niccoury

<p>I use the 20-35 f/2.8 on my D700 daily. Granted I'm using it for newspaper work, but it works fantastic. Sharp, small and fairly inexpensive.</p>

<p>The 35-70 f/2.8 is a good compliment too.</p>

<p>The big lens handle loads better on full bodies.</p>

<p>I would never imagine shooting a huge f/2.8 zoom on a D40/60. It would be far too front heavy.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>

<p>I've also found, at least with my Speed Demon, you can run around A LOT with it packed full.</p>

<p>Like Domke bags, the bags look small but can hold a lot of stuff.</p>

<p>I used mine only as a waist bag and carry (with additional pouches): D700 with a 28-70 f/2.8 on my neck.</p>

<p>In the Bag: (2) SB-800's, 20-35 f/2.8, 50 f/1.4 AF-D, 60 2.8 AF-s, TC 1.4, (2) EN-EL4 batteries, (2) SC-28 cords, a handful of CF cards, (2) Reporter's Notebooks for photo captions, (2) pens, a few 77mm filters.</p>

<p>It's much, much more comfortable than a shoulder bag for all day work and totally modular for my day's workflow.</p>

<p>Here's a photo in action:</p>

</p><div></div>

<p>I used a Speed Demon for work on a daily basis (I'm the staff photog at a newspaper) and it's an unbeatable tool.</p>

<p>Granted my camera is always around my neck, the bag is perfect for smaller lenses and other stuff.</p>

<p>ThinkTank is great, because you can build a bag only to the size you need by adding on the side pouches and bags.</p>

<p>Great products designed by real, full-time professional shooters.</p>

<p>The D2X(s) may be considered "inferior," but it still produces fantastic images. Lots of professionals work for newspapers where the D2X is still the main cameras and they work great. It and the D2H are both great PJ/newspaper cameras.</p>

<p>I still like my D2-series cameras.</p>

<p>Nikon <i>Professional</i> Services (NPS) is very, very good to it's members. They hurry up your repair and it's fantastic to work with them as a professional.</p>

<p>Sending something back to Nikon as a consumer, is a bit slower.</p>

<p>Here's some more work from this morning.</p>

<p>http://photographnic.blogspot.com/2009/07/2009-us-red-bull-moto-gp-day-3.html</p>

<p>Ok, my photos are posted on my blog, which links to my newspaper's site.</p>

<p>http://photographnic.blogspot.com/</p>

<p>Here's a teaser...</p><div></div>

<p>John,</p>

<p>It's the Manfrotto 680B. Works wonders for every long lens. I borrowed a 600 f/4 AF-S II from NPS and the monpod worked great with that too.</p>

<p>As far as I've found, you just kinda grin and bear it. Media shuttles to the corkscrew top help too...</p>

<p>So as a professional PJ, I figured all of us gearheads might appreciate my list of equipment for the U.S. Red Bull Moto GP this weekend at Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif.</p>

<p>My gear:<br>

Nikon D700 w/ grip.<br>

Nikon D2H<br>

Nikon 20-35 f/2.8<br>

Nikon 28-70 f/2.8<br>

Nikon 70-200 f/2.8<br>

Nikon 400 f/2.8<br>

Nikon 1.4 TC<br>

Nikon SB-800 flash with off-shoe cord Think Tank Speed Demon with various lens pouches. </p>

<p>I'll be posting slideshows and blogs all weekend from the media center here:<br>

http://www.montereycountyweekly.com<br>

Cheers,</p>

<p>~ nic</p><div></div>

<p>The D700 will fit your needs. If you shoot RAW at lower ASA's, you'll be able to make huge prints.</p>

<p>How big are you looking? 12mp can do a lot more that people give it credit for.</p>

<p>One thing to consider with big lenses on small bodies (i.e. 17-55 f/2.8 on a D40X) is that it does not balance very well. That lens is a chunk of a glass to carry around.</p>

<p>You'd probably be better off getting something smaller like the 35 f/1.8 you mention, a flash and maybe even a 16-85 f/3.5-5.6</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Look through the Wedding forum for too many posts on this subject.</p>

<p>I've also heard that if you're asking questions about what equipment to use, you're not ready to shoot a wedding.</p>

<p>Although no one ever listens to the people making this same advice, but whatever you do, make sure you have at least 2 camera bodies, preferably with the same batteries, more than enough memory cards, and flash batteries. Don't think that you can only do it with just one body.</p>

<p>On lenses though, go with whatever works for your style. Some people, like me, prefer fast lenses and no flash. I like isolating my subjects with blurred backgrounds and shooter either really wide or really tight. 90% of my work could be shot with a 24mm, 50mm and a 135mm at f/2 or f/2.8.</p>

<p>The 17-55 f/2.8 is a favorite amongst most Nikon DX shooters. I prefer my 28-70 on my D700. A 50mm is nice on both formats for portraits and a 70-200 is a choice lens too.</p>

<p>Calvin, I really hate to say this, but seriously, you're pixel peeping for 200%, because 100% crop isn't enough? Really?</p>

<p>Both cameras are going to perform great upwards of Hi-1. With the number of professionals using both cameras, I can safely say it will be good enough for you at high ISOs.</p>

<p>My two cents..</p>

<p>yeah. I've made cover shots on our paper (~12x17") at 6400, granted it is newsprint...</p>

<p>Also, Sports Illustrated had made cover shots at 6400 of that college football game last year from a D3.</p>

<p>D700, same sensor<br>

At the office, I used CS3, at home I use Lightroom at first, then CS3.<br>

I typically prefer to shoot 1600 or below and shoot at f/2.8 or faster in order to isolate my subjects.<br>

Honestly, I don't use much of the NR software on either program.<br>

Here are 3 full size files, straight from camera. ASA's 3200 and 6400.<br>

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v15/neontokyo/NIC_6380.jpg<br>

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v15/neontokyo/NIC_6351.jpg<br>

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v15/neontokyo/NIC_6308.jpg</p>

<p>there's a been a little post pro on mine, but nothing significant. I don't use the in-camera NR.</p>

<p>I work full time as a newspaper photog and constantly am using 3200 and 6400 asa, even upwards of Hi-1.</p>

<p>Flawless.</p>

<p>I liked my 17-55. It was sharp.</p>

<p>Others include: 17-35 f/2.8, 28-70 f/2.8, 24-70, f/2.8, 35-70 f/2.8.</p>