Decisions Decisions - Part II - Lens Selection
Tom Vervaeke
Registered Users Posts: 57 Big grins
Thanks a lot to all of you who have posted here, or emailed, or PM'd me with help with camera and then lens selection.
My original thread dealt with my selection of a camera body and then moved into lens selection. In the middle of my thread was a very interesting Canon <=> Nikon pissing contest. :dunno I'm too much of a photo noob to get into one of those.
My selection for a body was a D2X. I know that it's total overkill but just this once I wanted to have EXACTLY what I wanted and not what I needed. I needed a D200, but I got a D2X. I'll consider it an early birthday present.
When I bought my camera last Saturday I bought a Nikon 24-120 VR lense on the recommendation of the salesman. Despite my personal radar telling me that this wasn't the fastest lens in the world, I took it home anyway. Salesman promised I can always bring it back.
A few folks here strongly suggested that that lens wasn't the sharpest or fastest or ??? and suggested I ditch it.
I did.
During an extended lunch break today I returned the 24-120 and picked up the AF-S 17-55 2.8 ED-IF DX lens. Looks like a winner and ALL of the lense review sites give it high marks.
In addition, after several recommendations and a bunch of review work on the internet on Sunday I also purchased a Nikon 70-200 VR AF-S 2.8 lens. Man, that thing is super heavy and long. It too had very high ratings. I also found several good threads here about someone selling one of these and moving to a 300 prime that I found very informative.
I've added quality UV lens protectors to both lenses. Haven't made any selection for a circular polarizer yet. And, since I blew all my money on the 70-200 VR I didn't get a flash yet. Both the 600 and 800 are fairly expensive.
So, again thanks. Next stop: learning my camera.
Tom
My original thread dealt with my selection of a camera body and then moved into lens selection. In the middle of my thread was a very interesting Canon <=> Nikon pissing contest. :dunno I'm too much of a photo noob to get into one of those.
My selection for a body was a D2X. I know that it's total overkill but just this once I wanted to have EXACTLY what I wanted and not what I needed. I needed a D200, but I got a D2X. I'll consider it an early birthday present.
When I bought my camera last Saturday I bought a Nikon 24-120 VR lense on the recommendation of the salesman. Despite my personal radar telling me that this wasn't the fastest lens in the world, I took it home anyway. Salesman promised I can always bring it back.
A few folks here strongly suggested that that lens wasn't the sharpest or fastest or ??? and suggested I ditch it.
I did.
During an extended lunch break today I returned the 24-120 and picked up the AF-S 17-55 2.8 ED-IF DX lens. Looks like a winner and ALL of the lense review sites give it high marks.
In addition, after several recommendations and a bunch of review work on the internet on Sunday I also purchased a Nikon 70-200 VR AF-S 2.8 lens. Man, that thing is super heavy and long. It too had very high ratings. I also found several good threads here about someone selling one of these and moving to a 300 prime that I found very informative.
I've added quality UV lens protectors to both lenses. Haven't made any selection for a circular polarizer yet. And, since I blew all my money on the 70-200 VR I didn't get a flash yet. Both the 600 and 800 are fairly expensive.
So, again thanks. Next stop: learning my camera.
Tom
0
Comments
Enjoy...all my cycling pix are with the 70-200. Fantastic lens...you'll love it...never ceases to amaze.
http://www.SnortingBullPhoto.com
http://www.sportsshooter.com/cherskowitz
"There's no reason to hurry on this climb...as long as you keep the tempo at the right speed the riders will fall back."
http://cusac.smugmug.com
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on the new camera, especially the AF and seeing some shots.
Gene
In addition, my camera came with Firmware 1.0 so upgraded it to 1.1 (both the A and B parts). That was fairly easy.
Have taken maybe 100 shots just to learn the different P, A, S modes and then reformatted my CF card to hide my work....
I live very close to a city park in my neighborhood where they play girls lacrosse and soccer on the weekends. I may try some action shots this weekend with the 70-200. I have only used the 17-55 so far and really like the way that the camera feels on it.
Have read some of the discussions here about memory cards as I only bought 1 new 2GB 80X when I brought the D2X home. All of my other cards are older 512 and 1GB cards that are not fast at all. Am still debating between 2 and 4 GB fast or really fast cards. I can't seem to find a definitive source yet which tells me whether the D2X, in fast continuous mode can outpace an 80X Ultra II or not. If so, would the 4GB Sandisk Extreme III be the right tool? The price point seems pretty good.
Tom
Check here, lots of CF card speed tests.
Congratulations on the new camera and lenses. A teleconverter might come in handy in AK, to shoot some wildlife without getting in harms way. The 1.4 gives a nice boost without taking away too much light.
Sounds like a cool trip. Some of my best memories are from when I lived in AK.
Patrick
Tom congrats, I'm sure you will be pleased. One suggestion, before you leave the house, call you insurance agent!
Patrick:
Have a TC down on my list of things to get before going to AK. Any words of wisdom on the 1.4 versus 2.0x TC's? Cost is similar, but the 2X has a bigger penalty.
My longest lens is a 200mm so a 2X sounds great for 400mm. Since it will be light for 22-23 hours per day in the summer perhaps the 2X will be fine if used on a 2.8 lens?
Any words of wisdom about cool AK things to see would be nice. Private email would be best.
Tom
Won't my home insurance cover my camera gear? Do I need something special?
Tom
I think it would only cover it if it was stolen from your propety or damaged there. On a trip it may not be covered, though I am no insurance expert.
BTW nice setup. Congrats on winning the lottery!
I had a choice to make: Nice camera setup or adoption. I bought the R1, it was a fair comprimise I guess... I do like it and my skills are below its capability.
-LS
I think you put it on a schedule with your homeowner's policy. I would check with your agent to see what would be covered. See if they have an option for replacement cost vs depreciated cost, that can go a long way if you have a claim.
A 400 would be awesome with your 1.5 sensor, but I don't know about the image quality with the 2x, it is probably good, but not as good as the 1.4, plus it drops your lens to a 5.6. Nikon also makes a 1.7x, that might be a good way to split the difference. The Nikonians can probably give you a better heads up on which TC is the best.
Tom,
I believe I read that Nikon does not recommend the 2X TC for the 70-200mm zoom. The 1.4X is supposed to be fine. Others say to just stay in the 120mm-200mm range to be fine.
I think it's largely a matter of taste, but you may want to test yourself.
ziggy53
Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
I had to chuckle about your side comment on one of your posts regarding purchasing a flash. You said the SB600 and SB800 seemed a bit expensive. You just bought a $4000 camera and almost $3000 worth of glass. Don't gripe about a $200 or $300 flash! If your type of photography requires a flash, I highly recommend the SB 800.
http://clearwaterphotography.smugmug.com/
I know, it sounded petty. But, the fact that the camera and lenses will be well used by me and I feel that I can utilize them to advantage. For some reason, I have never been able to figure out how to effectively manage a flash. I need to take a seminar or find a mentor locally to help. I normally just take my Canon P&S for any indoor stuff as it's flash works relatively well in idiot mode.
You should have seen me eyeing and picking up the Gitzo (sp?) carbon fibre tripods until I saw their price tags. Oh my God! It's just a tripod. And, the prices didn't even include the heads, just the leg part!
T.
Tom, I have a 1348. That is sticker shock considering my Bogen tripod only cost $200 like 5 years ago.
Phoenix, AZ
Canon Bodies
Canon and Zeiss Lenses
One of the most impressive things to me about the D2X and the SB600 and SB800 flashes is that it is now really hard to take a poorly exposed flash photo. Nikon really has this system figured out. I suspect your D2X with an SB800 will take better indoor flash pics than your Canon P&S!
I also use one of these two flashes frequently for fill when taking portraits outdoors. Don't forget this important application.
http://clearwaterphotography.smugmug.com/
I put my equipment on a "rider" (terms may vary by agent:D ), that covers my equiment for nearly anything. Lost, stolen, broken, dropped off a cliff, drowned, you name it. I had to list every item, with value and serial numbers. Only cost me like $70 a year, and well worth it, just in case.
You leave your equipment in your car, or a hotel room, or just turn your ack at the park, and it gets stolen, good luck getting it replaced without the added coverage.
PS....I aint no insurance agent either.
I have to second this. I just got a SB600 for my D70. It is almost uncanny how well these Nikon speedlights work.
--Aaron
http://mrbook2.smugmug.com
Nikon D200, usually with 18-200VR or 50mm f/1.8D
Ubuntu 9.04, Bibblepro, GIMP, Argyllcms
Blog at http://losthighlights.blogspot.com/
I have been looking at a Gitzo CF for a long time. One is sitting in my B+H shopping cart at the moment, but for $560 it may stay there a while longer, but it would be awesome for hiking with.
and when you do break down for weight and performance I think it is hard to beat the Acratech Ultimate Ballhead.
Hmm. 450 g, holds 11.4 kg.
Granted it's more expensive, but the Markins M-10 is 498 g, and holds 40 kg. I had been considering this one as it seems to be very highly regarded. I don't know much about ballheads; what makes the Acratech a better performer?
http://cusac.smugmug.com
I don't have a camera/lens/flash combo that comes close to 11.4kg, so no gain for me there, plus the CF tripod I am looking at is not rated for that much anyway.
I have not seen the Markins in person, so I cannot really say. One thing I liked about the Acratech is the more open ball design. If I am hiking with it and it gets dirty I can clean it off fairly easy. I keep it clean, so it has not been an issue anyway. I also bought mine used so I saved some money and that made my decision easy.
This is not my everyday tripod head, but my hiking/travel tripod head. So weight was a factor.