New Lens Purchase

**eccs19** · 10-19-2011, 08:13 AM

Just picked up a Sigma 70-200 F2.8 for my K7. I got it at Henry's here in Canada. Seemed to be best price I could find. They also had a deal on so I also got a Gary Fong Collapsible starter kit. I was surprised at it having a 10 year warranty. :-) Henry's sold me the package for $999.99. Little cheaper than what's showing on their website. I think I did well. Now I just need some nice weather so I can give it a try. Did a few test shots in the house, and it seems sharp. It is a heavy lens, but well balanced. With is being nicely balanced, it's nice and steady in my hands, not like some other lenses I've had mounted.

**mattb123** · 10-19-2011, 08:27 AM

Exciting for you!
A photographer I admire who I've also taken a class from once said: "The worse the weather, the better the photos.". So get out there in the bad weather!

**eccs19** · 10-19-2011, 08:49 AM

Originally posted by mattb123

Exciting for you!
A photographer I admire who I've also taken a class from once said: "The worse the weather, the better the photos.". So get out there in the bad weather!

Well I do agree with that. Clouds make a nice softbox, but if it's raining, that's a bit different.

RioRico · 10-19-2011, 10:00 AM

Originally posted by eccs19

Well I do agree with that. Clouds make a nice softbox, but if it's raining, that's a bit different.

Blizzards and whiteouts are also a bit disagreeable. Not to mention hurricanes and tornadoes, tephritic eruptions, solar novae, and frogfalls. Sometimes it's best to just stay indoors. (I'll avoid mountain snows this winter by relocating to the Mexico border.)

Wait, how did we get here? Is the lens weatherized? Is the photographer?

**mattb123** · 10-19-2011, 10:56 AM

I'll cover the mountain snows for you. With my completely un-sealed kit!

RioRico · 10-19-2011, 01:49 PM

Originally posted by mattb123

I'll cover the mountain snows for you. With my completely un-sealed kit!

By "mountain snows", I'm referring to winter-2011 experiences, where for one week we couldn't get into our cedar-forest house, and for another week we couldn't get out of it. The 9m / 30ft accumulations were a bit hard to deal with. Our old adobe in picturesque Bisbee AZ gets a couple inches at a time -- we can handle that. Snowshoes aren't needed there. Whew!

[/me has other reasons to hate snow, but don't get /me started]

ObTopic: IMHO the best budget lens for snowy weather is a pinhole in the side of an oatmeal carton loaded with a thin sheet of photo paper. Load carton; take outside; lift flap; go back indoors. Sometime later, return for carton, close flap, dash back inside, warm feet by fire. No problem. No hypothermia. No snow worms devouring brains.

10-19-2011, 08:13 AM	#1
eccs19 Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Lisle, Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,510	New Lens Purchase Just picked up a Sigma 70-200 F2.8 for my K7. I got it at Henry's here in Canada. Seemed to be best price I could find. They also had a deal on so I also got a Gary Fong Collapsible starter kit. I was surprised at it having a 10 year warranty. :-) Henry's sold me the package for $999.99. Little cheaper than what's showing on their website. I think I did well. Now I just need some nice weather so I can give it a try. Did a few test shots in the house, and it seems sharp. It is a heavy lens, but well balanced. With is being nicely balanced, it's nice and steady in my hands, not like some other lenses I've had mounted.

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10-19-2011, 08:27 AM	#2
mattb123 Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Colorado High Country Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,872	Exciting for you! A photographer I admire who I've also taken a class from once said: "The worse the weather, the better the photos.". So get out there in the bad weather!

10-19-2011, 08:49 AM	#3
eccs19 Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Lisle, Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,510 Original Poster	Originally posted by mattb123 Exciting for you! A photographer I admire who I've also taken a class from once said: "The worse the weather, the better the photos.". So get out there in the bad weather! Well I do agree with that. Clouds make a nice softbox, but if it's raining, that's a bit different.

10-19-2011, 10:00 AM	#4
RioRico Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Limbo, California Posts: 11,263	Originally posted by eccs19 Well I do agree with that. Clouds make a nice softbox, but if it's raining, that's a bit different. Blizzards and whiteouts are also a bit disagreeable. Not to mention hurricanes and tornadoes, tephritic eruptions, solar novae, and frogfalls. Sometimes it's best to just stay indoors. (I'll avoid mountain snows this winter by relocating to the Mexico border.) Wait, how did we get here? Is the lens weatherized? Is the photographer?

10-19-2011, 10:56 AM	#5
mattb123 Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Colorado High Country Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,872	I'll cover the mountain snows for you. With my completely un-sealed kit!

10-19-2011, 01:49 PM	#6
RioRico Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Limbo, California Posts: 11,263	Originally posted by mattb123 I'll cover the mountain snows for you. With my completely un-sealed kit! By "mountain snows", I'm referring to winter-2011 experiences, where for one week we couldn't get into our cedar-forest house, and for another week we couldn't get out of it. The 9m / 30ft accumulations were a bit hard to deal with. Our old adobe in picturesque Bisbee AZ gets a couple inches at a time -- we can handle that. Snowshoes aren't needed there. Whew! [/me has other reasons to hate snow, but don't get /me started] ObTopic: IMHO the best budget lens for snowy weather is a pinhole in the side of an oatmeal carton loaded with a thin sheet of photo paper. Load carton; take outside; lift flap; go back indoors. Sometime later, return for carton, close flap, dash back inside, warm feet by fire. No problem. No hypothermia. No snow worms devouring brains.