goldy

To answer to Peter Hamm - and sorry if my english is not perfect (I'm French):

I- "But... remember that the D3 is a BIG HEAVY camera. If you're going to be doing a lot of walk-around photography, it might be a little heavy..."

" What kind of photography will you be doing? How will you be using this stuff? "

You're perfectly right Peter. I am used to carry heavy bags all around since I am never without a camera in my bag (even when I go shopping, and so on...). And my husband - as a my favorite sherpa -knows it very well too . This is the price to pay...

Anyway, I am essentially doing portraits; but during the last 15 years I was forcing myself to work with the minimum equipement such as a Nikon F + 50/1.4 or a M7.

But, from now on, I have the opportunity, the chance and the will to progress in my work by getting the necessary equipment to do some studio's and why not landscapes...

Have you ever heard of Bob Garrett, photograph in Colombus (Geogia) during the last century (?!). He totally refit his house+garden to convert it into a studio: this is a model, a goal, a dream for me.

II- "And, of course I have to ask, why will you still be shooting film? For me, once I went digital, I realized that I didn't want or need film anymore."

I just love doing film. And I just don't take pictures with a digital camera in the same way I do with a film camera. Do you? Furthermore, it seems to me that these are really two differents tools. The digital camera used as a research tool...And that's without mentionning the cost factor.

Does it answer all your questions?

"Another vote for the L-508 -- expensive, but easy to learn how to use, and capable of pretty much anything you'll ever need."

Sorry if I missed that detail David Schwartz, but is the L508 anincident+reflective+flash meter??

Vivek Iyer "Do not underestimate the use of a tripod and related items (yes, *even* with a D3). ": I shall not forget that advice. As a matter of fact, I've got already a tripod that I frequently use.

But as Lex Jenkins writes " It's an outstanding flash unit and has completely changed my attitude toward flash", I took pictures for years without any flash...How can I know now that it may change my photographic habits?...For instance, I often give up to take some pictures because the light is too dim or because the sun is too bright. So thank you for your posts.

Sorry if this post is not at the right place...

I am about to get the D3 and a F6 (I already own a Nikon F and a M7 leica), and

since I have the opportunity to get some photographic equipment, I was

wondering:

- Is an exposure meter (I wanted one for years) could be usefull for my

portrait work and my personal "apprenticeship"? As far as I may use it with all

my bodies. If so, which model/brand for a reflected/incident-light meter (which

can do both measures)would you advise?

- Is a flash would be usefull...even with the D3? I guess no. But your advices

are very welcome. And if so: a SB800?

Thank you everybody for your contribution.

Thank you for your contribution. I took good notes of every remarks, but in particular...

James Symington: the 35mm seems to be a very good idea: but do you mean the 35/1.4 or the 35/2? The 35/2 is not very expensive and seems marvellous...

I am glad to know that you've made almost the same choices (for you), the same wishes (for me)as I did. In a way I am flattered. But why not the Zeiss? I haven't quite made up my mind yet: Zeiss or Nikon?

And, I do agree: the D3 + the different zooms = a very heavy bag.

Matt Laur: Is a SB 800 very usefull on a D3?

Thank you to all of you.

I love this forum.

First, I am not sure of what I could do with the fisheye. I don't really like the image distortion it gives.

Secondly, the 85mm: I thought a lot about it, and I ended up with the Zeiss: because many people think it is a little better than the Nikon, and because all the other lenses I choose are AF: I wanted to get my "old" sensations back...But I am aware that this is completly irrational...That's why I need some rational opinions here.

I'd like your opinion concerning my Dream list (wich could become reality...):

- F6

- D3

- AF-S 14-24/2.8 G ED

- AF-S 24-70/2.8 G ED

- AF-S 70-200/2.8 G ED IF VR

- AF-S 105 /2.8 macro ED IF VR

- Zeiss 85/1.4

- and a TC 17E II maybe...

I used to "work" with a Nikon F...and a Leica M7 to do my portraits. Things are

turning serious now, isn't it?!

Since it is not possible to keep pictures on CD or DVD more than 3 or 5

years...how do you store your files "for ever"?

Me too...I mean I am very tempted.

But, anybody knows if there are charts showing, for instance, what would be the focal of a 24-70mm on a digital camera ? And so on...

Thank you very much all of you for your advices and thoughts. I found those very helpfull. Since my main (and only?) photographic subjects are my children, I think I will keep on with Nikon (for the body) and go for an auto-focus with very good lenses, maybe a F5 or a F6 with a couple of lenses such as:

AF-S VR 70-200/2.8 G IF-ED

Zeiss planar ZF T* 85/1.4

AF-S 28-70/2.8 D IF/ED or the AF-S 24-70/2.8 G ED...

Any comments?

Any way I love this site and its users.

Thank you very much all of you for your advices and thoughts. I found those very helpfull. Since my main (and only?) photographic subjects are my children, I think I will keep on with Nikon (for the body) and go for an auto-focus with very good lenses, maybe a F5 or a F6 with a couple of lenses such as:

AF-S VR 70-200/2.8 G IF-ED

Zeiss planar ZF T* 85/1.4

AF-S 28-70/2.8 D IF/ED or the AF-S 24-70/2.8 G ED...

Any comments?

Any way I love this site and its users.

I have no idea wich type of Nikon F I've got (there is nothing written on the

camera except "F"). Is the serial # an indication?

However, I am about to get several lenses for it (for children portrait and

group pictures)I am looking for the BEST lenses - fast and with a constant

aperture:

1 - Are the following lenses compatible with my F?

2 - Are they the best for what I am looking for ?

* 105mm f/2.8D AF Micro

* 80-200mm f/2.8D ED AF (since there is no 70-200D compatible) or the AF-S?

* 28-70mm f/2.8D ED-IF AF-S

Maybe there are some used lenses better than those above; what about lenses

made by other manafacturers than Nikon ?

You see, I have everything to learn...

Please, help a beginner.

Thank you for it.