benjaminm

<p>Memories from island Vis, Croatia - after the sunset</p><div></div>

<p>Memories from islan Vis, Croatia - interesting beach</p><div></div>

<p>Memories from island Vis, Croatia - pure water</p><div></div>

<p>Sony RX100.<br>

Some months ago I sold my D700 body and all of my Nikkors. Since then I have searched for a high quality point and shoot camera. After some research I decided to buy the new Sony RX100. I can enjoy my trips now. Although the picture quality of my new camera isn't just the same as it was on my D700 combined with those heavy Nikkors, I feel like a free man now. I can carry my camera and all of my lenses in my shirt pocket. The quality of my new photos and videos is completely acceptable for me.</p>

<p>The 16-25/4 VR Nikkor is a good performer at 21mm.<br>

I would also suggest the Voigtlander 20/3.5 MF lens. Although not super sharp, it is a very interesting lens.</p>

<p>AF 85/1.8</p>

<p>I have the AF 85/1.8 and the AiS 105/2.5 (on FX body). The 105mm is sharper and offers better contrast and color rendition. The 85mm is much softer (at f/2.5) but offers AF and f/1.8 for low light photography. The lack of AF makes the 105mm lens unusable for children and action photography. If you want IQ, the 105mm is better choice, but if you need fast reaction, the 85mm is the better lens for you.</p>

<p>Well, my opinion is based on my samples of these lenses.</p>

<p>Top class (in my opinion): all FX models and the D300s successor.</p>

<p>I totaly agree with Breogan: the D7000 isn't the D300s successor. After the end of production of D90, Nikon will have three classes of bodies: Dx, Dxxx and Dxxxx.</p>

<p>I think that next year will be very interesting for all potential buyers of Nikon top class bodies.</p>

<p>I'm thinking why should I need the 24-120/4 lens, especially if I already have the 24-70/2.8 and 70-200/2.8 lenses. If I would need a flexible solution, I would consider the new 28-300 Nikkor (plus a 20mm prime in my pocket).</p>

<p>For me it is very interesting to see that some members of 2.8 prestige club are buying amateur zoom lenses now.</p>

<p>I've used this lens with D90X (N90S) body many years ago. It was a superb combination. But when I switched to digital (D200, D300, D700), I've noticed problems with image sharpness (with all of my digital bodies). Photos weren't simply not sharp! I've sent it to Nikon service, but they couldn't find/adjust anything. So, I decided to sell the lens and to buy the 70-200/2.8VRII model. Now I have a superb combination again.</p>

<p>In my opinion the D700's successor will have better sensor than D3S (better resolution and better ISO). Nikon wants to sell so many D3S as possible first. That's the reason why we have to wait so long for the new model. But the new model will cost much more then D700. So I doubt that the stores will reduce the price of D700 at that time.</p>

<p>Nikon D5000 doesn't have built in AF motor, so you can use only AF-S or AF-I lenses if you want to have AF functionality. For portraits it's usefull to have at least an f/2.8 lens (prime or zoom) in the range from 50 to 85mm. I would recommend the AF-S 50/1.4 Nikkor.</p>

<p>In the year 2010 the D700 is still good enough FX entry level camera. Otherwise Nikon would already replace it. In my opinion an FX entry level model is still much better than every newest DX toy. If you have some old lenses, you can use them on D700 with no limitations. They have enough resolution. My simple old 105/2.5 lens gives me the same or better results than my newest 70-200/2.8VRII at 105mm.</p>

<p>My advice: buy the D700 body.</p>

<p>Turn it on!</p><div></div>

<p>I've shot an volleyball match (in normal sport hall conditions) some weeks ago with my D700 and 70-200/2.8VRII lens. My most used data:<br>

ISO=3200, 1/500 and 1/700sec., f/2.8, FL between 70 and 180mm. I think that f/4 would be too slow.</p>

<p>We can imagine the superiority of new D4 and D800 cameras when they arrive.</p>

<p>I have just sold my 70-300VR Nikkor (although I was quite happy with it). I'll buy the new 28-300 Nikkor for my D700. It will be my new traveling lens (together with the 20/3.5 Skopar and 50/1.4G).<br>

In the past I have to use the 16-35/4, 70-300VR and 50/1.4G. I had to switch between 16-35 and 70-300 and let the dust into my D700 too often. <br>

I always leave my 2.8 zooms at home.</p>

<p>I would buy the lens first.<br>

My opinion about the D700 upgrade: the D3S is quite new model. It has the same resolution as D700. I think there will be no compact alternative to D3S (if Nikon would plan to do that, they would already did it). So, the D700 upgrade (with new, better sensor) would jeopardize the sale of relatively new D3S. In my opinion we will have to wait for the D700 upgrade for more than 6 months.</p>

<p>I've been in Barcelona last year. I took D700, 20/3.5 Skopar, the old 24-50/3.3-4.5 and 50/1.4 with me. I didn't miss anything. I left my heavy 2.8 zooms at home (24-70 and 80-200). At that time I didn't have the 16-35/4VR, 70-300/4.5-5.6VR and 70-200/2.8VRII lenses.<br>

Now I would take with me: 16-35/4, 50/1.4 and 70-300/4.5-5.6 lenses.<br>

If I would have the new 28-300 lens, I would take 20/3.5, 28-300 and 50/1.4 lenses.</p>

<p>D700 is a great camera. I don't see any need for a newer model (with the exception of 100% viewfinder). I'm not interested in video. So, even if the replacement comes out this year (I doubt about that), you can't be sure that the majority of D700 owners will sell their cameras, especially those with few clicks.</p>

<p>Thinking about my ideal traveling lens I have made the statistics (using the program Wega2) about the most used focal lengths and apertures from my vacation photos. The lenses I had in my camera bag: 70-300VR+16-35VR+50/1.4+60micro.<br>

Here are my data (for D700 body):<br>

35mm=32%,16mm=15%,30mm=10%,25mm=9%,20mm=8%,300mm=7%,50mm=5%,75mm=4%,70mm=2%<br>

f/16=29%, f/8=24%, f/6.7=19%, f/4=4%, f/5.6=4, f/2=4%</p>

<p>I think that the new 28-300 and 16-35 lenses would cover over 95% of my needs.<br>

What about your analysis?</p>

<p>The new 28-300 could be the one lens solution for traveling for all FX users who are now using the 70-300VR as a lightweight traveling replacement for their 70-200/2.8VR beasts. In the past we needed an additional wide angle to standard zoom.<br>

In my opinion the main advantage of the new 28-300 over the 70-300 is its versatility and not its IQ.</p>

<p>Multi-CAM 3500FX AF module for DX body?</p>

<p>I do hate seeing someone at a sporting event, shooting their D700 ...<br>

___________________________________________________________________<br>

Richard,<br>

you shouldn't hate those D700 owners. You should love them!</p>