Essential kit for an old D70

[tjw_78]

Hi all,

My fiancee runs a wedding & event business or sorts (mainly event music - string quartets, that kind of thing) and is often asked if she knows a photographer.

Well, I've got a camera and I am sitting around at home waiting for her to get back from the wedding/event, so I thought why not do it myself. (We're talking about people who can't afford to pay very much here, so I hope I'm not undermining any Pros).

I've got a D70 inherited from my father and the 35-70mm lense which came with it. I've taken some great outdoor shots with it for my financee's website, but indoors I have had a lot less sucess. Space seems to be the issue - in a bar I can't get far enough away, or the crowd get in the way.

What lense (or other kit) might compliment what I already have, and will work well with the D70, for taking pictures of indoor events? Hopefully if it goes well I can plough the money made from it back into more expensive kit, but for the moment we're talking budget equipment here.

Thanks,
Tim

[chris-p]

To me it sounds like you need 3 things...

1 - A much faster lens for low light indoor work
2 - A wider angle lens to allow you to fit more in your shots
3 - A proper flash

My lens suggestions would be the Nikon 35mm f/1.8 which would be excellent for your low light work as it'll give you nearly 2 stops more light than the 35-70 and the Sigma 10-20mm for a wide angle.

As for a flash, something like the Nissin Di622 might be a good starting place. It's got full i-TTL compatibility so it can work automatically like the Nikon own ones but it's only £100.

[tjw_78]

Thanks Chris,

That is kind of what I'd guessed, so its nice to have it confirmed.

I see thats about £170 for the 35mm F1.8 and £370 for the 10-20mm. Will I have any compatibilty issues with my D70?I keep reading about how this and that lense doesn't work with a D40 or D60, but I never see the D70 mentioned.

I did borrow a flash gun off my Dad. All the photos looked really washed out. I need to learn what I'm doing there!!!

Does anyone know of a good way to buy good second hand equipment? I'm a bit wary of e-bay, and besides, it seems full of posts for new kit, rather than 2nd hand.

Tim

[chris-p]

The 35mm is a brilliant lens. I've got one and it's stunningly sharp and I'd definitely recommend it. It's probably too new to get a second hand one at the moment.

You might find a second hand Sigma but they're pretty popular so they don't come up very often.

Oh, you won't have any compatibility problems with either of those lenses.

As for flashes, I've not yet got one so I don't have much experience but I would suggest bouncing the flash off walls or ceilings and turning the power down if you're suffering with the shots being too washed out.

There are loads of good places to get second hand equipment. I'm generally wary of e-Bay myself for some things but there are plenty of decent reputable second hand camera shops out there.
Try the following...

Mifsuds
Ffordes
London Camera Exchange
Harpers Photographic
Grays of Westminster
Ace Cameras

[john2802]

you see te D40 and D60 mentioned all the time as they don't have motors in the body to drive autofocus lenses. Your fine with the D70. I have the D70s myself and think its a great camera and in fact if i could replace the sensor it would be my camera for as long as it worked!

[tjw_78]

Thanks for the advice. Good to hear why my D70 doesn't get mentioned! Thats quite a relief!

I think I my get mysefl a 35mm f1.8

[GraemeMather]

A couple of tips when using flash to stop them being washed out. These are not the best ways to do it by any means, but are a good starter for 10.

1. don't point your flash straight at the subject, it will just give peoples faces a washed out look. If you have a reletively low ceiling (12ft or below) point it at an angle towards the ceiling and bounce it off.

2. If you are going to shoot straight on then turn back your flash about a stop!

3. Up the iso to between 400 and 800. If you leave it low then all you will get is the subject in the foregroung really bright and nothing else. If you up the iso a little then it should pick up a bit more of the atmosphere around you as well as the subject. If you keep it on TTL as well, it should sort out the power of the flash itself.

Hope these help.

I've heard good things about the 35mm f1.8 and was thinking about getting one myself. It's either that or the 85mm, I can't decide

[john2802]

I have the 85mm f1.8 Graeme and its fab!!!!

[GraemeMather]

Originally Posted by john2802

I have the 85mm f1.8 Graeme and its fab!!!!

I've been thinking about it for a while, after I played with my mates Canon equiv. I would REALLY like the 85mm f1.4 but it's a lot dearer!

Might bite the bullet and sell some of my old gear for it...... hmmm.

[tjw_78]

Picked up a 35mm f1.8 at the weekend. I really like the early results!