| Camera |
Canon EOS 40D |
Now I grabbed the bull by the horns. By replacing the entry-level 350D by this semi-professional / serious-amateur / ethusiast level EOS 40D, I am assuming a serious role as an enthusiast photographer. And it's great!
|
| Canon EOS 350D [sold] |
My first SLR. My first camera, too. Bought it in August 2006.
|
| Flashgun |
Canon Speedlite 580EX II |
After some extensive research, I came to the conclusion that if I didn't go for the top-of-the-range Speedlite flashgun, I would eventually have to go back and buy it anyway. This is due to its power and wireless capabilities when compared with its little brother the 430EX / 430EX II. Whole new learning curve now... |
| Lens |
Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 EX DC MACRO |
After over one year with the superb 24-70mm, I've decided to replace it with a wider alternative. I wouldn't if I had a full-frame camera, but I've given up on that upgrade path for the foreseeable future. So my strategy now is to get about 3 lenses ideally covering the 10-200mm range. This 18-50mm is the middle lens which becomes the all-rounder. |
| Sigma EX DG 24-70mm f/2.8 MACRO [sold] |
I love this lens. I'm using it exclusively now. Way more expensive than the 18-125mm and less flexible as well, but so much better. |
| Sigma DC 18-125mm f3.5-5.6 [sold] |
Basic, low range and cheap lens but flexible enough to learn and experiment. |
| Filters |
Hama SuperHMC Pro1 UV(0) 82mm [sold] |
A protector for the Sigma EX 24-70mm f/2.8. Oh, the pain of having a 82mm lens barrel - filters are so much more expensive!!! |
| Hama UV 62mm [sold] |
Just a lens protector, really. For the 18-125mm. |
| White Balance Setup |
WhiBal pocket edition |
White balance gray reference card. It's a spectrally flat true gray rugged card. Correct color temperature (or white balance) is obtained from a picture of this card at the target environment lighting. |
| Tripod |
Giottos MTL3361B |
Nice and solid. |
| Giottos MH1300+MH621 |
Ball head and quick release plate. Enough said! |
| GPS Data Logger |
Holux M-241 |
There wasn't a lot of choice for GPS data loggers when I bought the Globalsat DG-100. At least not on a similar budget.
But now there is. And I've bought another data logger - the Holux M-241. Here are the pros and cons that I've gathered against the Globalsat DG-100:
- Better, more sensitive GPS tracker chip;
- More configurable and much more storage space for data points;
- Directly configurable via two buttons and a small LCD screen;
- Nice to have lots of info from the LCD: current location, time, speed, heading, storage space left (in number of data points);
- Wireless transfer of data file via bluetooth;
- Smaller than the Globalsat DG-100;
And now the cons:
- Battery hog. It eats roughly one AA battery per travelling day (not 24h);
- Harder to start/stop - by switch rather than by pressure button;
- Harder to quickly see its status - no bright or blinking LEDs, so it's necessary to read the LCD display, which requires some favourable light;
- Easier to accidentally stop logging;
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