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Archive 2014 · D300 Nikon

  
 
silvermesa1
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p.3 #1 · p.3 #1 · D300 Nikon


Hello!

Congratulations on your recent purchases!!

I thought I would chime in regarding my own experiences with the Nikon D300 which I have owned for about a year now. Used to be a horse show photographer 20 years ago and worked with a Hasselblad 500cm at that time.

I would encourage you to look at or join the web site for equestrian photographers (Do a google search) it may be equestrian photographers.net? I did a free trial of the site about a year ago and it could be helpful to you I believe.

My suggestion for horse events and portraits would be the 70-200 zoom even though I do not have personal experience with the lens. I believe a number of photographers on the site above were using it. I do have personal experience with the Nikon 85mm 1.4D for portraits and have been pleased.

Going digital has been a real learning experience for me since I have been out of photography for the last 20 years. My one suggestion that I can recommend for help with D300 auto focus is to shoot with single point focus and use the af-on button to focus. You need to set the a1 af-c priority mode to "release" which allows the shutter to activate when you say to. So with this set up the af-on button initiates focus and the shutter button only activates the shutter.

I just did the above with my own camera a couple of days ago and my keeper rate shot way up!! Here is the video that made me decide to do this. This technique even works well for portraits and is bound to be good for action type events. Best wishes!




Oct 22, 2014 at 07:10 PM
kellyvictoria
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p.3 #2 · p.3 #2 · D300 Nikon


Will do.. thank you so much !



Oct 22, 2014 at 07:47 PM
BrundinPhoto
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p.3 #3 · p.3 #3 · D300 Nikon


If starting out I would recommend the following:

Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 OS
Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8 AF-S or D
50mm f/1.8

These will cover pretty much any situation. Get some lenses and get to shooting that D300. Congrats!



Oct 22, 2014 at 08:08 PM
tjny
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p.3 #4 · p.3 #4 · D300 Nikon


mawz wrote:
35vs 50 is a matter of taste, although for most shooters a normal is more flexible than a short tele.

The 17-55 has absolutely horrid flare control, at best is as sharp as a good copy of the 18-70 and even used costs as much as the much better Sigma 17-50 OS does new. I'd compared these two lenses (and a 16-85) when I originally bought my D300 back in early 2008. The 17-55 matched the 16-85 in terms of resolution & sharpness, but showed purely horrid flare control. The 18-70 was better than either optically, but had inferior colour.
...Show more



Oct 22, 2014 at 08:09 PM
mphocus
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p.3 #5 · p.3 #5 · D300 Nikon


I bought the D7000 (similiar to the D300 spec)before and I got the kit lenses with it as well as having the 50 mm 1.8 but when I bought the 18 - 200 mm DX was the lens I loved the most. I had it on my camera 99% of the time. I have now bought a full frame camera and still the 18 - 200 is on the D7000


Oct 22, 2014 at 08:40 PM
Two23
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p.3 #6 · p.3 #6 · D300 Nikon


kellyvictoria wrote:
am checking price of 18-200 VR on B&H



Kelly, I would skip that lens unless you are just wanting one lens and will mostly be using it for travel. The reason is that a lot of compromises had to be made for a zoom range that big, and most of those compromises hurt the image quality (especially sharpness.) I used a D300 for years, and for what you're wanting I'd buy a used Nikon 16-85mm VR. It's a good quality lens, plentiful on ebay, and it will do what you want. It doesn't sound like you need a really long lens (i.e. 200mm) to start out with. A wider one is a better fit for what you want to photo. The lenses that are f2.8 tend to be bulkier and heavier, and I'm betting you'd be happier staying away from that. I have the Nikon 17-55mm f2.8 and use it for weddings on a D7100. The lens is built like a tank, and at the end of the day weighs about as much as one too.


Kent in SD




Oct 22, 2014 at 11:43 PM
kellyvictoria
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p.3 #7 · p.3 #7 · D300 Nikon


I just watched the video, really good. I will try this when I get a chance soon.
thank so much..



Oct 23, 2014 at 06:54 AM
kellyvictoria
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p.3 #8 · p.3 #8 · D300 Nikon


the above was in reply to Silvermesa1...


Oct 23, 2014 at 06:56 AM
silvermesa1
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p.3 #9 · p.3 #9 · D300 Nikon


Just wanted to clarify one thing (Item 3 below) since I left it out of my post above even though the video does include it.

To set the D300 up for back button focus:
1) Set camera to Af-C on front of camera (have dial pointed at "c")
2) In autofocus menu set A1 AF-C Priority Selection to "release". If you do not set it to this setting when your single focus point is slightly off of the original focus point or subject it will not fire. This is very frustrating to have this happen.
3) In autofocus menu set A5 Autofocus Activation to "AF-On Only"

Or even better yet refer to this



I have tried several other methods of focusing my 85mm 1.4D and would get a pretty significant amount of out of focus shots. Needless to say this is very frustrating! I'm sure it was my fault and maybe i had a one of the 51 focus points somewhere, where it threw the camera off. However the above focusing method has made me love the 85mm lens for portraits and wish I would have known this a year ago. When you put it into practice, I only had to use it for one shoot and it was an obvious improvement. Kind of like turning on the light switch!!
Hoping this can help others with focus and enjoying their gear!!



Oct 23, 2014 at 10:20 AM
trenchmonkey
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p.3 #10 · p.3 #10 · D300 Nikon


Throw some decent glass on it...fine tune...and it'll sing







Oct 23, 2014 at 02:29 PM
KankRat
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p.3 #11 · p.3 #11 · D300 Nikon


My budget D7K set up, which will work great on your D300 is what Mawz suggested:

Nikon 18-70DX
Nikon 35/1.8G DX
Nikon 70-300G VR




Nov 14, 2014 at 07:09 PM
kellyvictoria
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p.3 #12 · p.3 #12 · D300 Nikon


got it 18-70DX
any 1.8G DX would be great!
70-300G VR would be wonderful, but would like it to be 2.8

I will definitely get something nice in 2015. Definitely ...



Nov 14, 2014 at 08:31 PM
Two23
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p.3 #13 · p.3 #13 · D300 Nikon


kellyvictoria wrote:
am checking price of 18-200 VR on B&H



No, that won't do what you want. It's an OK lens for travel, but NOT for equestrian events (I've done a few, mostly rodeo or jumping.) I used a D300 for years in the past. Here's what I think WILL do what you want:

17-50mm lens
70-200mm f2.8 lens

There are several brands of these. The Sigma 17-50mm f2.8 OS is very good and can be readily found at a good price on ebay, used. I had the Nikon 17-55mm f2.8 and it too is good, but goes for more money. You also need a 70--200mm f2.8 lens, especially for the horse stuff. There are three good choices: used Nikon 70-200mm f2.8 VR-1, somewhere around a thousand dollars used. A Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 OS would be good, as would a Tamron 70-200mm f2.8 VC. Both can be found at good prices, used, on ebay. That's the route I would go. Just those two lenses will definitely do what you want.

Do not buy the 18-200mm, it will NOT do what you want and you will lose money when you come to realize that and then have to sell it as a used lens.


Kent in SD



Nov 14, 2014 at 09:10 PM
kellyvictoria
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p.3 #14 · p.3 #14 · D300 Nikon


ok, haven't really exactly thought it out yet, but I know your right.



Nov 15, 2014 at 08:32 AM
KankRat
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p.3 #15 · p.3 #15 · D300 Nikon


I might add to the OP. The 18-70mm can be had for $100-120 used on Ebay. It's not made anymore.

This is what I paid for my factory refurb on the 70-300mm http://www.nikonusa.com/en/Nikon-Products/Product/Camera-Lenses/2161B/AF-S-VR-Zoom-Nikkor-70-300mm-f%252F4.5-5.6G-IF-ED.html

Tamron is supposed to makea good 70-300mm in that price range also. Some say it's sharper than the Nikon.






Nov 15, 2014 at 09:52 AM
kellyvictoria
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p.3 #16 · p.3 #16 · D300 Nikon


yes, I do have the 18-70mm
but I really want a 2.8 in the 70-300mm or another 18-70mm at 2.8
so budget requires wait, did I mention I have a dressage horse and another older boy, so it costs me at least $1,700 a month for that. I am poor but rich at the same time.



Nov 15, 2014 at 10:34 AM
KankRat
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p.3 #17 · p.3 #17 · D300 Nikon


You mean 70-200mm f2.8. There is no 70-300 that fast. I don't think it's possible.


Nov 15, 2014 at 11:29 AM
trenchmonkey
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p.3 #18 · p.3 #18 · D300 Nikon


Don't let anyone tell ya different...I made thousands with the D300 & Nikkor 70-300 VR
working team roping/barrels/pole bending in decent light. Yeah, the 70-200 f2.8's are better
but 4-5 times the cost on the used market.








Nov 15, 2014 at 11:53 AM
trenchmonkey
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p.3 #19 · p.3 #19 · D300 Nikon


...and a sample with the D300s @270mm f6.3




Nov 15, 2014 at 12:05 PM
kellyvictoria
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p.3 #20 · p.3 #20 · D300 Nikon


Good Lord! Sold!


Nov 15, 2014 at 12:43 PM
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