Camera Setups, and Suppliers

I was asked to do a thread on good camera suppliers with excellent prices and the recommended setup, so here we are!

Studio Equipment-
-D-SLR Body of your choice/preference - I'm a Canon Guy
-Macro Lens or Standard Lens- I prefer the 50mm f/1.4 standard or 100mm f/2.8 macro lens
-Studio strobe lighting - I prefer Alien Bees or White Lightning
-Umbrellas/Brolly Boxes/Soft Boxes (decide on which you need. You will need them. Straight flash is very harsh lighting)
-Backdrop and prop
-Light reflectors/absorbers (If needed/optional)
-Tripod (If needed/optional)
-External flashes/Speedlites/Ring flashes (Optional - apply to uses)
Not everything is listed here. Apply/modify to what you would need.

A beginning photographer could easily get started with studio photography for around $1,000 or so. Most think it'd be much more expensive, but its not. Lighting, Camera, and subject are the essentials, as well as the glass you're shooting with. Make sure to use a prime subject. The better the contrast as well as color, the better the image will look. A highly colorful, contrasting picture will catch the everyday persons eye much better than a sharp picture. Don't believe me, try it ;)

If you're looking for a great beginners set up, here is my recommendation.

Canon Digital Rebel XT/350D - 8.0MP D-SLR - $384.95
Canon Standard 50mm f/1.8 II Autofocus Lens - $89.95
SanDisk 2GIG CompactFlash card - $30.00
AlienBees B400 Digi-Pack - $599.00
HotShoe adapter - $14.95
Backdrop-Alley Black Velour Backdrop 58" x 120" - $46.95
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Total = $1,165.80

That "should" get you well started on your way with studio photography, and spectacular images. Just remember that you won't start out taking breathtaking professional images. It takes a lot of practice and an understanding of shooting in manual. Once you start shooting in manual, you'll understand there's no other way. It gives you complete control of the image ;)

Here are some EXCELLENT suppliers! I've just started using Sigma4less and their prices and customer service is completely unbeatable in my opinion.

www.sigma4less.com
www.bhphotovideo.com
www.alienbees.com
www.white-lightning.com

Macro field photography-
-D-SLR camera body of you're choice - Again I'm a Canon guy
-Macro Lens of your choice - I prefer the 100mm f/2.8, or the 50mm f/2.8. If gives you a good deal of working distance, as so you don't spook the subject.
-Battery Grip - You're going to be taking a lot of shots since the subject will be moving, so you want something that'll last more than 100 exposures. These last from 1,500-4,000 shots.
-Ringflash of you're choice - I prefer the Canon MR-14EX Ringlite.

If you're looking for a good, versatile, and cheap invertebrate kit for the field, here is my recommendation-
-Canon Digital Rebel XT/350D - 8.0MP D-SLR - $384.95
-Sigma Telephoto 105mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro Autofocus Lens - $349.95
-Sigma EM-140 DG TTL Macro Ringlight Flash - $324.95
-Phottix Internal Charge battery grip - $30.00
____________________________
$1,089.85

This is the type of set-up I use. Here are some images I've taken using this set-up with the 50mm Macro, rather than the 105mm.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...reostriata.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b296/Kaa22/leaf-1.jpg

I've been getting asked a lot about the black background on the macro shots. The flash that's fired from the Ringlite reflects off of the main subject but doesn't have enough time to hit the background or anything and reflect back due to the high shutter speed.....so in turn, the background looks black :) It's not photoshopped.

Hope this all helped :D

+1 for B&H Photo & Alienbees!

B&H is the *ONLY* place I purchase camera supplies from. Great service and prices.

I'm pretty picky on who I buy from too man, but Sigma4Less is pretty good :P

I'd like to add Newegg.com and Adorama to decent places to shop. I also make use of Amazon and craigslist.