New to forum

[MEK]

Hello everyone , New to the forum
Male , 52 , I have a bad back ( back lost the plot about 5 years ago ) , so currently not working but looking .
Went back to school a few years ago , so have a double diploma in IT now ..
About two years ago decided to learn or teach myself Macro Photography , having done some 35mm 20 years earlier ( there about's ) .
Mostly did nature / landscape photography back then ( I could afford Petrol and Film processing )

What I like most about digital , I can do several hundred shutter actuations and it costs me didly .
I just wish the equipment cost as much as image processing .

Currently own :
Pentax istD ( gripped )
Pentax K10D
Pentax K20D
Pentax K30D
Pentax K50D
Pentax K5

Nikon D7000
Canon 40D

Owned ( Sold ) or gave away
Pentax istD
Pentax istDS
Pentax K100D
Pentax K200D
Pentax Kx
Pentax K7

Canon 30D
Nikon D3200

And I think that's in the last , almost 3 years .
I wont bother going into the lenses , there are a few .
Mostly played with Pentax due to the legacy lenses , but right now I am in a transitional situation and have to decide on Canon or Nikon .
Unfortunately both Canon and Nikon offer more options ( much needed options ) , so 2016 will probably see me sell most of the Pentax gear , in favour of Canon or Nikon ..
ATM I am pushing the gear I own pretty much to the limit , so might be time to take it to the next level .
Aaaah ! But that money thing .

Matt

[loose cannon]

Welcome Matt, gee you've got some gear there and I hear you about the money thing. I do birding and need to upgrade and am planning on getting a printer. Time to sell a kidney!

[wacko-ocker]

how much for the kidney?

[sejac]

Hello there Matt! A warm welcome to the forum. It's good to have another member who is obviously crazy about photography. Some of us here are just plain crazy, but photography is usually involved!

You'll get plenty of opinions here about every facet of photography, and certainly in the Nikon/Canon area. I don't mean just ridiculous, unhelpful "Canon/Nikon is better ...." stuff, but genuine observations about the various bits of gear, whether camera bodies or lenses.

Please post up some examples of your work real soon!

My only concern is that you may not have enough cameras and photography gear. Let's hope Father Xmas knows your address.

BTW, we have a regular contributor here - eaglem - who is also a Pentax shooter. Check out his posts, mainly in "Nature and Wildlife".

[Ironwood]

Hi Matt, good to have you aboard.

I also like macro photography, it appeals to me because I only have to walk out my door and into the garden, and I have all the subjects I need.
I have always been a Nikon guy ever since the film days, so you will get plenty of biased advice from me

[MEK]

eaglem - Yes I have seen his work from Pentaxforums ...

I have posted some Macro photos : ( On this forum ) And will post some more .

There are quite a few I have posted over the years ( Pentaxforums ) .

Next year I hope to get some Nature / Landscape photography done ( I hope ) , but yes , Macro is but a step out the door . ( I like that )

Money money money , It slips through the fingers so easily .. Im currently having a root canal rather than a Canon 70D ( Such is life )

[MEK]

Some very old gear used for this one

[Phoenix]

Hi Mek, Welcome.
I can totally relate to the macro obsession. My issue is more about being time poor than money poor (not that I'm exactly rolling in $$$ because if I were I wouldn't be time poor).
Great to check out the magic world right in your own yard.

I don't think you can go wrong with canon or nikon. :-)

[bill jolley]

Hi and welcome I to have started to dabble into macro,it's fantastic Bill

[Isac]

Welcome to Australian Photoholics MEK. I can see you're a bit of an expert by your posts and it would be great to have your CC and opinions on other members photos. I look forward to your contribution with anticipation. Again, Welcome and enjoy.

[MEK]

Welcome to Australian Photoholics MEK. I can see you're a bit of an expert by your posts and it would be great to have your CC and opinions on other members photos. I look forward to your contribution with anticipation. Again, Welcome and enjoy.

Hmmm , I don't like to think of myself as an expert , far from it in fact . Perhaps more as some one that would encourage others or perhaps help them if possible .
If my images are ever good enough to be published , then perhaps I may consider such a description of myself .
ATM I consider myself more a HACK ! , or perhaps an apprentice of Macro Photography .

Yes , an apprentice of Macro photography , that sounds much better ...

[Isac]

Welcome to the club MEK, I'm the apprentice mod! I reckon that after I figure out the full strength of my powers, there's going to be some bruised egos around here

[Phoenix]

Lack of expertise or knowledge usually doesn't stop anyone from having an opinion anyway :-)
I, for instance have opinions, strong opinions, it's just that I don't always agree with them.

[sejac]

That explains why I can never win an argument with my Elizabeth!

[MEK]

Hmmmm , Well picked up a Canon 60D today , an upgrade from the 40D , from the limited photos taken so far I am pleased .
Seems to handle light a lot better than the 40D . ( Same lens )

Oh well , just have to save up for a Macro Lens now .. Maybe next year I can bolt on a Tokina 100mm Macro Lens .. ( or a Sigma 150mm )

Where do you live MEK,

I have the canon 100mm non IS non USM ($230 on ebay) and If you are in SA you can use it for a while. you get 160mm equiv on the canon crop sensor and it is nice glass.

cheers Eden

[Isac]

. . . . . or a Tamron

[seaslug]

Hmmmm , Well picked up a Canon 60D today , an upgrade from the 40D , from the limited photos taken so far I am pleased .
Seems to handle light a lot better than the 40D . ( Same lens )

Oh well , just have to save up for a Macro Lens now .. Maybe next year I can bolt on a Tokina 100mm Macro Lens .. ( or a Sigma 150mm )

Sigma 105 is good!