klix

I would suggest getting the D40, and sticking with AFS lenses.

<IMG SRC="http://klix.smugmug.com/photos/154181728-L.jpg" </A>

I would think that the 400mm will give you better overall IQ than the zoom + TC. The VR does NOT negate the 2 stop difference. What VR gives you is the ability to shoot at shutter speeds like 1/30 -- which is useless for sports. WHat the f2.8 gives you is the ability to shoot at higher shutter speeds to freeze the action and isolate your subject.

 

To me, a 400/2.8 requires some level of support -- monopod or tripod -- to get the most out of it. More power to you if you think you can handhold it.

 

KL

It's in the manual, in the D70 specs, and a few websites...

 

The D70 has a 95% frame coverage.

Call Mike at Camera Tech in Anaheim. Good work, reasonable prices.

 

The shop's at 1347 S. Anaheim Blvd in Anaheim.

 

The phone number is 714-535-0993.

 

He's open until 5:30pm M-F, and 1-4:30 pm Saturdays.

Get the 70-200mm, and be done with it. For macro, get the Canon 500D close up lens to use with the 70-200mm. If you really get into macro shooting later on, get a dedicated macro lens.

Are we talking high school football (or older)? If so, you need a lot of reach. 70-200/2.8 + TC-14e will barely get you there. You want at least 400mm. I would vote for a 300/4 AFS and TC-14e.

 

You'll be shooting at 420/5.6 wide open, which should be long enough, and depending on available light, may be fast enough.

BTW, strictly from what I've read, for NON-photography activities, the bus tour seems worth it to me.

I have a few manual focus lenses: Tokina 90/2.5, Nikon 105/4 micro, Kiron 105/2.8, Nikon 50-135/3.5 and Nikon 500/4 P.

 

If I had to pick one, then it would have to be the 500mm, only because from a budget standpoint it would be the toughest to replace, and its AF counterpart costs $5k+.

 

Otherwise, it's a matter of "horses for courses" -- I do like the Kiron A LOT when I'm shooting macro.

Larry - you can find out about it on this website, and just follow the links. IMO, if you are able-bodied and do hike, you are better off with the NPS green bus shuttles, since I would think that hiking increases your chances to find and photograph wildlife. If I were physically able to, that's what I would do -- hop on and off the NPS shuttles. http://www.alaskatravel.com/denali-park/kantishna-bus-tour.html Tom - thanks. I know my chances of wildlife encounter are low if I stay on a bus, but physically, there's no way I can hike any distance to look for wildlife. Even if I do go on the hop on/off NPS shuttles, I still would not be able to go any great distances, so I'd still be relying on luck anyway. So, wish me luck. Keith

<i>For 70K at your disposal, get the best glass and stop considering low end Nikon or 3rd party lenses, and do not worry. -- Frank</i>

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Actually, based on the OP, I assume Prasun is talking about 70K Rp (Rupees), which converts to about $1725 USD.

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Don't know what prices are like in India, but in the US, a new D200 will go for a little over $1300, leaving about $400 for a lens. Don't know about you Frank, but "best glass" costs a heck of a lot more than $400.

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Prasun - a D200 + 18-70mm + 50mm is a good kit. Those two lenses will outperform your two current lenses. Buying gray market is risky. I wouldn't do it, but it's your decision.

Which body? On film, the 28-70mm was/is a wedding photographer's best friend.

 

It's still great with a DSLR, but you'd have another contender here, namely, the 17-55mm/2.8 DX.

Ths images on the link below were taken in similar dusty, poor lighting conditions with similar equipment -- handheld D200 with 70-200mm, MB200, and no flash. I used Sandisk Extreme III CF cards, and additionally, a TC-14e.

 

http://klix.smugmug.com/gallery/2352843#123168556

 

As you can see, some of the action was too fast for my equipment; thus the blur. Also, as you can see, more reach would have been nice (a 200-400mm + TC-14e would have been just about perfect). It really would be helpful if you are allowed to use flash (especially if you get a Better Beamer flash extender); and yes, a monopod would come in handy.

 

BTW, the D200 + 70-200mm + TC-14 e would NOT fit into any Toploader; you'd have to get a backpack like a Minitrekker or even a Microtrekker.

 

Good luck!

 

KL

I've decided to make reservations on the Kantishnas Wilderness Trails bus tour

for my Denali trip in late August.

 

ADVANTAGES:

 

1) I am not a hiker (disability), so there was really no advantage to taking

the on/off NPS shuttle. The price difference of around $100 was not a

deterrence.

 

2) We get a narrator.

 

3) This tour goes all the way to the very end of the road.

 

WHAT I KNOW SO FAR:

 

1) There are multiple pick up points in the morning. I plan to go to the

first one so we can get "good seats."

 

2) "Good seats" are behind the driver going in; the opposite side coming back.

 

3) We can stow our packs and tripod in overhead racks.

 

4) I'll probably use a more convenient method (thanks Mark Chappell) of a

Neoprene wrapping rather than try to mess with a beanbag, when shooting from

the bus. I'll have a non-stabilized 500mm and a 1.4 TC (if needed) on a D200

AND a 70-200mm on a second D200.

 

5) Depending on how long the stops are throughout the tour, I can set up

outside with the tripod.

 

6) Logistically, my wife and I will have raingear, water and snacks in our

packs.

 

QUESTION:

 

Has anyone taken the Kantishna Wilderness Trails tour? Do you have any tips

or know of any gotchas?

 

THANKS,

 

Keith

You'd actually have to stand in the center of the room rather than the corner to get 360 deg, but yes, if you used yourself as the pivot point, you should be able to take quarter turns and capture the entire room.

 

However, it's kind of a pointless exercise, since you can do do the same thing with a 12-24mm if you just added one or two more turns from the same pivot point. In fact, you can do the same thing with ANY lens if you add enough turns from the same pivot point.

 

KL

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Well, Alex, you can dhoot all you want as long as you don't dhoot on my bus.

Daniel - if Adorama is actually going to give you those amounts, and will actually work with you on a D200, then it's a no brainer -- go for it.

 

Anthony - I'm surprised you haven't sent in your D200 to Nikon to fix the banding issue. They'll do it at no cost, assuming your D200 is still under warranty. Downside is you're out the D200 for a couple of weeks.

 

KL

Shooting NOT dhooting

What do YOU use for support when shooting a non-stabilized tele (500mm and the

like) from a bus? I've got a bean bag, but I'd like to find out what others use.

 

Thanks,

 

KL

Different strokes for different folks, but I can almost guarantee that those pictures would have been taken by the photographers profiled on the website below. Click on their names to see some of those pictures that would contend for 5 best.

 

http://www.masters-of-photography.com/

It really depends on what you want to do -- a 12-24mm is very useful when you want to go wide. Here are some shots taken with the Nikon 12-24mm (and the Nikon 10.5mm fisheye).

 

http://klix.smugmug.com/gallery/2538910/1/133422094#133422094

 

A 17-35mm/2.8 is arguably Nikon's sharpest zoom, but you obviously have to "live with" 17mm at the widest, meaning, on a DSLR, the same angle of view as approx. 26mm. I would not have been able to capture some of those images from the agllery above with the 17-35mm since it's just not wide enough.

 

OTOH, here are samples taken with the 17-35mm.

 

http://klix.smugmug.com/gallery/2489019/1/130632189#130632189

 

Good luck.

 

KL

Stephen - in your last post, you asked for the best tele, then decided on the Sigma 100-300mm because of cost constraints. Mind you, no one in their right mind would call the Sigma the "best." You had also stated that with funds left over, you would look into a wide angle lens.

 

And now you are askinf for the "best." Maybe it's just me, but usually, "funds left over" does not equate to the "best wide angle for the task."

 

I have both the Nikon 12-24mm and 17-35mm, either would be a strong contender for the "best," depending on your needs. However, neither one is a "funds left over" lens.

 

So, for this post, why don't we start with your budget? What are you willing to spend?

 

Maybe, by taking that approach, you can get more appropriate input.

 

KL

Beach Camera has it for $949, but their website is only showing the lens in a Canon mount.

 

What you can do is call Berger Bros (www.berger-bros.com) and ask them to price match Beach Camera, then request the free shipping that Berger Bros. offers.

 

That way, you get the lens for $949 shipped.

 

Both Beach Camera and Berger Bros. are authorized Nikon resellers and both are reputable.

 

KL

Assuming the D200's AF module can track the cars, your lens choice becomes a question of focal length. There is no doubt in my mind that you would want an AFS lens. Having said that, unless you need the long end of the 80-400mm, I would say your best option would be the 70-200mm. If you need a little longer FL, you may want to add a TC-14e teleconverter.

 

If you think you will be shooting at 300mm to 400mm often, and have the budget then the 200mm-400mm may be the best lens for you.

 

If you're in SoCal, you may want to contact Calumet store nearest you and ask for rental availability of either lens. The nice thing about them is that you can rent a lens on a Friday afternoon and retun it on Monday, and they will only charge you for one day.

 

Good luck!

 

KL