701

<p>200-400 is out of the question, no way I would be able to carry such heavy lens and still be able to hike for a full day. A mid tele is going to be my max.</p>

<p>Thanks for the reply. Actually what I was thinking was exactly Peter's set up, 24-70 on D700, long lens on D300 with fast prime lens. What I am not sure is if I just take my 70-200 with TC1.4 or should I rent a 80-400 or the other telephoto I listed. I would love to rent a 200-400, but I believe the weight is too much for hiking. VR will be important if I am shooting in the dust/dawn hour or from the Denali bus.</p>

<p>Hi all,<br>

I looked at some of the older post, and I don't quite find the exact answer I needed so I am going to create a new post on it. I am heading to Alaska in Sept, and I cannot decide which lens to bring, especially on the telephoto end. Everyone, please chip in your suggestion!<br>

I will be going to Seward and Denali NP, in Seward I will take a day cruise and also hike the harding Icefield trail. In Denali, will stay at Wonder Lake for few days and day hike (full day hike) inside the park. I am looking for a balance between weight and quality on what I can bring with me.<br>

Here is what I have and options that I am considering:</p>

<p>D700 with 24-70<br>

I am also considering to bring a 24 1.4 for stars pic, and a 50mm just for low light pic in general</p>

<p>D300 with 70-200 + TCx1.4<br>

I am also thinking about renting Nikon 300 f4, or Nikon 80-400, or Tamron 200-500<br>

The weight are quite similar between these lens, with hiking and wildlife (not bird) in mind, would you suggestion I picked the 70-200 or rent one of the other lens?</p>

<p>Thanks,<br>

William</p>

 

<p>I believe we will just take route 1, but may need to nail down the detail before deciding if we will need a 4WD.<br>

As of now, I will have two full days by myself, just need to get the car from Reykjavik to Akureyri by morning on the third day. The we will be driving the Ring road along the east coast back to Reykjavik. Here is a rough draft of the trip<br>

Sat (April 23): Akureyri/Mývatn<br />Sun (April 24): Mývatn<br />Mon (April 25): Mývatn --> Egilsstadir<br />Tues (April 26): Egilsstadir --> Höfn<br />Wed (April 27): Höfn --> Vik<br />Thur (April 28): Vik --> Laugarvatn<br />Fri (April 29): Golden Circle<br />Sat (April 30): Reykjavik</p>

 

<p>For harbor view, go to Tsim Sha Tsui and walk along the coast by the Star Ferry Pier. You can also check with the HK Tourism board at the airport (after you exit custom, the counter should be on your left side), they have a "Duk Ling Ride" which you get to ride a chinese style boat and they take you around the harbor for an hour. It used to be free, but I am not sure if they charge you anything now, however I think it worth a try.<br>

If you have time, I suggest to do a walk around in Central area (you can get map from the Tourism board), where you get to see the commercial/shopping district by the coast, and if you keep on walking up the hill, you will see some of the older buildings and local business. Good for a lot of street photo.<br>

Another way (the best way in my mind) to see the local is to take the tram, which runs from the East side of HK island to the West side. Pick a window seat on the upper deck and you can spend an entire afternoon going through different areas in Hong Kong. The best thing is you can take the same train back and it's only HK$2 each way.</p>

<p>Thanks for the replies, I think it's an easy call to go visit the Snaefellsnes peninsula. I am also talking my friend to change the course of our drive so I would have two full days of free time.<br>

As for lodging, I think I may just bring my sleeping bag and sleep in the car in order to take advantage of the extended day light. I would assume Iceland will be a safe place to sleep overnight on the road side.<br>

Will there be any different driving from East to West in compare to West to East on the Ring road? it seems on forum almost everyone is driving to East side of the island first.</p>

<p>Hi all,</p>

<p>I am going with a few of my friends to Iceland at the end of April. We are going to spend a week there driving around the Ring road. Since my friends are your normal snapshot tourist, I will not get too much photo time during the trip, so I am going to spend an extra two days on the island just for photography purpose. This will be my first time going Iceland and I have a few questions hoping someone who can help me with.<br>

1. Please let me know a good location for a two days shooting time frame (will have to start off and come back to Reykiavik within two days)<br>

2. What will be the chance to see puffins or whale during April?<br>

3. Here is my planned lens setup, please let me know what you think and can improve, i have other lens that I can choose from, but these are the one I come up with. My plan is to shoot landscape, but of course i will shoot anything available.<br>

on a full frame camera</p>

<ul>

<li>17-35mm </li>

<li>24mm f/1.4 </li>

<li>50mm </li>

<li>70-200mm </li>

</ul>

<p> the 17-35 will be my main walk around lens. 24 is my favorite lens and i take it to every trip, it will be my low light / star photo lens. I planned to use the 50 for indoor portrait, when using 70-200 is not suitable. 70-200 will be for landscape and wildlife, this will probably be my main concern because of the weight/size, if chances is not very good to see wildlife, I think i will switch to a 85 instead.<br>

Thank you for your attention and comment!!</p>

<p>William</p>

<p>Frank & Matt: I personally prefer a shoulder bag than a waist bag. I tried a waist bag before (I believe it's Lowepro), and dislike walking around with a waist bag (I do have the Think tank belt system for event shooting), just personal preference, thanks for the suggestion neverless.<br>

John: I used to have a Crumpler 6 million Dollar and the Retrospective is a lot better except the one fault I mentioned. As you mentioned in your comment, I am going to ask Thinktank about the problem I got and see their answer.<br>

BM: I hope I get your name correct, please forgive me if I got it wrong. If I am going out with just camera and 2 lens, I use a small waterproof messenger bag fitted with inserters I pulled off from my unused bag, and i found it is very easy to carry around and does not attract attention, the downside is less protection all the way around.</p>

<p>Hi all,<br>

Sorry for posting a bag question here, I posted a similar question on the camera bag forum and didn't get any response, so I am trying my luck in the Nikon forum.</p>

<p>I am interested in getting a bag that could fit my need....</p>

<p>Use: Travel (out of country, comfort for a day shooting in city), Outdoor (like going short day hike or shooting in national park for example)</p>

<p>Travel Kit: D700 + 24-70 + 45 PC-E + SB900 + 17-35 or 85 f/1.4 (depends on situation, I will carry one)</p>

<p>Outdoor Kit: D700 + 24-70 + 45 PC-E +SB900 + 70-200f2.8 + TC1.4x</p>

<p>I tried Thinktank Retrospective and I found it is very difficult to put the camera back into the bag as lens on two sides collapsed into the middle and I always have to put the bag on ground to put the camera back.</p>

<p>So far in my research I found three bags that I liked:<br>

<strong>Vanguard Uprise 33</strong><br>

<strong>Boda V3</strong>, I like the fact that it can stand on it own and waterproof, I know it is labeled as event/wedding photographer bag, but I would want to know if it will be good in traveling as well.<br>

<strong>Timbuk2</strong> messenger bag, and install custom inserter myself.</p>

<p>Please let me know your recommendation. Thanks for all the responses.</p>

<p>Boda V3 has been reviewed everywhere as a wedding/event photographer's bag, but has anyone use it as a travel camera bag?<br>

I am looking for bag that I can take while travel out of country and hiking (day hike, or minimal hike while shooting in national park for example). From the research I did, it seems to fit as a travel bag, waterproof, being able to stand on it own, good padding, water bottle pocket. I want to see if I have overlooked any CON.<br>

Can anyone chip in more suggestion? Thanks a lot everyone.</p>

<p>Thanks,<br>

William</p>

<p>I have the same question three weeks ago. I had a D300 and want to go to FX, should I wait or should I buy?</p>

<p>I decide to buy the D700 after a week of thinking back and forth. It cost $2400 right now so if Nikon announce an upgrade, it will be around $3000 and the camera wont be available until another two months after the announcement. If you are willing to bite couple hundred dollars for "renting" the camera (I figure the price probably wont drop too far under $2000 for a lightly used D700). You can always sell your D700 and upgrade later on.</p>

<p>After two events and a photo walk, I am totally happy I made the decision. The wide angle, the shallow depth of field, the ability to shoot at iso 1600 and up without worry made a big different.</p>

<p>Shun, While I am interested in landscape and travel photo, I do shoot many different things than just these two areas. I shot macro, shot events for my church, kids and family portrait, wedding for my friends, studio still life. For example, my personal project for the next three months include one for night photography, one with document a family with photo/sound/movie clip, and flower abstract macro. While I know a good photographer tends to specialize in one area and excel at it, I am in general just like to take pics, that's why I got the 2.8 lens that is can fits more needs in different areas. I did a 365 project last year on the DX 35mm f1.8 only so I do know how easier you can bring a small setup around. I am not saying I don't like new gear, I think many of us do, but i can see there is a use for a 24 f1.4 lens, for example a photo walk at night, able to hand hold a shot rather than bring out a tripod in the middle of the street makes a big different. Of course, if a lens can justify its cost is another issue :p. I went into Lightroom and check my pictures I took this year and last year, about 16% are at iso 3200, and 28% are f 2 or under. That is why I want to see a camera with better iso performance can open up.</p>

<p>oh man...don't mention the 24/1.4. I know I don't need it, but that lens is sweet....at least from the sample images. I am telling myself to learn all my lens again in FX, and not to buy anything new until I know them. It's not easy, but I am trying.</p>

<p>Sorry guys, I lied...I said I gonna wait, but I made the order for a D700. D700 is pretty good deal at $2399 now. I figure I shouldn't lose too much if I decided to sell it later for an upgrade, but being able to start shooting, relearning all my lens on FX is big(average 25K shots a year) so a few months wait is worth a few thousand pics already.</p>

<p>I agree that there are always more lens to get, a 80-400 replacement is definitely high on my list. A PC-E lens used to be what I want to get, but I am taking less landscape shot these days and experimenting environmental portrait and documentary, I will wait and see on the 24mm lens.</p>

<p>Thanks Shun, I am in the waiting mode now, hopefully Nikon have something announced before the summer. Camera product cycle is short, but we have to start on some point right? or else I would be always waiting for the next camera. I am not too concern with the MP as I am happy with print up to 18x24 and I don't foresee printing larger than that size. Also I think I am shooting landscape less these days and moving toward environmental portrait, adding the human element into my photos.</p>

<p>Thanks everyone for the kind suggestions. I surprised that I got so many responses in less than a day. I am going to keep the D300 along with whichever body I bought, so I still keep a light weight camera with me.</p>

<p>I agree with Shun that D3s is overkill, my concern is only if I get a D700 grade camera I will think about upgrade again, if I get a D3 grade camera I will be settle for a longer time frame. End up I will spend equal amount either way, while if I can swallow the cost now i can start shooting and not look back.</p>

<p>I guess I will take the majority advice and wait. I am just eager to move to FX since I have this planned for few years (to build up the lens lineup).</p>

<p>I know this question had been asked many times and i read the two threads about upgrading to D700 that was posted recently. I am still not sure about it and want to hear some more suggestions.<br>

My question is which camera should I upgrade to?<br>

Type of photography: Landscape, travel, interested getting into environmental portrait<br>

Lens: 17-35, 24-70, 85 f1.4, 70-200<br>

First let me clarify photography is a hobby for me, not something that I am making a living, so it is quite a major investment of myself. I have been using D300 and want to upgrade to full frame (this part is 100% certain), reason being better view finder, more detail on the picture, higher dynamic range, better noise performance, and I have been buying FX lens preparing to switch to FX and the focal range really annoyed me on the DX body.<br>

The choices are down to D700 or D3s. For D700, I like it being more compact, have a flash that can trigger off camera flash, and cost only half the price of D3s. On D3s, I like the 100% viewfinder, the high iso performance, and video function. Everyone knows the D700 replacement is coming and I figure the new body will add video, more megapixel (which i don't need, i think 12mp is more than enough), but it will not be available soon even if it announced and it will be in the 3k range when it first come out.<br>

So my decision leads me to think about 2 years or 3 years down the road, if I bought a D700, I would be likely want another upgrade for better iso and video function, but i saved up money for lens or later. If I get a D3s, I am set for another 5 years down the road, but will be using up all the reserve. Are there anything that I missed that I should consider?</p>

<p> </p>

>>I know that there is a bulb setting, that allows you to leave the shutter open

for as long as you'd like, but is that the only way that you could possibly do it?

 

I am afraid so, with a cable release or remote control.

 

>>Guess a good amount of time to keep the shutter open? Or is there actually a

way to determine the proper exposure time before clicking the shutter?

 

You can meter the frame with a large aperture like f2.8, if it gave you a

shutter speed of 1/2s, then you can do the calculation. For example f22 is 6

stops of light loss from f2.8, you can increase exposure time for 6 stop more to

compensate the light loss, which is 32s.

Don't just take one shot, try using continuous shot, and most likely you can find a shot out of that couple frames that is sharp.

 

Bring extra battery and memory cards, battery used up much quicker under low temperature, and if you shoot in continuous mode, memory also goes pretty quickly.

 

If you are not sure about camera, just use auto mode. Enjoy the scene, don't just look at Alaska through your viewfinder!

Lot of informations, thank you guys.

I am so looking forward for my vacation....

I think I am not sure what to expect at Maui, that's why I am packing everything. I guess I can just bring my 18-50 and 70-200.

 

Ted,

Your Maui page is very useful, thanks so much for the info.

 

 

Thanks,

William

Thank you for all the quick response! I have change my schedule accordingly to the suggestion (mainly schedule couple more trips back to the hotel to pick up gears). I would not want to be without my camera gear 1st day I got there :)

 

Thanks,

William

Hi all,

 

I will be taking a short trip to Maui for the first time in my life at end of

May for 6 days. While I have been doing research on all the spots to visit I

came up with several questions. There are similar posts but they are all dated

long time ago (two years at least).

 

1. Is it safe to carry photography equipment around? leave in the car? leave in

the hotel room? I can see there are times when I have to leave my photography

gear behind for an extend period of time(snorkeling, biking).

 

2. I was planning to bring my D80 (ditch my F4 and MF), 18-200 f/3.5-5.6, 18-50

f/2.8, 35-70 f/2.8, 70-200 f/2.8, extender for extra reach, extension tube for

macro shot, tripod, flash, filters and a point and shoot for snorkeling. However

that will make my shoulder bag fairly heavy, do anyone recommended to use a

photo backpack instead (which will be huge and let everyone knows that I am

carrying photography gear)?

 

3. If I planned to do some night photography, is it safe to go out on a beach

alone in the middle of the night?

 

Thanks for all suggestion, I have been thinking about these stuff all the time

even during work, so any help will make my life much easier!

 

 

Thanks,

William

Thanks for the suggestions. I was thinking to use a monopod to shoot during the ceremony when there can't be too much walking around, but I can see a 6lb lens is hard to bring around and will catch too much attention.

It is probably a dumb question, but I am wondering if anyone used Sigma 120-300

f2.8 on a wedding before?

 

I am planning to get this lens for my wildlife shooting and it happens that in 3

months I will be shooting a wedding for my friend (they can't afford a

professional, so we will have 3 people working together on this event).

 

I wonder if it's even worthed trying to carry this lens there? I have been

shooting with a 18-50 f2.8 and a 85 f1.4 for couple weddings, just trying to see

if I can get more reach with the heavy lens.

 

Thanks for all suggestions.