Ok, I just got back from my first wedding with my new D300. First, let me say that the D300 is an incredible camera to use. However, the noise issue will come up here again. Coming from 5D and 1D Mark III, I dislike Nikon approach to handling the noise. I left noise NR on normal lost a lot of details. Noise is better than the D200 but still lacking. This is not entirely the D300 fault, the venue was fairly dark so noise should be more pronounce. However, I wish noise reduction could have been a tad better. For my next event, I will either leave noise NR to 0 or low. I really do like the noise of Nikon...give images some nice grains. I am definitely going to upgrade to the D3 very soon. I just can't imagine how good that camera will be.
Stuff I enjoyed:
The live view was very useful when I need to raise the camera above my head. It also works great when I want to shoot a cake from the top. The metering is awesome but halfway through the wedding I decide to use manual for more accurate exposures as I shoot only jpeg. The AWB balance works great!. The number one that I absolutely love is the flash system. I left everything on auto about 75% of the time and each exposure was near perfect. Oh man, the CLS is sweet!
Gear Info:
I am very limited here. MOst of my Nikon lenses are not delivered. I took with me two D300, a 10.5 fisheye, 17-55 f2.8, 85 1.4 (sweet bokeh), Three SB-800s and an SU-800 for my CLS work.
andylaiphoto wrote:
so you got rid of all the canon stuff? you gonna get a D3?
I already did. I am with Nikon now. I going to get a D3...doesn't mean in the near future. I think I will get a third D300 instead to fit with the 14-24, 24-70 and 70-200. Perfect setup and replaces lenses less often.
D3 offers Cam 3500FX and D300 offers Cam3500DX as well. I think this is a great step forward. But I dont understand why the D300 has an AF assist lamp and the D3 does not.
So just comparing the focus speed of the two cameras, are they exactly same speed or different.
Sorry to ask this here on this thread - but did not want to start another thread
D3 offers Cam 3500FX and D300 offers Cam3500DX as well. I think this is a great step forward. But I dont understand why the D300 has an AF assist lamp and the D3 does not.
So just comparing the focus speed of the two cameras, are they exactly same speed or different.
Sorry to ask this here on this thread - but did not want to start another thread
Can anybody help with this.
I have not tested both cameras but people are saying that the D3 is much snappier and faster than the D300. Strange to me because they both use the same AF engine...I just want the high ISO performance of the D3 becasue the D300 AF works great yesterday. The 51 points will get you pretty much anything focused. It was great to have been able to focus on people eyes no matter where they were in the frame.
tuannie wrote:
I have not tested both cameras but people are saying that the D3 is much snappier and faster than the D300. Strange to me because they both use the same AF engine...I just want the high ISO performance of the D3 becasue the D300 AF works great yesterday. The 51 points will get you pretty much anything focused. It was great to have been able to focus on people eyes no matter where they were in the frame.
isn't it tedious to go through all these focus points to get the tiny one selected where you want the focus to be? I don't have any experience with this new AF system yet, but i wonder what you think about it and how you use it?
I like the shots you've showed us here. Great work with the flashes especially on the 'first dance'. You really know what you are doing setting up extra flashes around the dance floor. Amazing!
Because I was so used to the Canon wheel (which was a pain in the ass) to select the points the D300 seems like lighting speed. Working as a wedding photographer, you learn to do things fast. Since this was my first wedding, first time out with D300 for that matter, I used center point a lot to be sure of getting the shots. For more stationary object, I use the selector. I did use auto AF from time to time and I was super impressed. It is able to track, focus and pretty much lock on to anything. Maybe it has something to do with all those 51 points...I didn't trust my D200 all that much and almost always use center focus point on that camera.
Very nice work. Like you I love Nikons CLS, I just wish it comunicated like my PW's In the end its all about the light. Weddings are plain and simply demanding. Most of our subjects think its all about framing them up and pushing the shutter button. Even photogs on the FM who have not experinced a wedding cannot truly understand how much a wedding photog balances in 4-12 hrs. The D3 will take away a lot of the pain in a good portion of the shoots that come along. I would have been fine loosing something else on the camera to gain the same ISO max of 25,600, but that's the way the cookie crumbles. I think for most of what your doing you will be fine with the D300. But I fully understand your desire for the D3. I picked up my 14-24 & 24-70 last night, WOW! Currenly I am stuck with my D2X and two D2H's. I caint even get a D300 before I get my D3 on the New Year. Nikon even stepped up production for both bodies and already the back ordering process begins. Thank God my December schedule is mellow. I hate gear changing. I feel for all that you have gone through and am glad you are back in black and on your way
Tuan, your shots are a good example of mind over muscle... it really isn't the gear that makes the photog... you coulda done the same with a canon, etc., it don't matter much when there's an artist at the helm..
This is true. But, if a tool helps you manage your technical time your stress goes down and your creative level goes up, especially if you are a JPG shooter. The weddings that have been really good for me have been the ones where the subjects have respected what I was doing. In doing so they also respected my time. This makes a win win for all party's. If my gear goes where I need it to go with above scenerio, I make money in a timely fasion and the clients get what they paid for in a timely fashion. Gear does matter. When I shoot my friends 9mmGlock my groups are not so good. When I shoot with my P226 Sig Sauer, my groups are tight. The feel and movement of your camera matters!!! Well it does to me (my 2 cents) I think we underestimate the importance of the ergonomics of the D2 series. When it's taken from us we want it back.The lay out of the D2H, D2X is very important to me. Nikon has met our needs in all the important areas, with the D3. The ergonomics remain pretty much the same for very good reasons. The D3 hit the sweet spot for many of us. It will drop in price and become the most used pro body that Nikon produces. We have all made do with our current bodies because that's what was available. What we were all wanting for several years has arrived. This is very good. Pretty soon I will be saying: "Long live the D3"
Yeah I've said it before and I'll say it again Tuan, you could make fantastic sellable images from a point and shoot. These are just another example of the fine work you can do regardless of camera.
Great creative work with the flash (welcome back!) and the fisheye, but great shots all. Cheers... keep 'em coming.
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