For those who are curious about my current moderate set up, I've compiled a list below of what I have been using during most of 2010-11. My lens selection has been determined by online research and my extensive own testing, which includes testing of lens' sharpness, bokeh, speed of focus on AF, handholding ability, and lastly weight.
Each photographer has a unique way of utilizing his equipment, therefore there is no ultimate answer as to what cameras and lenses are the best. It is all subjective. For me however it is about the craft rather than the gear, so I will let each one of you be the judge. There is plenty images on this site to make up your own mind.
Cameras:
Nikon D700
Nikon D7000
Manual F-mount Lenses:
Nikon 85mm f1.4 Ai-S, famous portrait lens, one of Nikon's best
Voigtlander 125mm f2.5 APO Lanthar Macro 1:1, my most favorite lens, very rare
Automatic F-mount Lenses:
Nikon AF-S 16-35mm f4G VR, super sharp
Nikon AF-S 70-200mm VR II, the reason Canon owners are now really jealous
Sigma OS 120-300mm f2.8 OS, latest effort from Sigma, I like this one
Nikon AF-S 200mm f2G VR, amazing super fast portrait lens, great bokeh
Converters/Flash:
Nikon TC14-E ii (1.4x magnification with aspherical elements)
Nikon SB600 24-85mm range flash unit (recharges quickly)
Wish List:
Nikon D800 (come on Nikon! why are u keeping us waiting), D3x ($8k)
Zeiss ZF 21mm f2.8 ($1,500)
Nikon AF-S 300mm f2.8 VRii, superb lens, but heavy
Nikon Flash SB800 or 900 ($600)
Nikon TC-20E iii & TC-17E ii ($800)
Lenses used in the past with Nikon DX & FX systems:
Nikon AF-S 14-24mm
Tokina AT-X 11-16mm f2.8 DX
Voigtlander 20mm f3.5 SLII (nice & super light)
Nikon AF-S 18-200mm f3.5-5.6 DX VR I
Zeiss ZF 25mm f2.8
Nikon AF-S 24-70mm f2.8
Nikon AF-D 50mm f1.8
Nikon AFS G 50mm f1.4
Nikon AF-D 85mm f1.8
Nikon AF-D 85mm f1.4 (great where light is scarce)
Zeiss ZF 85mm f1.4
Zeiss ZF 100mm f2 MACRO (great glass)
Nikon AF-D 105mm f2 DC (super for portraits & creative exposures)
Nikon AF-D 135mm f2 DC
Voigtlander 180mm f4 APO
Nikon AF-S 80-200mm f2.8 (used on Disney on Ice set)
Nikon 300mm f4 AF-S nice back lack of VR is a problem on D7k
Nikon 300mm f2.8 AF-S VR (superb)
Nikon AF-S 70-300mm f4-5.6
1990s setup:
Pentax K-1000 35mm film camera with 50mm and 35mm lenses
Each photographer has a unique way of utilizing his equipment, therefore there is no ultimate answer as to what cameras and lenses are the best. It is all subjective. For me however it is about the craft rather than the gear, so I will let each one of you be the judge. There is plenty images on this site to make up your own mind.
Cameras:
Nikon D700
Nikon D7000
Manual F-mount Lenses:
Nikon 85mm f1.4 Ai-S, famous portrait lens, one of Nikon's best
Voigtlander 125mm f2.5 APO Lanthar Macro 1:1, my most favorite lens, very rare
Automatic F-mount Lenses:
Nikon AF-S 16-35mm f4G VR, super sharp
Nikon AF-S 70-200mm VR II, the reason Canon owners are now really jealous
Sigma OS 120-300mm f2.8 OS, latest effort from Sigma, I like this one
Nikon AF-S 200mm f2G VR, amazing super fast portrait lens, great bokeh
Converters/Flash:
Nikon TC14-E ii (1.4x magnification with aspherical elements)
Nikon SB600 24-85mm range flash unit (recharges quickly)
Wish List:
Nikon D800 (come on Nikon! why are u keeping us waiting), D3x ($8k)
Zeiss ZF 21mm f2.8 ($1,500)
Nikon AF-S 300mm f2.8 VRii, superb lens, but heavy
Nikon Flash SB800 or 900 ($600)
Nikon TC-20E iii & TC-17E ii ($800)
Lenses used in the past with Nikon DX & FX systems:
Nikon AF-S 14-24mm
Tokina AT-X 11-16mm f2.8 DX
Voigtlander 20mm f3.5 SLII (nice & super light)
Nikon AF-S 18-200mm f3.5-5.6 DX VR I
Zeiss ZF 25mm f2.8
Nikon AF-S 24-70mm f2.8
Nikon AF-D 50mm f1.8
Nikon AFS G 50mm f1.4
Nikon AF-D 85mm f1.8
Nikon AF-D 85mm f1.4 (great where light is scarce)
Zeiss ZF 85mm f1.4
Zeiss ZF 100mm f2 MACRO (great glass)
Nikon AF-D 105mm f2 DC (super for portraits & creative exposures)
Nikon AF-D 135mm f2 DC
Voigtlander 180mm f4 APO
Nikon AF-S 80-200mm f2.8 (used on Disney on Ice set)
Nikon 300mm f4 AF-S nice back lack of VR is a problem on D7k
Nikon 300mm f2.8 AF-S VR (superb)
Nikon AF-S 70-300mm f4-5.6
1990s setup:
Pentax K-1000 35mm film camera with 50mm and 35mm lenses