shojin

The AF Nikkor 180mm f/2.8D IF-ED is certainly a "pro lens." It was just produced before the "gold ring" bacame a marketing/branding signifier.

What's your budget Hector? If you can afford it, the 17-55mm 2.8 is quite a nice lens and would complement the D300 very well. And with the 70-200mm 2.8 in your bag, there's not much else you'd need accept a second job!

Well if this isn't a pleasently confounding thing... yesterday my dealer (who ordered 10 bodies) told me Nikon had informed them that they would be receiving the kits first and the bodies in December. Today, I got a call that they had received 6 bodies and 1 kit... and that I got one. All my whining over nothing.

Yesterday, my dealer said that Nikon had told them that thery were shipping body+lens kits for arrival today and that the bhody only kitswould be shipped in early Dec. I got a call today that they had received 6 body only kits today... so go figure. Anyway, I got mine!

Thanks for the wise words Wayne!

 

I have to admit that I've been feeling a little frenzied. But part of the reason is that I destroyed by current main camera and don't have a digital right now (shooting film) and am like a pixal junkie needing my digifix!

In fact "bait and switch" may be stronger language than I intended...

I understand that dealers don't control when and what gets shipped and I'm not blaming my dealer. I will gladly wait for what should be a great new camera; I just got excited when I started seeing posts and hearing that the D300's had shipped.

Last week my local pro shop said that they were expecting body-only packages

this week... Today, I heard from my local pro shop that that Nikon has shipped

D300+lens kits instead of the body-only packages and that I should expect my

body in December!!! Anyone else experiencing this bait and switch?

 

I'm bummed!

Ok... I just put a third down on a D300 today! Now it waiting time;-)

Interesting comments and observations... as I stated earlier, I am concerned about weather proofing... However, after all the input and factors I've considered, I think I'm going with the D300. So... what are your thoughts about potential bugginess with first copies?

 

Thanks, Matt

Thanks again for all your intriguing responses. I am not really that wed to the 5D? just a little edged over by full frame. What edges me towards the D300 is weather proofing and the potential for more modern technology. I hadn?t really thought about buying older Nikon lenses. I did hold both the D200 and the 5D, both felt good. I do think I might like features like auto ISO? will the D300 have lower noise than the 5D, I guess we?ll just have to wait and see.

Thanks for all your responses... I'll start by answering Lil' Judd's questions: 1)800 ASA; 2) yes; 3) I like colors that pop; 4) I like both sharp and silky, sharp for people and landscapes, silky for abstract weirdness; 5) I shoot people (reportage), landscapes and weird abstract architectural images; 6) good idea; 7) I think full frame might have a slight advantage for landscape and architectural shots, but not enough to prevent me from going 1.5x crop); 8) this is a relevant question as I do have an initial budget of about $3,800 bucks for a body and 1-2 lenses.

 

So, I considered the D300 because its price (around $1800) will allow me to spend $2K on a couple of lenses. However, because the 5D is getting discounted due to the impending 5DII, I?ve become interested in the Canon system due to its full frame sensor. However, at a (net) price point of around $2200, I only will be able to get one L lens to start with.

 

This is also a hard decision because I am investing in a lens system that I want to stay with as camera bodies change; e.g. when the 5DII price drops in a couple of years, I can keep the lenses and change out the body. I am afraid that if I invest in DX lenses, I may want to move to full frame at some future point when Nikon makes a full frame camera in the 3 or sub 3K price range.

 

Ellis? you?re absolutely right about Nikon quality. My comment about Canon quality has more to do with having more options for pro grade glass for the 5D (being full frame) than there is offered by Nikon in the DX format. Probably the only real need for DX is in wide angle. I could go with full frame lenses in the longer focal lengths.

 

Re: waiting for the 5DII to be released? I?m sure I won?t be able to afford the 5DII price point of 3K plus and I don?t want to wait as my current digital died and is not worth repairing.

 

Re: lenses, I like zooms? for Canon, the 24-70mm f/2.8L USM would be my first (and probably only to start with) lens. I would later get the 70-200 f/4L and 13-35 f2.8 as I save the $$. If I go with Nikon, I?d get the 17-55mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S DX and one more? not sure if I?d go wide angle or telephoto.

I am moving fully to digital from 35mm (an old Minolta system) and will be

investing in some pro quality glass. So, I've narrowed my choices to a D300 and

5D, with a strong lean towards the 5D. If glass wasn't a factor, I think I'd go

with the D300 due to superior weather proofing, state of the art metering,

focus, etc. However, the 5D is a proven platform and the kicker is that Canon

seems to have a better range of pro quality lenses. Any comments on why I

should continue to think about the D300? I apologize if this is an incorrect

place to pose this question... not trying to be a troll.

 

Matt