help for budding pro photographer in prioritizing upgrade to current camera can you help?

Question

Just but a Sigma sd14 and it's on it's way with the kit lense 18-50 mm 3.5-5.6 dc lens. I already have a manfrotto head and tripod and a pretty decent flash and an extreme III contact flash card. I want to broaden studio experience and will be using a friends studio so I really don't need studio equipment just yet. Don't have a whole wack of cash but choices for upgrade are to upgrade the lense (but which one), get a power grip (makes room for two batteries), get a wireless remote, actually buy the sigma flash that is dedicated for the camera itself, or perhaps another upgrade. I can't do everything all at once so I want to prioritize which upgrades I should do first.....any help would be greatly appreciated

the crop factor is 1.7 so if you could could you say what the 35mm equivalent would be so everyone is on the same page. thanks. I've mainly done landscapes before so having a good idea of what would make an ideal portrait lens would certainly help. I believe the only lenses with my mount are the actual sigma lenses.

Answer 1

I would personally upgrade the lens. I've found that the thing i tend to wish I had more of the most is different lenses. I use Canon, so I don't know what lens I would specifically suggest, but if you are planning on taking portraits I would say get a longer lens, something around a 100mm or more. I have a 70-300 that I use a lot for people and even still desire a longer lens...but for work outside of a studio. The 70-300 works well in studio. (plus kit lenses are usually never that great...) anyway thats what i would do!

Answer 2

The lens is VERY important. You can have a top of the line camera and a crappy lens and you'll take so-so photos.

However, if you don't have a flash, then you really need a good one. Getting a dedicated flash is your best choice. Consider adding a Stofen Omni Bounce (or similar) as well.

THEN put a high end lens on your list. The 24-70 zoom is a very popular range and handles a lot of situations. Look for a constant aperture lens (the f-stop is the same at wide as it is at telephoto).

Next I would get the grip, but you can live a long time without one, it's really just a convenience.

The remote is nice, but I'd put it way down the bottom of the list. You can get a way a long time without one simply by being steady with the tripod and using the self-timer. I've had one for several cameras and hardly ever use the remote. Most of the time you really can live without it, unless you are doing some nature work where you want to physically be awar from the camera.

Answer 3

In the wonderful world of 35mm film photography, a focal length of between 85mm and 105mm was considered the "ideal" portrait lens. With a "crop factor" of 1.7 a 50mm lens on your camera would be equivalent to an 85mm on my film camera. Therefore, IMO, you should choose the fastest 50mm lens (f1.4 or f1.7) and use it for portraiture. IF you can find one. Apparently Sigma isn't offering a super-fast 50mm lens, just a 50mm f2.8 macro. I'd hesitate using a macro lens for portraits since it will reveal any skin imperfections in glaring detail.

Many many people use a zoom and that's fine but - a zoom is seldom any faster than f2.8 and those usually get real pricey real quick. Having two extra stops to use (f1.4, f2) can be very useful in some lighting conditions and in blurring the background to better isolate your subject. Unfortunately, as noted above, you may have no choice but to choose a "fast" (f2.8) zoom.

Answer 4

Your S5 isn't an ok digicam, it particularly is a extraordinarily stable digicam in that type. like each the different cameras, there are compromises, yet no longer something that would intervene alongside with your taking photographs or getting to grasp pictures and that final i think of is the crux of the concern. keep you funds and communicate approximately getting to grasp pictures properly suited now and the S5 can get you an prolonged, good distance in direction of turning out great photographs. in case you get a expert digicam, or according to hazard a stable get admission to dSLR, you will no longer have the flexibility to apply it even besides as you utilize your S5. They make actual the worst P&S cameras. until eventually you have a foul replica of that digicam, that is uncommon, yet does take place, then your blurring issues come from no longer understanding a thank you to apply the digicam below the situations you're taking photographs below. The S5 has a stable, responsive focusing gadget, so that isn't the digicam. The exception is that in case you're taking photographs in such low easy that the focusing gadget gets puzzled because of the fact it can't locate something it recognizes to concentration on. Low easy and espresso assessment subjects are properly-enjoyed for that concern. as far as lights is going, no lens is going to restoration that for you. the sunshine is what the sunshine is, until eventually you alter it by some ability. getting to grasp a thank you to deal with easy is a factor of undemanding pictures. finding at your photographs, discounting their flaws from a loss of craftsmanship approximately composition and adventure, you seem to have a feeling of situation. that's a stable sign. ought to you improve right into a expert photographer? that's impossible to declare. the sole factor which will exhibit it particularly is time and the quantity of attempt you positioned into getting to grasp pictures. provide it a 300 and sixty 5 days or 2 of actually passing it slow with the basics and then the question would be suitable. that is totally uncommon in pictures, in basic terms like it particularly is amazingly uncommon in maximum different fields, that a man or woman's expertise exhibits from the commencing up and it particularly is extraordinarily much exceptional that expertise by ability of itself is adequate. If funds isn't merchandise, positioned it into your photographic preparation. Vance