Got a Nikon? Share your thoughts and photos here or ask a question! (III)

^^ yep, that's a killdeer.

I always end up bracketing like 5-7 images. I get home and find that I can do what I want with one. Still after a year I'm blown away by the dynamic range and noiseless shadows of the d800!

Corey, that is really stunning.

Corey, I like that shot. Where is that?

White River State Falls. After dusk...it was pretty dark at this point. I boosted up parts of the image about 3 stops, so I processed it in camera raw as an 18mp file. Then I used a square crop as it fit the mood:

^^Beautiful landscapes guys.

kcbrown wrote in post #15842326
Well, you would until you saw how big and heavy the 24-70 1.8 would be...


I suspect the reason Sigma is able to do this has to do with the physics of the optical system. A smaller target sensor means, generally, that you can build a lens that covers roughly the same angle of view range and the same depth of field range as a corresponding lens for a larger sensor, and have the result be roughly the same size.

In this case, f/1.8 gets you the same shallow depth of field on a crop sensor that f/2.8 does on a full frame sensor. The focal length range, 18-35, covers a smaller angle of view range than 24-70 does, but the size of the filters it takes is smaller as well: 72mm instead of 82mm.


Good on Sigma for doing this. They're making crop cameras even more competitive against full frame than before, by reducing the depth of field advantage of full frame. Note that they're not eliminating it in this case: a prime on full frame gets a shallow depth of field that simply cannot be matched by a crop camera with current lenses.

Well said, a couple weeks ago I took my (just sold) Canon 5D outside with my Nikon D200 both using 50mm lenses (Canon 50mm f/1.8, and set my Nikon lens to 35mm to have the 'same' fov at ~52mm). I wanted to see just how much of a difference you get with dof on the dx/fx sensors.

I set them both at f/2.8 to keep it the same, as well as matching the exposures. The difference was easily noticeable at how much more the oof areas were blurred on the fx sensor. It was pretty eye opening to me. I don't have that camera anymore, but might still have those shots on the computer.

Anyway I've decided to try out an 'experiment' so I've rented both the Nikon 35mm f/1.8G and the 50mm f/1.8G lenses to see how much I like them on the D200's dx sensor. I'm thinking that I can keep my kit still very small/light using the dx body with primes yet retain the shallow dof just using the larger aperture.

If this works out then I'll put off buying the D700 (been lusting for a looong time now lol), and just buy some more glass with a D300(s), and pick up the 35, 50, and especially 85mm f/1.8 (my next lens to rent). I'll be holding on to the two small lenses covering that 52 and 75mm range for the next two weeks while I take more time to decide a plan.

Kei

p.s
I can only IMAGINE the size/weight of a 24-70 f/1.8 lens!!!

Then again...I don't know if I'm strong enough to withstand the onslaught of temptation that is the D700. I'm even afraid to rent one lol

Kei

Kei_7 wrote in post #15861618
Then again...I don't know if I'm strong enough to withstand the onslaught of temptation that is the D700. I'm even afraid to rent one lol

Kei

The D700 imo is a great camera. Good AF and ISO make it a good value.

rick_reno wrote in post #15860773
Corey, that is really stunning.

Thanks Rick

woos wrote in post #15861012
Corey, I like that shot. Where is that?

Thanks! It is on a river that runs behind my house in La Ronge, Saskatchewan.

Very nice landscapes you posted as well!

Well, I'm doing a "wedding" this afternoon. It will be mostly cloudy with strong light (6:30 pm). It's really a ceremony of about 20 people for a wedding vows renewel, but I'm excited that I get to shoot it.

Here's my setup (and that's all it will be...in the final stretch, so-to-speak): Nikon D7000, 18-105 kit lens, and Nikon 35 1.8.

I'll be using some onboard flash for fill light here and there. I don't have an off-camera flash.

I have two cards. Slot A will be 16 gigs and will hold the raw files. Slot B has an 8 gig card that will hold Jpegs. I'll shoot raw+jpeg.

I'll be in Aperture priority mode, keeping my ISO as low as possible (I don't anticipate having to go above 400 for most of the event. I'll start at 100-200 and work my way up as it gets darker, but it won't start to get dark until about 7:45. Plenty of time for good shots.

Finally, I'm planning to get there early to shoot decorations, people chatting, etc., then I'll shoot the guests as they arrive, the ceremony (this worries me), and then the very casual reception afterward (indoors...ugh...but that's not the priority).

I'm wondering: Should I use a tripod at all? I wasn't planning to but it just popped into my head that maybe I should. I have a couple.

So, any advice? It would be greatly appreciated, especially if you have suggestions about what to shoot, angles, ceremony positioning, etc.

Thanks. The pressure isn't too bad, though, because this is not a paid job (friends) and I've made it quite clear that they should have no expectations. They're cool with that.

MikeFairbanks wrote in post #15861799
I'm wondering: Should I use a tripod at all? I wasn't planning to but it just popped into my head that maybe I should. I have a couple.

Ann and I took a sturdy tripod with us to every wedding we did over the 4 years we worked as wedding photographers, but we never used it once - actually I lie, I did use it once to mark my territory on the lawn while arranging a bunch of formal photos.

Most the time VR (or IS) negated the need for a tripod with long lenses, and if we ever needed a long exposure for lighting effect somewhere, we'd usually find something solid to rest the camera on, rather than drag the tripod out of the car - mostly I'm talking about evening shots outdoors of the venues all lit up, where we'd grab a passing wall, or car, or bench, etc..

Mostly a tripod will just get in your way and slow you down - a monopod may be more use if you need extra stability.

Try to enjoy yourself, you'll be rushed off your feet - just make sure you get the important shots.

Rob

MikeFairbanks wrote in post #15861799
Well, I'm doing a "wedding" this afternoon. It will be mostly cloudy with strong light (6:30 pm). It's really a ceremony of about 20 people for a wedding vows renewel, but I'm excited that I get to shoot it.

Here's my setup (and that's all it will be...in the final stretch, so-to-speak): Nikon D7000, 18-105 kit lens, and Nikon 35 1.8.

I'll be using some onboard flash for fill light here and there. I don't have an off-camera flash.

I have two cards. Slot A will be 16 gigs and will hold the raw files. Slot B has an 8 gig card that will hold Jpegs. I'll shoot raw+jpeg.

I'll be in Aperture priority mode, keeping my ISO as low as possible (I don't anticipate having to go above 400 for most of the event. I'll start at 100-200 and work my way up as it gets darker, but it won't start to get dark until about 7:45. Plenty of time for good shots.

Finally, I'm planning to get there early to shoot decorations, people chatting, etc., then I'll shoot the guests as they arrive, the ceremony (this worries me), and then the very casual reception afterward (indoors...ugh...but that's not the priority).

I'm wondering: Should I use a tripod at all? I wasn't planning to but it just popped into my head that maybe I should. I have a couple.

So, any advice? It would be greatly appreciated, especially if you have suggestions about what to shoot, angles, ceremony positioning, etc.

Thanks. The pressure isn't too bad, though, because this is not a paid job (friends) and I've made it quite clear that they should have no expectations. They're cool with that.

You might want a tripod for thpse pre-event shots, but once the show starts I think it would be in the way. Have fun.

MikeFairbanks wrote in post #15861799
Well, I'm doing a "wedding" this afternoon. It will be mostly cloudy with strong light (6:30 pm). It's really a ceremony of about 20 people for a wedding vows renewel, but I'm excited that I get to shoot it.

Here's my setup (and that's all it will be...in the final stretch, so-to-speak): Nikon D7000, 18-105 kit lens, and Nikon 35 1.8.

I'll be using some onboard flash for fill light here and there. I don't have an off-camera flash.

I have two cards. Slot A will be 16 gigs and will hold the raw files. Slot B has an 8 gig card that will hold Jpegs. I'll shoot raw+jpeg.

I'll be in Aperture priority mode, keeping my ISO as low as possible (I don't anticipate having to go above 400 for most of the event. I'll start at 100-200 and work my way up as it gets darker, but it won't start to get dark until about 7:45. Plenty of time for good shots.

Finally, I'm planning to get there early to shoot decorations, people chatting, etc., then I'll shoot the guests as they arrive, the ceremony (this worries me), and then the very casual reception afterward (indoors...ugh...but that's not the priority).

I'm wondering: Should I use a tripod at all? I wasn't planning to but it just popped into my head that maybe I should. I have a couple.

So, any advice? It would be greatly appreciated, especially if you have suggestions about what to shoot, angles, ceremony positioning, etc.

Thanks. The pressure isn't too bad, though, because this is not a paid job (friends) and I've made it quite clear that they should have no expectations. They're cool with that.

I would certainly pick up a flash and bounce card for indoor shooting. I rarely ever use a tripod unless it is necessary. On occasion I'll use it for group shots. Have fun!

rick_reno wrote in post #15859921
^^ yep, that's a killdeer.

i agree and much much cooler then my killdeer shots

very nice killdeer!