p.1 #1 · Been Out Of The Game Since 2010...Nikon/Software Crash Course Needed
I'm back again after a long hiatus... taking a 14 year break from photography to have kids and spend money and time on other fun stuff. While I really wasn't "looking" to jump back into photography, a recent marketplace listing spoke to me, seducing me back into the hobby.
While I will admit that I am guilty of using my kids soccer and volleyball sports activities as justification for this latest trip down the Nikon rabbit hole, also winter is coming and I need something to do. Knowing I have ADD is one thing, managing it is a whole different story.
What I'm hoping for is a somewhat focused path towards success, and guidance on some hardware and software that will help me maximize the limited amount of time I do have.
Here is a list of the gear I recently acquired (pics coming soon);
Nikon 24-70 f/2.8G (likely going to sell and replace with a prime)
Nikon 70-200 f/2.8G VR1 (will it play well with teleconverters listed below?)
Nikon 85mm f/1.4D (excited to have this as a walk-around kit)
Nikon Micro 200mm f/4D IF-ED (I've heard great things, not sure if I will be doing much macro but I think my kids will really enjoy it)
Nikon 300mm f/4 AF-S (how will this compare for sports/wildlife w/ the 70-200 and 400 2.8?)
Nikon 400mm f/2.8 AF-S (this is a beast, and has a small scratch on the front element...should I be concerned?)
Nikon AF-S TC 1.4EII/1.7EII/2.0EII (are these relevant any longer when compared to the III versions?)
Bogen Monopod with head
Future purchase of either D700/D3S/D4-Yes I bought glass w/o a body.......
Here is a list of what what I'm hoping to learn.
1) What Teleconverters will play well with which lenses. My current plan is to try them all on the 70-200, 300, and 400mm lenses. But information regarding their willingness to play well with each other would be awesome.
2) What software I should be using to process the images. (I'm really hoping to NOT spend a lot of time in post processing). From what little I know it looks like monthly subscriptions are the new thing??
3) What to look for in a good used computer monitor?
4) Tips and tricks for sports photography camera settings/functions.
p.1 #2 · Been Out Of The Game Since 2010...Nikon/Software Crash Course Needed
jonshonda wrote: Here is a list of the gear I recently acquired (pics coming soon);
Nikon 24-70 f/2.8G (likely going to sell and replace with a prime)
Nikon 70-200 f/2.8G VR1 (will it play well with teleconverters listed below?)
Nikon 85mm f/1.4D (excited to have this as a walk-around kit)
Nikon Micro 200mm f/4D IF-ED (I've heard great things, not sure if I will be doing much macro but I think my kids will really enjoy it)
Nikon 300mm f/4 AF-S (how will this compare for sports/wildlife w/ the 70-200 and 400 2.8?)
Nikon 400mm f/2.8 AF-S (this is a beast, and has a small scratch on the front element...should I be concerned?)
Nikon AF-S TC 1.4EII/1.7EII/2.0EII (are these relevant any longer when compared to the III versions?)
Bogen Monopod with head
Future purchase of either D700/D3S/D4-Yes I bought glass w/o a body.......
Here is a list of what what I'm hoping to learn.
1) What Teleconverters will play well with which lenses. My current plan is to try them all on the 70-200, 300, and 400mm lenses. But information regarding their willingness to play well with each other would be awesome.
2) What software I should be using to process the images. (I'm really hoping to NOT spend a lot of time in post processing). From what little I know it looks like monthly subscriptions are the new thing??
3) What to look for in a good used computer monitor?
4) Tips and tricks for sports photography camera settings/functions. ...Show more →
The scratch on the 400 probably won't be an issue. You can cause pretty significant front element damage and not have it show up in images.
For TC's, I believe you'd want the II's if you're using AF-I and AF-S D lenses. So if you've got the older AF-S 300 f/4D, AF-S 400 f/2.8D, or AF-I 400 f/2.8D, I think you need the second gen TC's. If you've got G lenses, then it's a safe bet to go for the III's. I'm sure there's a compatibility chart out there. Also, make sure the camera you pick can focus past f/5.6. I don't think the D700 or D3/D3s generation do, so a TC20 on the 300 f/4 for example might pose a problem. I think f/8 focusing came with the D4/D800/D600 generation.
Software wise, it's really personal preference. Adobe is a subscription, but others are a one-time license. Nikon has a free software that can fit some peoples' workflows. I will say, in my experience, the more recent the body, the better the starting point is in post.
For sports, look at whether or not Group AF would be useful. That came with the D4s and later. Really helpful for some things, not as big of a deal for others. Settings, I recommend manual shutter speed and aperture + auto ISO. But that's also a personal choice.
p.1 #3 · Been Out Of The Game Since 2010...Nikon/Software Crash Course Needed
I'm in a similar boat, but rejoining just because after three extremely challenging years while my old body gathered dust, I decided I need the creative and physical outlet photography provides (just opened my D850, 85 f/1.4g and 58 f/1.4g).
If you can snag a D4s I think that would give you a huge amount of capability for the money (nice ones appear to be well under $1K around here and sneak under a grand at KEH/etc.), but a D4 is no slouch either. The downside is their size and weight. I'd do that while saving for a newer body (D850).
