jason_copeland1

<p>Hi everyone, thanks for all the advice.</p>

<p>Unfortunately I only managed to fire off 2 practice shots before my D200 batteries seemed to die : (<br>

I tried my second battery and the same things happened!</p>

<p>Both batteries where fully charged and the heath status was showing 100% healthy... I can only assume that my body has developed a fault (I've not had time to get it into service yet)</p>

<p>Gutted : (</p>

<p>Thanks again!</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Magic!<br>

Thanks for the advice Dwight.<br>

I will let you know how it goes!</p>

<p>J</p>

<p>Hi,</p>

<p>I need some advice please on ballpark flash settings to take photos in a darkened room with disco lights etc.<br>

The party is tonight (19/02/10)and starts in 7 hours : (<br>

My photography hasn't involved any flash photography apart from the odd casual snap using a bounced flash, but I have now been thrown in at the deep end and need to have a baptism of fire!<br>

Heres my available kit:<br>

D200<br>

50mm f1.8 (maybe good for some shots without flash?)<br>

18-200 VR<br>

70-200 VR (not going to be much use I think?)<br>

SB400</p>

<p>Any quick pointers or advice is greatly appreciated!</p>

<p>Thanks<br>

J</p>

Well it looks like the 18-200 has won me over.

I looked at Ken Rockwell?s site and was impressed by his 'out of the box' shots, not for the saturated colour but for the detail that seemed to be there. Also Victor F. Newman's review on Nikonians says it would easily track athletes on foot and is only limited by the AF capability of the body (D300 should be ok then?)

I'm going to give it a try! Fingers crossed I will get it before Crimbo!!

Thanks so much for you help and advise everyone.

Wow, thanks everyone for your input!

Rene':

I did have a bundle in mind back in August but held off the D200 because I had read about focusing issues with it, then the D300 rumours started and I thought I may as well hold off (I wish I hadn't as I have missed out on some great memories due to a poor Fuji)

Paul:

Not loaded, just want to be sure that in 40 years I can look back at a second in time of my children's lives and see it as clear as my eyes saw it when it was taken (eyesight permitting!)

I have searched and narrowed my choices down to 3 possible solutions:

1) D300 with Nikon 18-200 VR - Looks to be a fair all rounder and very

convenient lens. I just worry that I will be disappointed when it comes to

sports and am also concerned by the mixed reviews.

2) D300 with Nikon 18-70 & 70-300 - My first choice when I started looking into

a DSLR and both seemed to get a general nod of approval on here.

3) D300 with Sigma 70-200 f2.8 and ??? well I don't really know what to look at...

I thought about maybe pairing it with the Nikon 18-70?? I would like to be able

to capture landscapes and general shots of the kids too without whipping out a

huge lens. The main use of the camera (apart from the above) will be sports so

I thought the Sigma would be a better choice in that department than the 70-300??

Any help is most appreciated! I think I have read too much and am now confused!!

Thanks

JC

Shun,

I'm waiting for someone from Nikon NZ to advise on their position regarding warranties for lenses etc. Regarding the body, I Think it maybe wise if I put a bit of the money I will be saving into a 'just in-case' pot!

Hi,

I will shortly be taking my first steps into 'enthusiast' photography with a

D200 and would like to buy a monopod to use when taking sports shots (Rugby

mostly). At first I will be using a Nikon AF-S VR 70-300mm lens but this will

change to either the 80-200 f2.8 or 70-200 f2.8. Wife permitting, who knows what

I will end up with!!

Is the 3550 the best choice? I'm not fussed about the carbon and would actually

rather not spend this much but I selected the 3550 because (a) it goes quite

high (I'm 6'4" and don't fancy having to stoop too much), (b) It looks quite

'meaty' whilst still packing away quite small & © It seems from comments on

here that the Gitzo pods are more durable long-term.

Also, what would be the best option for a head, I don't think I need anything to

adjustable? The 'Really Right Stuff' monopod solution looks good... I'm guessing

I will also need to have a bracket for a bigger lens when I get one?

Thank you for any advise.

Thank you for your replies.

You have confirmed what I was thinking with the exception of the international cover for lenses etc, that's real a bonus that I hadn't picked up on!! Thanks for pointing that out Shun.

I really wanted to support my local shop (Digital Depot) but the savings are to much to ignore especially when you consider that I am going to be 'up the creak' anyway unless I wait and buy in NZ.

Frank,

I'm guessing you would suggest the 70-200 f2.8? That's a bit serious (expensive!) for me at the moment. I had noticed what must be the 'old' model: 80-200 f2.8 for reasonable money... would this be a good choice in place of the 70-300?

Thanks

Hi,

I've been a long time lurker and found this forum very useful but as my purchase

gets closer I felt I needed some personalised advise please...

I will shortly be emigrating to New Zealand but before I depart I will be

replacing my Fuji 602z with the following:

Nikon D200 Body, Nikon 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED DX, Nikon AF-S VR 70-300mm

f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED, Nikon MB-D200, Nikon EN-EL3E & Nikon SB-400

(Any comments on the kit are most welcome! BTW, I will be shooting a lot of Rugby)

I will probably end up buying this via HK but am unsure where I stand with

warranties? If I purchased in the UK (?500-600 more expensive)would the warranty

be any different to the HK one bearing in mind I will shortly be leaving?

What I would like please is for someone to explain Nikon warranties in B&W! i.e.

what are they actually worth and is there any difference based on country of

purchase? ...from searches on this forum I get the feeling that they are all

tied to country of purchase and the only way to get some cover is to buy a 3rd

party warranty.

Thanks for any help you can offer.