Nikon D300 lens choice?

[markryder]

Originally Posted by epp_b

I think that you'll find that Nikon works far better with your workflow. On the higher end bodies like the D300, everything is exactly where it belongs and can be adjusted without taking your eye away from the viewfinder. The point is that that important controls don't use menus like they do on Canons.

I've watched cameralabs.com's review of the D300 & D700, and read the reviews on the site + dcresource.com + dpreview.com, and the layout seems well thought out.

A thing I havn't found out though: when using exposure bracketing, do you have to set the camera to continous shooting, or can you use the self timer and the camera will take the set number of shots by it self?

[epp_b]

That, I couldn't tell you, I've never used the BKT function on a Nikon (I have a D40; no BKT function)

[BerserkerCatSplat]

I actually think you'll find the transition from Canon to Nikon easier than going the other way. Many of my friends shoot 5D's and 40D's, and almost all were impressed by how logical and efficient the D300 control layout is.

The Bracketing burst feature is intended for hand-holding, but there is a way to make the camera do it hands-free. If it's something you'd do often, I'd toss the menu setup into one of the custom settings banks for easy access.

+ YouTube Video

[nomix]

I don't think there's much in it either way. Being an Olympus user, I'm not biased at any of the brands, and I can't say either brand is harder than the other to use. I feel just at home with a D700 or a D3 as I do with a 5D or a 1D.

Though, for my hands, the ergonomics of the Canons does work better. But that's reversed for others. Saying anything general about grips and ergonomics works poorly, as people are different. Though, it could be argued that the Canon XSi is developed ergonomicly for another market than Europe. But there's still wads of people who live happily with it.

[epp_b]

I don't think there's much in it either way. Being an Olympus user, I'm not biased at any of the brands

You mean, except for Olympus, right?

[TopGearDog]

Originally Posted by nomix

And really, for landscapes, get a 5Dmk2 and a 14-24 with an adapter.

You mean a D3x and 14-24

But regarding the D300, it's a fantastic camera. I have it's little brother, the D90 and absoloutely adore it. It's just such a nice camera that feels so right and delivers amazing results.

Regarding lenses, if you can afford it, get the 17-55mm f/2.8, but if you cant afford it, both 16-85mm and 18-105mm are getting very positive reviews.

There is also one lens i can highly recommend, the cheap 28-105mm f/3.5-5.6, which isnt excactly practical on the wide end on DX format, but it has amazing sharpness, color and contrast along with a usable 1:2 macro feature. It sells cheap on ebay. I use it alot when i'm shooting events when i use bounce flash or outside when i dont require f/2.8 and need the reach my 17-35mm f/2.8 cant do.

[markryder]

Originally Posted by BerserkerCatSplat

The Bracketing burst feature is intended for hand-holding, but there is a way to make the camera do it hands-free. If it's something you'd do often, I'd toss the menu setup into one of the custom settings banks for easy access.

That menu system seriously scared me. All that just to do one little thing? Makes a canon with a remote and adjusting the f-stops 2 times seem so much easier Is that seriously the only way to make the camera do it on a timer?

Damn, I need yet another remote it seems...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Cleon-Wireless...713.m153.l1262

[BerserkerCatSplat]

Originally Posted by markryder

That menu system seriously scared me. All that just to do one little thing? Makes a canon with a remote and adjusting the f-stops 2 times seem so much easier Is that seriously the only way to make the camera do it on a timer?

The problem is that it's more of a workaround than a solution, and is only necessary if you absolutely need the camera to do a full automated bracketing sequence completely hands-free. If you don't need your bracketing done automatically at 8FPS, the normal self-timer system works fine and is easy as rotating a single dial to set the D300 to Self-timer mode and pressing the shutter.

[markryder]

Originally Posted by TopGearDog

Regarding lenses, if you can afford it, get the 17-55mm f/2.8, but if you cant afford it, both 16-85mm and 18-105mm are getting very positive reviews.

I've got 8000 USD that I can spend on what-ever, but that doesn't mean I want to blow it all on a camera And the 17-55 comes close to the 14-24 in price, so in that regard I'd rather just get the 14-24. AND the performance of the 17-55 comes so close to the 16-85 that photozone even recomends the 16-85 over the 17-55, which is quite amazing concidering the 17-55 costs over twice as much. Which again leads me to the 16-85 instead.

Originally Posted by TopGearDog

There is also one lens i can highly recommend, the cheap 28-105mm f/3.5-5.6

Thanks for the tip, but the zoom range is all wrong for me.

One negative thing about a high priced lens like the 14-24, and this just might be me, is that I know that I restrict myself a bit. I don't take that many chances while shooting because I'm too afraid I'll damage the lens. For instance: I hated shooting with the canon 17-55 f2.8 IS at car shows, because people kept bumping into me. Just freaked me out, thinking that some one might scratch it with their clock or some jewlery or something.

It would suck ass to have a 16-85 scratched up, for sure, but I can atleast just go out and get another one without having to sell a kidney.

Guess I'm just a bit hysterical and paranoid

[markryder]

Originally Posted by BerserkerCatSplat

The problem is that it's more of a workaround than a solution, and is only necessary if you absolutely need the camera to do a full automated bracketing sequence completely hands-free. If you don't need your bracketing done automatically at 8FPS, the normal self-timer system works fine and is easy as rotating a single dial to set the D300 to Self-timer mode and pressing the shutter.

Noh-no. If I can select bracketing and put the camera on a 2 second self timer, and just press the shutter once and the camera shoots all 3-5-7-9 shots by it self, that's just what I'm after.

[otispunkmeyer]

surely the constant f2.8 lenses are fast enough not to need VR?

[otispunkmeyer]

Originally Posted by markryder

Ok, this is why *I* am doing it. It's not a canon VS nikon discussion, so any canon fanboys who feels like they need to show everyone on the forum just how gay they are by crying: don't. Canon cameras are great, so are nikon's. If you want to be all fanboy-gay, go find someone with a sony/pentax/olympus and ask why they bought a DSLR with the high iso capabilities of a canon compact camera

(oooh, I'm sensing some one got butt-hurt now )

The reason for getting something new is first and foremost because the 400D is old, and while it does have good image quality - the latest generation dslr's have better. What I feel could be better is the 400d's iso noise, the auto focus system (has let me down countless times) and options for bracketing are too limited. The lack of a 2 second self timer is another thing bugging me

The upgrade, if I were to get another canon, would be the 40D. But that still has a limited (but improved over the 400d) auto focus and bracketing. Havn't bother checking up on the self timer (I'm sick of loosing remotes all the time ) And a couple of review sites claim the IQ to be slightly better with the d300, even though I probably wouldn't be able to tell the difference between a 40D and D300 picture..

When buying a new camera, I want something that feels like a propper upgrade - not just "slightly better".

So the d300/700 has tempted me with image quality, 51 point auto focus, 9 point bracketing and a self timer that is actually usefull. As I am a whore for wide angle (without a lot of distortion), the full frame d700 with a sigma 24mm f1.8 and nikkor 35mm f2 would probably be the smart choice. Then again, for the exact same money I can buy a d300 with the nikkor 14-24mm The economic and probably best choice: d300 + 16-85 VR If the 16-85 had less distortion at 16mm, I would probably forget all about the 14-24mm but...

Anyways - that's my reasoning for going nikon instead of canon this time. I havn't brought up the 5D MKII because it alone costs as much as the d300 with a 14-24mm, and that's too much for just a camera. The d700 is also 700 dollars less than the 5D MK2. And I don't need 21 megapixels, or HD video that I'll use 3 times and then forget about it (like 90% of all other people that will buy a 5D MKII)

yeah i agree....i dont mind the ISO noise much as it tends to compiment a lot of my pictures and since canon use CMOS sensors it does at least look more natural than what some CCD's produce, but yeah noise does become a factor at 400 and above which isnt that great.

AF system definately isnt that good either, ive found the Ai and Ai servo modes to be near useless, i used them for panning and shooting break dancers once and ended up having to go back to one shot and pre-focusing multiple times to get reliable focusing.

there is a 2 second self timer, however, rather naffly it is only available in mirror lock up mode. so you press to raise the mirror then 2 seconds later it takes the shot.

the main thing i dont like about the 400d is its size, i've just had to buy a battery grip because the grip is just too small to comfortably hold my camera when its got my wide angle on it. my two bottom fingers are just hanging off the end of the grip, or positioned under the body to try prop it up but that starts to hurt after a while.

so yeah i cant wait to upgrade either, but since i dont wanna spend money ill just stick with canon lol then i dont have to sell my lenses and stuff!

[otispunkmeyer]

Originally Posted by BerserkerCatSplat

I actually think you'll find the transition from Canon to Nikon easier than going the other way. Many of my friends shoot 5D's and 40D's, and almost all were impressed by how logical and efficient the D300 control layout is.

The Bracketing burst feature is intended for hand-holding, but there is a way to make the camera do it hands-free. If it's something you'd do often, I'd toss the menu setup into one of the custom settings banks for easy access.

wow that is pretty awesome....do canon have anything like that?

[TopGearDog]

Well if you can afford the 14-24 then it's a no brainer, it's simply the best wide angle zoom (Clarkson voice) in the WOOORLD.

Then again, if i had that kind of money, id seriously look at the D700 + 14-24 + 24-70 combo.

[markryder]

Originally Posted by otispunkmeyer

AF system definately isnt that good either, ive found the Ai and Ai servo modes to be near useless, i used them for panning and shooting break dancers once and ended up having to go back to one shot and pre-focusing multiple times to get reliable focusing.

When shooting cars, I mostly have to focus on side indicators, breaks, wheels or other details on the car to get the camera to focus propperly. And with only 9 AF points, the composition of the picture is dictated too much by the cameras limitations. I'd rather have a 51 point system, and just change focus point - than have to re-compose the shot all the time.

Originally Posted by otispunkmeyer

there is a 2 second self timer, however, rather naffly it is only available in mirror lock up mode. so you press to raise the mirror then 2 seconds later it takes the shot.

Yeah, I've heard about this myself. But I just can't see that beeing such a smooth way to do things, so I've bought remotes with a 2 second timer instead:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/IR-Remote-for-...713.m153.l1262

It works, as long as the remote is facing the front of the camera, and you're not further...farther...further...?....away than 2-3 meters

Canon's RC-1 remote is much better, but costs the same as 4 of these cheap-o-matics..

Originally Posted by otispunkmeyer

so yeah i cant wait to upgrade either, but since i dont wanna spend money ill just stick with canon lol then i dont have to sell my lenses and stuff!

I had two 400D's, canon 10-22, 17-55 f2.8 and 70-200 f4 is. Everything is sold, except one of the 400d's that I've bought the 18-55 IS and 50mm f1.8 for. I had planned to give up photography as '08 was a shitty year with just too much work going on so I ended up shooting almost nothing at all. I was even invited with a press pass to a big ferrari/lambo/aston/porche/lotus trackday, but even that got screwed up because of work!!! That got me just too depressed about photography in general..

But, having reconcidered, I'll take one last stab at it in '09. Get some fresh new gear, and hopefully be able to get more days off work so I can actually use it. If work is going to hog all my time in '09 aswell, then I'm f'ing changing jobs!!!

And I might just keep that last 400d for sentimental reasons, as it's been the one that has shot about 90% of all my stuff

[nomix]

Originally Posted by epp_b

You mean, except for Olympus, right?

Not even for Olympus. I do some extreme low light work, as I do reportage, and last night I longed for a 5Dmk2 and a 50/1.4 or a 35/1.4. But, I got the shots I wanted, so as long as you put down some effort, you end up getting what you want in most cases.

Originally Posted by TopGearDog

You mean a D3x and 14-24

Meeeeh.. even if we disregard the HORRID () color signature every Nikon I've ever used has, it's also three times as expensive.

[epp_b]

"color signature"?

[markryder]

Then it's settled. I transferred enough money from my savings account to buy the D300 and 14-24 on saturday. Spent the whole of saturday, sunday and this morning concidering NEED vs WANT vs COST, and I ordered the D300 with the 16-85 VR lens online this morning. Didn't even dear to enter the camera store, 'cause if I would have had the opportunity to fondle the 14-24 I know what would have happened

I concidered the sigma 10-20, but seeing as sigma's quality control has a rather poor reputation, I went for the 16-85. Will post pictures when the gear arrives, and compare it to my 400D etc etc

[Lipito]

That's some nice kit you just bought. Congratulations!

I have a Canon 450D and it looks like a toy cam over a friend's D300. That camera would make me change without thinking from Canon to Nikon (maybe even the D90 ).

[nomix]

If you are easily impressed by solidness, you should also try handling the E-3, the K20D and a700. Feel like a couple of lumps of solid mass.