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	Username   Password FM Forum Rules Nikon SLRs, primes, and zooms lenses reviews FM Forums | Nikon-mount SLRs | Join Upload & Sell    Search Used end    Archive 2008 · any good reasons not to buy these items ?

Alan321 Offline Dedicated FM Upload & Sell: On p.1 #1 · any good reasons not to buy these items ? Well, the Nikon bug is biting harder and I'm planning to expand my collection. My shopping list includes some or all of the following and I would like to know if there is any good reason to avoid any of them. I'm asking because I'm too new to Nikon to be familiar with it all. I know that longer micro lenses have advantages when shooting live critters but I like the idea of the micro / VR combination of the 105 and I like the idea of the standard / micro combination (60mm is only slightly tele) for general walk-around-in-nature work. The R1 seems to be the go for use with the micro lenses and the SB-900 will be more useful with my 24-70G and 200-400G when they eventually arrive. I have a comprehensive Canon collection but I'm fast going off Canon and will probably sell much of that gear before too long. Here's the list: - SB-900 flash - R1 flash - 60mm G micro lens - 105mm G micro VR lens Any wisdom gratefully accepted. - Alan Nov 24, 2008 at 04:56 AM

James R Offline Dedicated FM Upload & Sell: On p.1 #2 · any good reasons not to buy these items ? Love them all. I don't use the 60 micro too much due to its width. It is a sharp lens though. I'd probably sell it but the prices on the B&S are down right now. Nov 24, 2008 at 05:10 AM

camey Offline Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #3 · any good reasons not to buy these items ? Can vouch for the SB-900 on the D3 body which should be similar to your D700. Coming from Canon flash units it should be quite a treat Noticeably better exposures than the SB-800 and vastly improved gel system. Well worth it despite what Ken "I don't like no newfangled technology" Rockwell claims. Nov 24, 2008 at 05:56 AM

Rodolfo Paiz Offline Dedicated FM Upload & Sell: On p.1 #4 · any good reasons not to buy these items ? I had an older AF-D 60 micro, and I now have both the new AF-S 60 micro and 105 VR micro. Love all three. The 105 gets me more distance (1:1 on the 60 micro comes at the minimum focusing distance and is less than one inch from the front of the hood). And the VR does help (whatever others may think) when handholding outside in the wind. On the other hand, the 60 is much smaller/lighter and gets tossed in the bag "just in case" at times when the 105VR stays home due to its portlier nature. So I like to have both, but they really are two different animals. Just ordered my SB-900 today, and am prepared to love it. But can't say much yet. However, I've become a fan of LordV's "coke-can diffuser" (see the macro forum) and I've so far been happy using my SB-800 on a bracket off to the side and diffused that way. Sure I'd love to have the R1, but so far I have managed to avoid the expense and the diffused SB really gets a great job done. So I see the R1 as "nice and I'd like to have it, but optional". Nov 24, 2008 at 06:04 AM

Alan321 Offline Dedicated FM Upload & Sell: On p.1 #5 · any good reasons not to buy these items ? I've been thinking some more on this - always a risky thing - and I have come up with another option in the form of the perspective correction 85mm micro. It only has 1:2 magnification but the ability to tilt the focus plane can be very handy when shooting flattish subjects such as some flowers and bugs. The primary drawbacks are the loss of autofocus and VR. I don't know which of the other micros to drop in favour of the PC micro. I could easily end up with too many Nikon lenses that don't get used enough, much like my Canon collection. Luckily I save a lot of money on alcohol and cigarettes but even so it would better to not waste too much on lenses. Do the words "analysis paralysis" mean anything to you ? Prices here in Australia will rise very soon and so I want to act quickly or not at all. No point in paying an extra 10 or 15% for no good reason, but rushing the process is a bit contrary to good consideration. - Alan Nov 24, 2008 at 07:26 AM

Rodolfo Paiz Offline Dedicated FM Upload & Sell: On p.1 #6 · any good reasons not to buy these items ? Which PC 85? The older shift, or the new PC-E tilt-shift? I'm not sure I see your logic, since either one of those costs about as much as the 60 and 105 combined, with the PC-E being more capable (and new-technology) but also more expensive. VR is not that big a deal on this lens, since you're probably going to be on a tripod more often than not to get the precise effects you want. If budget is really a consideration, then obviously you want to structure your purchases on getting what you most need first, regardless of theoretical arguments. But if it's not that critical, and you really want the 85PC, then drop the 105VR for the moment since it's the more expensive of the other two. Or think carefully about whether you need 1:1 at all... you might just get the 85 PC-E and neither of the other two lenses. Then later, if you really find yourself hankering for more macro, you can use close-up filters or a reversed lens as a stopgap measure until you save up for the other lens you want. Nov 24, 2008 at 05:16 PM

Alan321 Offline Dedicated FM Upload & Sell: On p.1 #7 · any good reasons not to buy these items ? Thank you for that, Rodolfo. Yes it was the PC-E that I was interested in. I believe that lens tilt offers greater benefit than shift. My logic is at best a bit fuzzy My concern about pricing is not so much the total cost as beating the price rise and avoiding unnecessary waste. If I had a clear need then my choice would be easy but my needs (or rather wants) vary. I think I'll get the 105 VR and ponder on the merit of the PC-E for a while longer. The 105 will probably get more usage than the PC-E even though the PC-E is somewhat cleverer. The 60 seems to be a bit too short in terms of working distance and I won't buy it at least while the PC-E remains an option. cheers - Alan Nov 24, 2008 at 05:52 PM

eaglewolf Offline Upload & Sell: Off p.1 #8 · any good reasons not to buy these items ? I have a friend who bought the R1 system and returned it, as he didn't like the flashes hanging off the front of the lens in practice, and there were just too many parts for him to warm up to it. Personally, I love it. I've got the non- AF-S versions of the macro lenses, so I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the newer versions based on the reviews I've seen here as well as my experience with the older versions. I haven't used the SB-900 yet, though I felt it was a bit pricey for me to jump on an upgrade there for myself. David Nov 24, 2008 at 06:36 PM

Alan321 Offline Dedicated FM Upload & Sell: On p.1 #9 · any good reasons not to buy these items ? David, I'm used to the Canon MT-24EX and so the bulk is not too much of a problem for me. In fact the R1C1 is more convenient because it lacks the heavy coiled cables connecting the flash heads to the controller. As for the SB-900, I am starting from scratch rather than upgrading from an SB-800 and so that is an easy decision too. I had just been concerned about a lack of power relative to the Canon 580 units but that seems to not be a problem in practice. The important thing for me is that no-one is saying that any of these items is a piece of junk to be avoided. cheers, - Alan Nov 25, 2008 at 05:24 AM

James R Offline Dedicated FM Upload & Sell: On p.1 #10 · any good reasons not to buy these items ? My 24 PC arrives tomorrow. I'm looking forward to using this with live view. Live view is excellent for PC and micro use. I tend to keep my lenses a along time, however, the D3 caused a major shake up in my lens line up. I'm down to making maybe one more tweak and selling the 60 micro which is my least used lens. I try to keep it to 7 lenses. Nov 25, 2008 at 05:58 AM

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