beac

<p>Blue Angles "Fat Albert" C-130 opens their show. Thought the tele zoom at 200mm would compress it nicely. He was cooking at this point for a big prop airplane.</p><div></div>

<p>Clive,<br>

This pic was taken from a hotel room window with my D700, resting on the ledge. Long exposure noise reduction was on, for the 25 sec exposure at f10 (50mm f1.4). I took several, and decided on a +1 ev comp to brighten the sky....I did no extra noise reduction other than what the D700 applied. It crunched numbers for about 20 more seconds after the exposure was complete, applying the noise reduction I assume. I am really blown away by the low noise, DR and color quality of this ISO 200 shot. I don't know much about the D300, but I really wonder if it can beat this?</p><div></div>

<p>I seem to remember reading somewhere here that auto fp sync does not work off camera...</p>

<p>Love this thread, hopefully Nikon is reading...<br>

Have to agree with the 24-120 AF D (non VR) haters. Although we are few, we are proud. <br>

I have one and can't stomach taking it out of my bag anymore. It's IQ was really poor before my dog knocked it over on my tripod and I had to send it to Nikon to fix. I should not have wasted the cash.<br>

On the bright side, since I bought a D700, my 50mm f/1.4 stays on the camera all the time now.</p>

<p>Tough for me to tell from you post if the files were in the folder or not. If they were, I'm out of ideas so don't bother reading anymore! <br>

I did this a couple months ago and I had the same problem initially, until I re-read the directions (I have to learn the hard way most times). I had missed that the files must be loaded onto the card inside the folder created when you download from the Nikon site. If you just put the individual files on to your CF card, it will not recognize them. Stragely enough, this is not the case for a firm ware update...it just sees them automatically, no folder required!?<br>

If you use CNX2, you can download them for use in that program as well. Since I mostly shoot raw, this is how I tend to use them. The "portrait" picture control does seem to do a very good job with skin tones in most standard lighting. If you shoot a lot of jpeg files however, then they could be handy to get into your camera.</p>

<p>I believe that function is reversable; at least on the D700 it is. I reversed the actial "+------------- -" display on my camera since it just makes sense to me to have the "+" on the right of the exposure display. I think you can reverse the actuation of the dials (which way to turn to get +/-) on the D700.</p>

<p>I've found the DOF on my 50mm f/1.4 to be so extremely shallow on close-ups that it leaves zero room for focus error. Just last night I took a snapshot of my daughter sitting next to me at a b-ball game. I was about 2 feet away and the AF grabbed her nose (poor technique on my part). At f/1.4 her close eye was out of focus, as was her far eye. Her nose, however was exceedingly sharp!</p>

<p>I have not noticed any on mine yet.</p>

<p>Brian, The ISO quality alone makes the D700 worth it, as long as you can afford it. I sold everything that was not nailed down to get mine! <br>

I see no difference between 200 and 1600, whereas 1600 iso on my DX camera would have been terrible. I may bump my Auto ISO up to 3200 soon after some more experimentation.<br>

I'm not sure if the D300 has 14 bit capture, but 14bit RAW seems to yield a noticeably better dynamic range, and therefore photos than my old DX camera.</p>

<p>They look pretty darn good to me. I agree, however, that the black floor mat could influance the meter to over expose slightly so next time set Exposure Compensation to under expose by -.7 or maybe even -1.</p>

<p>My two cents: Depending on your style, the 18-200 is hard to beat for a 95% solution. I know lots has been said about it here, but at the end of the day even its detractors admit it is a great lens for its market and the quality is fine...certainly better than the 24-120 from what I read. <br>

I sold my 18-200 along with my D80 so I could get a D700; absolutely no regrets since the D700 is amazing, but I'm back to working with the old version of the 24-120 (from my film days) and am frustrated by its quality.<br>

On the good side, I've been using my 50mm 1.4 a whole lot more....<br>

I think you will be quite happy with the 18-200.<br>

Saving up for some better glass myself now. Probably used 80-200</p>

<p>Shun: great thread, I just had not scrolled down far enought to where you say you are unable to compare the two lenses on FX format because you sold the 80-200. Perhaps someone else can contribute on that matter. What a great forum this is.</p>

<p>Thanks Shun. Is the 80-200 a better choice for sharpness on FX if VR is not so important?</p>

<p>As I save up for a fast zoom to try my hand outdoor, indoor sports shooting I'd like to get some advice and opinions on which of the above lenses is better on FX format. I've read that the newer 70-200 rocks on DX format, but some think it gets soft on FX (I have a D700). <br>

I'm sure the VR would come in handy in some situations, but in general, I see the ability to shoot at a faster shutter speed as being the big selling point on each for sports. I could save a bunch of money on the older model.</p>

<p>Alan, thanks for all the great advice. I also looked at your website and it seems perfect for what I envision. I've been very happy with Mpix.com for my personal stuff, and they just added a hosting/commerce solution, but it would be tough to top Printroom.com by the looks of it.<br>

I'm really only looking for a way to support my hobby at events I will be at anyway. If I net a few bucks and can buy a new Nikkor f2.4 every so often, that is really all I'm in it for!<br>

I will discuss the concept with the business folks at the school. Conveniently, my wife works there so I know them all and they have already used a few of my pics.<br>

I don't have a fast indoor zoom yet (70-200ish f2.4) but have a consumer grade 70 - 300 that I think would be great to start with this spring (baseball, etc). If I can sell some pics, perhaps I could upgrade to a used fast tele for the indoor stuff.<br>

Once again, thanks for the fantastic advice.</p>

<p>Same here Ioanis. My 50mm 1.4 turns without much resitance on my D700. In fact, all my current lenses are screw type and turn relatively freely on the D700; much more so than on my old D80. I keep meaning to look in the manual and see if it is not recommended to do this by Nikon. </p>

<p>Like most of us I think, I take my camera with me almost wherever I go, including when I pick my kids up from school, sporting events, etc. I've been getting good feedback from the pics I take of my kids and their friends, and recently the school used several of my photos in a brochure. <br>

I'm looking for input on how best to organize a small side business around candid school photos. Essentially, I'd like to go to games, events, etc (I'm there anyway and I have my camera) and offer the pics I take to parents for a reasonable price. <br>

I'm not looking for full time work, really only to support my photo addiction...I mean hobby, by taking the pics, doing some minimal editing, cropping, etc. posting them to a web site and letting the web site do the rest.<br>

My sense is there are services out there that will provide "soup to nuts" hosting, e-commerce, printing/finishing, etc. solutions. I'd like to make it really easy on the parents if possible. Log in, select the pics they want, maybe do some simple cropping, retouching options, etc. select "order", quantity, etc. and have the pics show up in their mail box a few days later. <br>

Does anyone have experience with these types of services at the commercial level? I currently use MPIX for my own work and have been very happy, but would like to use the corporate knowledge here to narrow down my choices to those services that work for the more experienced.<br>

Also:<br>

Do I offer the use of the images for free to the school in exchange for "sanctioned" access to events? I'm not sure I can drive a hard bargain here, mostly since my wife teaches at the school as well and my kids get a fantastic education for essentially free!<br>

Are the digital files normally offered for download along with the ability to buy prints?<br>

Thanks in advance for any advice.</p>

<p>Entire posting has a line thru it and a bunch of gobbldy-gook at the end!?</p>

<p><br>

<s

pan >Like most of us I think, I take my camera with

me almost wherever I go, including when I pick my kids up from school, sporting events, etc. I've b

een getting good feedback from the pics I take of my kids and their friends, and recently the school used several

of my photos in a brochure. <br>

I'm looking for input o

n how best to organize a small side business around candid school photos. Essentiall

y, I'd like to go to games, events, etc (I'm there anyway and I have my camera) and offer the pics I

take to parents for a reasonable price. <br>

I'm not looking for full time work, really only to support m

y photo addiction...I mean hob

by, by taking the pics, doing some minimal editing, cropping, etc. posting them to a web s

ite and letting the web site do the rest.<br>

 

My sense is there are services out there that will provide "soup to nut

s" hosting, printing/finishing, etc. solutions. I'd like to make it really

easy on the parents if possible. Log in, select the pics they want, maybe do some s

imple cropping, retouching options, etc. select "order", quantity, etc. and have the pics show up in thei

r mail box a few days later. <br>

Does anyone have experience with these types of services at the commercial level?&

nbsp; I currently use MPIX for my own work and have been very happy, but would like to use the corporate knowle

dge here to narrow down my choices to those

services that work for the more experienced.<br>

Also:<br>

<spa

n >Do I offer the use of

the images for free to the school in exchange for "sanctioned" access to events? I'm not sure I can drive

a hard bargain here, mostly since my

wife teaches at the school as well and my kids get a fantastic education for essentially

free!<br>

Are the digital files normally offered for download along with the

ability to buy prints?<br>

Thanks in advance for any advice.</p>

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ors. Contributed content used with permission. ����My Workspace� | �Sign Out� | �Site Map� | �About Us� | �

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se�| �Terms of Use� | �Privacy� ��������������������������>Thanks in advance for any advice.<o:p></o:p></P>

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<p>Althought I hear it is a great camera, I did not own the D300. I did just trade up from my trusty D80 to a new D700. I had to sell all my DX stuff to get the price down to something reasonable, but I can honestly say that it is the best money I've ever spent on a camera. The D80 was great place for me to continue learning on, but from what I've seen, the D700 will give me lots, and lots, and lots of room to grow. <br>

The package is fantastic as well. Even my average pics (most) shot in 14bit capture so much more than my D80 ever did. Finally, everything I read about the stunning ISO capability seems to be true. After some experimenting, I have set up my Auto ISO program to run up to 1600 without letting me know. Once I get home from traveling and download my latest shots, I may bump it up to 2000 if the noise levels are as low as what I see on the monitor. <br>

I'm sure some of my facination with the D700 comes from the fact that I'm a pilot and I really enjoy working with a perfectly put together machine. The D700 seems to be just that -- really, really well thought out and satisfying.</p>

<p>Thanks all for the great advice. I did screw up when I said that the on line places were $300 more than my local shop. Scratch that, back up, reverse it...<br>

I do like to support the local New Orleans business owners, but $300 is a bit much to eat. That being said, I will ask if they can match the B&H/Adorama price. If not, it sounds like I can't go wrong with the places you all recommend. Thanks much</p>

<p>I'm in the process of selling off my Nikon D80 and Nikkor 18-200 VR so I can get into a D700. Does anyone have any strong feelings about retailers. Adorama and B&H both seem reputable, and are listing the camera for $2300 and change. That is about $300 more than my local retailers, whom I like to support, but $300 is real money!<br>

Obviously Adorama has an arrangement here so they are the obvious choice, but can I get some feedback from folks who have purchased from them, B&H or any other reputable retailers. Thanks in advance.</p>

I'd like to move the debate on the 18-200 DX lens over to FX format. I'm interested in what the different views are on

the best lens solutions for 1) a single travel lens solution and 2) best overall combination of of two or three lenses is

for Nikon FX format.

 

I'd like to move over to full frame at some point and have the 50mm 1.4 which I think will be more useful again at that

format, but will obviously need to fill in with at least a good zoom at first, then more later as money allows.

 

Thanks in advance

View is a much smaller program and is handy to view (without sounding silly) and organize your photos. Once you select a photo, you can click on an icon to launch Capture NX (and NX2 I presume), which will open up with your selected photo ready to edit.

The flow that works for me, and which my machine defaults to is download with Nikon Transfer; as soon as the download is complete, View opens up, then major edits with NX. They are designed to work rather seemlessly if allowed.

For simple manipulation, View is a small program which does not take up a lot of memory. It can also perform simple edits, on snapshots for example.

"Classifieds here"...what a great idea; I had forgotten they existed! I just looked and the couple D80s for sale are running 400-600 usd (I'm thinking 400 is more where the market is, at best), and the one 18-200 is listed at $600ish. That would put a nice dent in the D700 price.