Questions for D300 and 24-70mm f/2.8 owners NEW

Moderated by: guardian

Visit the FM Store · Image Upload · Buy & Sell
FM Forum Rules
Nikon SLRs, primes, and zooms lenses reviews

FM Forums | Nikon-mount SLRs | Join Image Upload
end

Lawrence Lee
Offline
Image Upload: Off

p.1 #1 · Questions for D300 and 24-70mm f/2.8 owners NEW

I'm wondering if you guys can comment on this setup. I realize that such a setup won't allow for very wide shots, but what about portraits? Even though the D300 is a crop camera, would the camera take good portraits with good OOF background? Thanks!

Sep 07, 2008 at 04:09 AM

dj dunzie
Offline
Image Upload: Off

p.1 #2 · Questions for D300 and 24-70mm f/2.8 owners NEW

Well, if you're asking if the 24-70 / D300 is a good range for portraits, I sure think so. Yeah, it's not the widest combo as you suggest, but if you have a wide option like the 12-24 or 14-24 type deal, the 24-70 to ME is a fantastic normal range.

As for bokkeh, considering this is a zoom lens I'm amazed in my early time with it how creamy smooth the OOF areas are. Reminds me a lot of the 70-200VR in fact... very nice.

Sep 07, 2008 at 06:13 AM

Jammy Straub
Offline
Image Upload: On

p.1 #3 · Questions for D300 and 24-70mm f/2.8 owners NEW

A 24-70 is a very good portrait / studio lens on a crop body. If that's your intended usage it's hard to better. Honestly though on my D300 my70-200vr is my favorite portrait lens

Sep 07, 2008 at 06:20 AM

gugs
Offline
Image Upload: Off

p.1 #4 · Questions for D300 and 24-70mm f/2.8 owners NEW

Jammy Straub wrote:
A 24-70 is a very good portrait / studio lens on a crop body. If that's your intended usage it's hard to better. Honestly though on my D300 my70-200vr is my favorite portrait lens

+1 (about the 70-200VR) I find 24-70 a bit short for portrait... I prefer the look a longer lens is giving and it is also less obtrusive for the people being photographed.

Guy

Sep 07, 2008 at 08:06 AM

Richard.P
Offline
Image Upload: Off

p.1 #5 · Questions for D300 and 24-70mm f/2.8 owners NEW

These two are a very good match - they just work, no questions asked. Bokeh is very smooth indeed. However, f2.8 on DX doesn't get you the shallowest depth-of-field around. Still, that unavoidable limitation aside, I don't think you'll find better bokeh in this range.

Sep 07, 2008 at 09:42 AM

Lawrence Lee
Offline
Image Upload: Off

p.1 #6 · Questions for D300 and 24-70mm f/2.8 owners NEW

Richard.P wrote:
These two are a very good match - they just work, no questions asked. Bokeh is very smooth indeed. However, f2.8 on DX doesn't get you the shallowest depth-of-field around. Still, that unavoidable limitation aside, I don't think you'll find better bokeh in this range.

And you're sure about that?

Sep 09, 2008 at 07:09 AM

panos.v
Offline
Image Upload: Off

p.1 #7 · Questions for D300 and 24-70mm f/2.8 owners NEW

If you're only interested in portraits and disappearing backgrounds there are as good (or better) and cheaper options:

Sigma 30/1.4
35/2
50/1.4
50/1.2
85/1.8
85/1.4
105/1.8
105/2
105/2.5

Not that the 24-70 is bad in any way

It makes an excellent portrait lens.

Edited on Sep 09, 2008 at 10:44 AM

Sep 09, 2008 at 10:44 AM

traveler
Offline
Buy and Sell: On

p.1 #8 · Questions for D300 and 24-70mm f/2.8 owners NEW

When I had the D300 I also had the complete setup of the 14-24 f2.8 (essential for really wide on that body), the 24-70 f2.8, 70-200 f2.8vr having added a 50mm 1.4D and 70-300vr. I also had a 18-200vr for walkaround. I ended up selling the 14-24 f2.8, 70-200 f2.8vr and 18-200vr to finance the move to a D700. On a FF body the 14-24 f2.8 isn't essential beyond the 24mm the 24-70 provides for me, but it IS essential for wide on a cropped body so I'd recommend the 14-24 as it is leagues better than the 12-24 for sure. I've since replaced the 70-200 f2.8vr with a Tamron 70-200 f2.8 which is optically as good (just not as fast to focus). I replaced the 18-200vr with a 28-300VC Tamron which I'm also very pleased with. I've kept the 50mm f1.4D and 70-300vr, those are both stellar on ANY body regardless........

Sep 09, 2008 at 02:02 PM

Chris Langer
Online
Buy and Sell: On

p.1 #9 · Questions for D300 and 24-70mm f/2.8 owners NEW

Question regarding this...

Is the 24-70 better then 17-55? Anyone who has both can comment on this. I will borrow the 24-70 soon but just wondering others thoughts.

Chris

Sep 09, 2008 at 02:12 PM

dj dunzie
Offline
Image Upload: Off

p.1 #10 · Questions for D300 and 24-70mm f/2.8 owners NEW

I just got the 24-70 about a week ago (and sold the 17-55 the day before) so I can't do any direct head-to-head comparison.

However I will say that they both have very similar qualities. The 17-55 always impressed me and never seemed to let me down, and the 24-70 seems to be the same way... contrast, punch, pop, tack sharp... whatever you want to use. I think the 24-70 may have a very slight edge in the corners on DX, and of course it's a whole new world better on FX

But honestly, build and image quality is impressive from both lenses. I wouldn't have parted with the 17-55 except I needed a top normal zoom for the D700. And while I can't provide MTS data or anything to compare, I will say the 24-70 appears to be just like the 17-55 (only a little better).

If you want to compare data or professional reviews though, you can check out:
http://www.photozone.de/Reviews/overview
http://www.naturfotograf.com/lens_zoom_00.html
http://www.slrgear.com/reviews/

Sep 09, 2008 at 02:47 PM


FM Forums \| Nikon-mount SLRs \| Join Image Upload end