by comparison) for example a body + 24-70 F/2.8 or 70-200 F/2.8. That would be overkill and pretty silly. So the manfrotto makes it on my trip or the 5541 monopod. If I also intend using the bigger lenses its one of the systematic legs. The 5541 is only when I intend shooting with only the teles with or without TCs when rock stable support is essential.

So you have the 600. Is there any where I can see your 600 shots if possible. Also if you dont mind please share the cost of acquiring the 600 if not here then maybe on PM.

Originally Posted by shivshanker

@Sparked, where abouts do you go for wild life around bombay .. other than the local trains.?

On a more serious note, I would like to explore a few places that you can share.

Regards

Areas around Mumbai are actually pretty good for birding. Some of the places that come to mind immeiately are SGNP, Dombivali hills, Bhandup pumping station, Powai lake, Yeoor hills, Navi Mumbai creek around Vashi, Nerul, Airoli, Sewri, Uran, Karnala, Valley park Belapur, Talave at Nerul etc...

[R2D2]

Originally Posted by SPARKled

So you have the 600. Is there any where I can see your 600 shots if possible. Also if you dont mind please share the cost of acquiring the 600 if not here then maybe on PM.

I got the lens less than a month back and haven't had a chance to use it as I have been travelling with the family on holidays.

I purchased the lens (and a majority of my other Nikon equipment) at a special price thanks to a person I know. Unfortunately I can't disclose the detail(s) as the person insists it remains confidential.