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justin_ngo

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    Nikon 16-85 side-by-side with the 18-200 !

    in Nikon

    Posted

    I have 7 days to make a decision: replace my 18-200 by 16-85 or not !

     

    Nikon 16-85:

    First day:

    -sharper: but not very much as I expected!

    -exposure: more correct. ( the 18-200 on my D80 is usually over-exposure little bit. I have to stops down about

    -0.7 to-1.0.The 16-85 is just right without any compensation.

    -more compact, of course, only 67mm

     

    ...will be continued.

    What is the best couple?

    in Nikon

    Posted

    After trying a Nikon 16-85 at my local photo store, I would think Nikon 16-85 VR and 70-200 VR is the best pair

    to cover the range up to 200mm. I'm so impressive about the 16-85 but have not decided to replace my 18-200 yet.

    How's about your best pair?

    which lens for the medium range?

    in Nikon

    Posted

    Thank you very much for all of your advices. I may give a try on 16-85 and compare its sharpness to my 18-200.

    Overall, I'm pleased with my 18-200; however, reading a lot of good comments about the 16-85 makes me can not

    refrain myself from thinking about it !!!:-))

    I don't sure if the great sharpness of the 16-85 makes me don't miss the range 85-200mm.

    Thanks!

    which lens for the medium range?

    in Nikon

    Posted

    For now, I'm set for the range of 70-200 by my new Tamron 2.8.

     

    So, now or maybe near future, I will be in market to look for a very sharp or fast lens, not too heavy, in the

    range 18-70.

    I'm now also having 18-200 which sometime I feel not very sharp (but I like its convenience purpose), and 50 1.8

    which sometime I feel too long for me for a walk-around prime, and great SB-600, with great D80.

     

    Which Nikon lens below would you recommend me to add on? ( I can not afford for 17-55, even used, sorry, and not

    looking for a third party this time):

     

    1/ 28 2.8 AF-D.

     

    2/ 24 2.8 AF-D.

     

    3/ 24-75 2.8-4 AF-D.

     

    4/ 16-85 ( replace my 18-200).

     

    My favors are portraits (indoor used with flash), landscapes, wildlife, flowers. No sports.

     

    Thanks a lot for your advices!

    D60 lack of built in AF...an issue for a beginner?

    in Nikon

    Posted

    Denise,

     

    I would not recommend D60 for over $600 camera. If you can not afford for D80 ( which I recommended), then get

    D40+ 18-55 (non-VR or VR both are fine) + a Nikon flash like SB-600 ( which you can bounce the flash light to

    ceiling or surround walls to get natural lightings and avoid strong lights directing to your baby eyes).

    Example, price at Amazon:

    http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-Digital-18-55mm-3-5-5-6G-Zoom-Nikkor/dp/B000KJQ1DG/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1216755592&sr=8-1

    http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-SB-600-Speedlight-Digital-Cameras/dp/B0002EMY9Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1216756129&sr=1-1

    Cost : $470 + $190= $660. Still less expensive than the D60 or D80 body alone.

    I'm sure you will see how a flash like SB-600 improves your indoor pictures, regardless what camera you use.

     

    Anyway, the best kit for beginners who can afford, IMO: D80+ 16-85 VR ( or 18-200 VR) + SB-600 which cost around

    $1500 :-)))))

    Which lens would give me the "best" range?

    in Nikon

    Posted

    The best range ? : 18-200 obviously

    The best convenience: 18-200

    The best for travel: 18-200

    The best sharpness? : 16-85

     

    I don't know your 70-300 is VR or not. But if it's not VR then 18-200 is better in the same range.

    If your 70-300 is VR: then 16-85 VR + 70-300 VR is a great combo.

    18-200 VR or 55-200VR

    in Nikon

    Posted

    John,

     

    I ever owned the 18-55 non-vr and 55-200 VR then sold both of them because I changed them too often, miss too much shots. I got 18-200 VR, and never look back!

    No lens can give you better convenience and picture composing than this lens does.

    I prefer to change from a consumer lens to a fast lens but

    Sharpness: I think all are the same or you can not see the difference at regular picture sizes.

    My 18-200 is very sharp and not lens creep yet.

    D60 lack of built in AF...an issue for a beginner?

    in Nikon

    Posted

    Denise,

     

    If you think you only use Nikkor AF-S lenses, ( AF-S is different to AF-D, AF-I...) then D60 is fine for you.

    But if you want to go some pretty good but " old" and not very expensive lenses, no " S", like Nikkor prime 50mm

    f1.8 then I think you may go with D80.

    You can save now about $200 to go with D60 but you can save $1000 or more later on lens shopping if you go with

    D80. That why I sold my D40x 4 months ago and use my D80 now. Furthermore, I feel D80 balances better on my hands

    than the D40/x did. The D40/x seem too small relative to flashes like SB-600/800 or big lenses like 70-200 2.8......

    Regarding IQ, I don't see any difference in my photography acknowledge. Some pictures are very good, some very

    bad, all because of me.

    Please help me with opposite sunlight direction portrait shot

    in Nikon

    Posted

    "Measure the light in the A or S mode, set this measurement in the M mode, you have now the right exposure for the park, switch on your flash iTTL and BL and click. Look on your display and deceide if you need to correct the flash EV, most of the time I have it on -1 till -2 EV."

     

    I will try this smart way. Thanks a lot. Appreciate greatly all of your advices so far. Thanks guys!

    Please help me with opposite sunlight direction portrait shot

    in Nikon

    Posted

    Thanks a lots for your inputs.

    The situations of the portraits were: I and my camera were standing opposite to the sunlight direction while my son face to me. So his face was being in shadow and dark when I didn't use the flash.However, when I use it, the background became overexposure ( the same result with SB-600 and built-in).

     

    Wow, I maight mistake that I set my flash at TTL only, (not -BL). Thanks!!!

    In addition, should I :

    ---set camera shutter speed lower than the maximum flash speed?

    - Set the flash in manual mode? with reduced output power?

    - set the flash output distance manually?

    I will review the manual carefully, BTW, which book would you recommend me to get for lighting learning?

     

    I have the SB-600 for about 4 months but this was the first time I use it in sunlight.

    However I used the flash very often in low light and I'm very happy with the results.

    Sorry for my poor English and SLR knowledge.

    Thanks a lot!

    Please help me with opposite sunlight direction portrait shot

    in Nikon

    Posted

    When I portraitured my son in the parks, in opposite sunlight direction, I have got underexposure on my son't

    face. I thought using SB-600 flash might make the face better but the flash washed out all the background, the

    pictures became over-exposure although I stoped down the flash outputs, and my D80's EV down to -0.6 or -1, ISO

    100 and used center-weighted AF, AF-S or AF-A metter, larger apertures....

    How can I set up my flash or my camera? Is there any tool that can help me to make my son's portrait exposure

    correctly?Thanks a lot for your advices. I have enterred DSLR world for just 6 motnhs so my technique still be

    very limited although I really enjoy it.

     

    Thanks in advance.

     

    Justin

    POWER OF SB400

    in Nikon

    Posted

    David,

     

    6 months ago, when I just came in DSLR, I also asked for help in choosing a flash, SB400 or 600 or 800.

    Many people here in this forum advised me to get the SB600. I agreed, went to my local photo shop then changed my mind when I saw the bulbky SB-600. I got the SB400 instead. That's my mistake!

    You know, I returned the SB-400 after 3 days because the weak power output, also the SB400 was not high enough for long lenses like my 18-200 (or 70-200), also can not bounce ceiling when the camera is in horizontal dimension. I always bounce the flash when possible.

    All of those 3 problems made me exchange the SB-600 and never look back. In addition,I will get a SB-800 someday.

    Sigma 70 - 200 f/2.8 vs. Tamron 70 - 200 f/2.8

    in Nikon

    Posted

    Thanks, Eric.

     

    I have not tried on the small moving objects like birds, sport people yet. I will do it sometime when I have a chance, thanks for your helpful advice.(I have came into DSLR for just 6 months, you know). Even IF the AF is not fast enough for small moving objects, I'm still happy though because I mostly shoot portraits, landscapes, wildlife, people....So the IQ is likely more important to me.But believe me, I have not noticed any problem with the AF yet. This lens produces great portraits of my son too. ( but sorry I can not bring my family portraits to public).

    I understand why this lens is in-stock then out-stock very fast. Happy that i got one.

    Sigma 70 - 200 f/2.8 vs. Tamron 70 - 200 f/2.8

    in Nikon

    Posted

    Jose,

     

    I see the photo is quite soft, and focus looks not very accurate, sorry.

    I think you might have not enough time in the store to test the Tamron lens. (I usualy take at least 100 pictures before I decide to keep or return a lens, you know.) And maybe you don't get a good copy of the Sigma or because of the hand shakes. Quality control is a big issue of the third party lenses, however Tamron maybe little better.( I returned 2 Sigma copies of 18-50 2.8 before because they were too soft, and just sold my Tamron 28-75 even it's well-know. I thought I ended my journey with 3rd party companies but when I got this Tam,it brought me back . The optic of this Tamron is even much much better the 28-75.

    Why don't you try a copy of the Tamron then compare the 2 lenses,side by side, then decide to keep which one is better?You will not lost anything. I would reccomend to order it from Crutchfield www.crutchfield.com if you are in the US,and if the lenses are in stock, as I did order mine 3 weeks ago. I had a greatest ordering experience that I ever had although I ordered many electronics equipments from a lot reputable stores like Adorama, B&H, Beach camera, Amazon, BuyDig..... I ordered my Tam on Sat night, then they shipped it on Sunday noon by UPS, then received it on Tue. They have live chat, phone, emails responses were very quick. Great experience!!! They are an authorized Tamron dealer in US as well, will allow you to return the lens within 30 days ( B& H has only 2 weeks and have to pay both shipping ways, I did return them 3 times) with prepaid shipping labels sent by the company if you don't like, no questions, free shiping in both ways .... I think 30 days is long enough for you to test/evaluate the lens and make the decision. The price is the same, at $699.

    http://www.resellerratings.com/

     

    About the weight: I think my Tam is not bad at all. It's lightest in the class.

    http://www.dpreview.com/lensreviews/tamron_70-200_2p8_c16/page2.asp

    I carried the lens in 4 hours in the zoo and it did'n hurt my hands and neck. I put off the collar at home when I don't need the tripod, and it balanced very well on my D80.

    I also like the built of Tam. Not any part rotating or moving outside when the lens focuses. The AF/MF is very easy to switch.

    I have never wasted my time to test and review anything on the web until I got this lens. So you may think it's special. It's worth.

     

    I were in hard decision when I decided to get an 70-200 2.8 too.

    Good luck.

    Sigma 70 - 200 f/2.8 vs. Tamron 70 - 200 f/2.8

    in Nikon

    Posted

    Color and sharpness: the Tamron at f2.8 ,hand-held,no editing, on my D80 :

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/huytuong/2640102046/in/set-72157605955363658/

     

    Speed of micro-motor AF:

    These shots I took oncoming 60 mph trucks' side panels, on the highway, through a side tinted -window of my van, ( was at 60mph too, that means 120 mph moving objects).Were the AF Tamron fast enough?.

    You can download them in full size:

    http://picasaweb.google.com/huytuong/FastMovingObjects/photo#5222988502551691090

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