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monk3y wrote in post #10946451
Nick, I only had that same problem if I am using the 70-300mm indoor... I think at f/5.6 indoor its just too dim to acquire focus on less contrasty areas... but otherwise I have had no problem focusing on my 50mm f/1.4D

I guess my question is am I expecting too much from the D700?

Any kind of filters on ? My 24-70 misbehaves with a Hoya HMC and to some extent even with my B+Ws.

Yeah it's not amazing at acquiring focus, but when it does it's bang on. Was the D3s better?

hi
about the nikon Nikon D3X

i read i can work and take shoots full frame , crop 1.5x dx and 1.3x

at 1.5x and 1.3x does the camera only crop the image or does the camera apply magnification factor like canon ?

i mean @ 200 a 1.3x is 260

thanks

mantra wrote in post #10947120
hi
about the nikon Nikon D3X

i read i can work and take shoots full frame , crop 1.5x dx and 1.3x

at 1.5x and 1.3x does the camera only crop the image or does the camera apply magnification factor like canon ?

i mean @ 200 a 1.3x is 260

thanks

Basically you lose MP.

IMHO you're better off shooting FX (Full frame) and cropping in post if you need to. It's the same thing.

Nikon FF cameras will also take DX lenses (crop lenses... Canon call their crop lenses "EF-S lenses"). BUT Nikon FX bodies automatically crop the image to suit, so you're losing MP. Still at least they can do it. On Canon EF-S lenses can't be used on FF bodies.

tim wrote in post #10946995
Yeah it's not amazing at acquiring focus, but when it does it's bang on. Was the D3s better?

Not sure and I wonder about the D3s. I heard the D3 is snappier than the D700 and the D3s is a smidgen snappier than the D3. Too bad I don't have the D3 anymore!

I agree that once it does lock focus, it's solid and my keeper rate is much higher than Canon cameras. So that's a GREAT thing.

Clearly, I need to tweak the way I work. It looks like I'll have to begin focus and recompose, something that I never had to do with the 1DMKIII. Man, that camera was SOLID!

2mnycars wrote in post #10944234
Jurgen...almost exactly the same path...except an F2 with 55/3.5 was my first choice.

Here's a link to a humourous article about how shopping for a $400 camera eventually led to a d700...
http://theonlinephotog​rapher.typepad.com …/05/letter-to-george.html

Best.

Yeah,, I read this a few weeks ago and got a giggle out of it.. I believe there is some truth in the article

nicksan wrote in post #10948708
Not sure and I wonder about the D3s. I heard the D3 is snappier than the D700 and the D3s is a smidgen snappier than the D3. Too bad I don't have the D3 anymore!

I agree that once it does lock focus, it's solid and my keeper rate is much higher than Canon cameras. So that's a GREAT thing.

Clearly, I need to tweak the way I work. It looks like I'll have to begin focus and recompose, something that I never had to do with the 1DMKIII. Man, that camera was SOLID!

That sounds like something 5DMKII users do. Smh. Sucks man.

Nick, as I've moved to primes, I've also moved to shooting more in C mode. Much like schmoelzel and his magical (not kidding) 85 1.2 shots I think it improves the keeper rate. Also, since the DOF is so very thin, I'm purposefully using an AF point on the face to focus on, or something along the same plane with contrast. I'll use any focus point I need to. My last paid shoot the max ISO I used looks like it was 5000 with every lens (24-70, 70-200, Sigma 24/50/150) but MOST of the shots were with the Sigma's between f1.8 and 5.6 and I'm happy with how everything performed.

If it helps at all, and maybe Permie can post her settings as I don't have the camera with me right now, I'm essentially using the D700 as she set it up. Focus/recompose is not the answer here.

In closing though, especially after a Mark III debacle (to be fair, I've had one that works grea), I've come to adjust my expectations of a cameras AF system and in that adjustment, I would not expect a camera to accurately focus 99% of the time on either a white wall or a maple cabinet with little to no contrast.

Stealthy Ninja wrote in post #10947275
Basically you lose MP.

IMHO you're better off shooting FX (Full frame) and cropping in post if you need to. It's the same thing.

Nikon FF cameras will also take DX lenses (crop lenses... Canon call their crop lenses "EF-S lenses"). BUT Nikon FX bodies automatically crop the image to suit, so you're losing MP. Still at least they can do it. On Canon EF-S lenses can't be used on FF bodies.

thanks

but the gain to operate @ 1.3 is only to avoid the vignetting ,isn't ?

because the canon 1.3 is the best i have tried , in image quality, but the 1d mark IV or III have a magnification factor

2mnycars wrote in post #10944234
Jurgen...almost exactly the same path...except an F2 with 55/3.5 was my first choice.

Here's a link to a humourous article about how shopping for a $400 camera eventually led to a d700...
http://theonlinephotog​rapher.typepad.com …/05/letter-to-george.html

Best.

That is a very good read actually. Every photographer should read that.

mantra wrote in post #10948866
thanks

but the gain to operate @ 1.3 is only to avoid the vignetting ,isn't ?

because the canon 1.3 is the best i have tried , in image quality, but the 1d mark IV or III have a magnification factor

Who knows what the reasoning is for 1.3. I personally think it's to gain some "Reach" and still keep a fast maximum aperture for sports.

Your last sentence also doesn't make sense. If the Canon 1.3 is the best you tried, who gives a crap about the 1.3 crop?

Mr. Clean wrote in post #10948841
Nick, as I've moved to primes, I've also moved to shooting more in C mode. Much like schmoelzel and his magical (not kidding) 85 1.2 shots I think it improves the keeper rate. Also, since the DOF is so very thin, I'm purposefully using an AF point on the face to focus on, or something along the same plane with contrast. I'll use any focus point I need to. My last paid shoot the max ISO I used looks like it was 5000 with every lens (24-70, 70-200, Sigma 24/50/150) but MOST of the shots were with the Sigma's between f1.8 and 5.6 and I'm happy with how everything performed.

AF assist beam won't work in C mode, so in low light situations that might be a problem. I also only shoot in C mode when needed, otherwise I stick with S. The most important thing is contrast and that's what I am trying to find out. How much contrast does the AF system need? Obviously what you saw on the maple cabinet wasn't enough contrast. That's surprising to me b/c the transition line is pretty clear...actually more clear in person.

Mr. Clean wrote in post #10948841
If it helps at all, and maybe Permie can post her settings as I don't have the camera with me right now, I'm essentially using the D700 as she set it up. Focus/recompose is not the answer here.

I don't think the D700 is that complicated. I have both AF-S and AF-C set to focus priority. IMO, the rest is pretty irrelevant at weddings. Correct me if I am wrong.

Mr. Clean wrote in post #10948841
In closing though, especially after a Mark III debacle (to be fair, I've had one that works grea), I've come to adjust my expectations of a cameras AF system and in that adjustment, I would not expect a camera to accurately focus 99% of the time on either a white wall or a maple cabinet with little to no contrast.

Yes, obviously a white wall isn't representative of real world shooting and of course I wouldn't expect any camera to be able to focus on it, hence I didn't shoot a white wall. But mono-tone subject with some texture/shadow is very real world. For instance, someone's face, a mono-tone dress with patterns, etc. What about a plain white wedding gown? What about an orange dress with ruffles. Good luck focusing on those things. Also, good luck focusing on those things when they are moving!

I'm just a little surprised that's all.

vipergts831 wrote in post #10948833
That sounds like something 5DMKII users do. Smh. Sucks man.

Yeah, the guy I shot with this Saturday had 2 D3's and it was pretty clear he was focus and recomposing the way he was moving his camera, etc. Pretty obvious.

For some, it's just a style they are used to. For others, they do it because they have to. Not sure which one applied for him.

More Sigma 85 1.4 samples...

Link

nicksan wrote in post #10949119
Yeah, the guy I shot with this Saturday had 2 D3's and it was pretty clear he was focus and recomposing the way he was moving his camera, etc. Pretty obvious.

For some, it's just a style they are used to. For others, they do it because they have to. Not sure which one applied for him.

Focus and recompose has been pretty difficult to do with Nikon compared to Canon..or maybe its just the shallow DOF of FF