graeme_finlayson

<p>I use the Tokina 11-16 f/2.8 and partner it with the Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 non-VC. I don't find that I need to swap lenses around much as the 17-55 is pretty wide. When I use the Tokina, it's usually at 11 or 12 mm.<br /> The Tokina is superbly sharp, with minimal distortion and what little distortion there is can be corrected very easily in post if needed.</p>

<p>The Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 VC isn't renowned for being optically stellar. The older 17-50 f/2.8 non VC lens is excellent, however and is my favourite walk around lens on my D7000. AF is fast and accurate, it's tack sharp, colour rendition and contrast are great too.</p>

The tallest monopod I could find is the Gitzo 3551 at 192 cm. It's expensive though!

<p>I'd second the RRS monopod head - the Manfrotto 234 has a capacity of 2.5 kg. A DSLR plus 70-200 is going to be more than that. It's tilt action is also not very smooth. THE RRS MH-01 on the other and is built like a tank (34 kg capacity) and buttery smooth to operate.</p>

<p>This is a shot from last week with a 500 mm prime and a 1.4x TC on a Nikon D7000. It's also cropped about 50% in the vertical:<br>

<img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7012/6472766713_172a5ed5df_z.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="618" /></p>

 

<p>I have 2 F5 bodies. One was faulty when I bought it (duped by a slightly unscrupulous eBay seller) and has been repaired by Nikon UK, the other was well used (but well cared for) by a pro wedding and portrait photographer. Both have performed faultlessly since.<br>

There are still some excellent condition, low mileage F5 bodies to be had - you just have to look for them. They're not cheap though.<br>

@Robert Hooper - You're correct, the F5 will only matrix meter with CPU lenses. With non-CPU lenses you're limited to spot or centre-weighted metering.</p>

<p>I really like my 70-210 f/4 as well. Optics are very good, it's built like a tank and it's a reasonable substitue for my 80-200 AF-S when I need to pack light.</p>

<p>Having recently had my D700's failed rear LCD repaired under warranty (very quickly and efficiently by Nikon UK), I can vouch for the value of a manufacturer warranty!<br>

I'd never buy grey market stuff to save a few pounds - it's not worth the risk.</p>

<p>Hmmm, you could use a 'filed' TC-nnE on your 105 micro if you slot in an extension tube.... :-)<br>

I've got the 105 f/2.8 AI-s micro - I can fit the TC-20EII on to it if I slot in the PN-11 extension tube between it and the lens. Gives me a maximum of 1:0.44 magnification, with frankly superb image quality. No chromatic aberation that I can see even on high contrast boundaries.<br>

The below image is a bit rough and ready as it was shot hand held at ISO4000 on a D700 at f/5.6 and 1/25. Equivalent focal length is 210mm. The gap between each mark on the ruler is 2mm, there's roughly 16mm across the width which fills a 36mm sensor edge to edge, so the magnification is 1:0.44 or ~ 2.3:1<br>

<img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6186/6056820709_66f333e766_b.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>Depending on the lenses you own, you may not be able to use your D90 lenses on a Nikon film camera. The DX lenses intended for use on the crop sensor DSLRs usually vignette heavily when attached to a full-frame/35mm camera.</p>

<p>I never use the active D-Lighting setting as I shoot in RAW, and process in LR/CS5. I also turn off all of the other in-camera processing options as (so far as I know) they're not carried forward into LR, and it helps to maximise the buffer depth when shooting action in CH mode.</p>

<p>I realise this is a very old discussion, but just in case any of you guys are subscribed to updates, I thought I'd share my experience. I too, have a 35-70 AF-D, which I picked up used a few months back. In normal conditions, it was great. I'd heard it would flare in strong light, but what I found was a severe case of 'veil' flaring where the entire image looked foggy if I had a light source in the frame or shot a backlit subject.<br>

I'd heard about potential issues with one of the composite central elements in which the cement decays over time and eventually leads to delamination, causing veiling flare. I sent mine to Nikon UK to be checked over/repaired. According to the service report, they replaced "G9 lens assembly and G10-G12 lens assembly" They also cleaned the other elements and checked infinity focus.<br>

Got it back now and it's much much better.....</p>