tony_defilippo1

<p>Just gave in to temptation and ordered the $349 refurb 'A' from Nikon today... first real camera acquisition for me since I rounded out my D600 w/ the 28-50-85 1.8 G lenses and almost simultaneously acquired a bargain basement 1V1 with 10/2.8 and 18.5/1.8. The FX/CX combo along with my AI-s glass has kept me very satisfied for the relatively casual pace of shooting I've been doing the past 2 or so years. Picking up the 'A' is still a bit of a departure for me, I've never gone this small, and I've never gone fixed lens. The main drivers were;</p>

<p>- I like the 28mm focal length... N1 10mm and FX 28mm have both become natural for me<br>

- I like the small size of the N1/10mm, that combo gets out of the house more than any other just based on portability<br>

- My #1 complaint about the N1/10mm is low light performance combined w/ no onboard flash or regular flash compatability. This is compounded by the fact that so many of the social events I want the N1 to record are evening activities.<br>

- My #2 complaint about the N1/10mm is ease/speed of use and ergonomics while shooting. Don't get me wrong, 2 years in I can work the N1 pretty well but it could be so much better. Worst for me is the auto switching between EVF and LCD screen as the sensor gets mucked up way to easy and essentially disables the LCD.<br>

- I'm extremely comfortable with Nikon DSLR controls and menu's, which combined w/ the $ differential pushed me into the 'A' over the Ricoh GR and X100S. (I'm still awfully tempted by the X100S)</p>

<p>My main concerns are;</p>

<p>- Lack of a viewfinder will be an annoyance.<br>

- It might be 'to small' for my meathooks...<br>

- I'll still look wantingly at the Fuji X series</p>

<p>I'm real excited to get my hands on the 'A', I think it'll become my daily companion for bike commuting and I generally intend to always have it on hand. My work travel has evolved to a one bag, carry on only mode of late and while time for photography is pretty minimal now the 'A' will give me the opportunity to push the edges of darkness a bit more than the N1 system permits.</p>

<p>I'm also tantalized by the thought of an ultra compact two camera rig with the 'A' on one side (pocket) and a N1 with the 32/1.2 on the other... maybe see if the 1J5's get a Back Friday or Holiday special then add a used 32/1.2. DX with deadly sharp 28/2.8 equiv on one side and new backlit/no AA filtered CX with deadly fast AF and 85/1.2 equiv on the other. The 32/1.2 is spendy but darn that's a small setup with two useful focal lengths! <a href="/nikon-camera-forum/00cOQX"> Or I could just do as Ralph and pick up a D3x00 to use my existing 85/1.8 with...</a> </p>

<p>I doubt the results will be terribly suprising but I do plan to do a side-by-side-by-side shoot out w/ the 1V1 10mm, 'A' 18.5mm and D600 28mm once I have the A in hand. Should be fun.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tonydefilippo/tags/nikon2818afsg/">Nikon 28/1.8 AF-S G Series on Flickr</a><br>

<br /> Hey guys, I've had the 28G for about 2 weeks now and love it. I even had the opportunity to shoot it as a second photographer in a wedding last weekend side by side with the 35G. The link above will take you to a bunch of general examples from the 28G paired with my D700.<br>

<br /> Here are a couple thoughts comparing the 28 and 35 in my opinion (in a wedding environment)<br>

<br /> -The size/weight delta between the two makes them almost incomparable... I generally find a heavy lens to feel good on large bodies like the D700 but after 6+ hours I MUCH preferred the 28 to the 35 just for sheer handling.<br />-Personal preference... I love the 35mm focal length, I find it to be very useful in cocktail hour shots where I'm getting a small group and showing interaction between people. This event was the first I've ever used the 28mm focal length and I really started to like it towards the middle of the day. I have to get closer than I am used to getting but I like how much of the environment it pulls in. This is less of a 28G vs 35G thing than a general focal length musing.<br />-Focus speed on the 28 seemed faster than the 35 though that is hardly a scientific test<br />-On the 28G I have to consciously keep my hand off the MF collar to avoid resetting or overriding the AF, this will come with time but it is annoying that you can't turn MF off completely<br />-1.4 on the 35G is magical looking, gorgeous bokeh, love the warmth and tone of the files...the 28G at 1.8 is pretty darned good and whether it is the focal length or the extra bit of aperture it just isn't as immediately 3D and magic looking to me<br />-28G is SO SHARP, especially at f/2.5 and above, probably at 1.8 its just the limitations of my own skill and narrow DOF. I didn't shoot the 35G at smaller apertures so it is tough to compare here. But it is safe for me to say that the 28G's sharpness completely satisfies me.<br>

<br />That is about it for now. I'm really happy with the 28G purchase.</p>

<p>Thanks Tom,</p>

<p>The previous post is very useful! <br>

<br />Tony</p>

 

<p>I've had a recent query from a hotel art broker asking if some of my files could be printed as large as 40x60... I've never gone over 20x30 myself and I'm wondering what kind of file size/resolution I need to be thinking about. I know there are up-rezing programs out there but I'd appreciate any experience the forum could lend to the upper limit based on resolution or file size.</p>

<p>Thanks as always!</p>

<p>Excellent gallery, great way to preserve the memories for your family and exercise your own hobby too!</p>

<p>Maybe he was trying to hold onto it for someone else! (like himself!)</p>

 

<p>I've got the 35/1.4 and 105/2.5 along with a 55/2.8 micro for my FM2 and love the combo. In fact I often go out with just the 35 and 105...</p>

<p>If 35 is wide enough just depends on your own taste. I can also vouch for the 75-150/3.5, its an excellent lens if a bit dinky in handling. (compared to the 105/2.5 anyway)</p>

<p>This thread has gotten me thinking and I'm going to go out and shoot with my FM2 today! </p>

 

<p>I just had my FTn overhauled last year and it has gotten some good usage in the past couple months. Simple and solid, great cameras!</p>

<p>Not only are these both great lenses they are excellent values in the Nikon line up. Enjoy them and shoot a bunch, best of luck with your business!</p>

<p>dupe post... pls delete</p>

<p>I use the 20/2.8 AF-D on my D700 despite the frequent hand wringing on the internet... it is so wide that it is already a special-purpose lens in my book. I find it to be excellent in contrast and sharpness, particularly on distant subjects such as landscapes or broad area architecture. I do use the lens correction in LR3 especially with architectural subjects.</p>

<p>I don't find it to be a good lens for people pictures or even ultra wide shots at parties or events unfortunately... I also didn't like it much on my D300 or D80. I like Shun's suggestion of the 24/2.8, it can be found cheap enough that it is barely an 'investment', shoot and enjoy it on the D700 and then if you need to upgrade later do so.</p>

<p>Elliot, thanks for the review and the thread! Any comment on the way the hood connects to the lens? I haven't used the new 50/1.8 G but my old 35/1.8 DX G lens had a worthless hood due to the looseness of the connection when on the lens.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Congratulations! Happy shooting</p>

<p>In the Washington DC area, since the D4 announcement D700 C-list prices have already dropped... and there are more listings around too. You never know what they actually sell for of course (unlike the auction site using a completed listing search), but I see them listed usually in the $1,800-$2,200 range these days.</p>

<p>I purchased one last Oct for $2k on c-list and have been thrilled with it, in fact in retrospect I wouldn't have been upset to have paid more for it given the amount of use and the couple of jobs it really helped me on in the past few months.</p>

<p>Back before the floods and earthquakes disrupted the Nikon digital production and availability the D700 was actually less than the most recent $2,700 retail price, not positive what it was exactly... but back in those days I saw a very small handful of used bodies going as low as $1,500.</p>

<p>My own guess, which is what I think you are asking for anyway because I don't KNOW... is that there will be a bump of D700 sales immediately upon release of the D800/700x from the people who don't really shoot much anyway and need/want the $ for the presale and waitlist... and then you won't see a huge difference until the D4's and D800's are really shipping and out in the marketplace.</p>

<p>Looking at the used prices for the original Canon 5D FX around ($900-$1,000 at KEH) I'm thinking the D700 will eventually get down to the low to mid $1,000 range... but that could take a while.</p>

<p>Bottom line for used prices if you are buying locally it will depend way more on the supply and demand than the overall national trends in prices... if you use the auction site or a place like KEH I think the prices will remain in the $1,800+ range for the bulk of the year. If you want it/need it just go get it, I don't think you'll regret it!</p>

<p>Thanks Wayne, that sounds like some great advice. I definitely need to bone up on my hyperfocal points in particular. I'm going to take a closer look at the rangefinder this week.</p>

<p>Thanks Jim J and Jim M!</p>

<p>I see a couple used copies of the Graflex book via Amazon so I'll have to add that to my near term list of acquisitions! </p>

<p>Jim M - regarding the roll film holder that is really fascinating, I also have a Pentax 6x7 which is a beast of a camera for doing 6x7 negs. I'm in the same boat with a not so dark, dark(bath)room so I'm considering ways of blacking it out better or perhaps doing a tube development a la the BTZS style. I'd prefer to do tray development at least at first but it will just depend on my mod's to the door.</p>

<p>Thanks Brian and Jim! I'm going to take apart the rangefinder this weekend and see what can be done, the graflex.org site has some good info there. I am planning to do the b/w in a tray right now... have to do a better job lightproofing my bathroom though.</p>

<p>Jim - does the Morgan & Lester book cover more than the graflex.org site?</p>

<p>Thanks Michael, would you say that the contrasty results are more a result of development or exposure? I know it can be both (plus printing/digital treatment)... basically, how should I treat Tmax 100 different on 4x5 vice 120 or 35 which I am more familiar with?</p>

<p>Hi Charles,<br>

<br />Thank you very much for the information, especially the trick for getting an idea with the shutter. I'll be doing that before I go out to shoot. I also will be spending alot of time over at your graflex.org site, thanks for the link!</p>

<p>I've had my grandfather's Crown Graflex in my possession for 10 or so years now, he used it extensively in the late 40's and 50's after getting out of the Marine Corps and working for the AP and some DC Studios. Last year he also gave me his entire catalog of negatives including several hundred 4x5's shot with this camera... this treasure trove prompted me to buy an Epson V700 last week in order to digitize those and the other MF and 35mm negatives he gave me. Now that I have the ability to scan 4x5's of course the next logical thing for me to do was use the Kodak film cost increase advisement to pick up a 50 count box of TMAX 100 and 3 10 count boxes of Ektar 100 in 4x5....</p>

<p>As I type I'd like to think that the elves at Adorama are packaging up my first LF film to send my way. I shot a couple sheets with this setup back in high school but haven't touched it since, I regularly shoot 35mm film and do my own b/w film dev and scanning here at home. I've gotten alot out of the Nikon and Film forum's here on pnet over the past couple years so I figured I would take this opportunity to introduce myself to the LF forum and poll you for advice/tips on shooting 4x5 and with a Graflex camera. My 'LF Kit' includes;</p>

<p>Crown Graphic - sn 955894, has the Kalart Rangefinder which seems to be inop right now, ground glass is nice and clear<br>

Kodak Ektar 127mm f/4.7 Lens<br>

Wollensak/Graflex Optar 135/4.7 Lens<br>

- on both lenses the diaphrams seem to work well, the shutters fire though I don't have a tool to test the speeds<br>

Film holders - 3 or 4 dual holders and one that holds 10 or so sheets at a time<br>

Induro tripod with ballhead</p>

<p>Development for b/w - tbd, looking at some of the holders that go in regular stainless tubes, or tray development. Any advice for drying 4x5 film post development?<br>

Thats it, I know the Graflex is a press camera/folding camera and is therefore limited in the tilt/shift movements you get from most large format rigs. My subject matter will be mostly architectural here in Washington, DC and also some landscape in the surrounding area. I may play with some studio style portraiture but I think that is down the road. </p>

<p>I'd love to hear any of your thoughts or advice and hope to have some images to share in the next couple weeks.</p>

<p>Not exactly but somewhat to your question I have used the more expensive ones from focusingscreen.com - around $77 for my D300 and was reasonably happy with it. Swapping it out is easy enough with the provided tools. Looks like its $100 for a D3 screen though so it may not help.</p>

 

<p>Thanks Shun! I've used the 105 VR as a rental and loved the results but hated the 'process', its like a soup can on the front of my camera. If I ever got into macro seriously I'd want that 200 like you say for the working distance. </p>

 

<p>Hey Shun, have you posted your thoughts on the 60/2.8 AF-S since you got the lens? I did a quick search but didn't see it if you did. I for one would be interested. Since I picked up my D700 my trusty 35-70/2.8 has been glued to the body but I have been considering picking up the 60 based on the reviews and my love for the 55/3.5 and 55/2.8 manual lenses both in focal length and sharpness.</p>

<p>I second Shun's point about the cost of the lens being close/less than a competant repair. That being said in the Washington DC area I've used <a href="http://www.straussphototech.com/">Strauss Photo-Technical Services </a>- for several repairs over a number of years and find them to be excellent.</p>

<p>I've also used my 11-16 on a film body - F5 and N80... no problems. Glad to hear the situation got fixed!</p>

<p>I second the suggestion to change the title, I always wonder at the instant rancor towards someone experimenting with a DX lens on a film/FX body. Lighten up! It's fun to play with that sort of thing.</p>