saph wrote:
Resumed checking out the 35mm f2 OC. Both images wide open. The lens seems plenty sharp centrally at f2. Checking out background rendition too. Haven't had the chance to look at smaller apertures yet.

Reagan wrote:
Took the 105 and the 25-50 this morning different location just after sunrise

MDoc9523 wrote:
Here's some shots from today. It was such a beautiful day I had to go out exploring. I went to Lakeland to the Holis Gardens and I am never disappointed there. It is such a wonderful garden!
I used four lenses today including my recently repaired 105 2.5

35mm 1.4 AIS


Great set Ray, but for me this one stands out: what crisp/sharp and colourful scenario!

a handheld whilst driving, at low speeds, Nikon D700 + Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 AIS photo, of alocal, and very lovely Tudor style home. I used LR4 to adjust color to my liking, keep in mind, my monitor is uncalibrated, i am color blind, and i have very low processing skills! I like the colored one better, because it shows what people of yore saw as well, despite color photography possibly not being available at their times. However, the B&W's are nice as well, sadly, they need a better processor! the odd number 7, is a cellphone photo of my home

#1
666 Americo.Rodriguez 2013-2 by aNikkorGuy, on Flickr

#3

666 Americo.Rodriguez 2013-6 by aNikkorGuy, on Flickr

I like this one

#5

666 Americo.Rodriguez 2013-8 by aNikkorGuy, on Flickr




#7 a cellphone photo, sorry!

home by aNikkorGuy, on Flickr

Just an update to thank you guys again for your guidance. Really wanted to go with the D600, but everywhere I looked I saw oil/dust and Nikon's aversion of the issue. Just did not want to go through the hassle.

So my little-used (under 1k actuations) D700 will be here early next week. Interesting that my ONLY lenses for it are Nikon MF, at this point. I had all of the best Canon zooms with my 7D, and frankly got bored with them. The X Pro1 or X100 will remain my travel cameras, but I envision the D700, with the 28 2.8 and 50 1.2 getting around as well.

I actually own no zoom lenses at this point.

I will post some photos here when I get some experience. Thanks again!

pburke wrote:

Peter B - be a little wary of cheap batteries. There are quite a few horror stories on the net that frightened me away from teh real cheapies.

I use Energizer lithium AA in grips, not rechargeables. I did get one of those from Adorama with my D600 bundle, but have not used it yet. 6 AA lithiums in the grip will last at least as long as a Nikon rechargeable battery.





Yes , I think those are OK . The ones to be wary of are the ElEn 3e generics and there like.

designdog wrote:
Just an update to thank you guys again for your guidance. Really wanted to go with the D600, but everywhere I looked I saw oil/dust and Nikon's aversion of the issue. Just did not want to go through the hassle.

So my little-used (under 1k actuations) D700 will be here early next week. Interesting that my ONLY lenses for it are Nikon MF, at this point. I had all of the best Canon zooms with my 7D, and frankly got bored with them. The X Pro1 or X100 will remain my travel cameras, but I envision the D700, with the 28 2.8 and 50 1.2 getting around as well.

I actually own no zoom lenses at this point.

I will post some photos here when I get some experience. Thanks again!

Don't spend too long getting experience. This thread is very friendly and I have never seen anything but constructive comment. Look forward to your pics.

Peter

designdog wrote:
Just an update to thank you guys again for your guidance. Really wanted to go with the D600, but everywhere I looked I saw oil/dust and Nikon's aversion of the issue. Just did not want to go through the hassle.

So my little-used (under 1k actuations) D700 will be here early next week. Interesting that my ONLY lenses for it are Nikon MF, at this point. I had all of the best Canon zooms with my 7D, and frankly got bored with them. The X Pro1 or X100 will remain my travel cameras, but I envision the D700, with the 28 2.8 and 50 1.2 getting around as well.

I actually own no zoom lenses at this point.

I will post some photos here when I get some experience. Thanks again!
ohh, is the 28 2.8 the Nikkor 28mm f/2.8 AIS per chance? If so I loved that lens, it offers so much!

a.RodriguezPix wrote:
designdog wrote:
Just an update to thank you guys again for your guidance. Really wanted to go with the D600, but everywhere I looked I saw oil/dust and Nikon's aversion of the issue. Just did not want to go through the hassle.

So my little-used (under 1k actuations) D700 will be here early next week. Interesting that my ONLY lenses for it are Nikon MF, at this point. I had all of the best Canon zooms with my 7D, and frankly got bored with them. The X Pro1 or X100 will remain my travel cameras, but I envision the D700, with the 28 2.8 and 50 1.2 getting around as well.

I actually own no zoom lenses at this point.

I will post some photos here when I get some experience. Thanks again!
ohh, is the 28 2.8 the Nikkor 28mm f/2.8 AIS per chance? If so I loved that lens, it offers so much!

Yes it is!

a.RodriguezPix wrote:
MDoc9523 wrote:
Thank you Rafael, Americo and Chuong. I had to stop it down to F4 because of the bright sun. I really need a good ND filter
MDoc9523, Do you adjust ISO to its lowest, say 50? Also, do you up the shutter to as near max when shooting in to bright a place? Was this tripod, or handheld? Thank you!
I had the ISO at 100 and the speed was near max. I don't use a tripod but sometimes a mono-pod for my 300 mm

designdog wrote:
Just an update to thank you guys again for your guidance. Really wanted to go with the D600, but everywhere I looked I saw oil/dust and Nikon's aversion of the issue. Just did not want to go through the hassle.

So my little-used (under 1k actuations) D700 will be here early next week. Interesting that my ONLY lenses for it are Nikon MF, at this point. I had all of the best Canon zooms with my 7D, and frankly got bored with them. The X Pro1 or X100 will remain my travel cameras, but I envision the D700, with the 28 2.8 and 50 1.2 getting around as well.

I actually own no zoom lenses at this point.

I will post some photos here when I get some experience. Thanks again!

Someone in Richmond won the Powerball with a ticket from a vending machine
Would that be you old friend?


Reagan

Ray, I do like the shot with the 35 the best
Jose, all the bird photos were with the 105

Thanks for all the comments guys

Reagan

SOOCat.

Cat Thoughts by aNikkorGuy, on Flickr

here is my daughter, and her best friends! this was very impromptu hence the blur, however, i just had to share it!

a Americo.Rodriguez photo by aNikkorGuy, on Flickr

What a nice shot Americo!

MDoc9523 wrote:
What a nice shot Americo!
Thank you, thats my girl on the left of the Asian girl btw! She fought cancers a$$ and is looking good!! i cropped this one below.


a Americo.Rodriguez photo cropped by aNikkorGuy, on Flickr

Ray, beautiful scene with the 35 1.4! Americo, nice pics, especially the kids, and good to see your daughter doing well.

Leighton, if polydactyl means too many claws I don't think so, although I should check again, maybe that's why there's so many scratches on furniture

Not too many ideas on what to do next since its the usual cold and wet outside, so I tried a comparison of the four normal lenses for wide open bokeh. Had been thinking about that test since Georg demoed that wonderful picture of the girl in the front and other kids out of focus in the back. I was going to line up some cat food cans at first, but they eat so much only a couple were left

Here's the 50 F2 HC, 50 1.4S, 50 1.2 AIS and the 55 1.2S from top to bottom..

designdog wrote:
Just an update to thank you guys again for your guidance. Really wanted to go with the D600, but everywhere I looked I saw oil/dust and Nikon's aversion of the issue. Just did not want to go through the hassle.

So my little-used (under 1k actuations) D700 will be here early next week. Interesting that my ONLY lenses for it are Nikon MF, at this point. I had all of the best Canon zooms with my 7D, and frankly got bored with them. The X Pro1 or X100 will remain my travel cameras, but I envision the D700, with the 28 2.8 and 50 1.2 getting around as well.

I actually own no zoom lenses at this point.

I will post some photos here when I get some experience. Thanks again!

If you read back through this thread you will discover that I abandoned a very sweet collection of L lenses and a 5D after discovering the MF lenses. It all began when on the advice of a friend whom I respect I bought a D700. Because I saw the 105 f/2.5 AI-s on so many Nikon shooters signature line, a feature that existed at the time, I thought I'd give it a go. I subsequently sold all my Canon gear, liberating funds that have been used to build a kit of Nikon MF lenses. I have three AF lenses, but 32 MF lenses at the moment. My photography came alive when I began shooting with this great assortment of outstanding lenses. It sounds as though you're a candidate for an adventure yourself.

As a courtesy, I'd encourage you to add you first name to your profile. Personally, I'd prefer not to be talking with ddog. This is friendly group here. In fact, those of us who are participating in the Great Lens Adventure have shared with one another our full names, email and snail mail addresses and telephone numbers. We're serious about this subject and respectful of one another. If you choose, you'll find a home on FM on this thread, especially now that you have a D700 to use with those excellent lenses. I look forward to seeing your work on this thread.

Reagan wrote:
That is what I like about the D600
I only cropped a little of the ocean off the top and some off the bottom to even things out
I keep thinking about Scott's 300 and what king of images I might get with it
I am really starting to love this camera

Reagan

Amazing bird shot with that wide angle zoom! Wow!

And yes, the 300 Scott has for sale is a beauty at a very fair price. You know Ray and I both love that lens. It would give you a whole new way of approaching photography. My only concern would be for the bikini clad girls on the beach...

A friend had surgery yesterday in San Francisco. I drove him there very early yesterday and thought it might be fun to take some camera gear. Unfortunately, it was raining yesterday. But today when I picked him up weather was accommodating. Here is a photo folks will remember from last year taken with the 35 f/1.4 AI-s. Tony was kind enough to print a large copy of this though I don't know where I'll hang it. What follows is a shot I took today from approximately the same location with a 28 f/3.5 H AI'd. The early photo had been slightly cropped, but the second has not. The older lens is no slouch.



And with the same lens today, San Francisco from across the Bay with a fishing pier in the foreground. Alcatraz Island is above the pier in the distance.