Camera decisions - Nikon? Canon? Wait for D90 or get something now? - Page 2

BerserkerCatSplat · July 6th, 2008, 01:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solberg

What is the difference between this and the 18-55mm that there is such a huge prices difference ?

Max aperture, focusing speed, optical quality, build quality.

nomix · July 6th, 2008, 01:51 AM

The difference is that it's far sharper, it's brighter, it's got wider coverage (you do notice the extra mm in the wide end). It does have IS.

As you're saying you want to make big prints, then the lens gets very important, that and using RAW.

I would also like to point out that the availability of old Pentax lenses are wast on ebay, just to have it said.

Solberg · July 6th, 2008, 07:47 PM

I have been looking at Canon lenses and can't find anything that seems right for me.

So, I was thinking about getting a Nikon 70-300mm VR lens right now (I will be able to use it for motorsport shooting over the summer, on my trip to Europe and at the london motorshow images/smilies/smile.gif

). Then, come September and the Nikon D90 I can get that along with a 16-88mm VR lens perhaps and give back the Nikon D40x and 18-135 lens I'm borrowing right now. It seems like a good idea to me. I really like the 40D body but I can't seem to find a decent lens set.

What do you think about that idea?
What do you think about the Nikon 70-300mm VR Lens ?

mgkdk · July 6th, 2008, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solberg

What do you think about the Nikon 70-300mm VR Lens ?

I have that lens and I like it, haven't used it that much but I hope to do so at the ringmeet in 2 weeks time, should be lots to shoot there.

BerserkerCatSplat · July 6th, 2008, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solberg

I have been looking at Canon lenses and can't find anything that seems right for me.

So, I was thinking about getting a Nikon 70-300mm VR lens right now (I will be able to use it for motorsport shooting over the summer, on my trip to Europe and at the london motorshow images/smilies/smile.gif

). Then, come September and the Nikon D90 I can get that along with a 16-88mm VR lens perhaps and give back the Nikon D40x and 18-135 lens I'm borrowing right now. It seems like a good idea to me. I really like the 40D body but I can't seem to find a decent lens set.

What do you think about that idea?
What do you think about the Nikon 70-300mm VR Lens ?

That's a pretty solid plan if you don't need large-aperture (read: expensive) lenses. The 16-85 and 70-300 will complement each other nicely and are both quite good lenses.

TopGearDog · July 6th, 2008, 08:06 PM

I agree, you will have a good combo with 16-85VR and the 70-300VR.

I'm pretty set on lenses right now, except a telephoto, so i'm really just waiting to see if the D90 will be good enough to justify an upgrade from my ageing D70.

Solberg · July 6th, 2008, 08:46 PM

mgkdk, do you think you could post a few photos that were taken with the 70-300VR?

I think this is my final decision. I really really like the Canon 40D body but the Nikon lenses are much more appealing to me. I will get the 70-300mm VR lens now and commit to the Nikon brand. when the D90 comes out I will get the 16-88mm VR and I will have a great lens combo and body.

Thanks to everyone here for helping me make up my mind images/smilies/smile.gif

It's much appreciated.

just one more thing, I just had a look at some images taken with the Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D and they seem amazing. I had a look at the price and it's really cheap. Will it work on the D40x body with autofocus? If not, will it work with manual focus? As for the D80 and D90 bodies, does/will it have autofocus on them?

Thanks.

BerserkerCatSplat · July 6th, 2008, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solberg

just one more thing, I just had a look at some images taken with the Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D and they seem amazing. I had a look at the price and it's really cheap. Will it work on the D40x body with autofocus? If not, will it work with manual focus? As for the D80 and D90 bodies, does/will it have autofocus on them?

Thanks.

I think you've made a solid decision if it fits your budget.

The 50/1.8 will not autofocus on the D40x, but it will meter and give focus confirmation and all that and works perfectly well as a manual focus lens. it will work 100% on a D80 or its replacement.

Solberg · July 6th, 2008, 08:52 PM

It fits my budget and I'm really pleased with this idea images/smilies/smile.gif

TopGearDog · July 6th, 2008, 09:06 PM

The 50mm is a nice and cheap little lens, and until you get a D80 or something else, you can definately just manual focus it on the D40. Only thing about that lens is it's very soft and lacking in contrast at f/1.8 and mostly up to f/2.8 but at f/3.5 it starts to get sharp and really really sharp at f/4.

The wide aperture of f/1.8 can be fun to get those shallow depth of field images, but dont expect much in regards to sharpness.

mgkdk · July 6th, 2008, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solberg

mgkdk, do you think you could post a few photos that were taken with the 70-300VR?

Here's a quick look through some of the latest, tried to find some in both ends of the range and some in the middle. Didn't do anything to the pics, not even resize, and for some reason phyrefile doesn't work so I'll post a link to the pics in my gallery soon (it takes forever to upload).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solberg

just one more thing, I just had a look at some images taken with the Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D and they seem amazing. I had a look at the price and it's really cheap. Will it work on the D40x body with autofocus? If not, will it work with manual focus? As for the D80 and D90 bodies, does/will it have autofocus on them?

It works on the D80 with autofocus images/smilies/smile.gif

Solberg · July 6th, 2008, 10:41 PM

Thanks for uploading them images/smilies/smile.gif

mgkdk · July 6th, 2008, 10:59 PM

Finally

IceBone · July 6th, 2008, 11:00 PM

I love my Nikon d80 and the Sigma 17-70 lens. It's a great every day lens. I carry a borrowed 55-200 in my bag all the time, but i haven't swapped it once in the past few months. I find that i'm missing out on the wide end, though. That Sigma 10-20 looks so juicy atm...

mgkdk · July 6th, 2008, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IceBone

That Sigma 10-20 looks so juicy atm...

I was looking at that not 5 mins ago...

IceBone · July 6th, 2008, 11:03 PM

I like how it's not a fish eye. I don't like fishies, tbh.

jayhawk · July 6th, 2008, 11:06 PM

I also have a 50mm F/1.8. Good lens for low light conditions and you do not want to bothered with manually setting it.

nomix · July 6th, 2008, 11:56 PM

Just read a review of the Nikkor 70-300/VR, and it got praise for delivering good value for money, being relatively sharp even in the long end. Seems like a very solid choice.

It's the Kia Cee'd(?) of cheap tele lenses. Reasonable range, reasonable price and good IQ. You won't find yourself dreaming of one, just like the Kia, but really, there's not much any other than a professional would miss.

BerserkerCatSplat · July 7th, 2008, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nomix

It's the Kia Cee'd(?) of cheap tele lenses. Reasonable range, reasonable price and good IQ. You won't find yourself dreaming of one, just like the Kia, but really, there's not much any other than a professional would miss.

Nah, the 55-200VR is like the Cee'd, the 70-300VR is like a Ford Focus.

images/smilies/lol.gif

I love car/photo forums. They lead to weird analogies.

July 6th, 2008, 01:51 AM	#22
nomix True Viking Joined: May 26th, 2005 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Norway Posts: 2,839 Rep Power: 19	The difference is that it's far sharper, it's brighter, it's got wider coverage (you do notice the extra mm in the wide end). It does have IS. As you're saying you want to make big prints, then the lens gets very important, that and using RAW. I would also like to point out that the availability of old Pentax lenses are wast on ebay, just to have it said. __________________ "If you're not getting the picture you want, you're not close enough" - Robert Capa "Your first 14000 pictures are your worst" - HCB - David Bailey! Who's he?!

July 6th, 2008, 07:47 PM	#23
Solberg Joined: Apr 24th, 2008 Last Online: 04:43 PM Posts: 1,057 Rep Power: 23	I have been looking at Canon lenses and can't find anything that seems right for me. So, I was thinking about getting a Nikon 70-300mm VR lens right now (I will be able to use it for motorsport shooting over the summer, on my trip to Europe and at the london motorshow ). Then, come September and the Nikon D90 I can get that along with a 16-88mm VR lens perhaps and give back the Nikon D40x and 18-135 lens I'm borrowing right now. It seems like a good idea to me. I really like the 40D body but I can't seem to find a decent lens set. What do you think about that idea? What do you think about the Nikon 70-300mm VR Lens ? __________________

July 6th, 2008, 08:06 PM	#26
TopGearDog Joined: Feb 20th, 2007 Last Online: December 1st, 2008 Location: Iceland Posts: 379 Car: '98 Ford Escort 1.6 Rep Power: 13	I agree, you will have a good combo with 16-85VR and the 70-300VR. I'm pretty set on lenses right now, except a telephoto, so i'm really just waiting to see if the D90 will be good enough to justify an upgrade from my ageing D70. __________________

July 6th, 2008, 08:46 PM	#27
Solberg Joined: Apr 24th, 2008 Last Online: 04:43 PM Posts: 1,057 Rep Power: 23	mgkdk, do you think you could post a few photos that were taken with the 70-300VR? I think this is my final decision. I really really like the Canon 40D body but the Nikon lenses are much more appealing to me. I will get the 70-300mm VR lens now and commit to the Nikon brand. when the D90 comes out I will get the 16-88mm VR and I will have a great lens combo and body. Thanks to everyone here for helping me make up my mind It's much appreciated. just one more thing, I just had a look at some images taken with the Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D and they seem amazing. I had a look at the price and it's really cheap. Will it work on the D40x body with autofocus? If not, will it work with manual focus? As for the D80 and D90 bodies, does/will it have autofocus on them? Thanks. __________________

July 6th, 2008, 08:52 PM	#29
Solberg Joined: Apr 24th, 2008 Last Online: 04:43 PM Posts: 1,057 Rep Power: 23	It fits my budget and I'm really pleased with this idea __________________

July 6th, 2008, 09:06 PM	#30
TopGearDog Joined: Feb 20th, 2007 Last Online: December 1st, 2008 Location: Iceland Posts: 379 Car: '98 Ford Escort 1.6 Rep Power: 13	The 50mm is a nice and cheap little lens, and until you get a D80 or something else, you can definately just manual focus it on the D40. Only thing about that lens is it's very soft and lacking in contrast at f/1.8 and mostly up to f/2.8 but at f/3.5 it starts to get sharp and really really sharp at f/4. The wide aperture of f/1.8 can be fun to get those shallow depth of field images, but dont expect much in regards to sharpness. __________________

July 6th, 2008, 10:41 PM	#32
Solberg Joined: Apr 24th, 2008 Last Online: 04:43 PM Posts: 1,057 Rep Power: 23	Thanks for uploading them __________________

July 6th, 2008, 10:59 PM	#33
mgkdk .dk beauty Joined: Mar 19th, 2005 Last Online: 05:44 PM Location: Denmark Age: 28 Posts: 4,187 Car: Volvo V40 LFS Status: Rep Power: 49	Finally __________________ "Danish is cool" - Jeremy Clarkson

July 6th, 2008, 11:00 PM	#34
IceBone Gulf Livery Rules Joined: Jan 14th, 2007 Last Online: 12:04 PM Location: Slovenistan Age: 24 Posts: 6,672 Car: Mitsubishi Carisma GDI Rep Power: 71	I love my Nikon d80 and the Sigma 17-70 lens. It's a great every day lens. I carry a borrowed 55-200 in my bag all the time, but i haven't swapped it once in the past few months. I find that i'm missing out on the wide end, though. That Sigma 10-20 looks so juicy atm... __________________ The Mitsubishop of Natural Aspiraton

July 6th, 2008, 11:03 PM	#36
IceBone Gulf Livery Rules Joined: Jan 14th, 2007 Last Online: 12:04 PM Location: Slovenistan Age: 24 Posts: 6,672 Car: Mitsubishi Carisma GDI Rep Power: 71	I like how it's not a fish eye. I don't like fishies, tbh. __________________ The Mitsubishop of Natural Aspiraton

July 6th, 2008, 11:06 PM	#37
jayhawk Cigar Smoking Man Joined: Dec 11th, 2005 Last Online: 02:17 AM Location: A-Town, Illinois. Age: 33 Posts: 5,008 Car: MY07 G11 WRX-TR WRB. Rep Power: 88	I also have a 50mm F/1.8. Good lens for low light conditions and you do not want to bothered with manually setting it. __________________ It is nice to have friends like you on this forum. ...A fox among the chickens... Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery None but ourselves can free our minds…

July 6th, 2008, 11:56 PM	#38
nomix True Viking Joined: May 26th, 2005 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Norway Posts: 2,839 Rep Power: 19	Just read a review of the Nikkor 70-300/VR, and it got praise for delivering good value for money, being relatively sharp even in the long end. Seems like a very solid choice. It's the Kia Cee'd(?) of cheap tele lenses. Reasonable range, reasonable price and good IQ. You won't find yourself dreaming of one, just like the Kia, but really, there's not much any other than a professional would miss. __________________ "If you're not getting the picture you want, you're not close enough" - Robert Capa "Your first 14000 pictures are your worst" - HCB - David Bailey! Who's he?!