onearmivan wrote:
As you guys can assume from my nickname I'm actually using mostly only my right arm/hand to operate a camera, so weight definitely plays a role in all of this, and a bigger one than with you guys.
But, on the other hand, size doesn't. Or should I say I don't mind the size and it's actually better/easier for me to reach and hold the bigger lens with my left forearm (since the hand is useless).
I love Nikon bodies - ergonomics and buttons are positioned naturally for the best/fastest performance (at least for me - I'm aware that most people don't have my problems, though - ).
When it comes to what type of street photography I'm interested in... I'm not a pro and doing this only for fun and it's what I enjoy to do. So, it's a bit of everything I guess - heh. If I see something interesting (a cat, a guy, eerie combination of light and architecture, some detail, kids, windows, people doing something... blah blah blah...) I try to catch it with my camera.
I'd like to be able to make a photo with that one lens cause changing lenses on the spot is not something I can do with only one arm/hand that I have, sadly. So I'm stuck with whatever is on the camera after I leave the house, simply put - lol.
You should then get to try the D700/24-70 combination first. I have no idea of how your disabled arm is functioning, but maybe the 24-70 is a good choice if you can handle it. Remember to try out the zooming, because the zoom ring is at the rear of the lens and quite stiff in movement.
If you can use your left arm/hand for support of the weight, there will probably be no major problem with the handling. But if you are to hold the camera with only one hand, the 24-70 on D700 is a very non-ergonomic and heavy combination.
Makten wrote:
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You should then get to try the D700/24-70 combination first. I have no idea of how your disabled arm is functioning, but maybe the 24-70 is a good choice if you can handle it. Remember to try out the zooming, because the zoom ring is at the rear of the lens and quite stiff in movement.
If you can use your left arm/hand for support of the weight, there will probably be no major problem with the handling. But if you are to hold the camera with only one hand, the 24-70 on D700 is a very non-ergonomic and heavy combination.
Yeah, zooming is a major problem for me since I can't use the left hand at all. The way I do it with my kit lens is move the camera left and right over the left forearm and at the same time moving the left forearm in the opposite direction, thus moving the zoom ring. Basically only using my left forearm for the zoom ring. My left wrist and hand itself are useless/paralyzed, but the rest of the arm is ok. I just lean/put the camera (or specifically lens) onto the left forearm and shoot.
If the zoom ring is stiff on 24-70 that might be the problem, though. Thanks for the heads-up. I'll need to check it out before buying it.
Avi B, wide prime lenses are great for me (since I don't have to worry about zooming cause of the reasons I explained here) and I love my 35/1.8 for just about everything except street shooting - lol. I'd like to be able to catch a detail and isolate it with a bokeh around, or maybe catch someone's facial expression without having to be a yard away and telling that person where to look (lol)... etc.
But yeah, you're making a valid point there. And I have no idea what "hyperfocal focus" is though and how to set it to, as in your example, f8 - lol. I'll check it out for sure. Thanks for your advice.
I'm sorry for maybe asking too much, especially considering my disability. Thank you all for the help. I'll definitely try 24-70 and see if I can move the zoom ring or not. I'll figure it out.
I don't know squat, so take anything I say with a grain of salt, but I saw a post here with some awesome street pix taken with a 300 VR. Now that lens is big and expensive, but it has VR, no zoom, and you don't have to be anywhere near your subject. Just food for thought.
Then your 35 (or an even wider prime or zoom) for architecture?
Or - coming back to earth - why not the 18-200 (or competing non-nikon everything lens), if you are going zoom. It has VR, you can get people from a distance, and get some wide shots, too.
Mike John wrote:
FYI, With the d700 and 24-70 I just tried moving the zoom by rolling it on my left forearm, it moves very easily and mine is a new lens.
I prefer to shoot street with a tele, like the 70-300VR. If I could shoot a prime, and money was no problem, then I'd go for a 135 F2. If size/weight wasn't a problem, I'd use a 70-200VR.
I tried using my left arm for zooming as well. With a shirt on it was a little tricky (if rolling up and down the arm) - but turning the camera from horizontal to portrait zoomed from 24 to 70 in one twist.
The zoom action on the 24-70 is "solid" and precise with no unwanted play - unlike my superzoom, which is way to sensitive (tamron 28-300 vc.)
For street photography.. I like shooting wide angle a lot... so I find myself using the 14-24 a lot for this style of photography. I also use my 28-70 for longer range.
Jul 06, 2009 at 10:34 AM
Andre Labonte Offline • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
Mocca wrote:
Actually I thought your nick was "One Armi Van"
I tried using my left arm for zooming as well. With a shirt on it was a little tricky (if rolling up and down the arm) - but turning the camera from horizontal to portrait zoomed from 24 to 70 in one twist.
The zoom action on the 24-70 is "solid" and precise with no unwanted play - unlike my superzoom, which is way to sensitive (tamron 28-300 vc.)
My left arm needs some weight training though !
lol @ "one armi van". Wish my nick was that - lol. :P
From what I can see that 24-70 with the upcoming D700 definitely looks like the winning combination. Especially since two of you told me it's easy to move the zoom ring using the forearm. Thanks.
Andre Labonte, thanks for the advice. That's what I was thinking also.
Even though it might sound a bit weird to you guys, bigger body and lens actually is easier for me, with one arm, to handle than the smaller ones.
Wide. And Fast. A Zeiss 28mm f2, a Nikon 20mm 2.8, or the 35mm 1.8 on the d700 will net you some sweet vignetting. Teles just make you look like a creeper, and completely ruin the sense of intimacy that the greats like Winogrand strove to establish in their street photography.
I usually shoot in the street with my Tamron 17-50 2.8 during the day and my Sigma 30 1.4 at night. Since these are both midrange focal length lenses, it's doubtful that they would be useful on FF even if they were FF lenses.
The D700 really isn't a good street camera. It's too conspicuous. If I went FF, I would keep a DX body and lenses for street shooting too.
Thank you, Avi B. Great links. I'll experiment with it for sure. Thanks.
Thank you all. I've been reading and watching samples/photos of the various lenses and beginning to understand the differences and pros and cons of them all.
Cause of my disability longer lens (with bigger body) is actually more usable, even though I'll have to compromise on the "being discreet" part obv.
i have 2 D700's and a D90, and while the 35/1.8 was great, i prefer the f2.0 D version in use, with both cameras. It focuses faster and closer, and is smaller. The 35/2D is a fantastic daily carry lens on the D700!
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