I'd like to put together an FX kit that is strictly for MF lenses and I'm looking for camera recommendations. Given that this is for MF only, I don't need the latest AF capabilities, crazy-high ISO (although decent would be nice), and super-high MPs. I'm leaning towards a used D700 as I like the layout, love the ergonomics, and have seen it used in this thread quite a bit with great success. I'd also consider the D600/10 but the ergos and build aren't as nice and the price is a little higher.
Background: I sold all of my Nikon gear except for my MF lenses 2 years ago when my son was born, went to Mirrorless for the size, but never fell in love with the system, so I'm moving back to Nikon. I have the D500 and a variety of nice zooms that I use to chase the kiddo around with and take bird pics. The D500 has, to me, perfect ergonomics, which is why I'm leaning towards the D700 as it's very similar.
The MF Nikon kit in my profile is up-to-date, but the rest is not as I get an error every time I try to update it.
So, two questions: 1) does anyone have an FX recommendation for a camera to be used with only manual focus lenses other than what I listed above, or a recommendation between the D700 and D600/10? 2) I'm also looking for a wide angle MF lens between 15-20mm. The 15mm f3.5 is in my budget if I can find one, but I'd love other suggestions as well.
Do you ever have days when the photography thing just doesn’t click? I have just had one.
With fair weather forecast I decided this morning to go and shoot the Newbury 10k race. Some 800 runners in attendance. Although I had a plan on where to shoot from my day came unstuck for various reasons. The main one being at the 7K mark where I expected the runners to pass through a lovely tree lined avenue only to find that the Marshalls ushered them ono the pavement where I was standing. The weak sun was in the wrong place and I was presented with a less than ideal back drop with a very narrow view.
Anyway here are a few shots from the 180mm ED. The mass start down the main street and the best of a bad bunch of action images.
Just for Reagan: the leading lady runner - who was only a few places behind the leading group of men.
There is a reason why sports or fast action photographers require fast glass and super accurate auto-focus systems on bodies that crank out the frame rate. I was told by a work associate who shoots a lot of triathlons that you need to capture a runner with both feet off the ground since their poise is more graceful. Pre-focussing a MF lens doesn’t allow for many good shots where the runner is isolated and they have a good pose.
Although disappointed with my low number of keepers I have learnt something from today’s challenge – stick to landscapes…….
GroWeb wrote:
I managed to get down to the Nanaimo River yesterday and discovered that the bungee jumping (along with ziplining and other activities) is operated by a company called WildPlay Element Parks on their privately owned bridge. Not wanting to pay to get on the bridge nor to interfere with the bungee jumping operation (or get caught up in it!), yet mindful of my promise to Laura, I headed downriver and grabbed a shot of the bridge with my 20mm f/2.8 Ai-s on my D800E and processed it in Lightroom and SEP2 on my tiny hybrid laptop (Surface Pro 3). The bridge in question is the one that's further away from the camera in the image below....Show more →
Stokesey wrote:
Not posted any MF pix for a while !!
Too depressed !! Just read the most depressing 1000 page book I think I've ever read .... modern history
Steve
I think composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein summed it up:
"The 20th century has been a badly written drama, from the beginning. The opposite of a Greek drama. Act one: Greed and hypocrisy leading to a genocidal world war, a boom, a crash, totalitarianism. Act two: Greed and hypocrisy leading to a genocidal world war, a boom, a crash, totalitarianism. Act three: Greed and hypocrisy … I don't dare continue."
Ballard wrote:
I think composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein summed it up:
"The 20th century has been a badly written drama, from the beginning. The opposite of a Greek drama. Act one: Greed and hypocrisy leading to a genocidal world war, a boom, a crash, totalitarianism. Act two: Greed and hypocrisy leading to a genocidal world war, a boom, a crash, totalitarianism. Act three: Greed and hypocrisy … I don't dare continue."
And now: Greed and Hypocrisy.......! It's probably the human condition but we don't want to acknowledge it!
Ken .. thanks for the comment. The body is unpainted aluminium.
Peter O... I love that shot. At first glance I figured you were using a very fast lens that created that soft bokeh. Then in the notes I see it was shot at f/8. Did you play in post or is my mind losing its grip...
I understand now why you can't afford Nikon manual focus lenses... you not only bought a Fuji, you also bought a Metabones adaptor...
I could buy FIVE lenses for that...
Have to say, however, that the camera and lens look very fine together... I mentioned earlier that the Fuji is a very finely made camera, much in the spirit of our favorite manual focus lenses.
CGrindahl wrote:
I understand now why you can't afford Nikon manual focus lenses... you not only bought a Fuji, you also bought a Metabones adaptor...
I could buy FIVE lenses for that...
Have to say, however, that the camera and lens look very fine together... I mentioned earlier that the Fuji is a very finely made camera, much in the spirit of our favorite manual focus lenses.
Wonderful photo of the bridges and creek Glen. The treatment in black and white works exceptionally well. First rate all the way around. I think we're all going to enjoy your exploration of your new home. I'm reminded of David's frequent moves in Australia and Tasmania. I lived in Seattle but never made it up to Vancouver Island, so I welcome learning about it through your adventures. The times when I've made a serious geographical change has always been rich experiences... not without challenges but rewarding nonetheless. I moved from Minnesota to Seattle, then a few years later from Seattle to the San Francisco Bay Area. There definitely are stories to tell, but I'll restrain myself...
Philippe, I love the amphibious vehicle shot; that's definitely something you don't see every day, especially outside of a classic car show. And the largest mountain in your second photo looks like a wave that got frozen just as it was about to break.
Thanks Colin and Curtis for your kind comments on the Nanaimo river photo. Curtis, I am greatly enjoying my new surroundings (and also my new workplace, I'm happy to report), while at the same time the extensive differences compared to what I am used to make it a somewhat surreal experience. I'm very glad for the familiar cultural reference points due to still being in Canada, and I'm especially excited about the photographic opportunities. My wife says it's like living in a national park, with mountains, forests, rivers and waterfalls, ocean, beaches, smaller islands, and interesting wildlife everywhere!
Returning to my cross-Canada travel photos, here are some images from inside the fur warehouse at Fort William. These were all shot with the 16 f/3.5 Ai (on the Fuji X-E2), which is definitely becoming a desert island lens for me.
Thanks for the comments everyone. While the DF is tempting I didn't like the feel of it, so it sounds like the D700 is the way to go.
Are there any opinions about a wide angle? I'm looking at the 15mm f/3.5, 18mm f/3.5 or f/4, or one of the 20mm variants. I've read mixed reviews about the 18s and the 20s so any comments are appreciated. Thanks!
CGrindahl wrote:
Peter O... I love that shot. At first glance I figured you were using a very fast lens that created that soft bokeh. Then in the notes I see it was shot at f/8. Did you play in post or is my mind losing its grip...
Again, VERY fine shot.
Curtis, thanks.The main sponsors had placed the car right outside their tent with banners everywhere so I selected a lot of background and used the Gaussian blur filter to get rid of the detail. I then processed in Silver Efex.
Samy, thank you also - I missed the comment at first glance.
Went on a little safari yesterday to the Muskegon Museum of Art in Michigan. One of my photographic heroes is Edward Curtis, and this tiny museum (actually it is the library just to the left in the first photo) was one of the few subscribers to Curtis' epic pictorial documentation of native American life. Teddy Roosevelt, Carnegie, Vanderbuilt, and JP Morgan...and a few dozen institutions are the only ones to support him by subscribing to his 20 volume portfolio set, and the 20 notebook volumes with notes, music, ceremonies, and other written documentation. Well, all 723 portfolio photos were framed and put on display for the first time ever at this nearby museum - and it was just too good to be true. Just thought I would post a heads up for people that admire Curtis' 30 years of unique work.
All were shot with the 20mm f2.8 ais, and last one with the 50mm f1.2 ais
StonePhotog wrote:
Thanks for the comments everyone. While the DF is tempting I didn't like the feel of it, so it sounds like the D700 is the way to go.
Are there any opinions about a wide angle? I'm looking at the 15mm f/3.5, 18mm f/3.5 or f/4, or one of the 20mm variants. I've read mixed reviews about the 18s and the 20s so any comments are appreciated. Thanks!
As far as wide angle goes, the 15mm lenses are quite good, but I ended up buying the 20mm f3,5 Nikkor-UD and the 16mm f3,5 Fish Eye. Both are perfectly sharp, starting wide open. Good center on both lenses and strong corners and edges that only get better stopping down. Ever since I bought the two, I never wanted more for wide angle. I even sold off any and all 28mm lenses I owned and never use my 24mm f2,8 Nikkor-N.C, which, in itself, is also a very good lens.
StonePhotog wrote:
Thanks for the comments everyone. While the DF is tempting I didn't like the feel of it, so it sounds like the D700 is the way to go.
Are there any opinions about a wide angle? I'm looking at the 15mm f/3.5, 18mm f/3.5 or f/4, or one of the 20mm variants. I've read mixed reviews about the 18s and the 20s so any comments are appreciated. Thanks!
A lot of the posts I'm doing now were shot with the 18mm F3.5. I like it fine as well as the 20mm. I have the 15mm but find it too bulky for my taste so home it sits!
If you don't like the Df feel it's likely you'll not like the D600/610 IMHO.
