mark_haydon

<p>Thanks for the help. I'll keep playing and until I get it right.</p>

<p>I have been running some tests on my lenses and have noticed some fairly dramatic overexposure with my Tokina 100mm macro lens when used with my D80. I have seen people commenting in online forums about adjusting and compensating for individual lenses Auto Focus and exposure settings. Is that possible with a D80? Is it just a case of setting up a custom setting in the camera and using it for that lens? Or is their more to it? Any help would be appreciated. Thank you. </p>

<p>Thanks! Thats one of the tripods that is on the list! Yes its heavier - but I figure that I can live with that. Also on the list is the Slik 500HD ... and the other cobo I was considering was Slik tripod legs with a Giottos MH5001 head. Each option is about 6lbs .. and I am not spending 3x for lighter legs, just not worth it for me. <br>

:)<br>

I didn't want to start asking a question on every piece of equipment I buy so I was working on this myself!</p><div></div>

<p>Thanks John ... I agree. At the moment I have found a couple of options in the $150-$170 range that have good reviews and I feel will be more than enough for quite some time. I have no delusions that I am going to turn into a pro any time soon. Just a hobby that I am enthusiastic about.</p>

<p>I appreciate everyone's input.<br>

I don't know why so many have a hard time with the concept of this thread. I am not asking for you to help me. (Again - that might sound like I don't need the help ... thats not the case)<br>

I was interested in hearing people's thoughts about what they would do. And - yes - I am sure I am way to caught up in the GEAR more than is needed. Thanks to the couple of posters who answered as intended !!<br>

I liked Joel's answer the best 'buy a ticket to someplace I'd always wanted to go and see' ... made me smile even if it didn't make anyone else smile.<br>

Ken - your comment about harsh light may well be the root of my issue. I live in Arizona and I think 90% of my photos have been in full sun and not in the warm morning or evening light. Obviously there's more to it than that - and I need to learn and get better working with whatever I have to work with.<br>

- - - If anyone is interested, I have (based on the first post I made the other day) decided to buy a good tripod - and finaly get some software. I may be getting a free copy of Nikon's 'Capture' ... If that isn't sufficient (or intuative) I will purchase Elements 9.... Obviously I need to do a whole lot of research if I am splashing out $500 or so on the tripod. I had thought I was going to get a Silk Pro 500 HD at about $150 - it gets great reviews but I also found Tom's article on Tripods <a href="http://www.bythom.com/support.htm">http://www.bythom.com/support.htm</a> and need to make sure i get this right! The other thing I am going to do over the next week or 2 is test out all my current lenses and see where they are crisp and if/where they are soft.<br>

Shun - sorry if I didn't give you a specific answer on the other thread. I did mention that your thread was a helpful. My issue with photos is Light - many images are too pale and I need to look at the WB and custom options/settings on my D80 before giving up on it. Not all images are affected - but more than I like to see. Also with the 18-180 lens many images are seem soft. Great when I am taking portraits of my daughter - not what I am looking for on the landscape, streetscape or wildlife photos.</p>

<p>Lex... appreciate you answering the question in the spirit in which it was intended! Your budget does not need to cover the flash!! I didn't list it but I do have the SB800!</p>

<p>Sorry - I guess I should not have posted. I am not looking for what I should do. I have that information .... I was merely interested in what others would do. It's a bit like looking at your favorite baseball players (or cricket for me) of all time and coming up with a list and then comparing it to someone elses ... Or talking about the greatest boxers of all time ... you know, just sort of chewing the fat.<br>

Aprecaite your responses - but as I tried to spell out above, and again here - I am not looking for advice for myself on this thread.</p>

<p>Last one....</p>

<p>Another example (if its possible to post multiple images at once I am missing it).</p><div></div>

<p>I don't want to now give the impression that I don't need to examine my technique and ability/learning ... but I want to post a few images that I feel at least show that I can take a 1/2 decent image....</p><div></div>

<p>Shun - I think you miss the point. Or choose to believe that I am so spinless and pathetic I really do need someone else to make a decision for me. I appreciate your input on the other thread - that was a lot of help. Here you seem to be saying a giant f.u.<br>

I don't know how I can spell it out any clearer that I believe I need to examine my ability with the kit I have before making a decision for myself. Somehow you choose to ignore that.</p>

<div></div>

<p>I posted before a question about upgrading my camera body or my glass. I got a lot of very informative information back. Thank you to all, I appreciate ALL the responses very much. I think the number one thing I probably realized is:<br>

(1) I need to know my kit a little better than I do now ... I've never run it through a test excercise of varying focal lengths and apertures. That will probably tell me a lot. (There's every chance my percieved shortcomings are operator error!)<br>

(2) I need a good tripod<br>

(3) I probably need to invest in some software - I don't do any editing at the moment.<br>

I have a lot of research ahead of me and it's going to take some time. Reading reviews of glass and bodies is fun - but just when you think you landed on "IT" ... something throws a spanner in the works!! LOL ... I guess thats fun and challenging.</p>

<p>What I would like to ask now is simple - I'll lay out all my kit, and based on a $2K budget - What would YOU invest in? Forget my skill (or lack of) as a photographer - forget what I like to photograph - what would you spend your $2k on?<br>

Here's the List:<br>

D80 body<br>

18-135mm 3.5-5.6 Nikon Kit lens.<br>

50mm 1.8 Nikkor lens.<br>

Tokina 100mm 2.8 Macro Lens<br>

Sigma 120-400mm 4.5-5.6 Lens<br>

Proline Aluminium Tripod (no additional mount/head).<br>

(No editing software)</p>

<p>This really is not meant to be a "Tell me what to buy" thread ... I need to work that out for myself and I think I have been put on the right path by what I have read and the feedback on the other thread ... this is more a curiosity for me ... given exactly the same kit and budget restraint - what hard choice(s) do you make? LETS SAY the budget is $2,200 which will then cover the Nikon 70-200mm 2.8 VRII lens which I know a lot of people like!</p>

 

<p>John - we must have been typing away at the same time... thanks for your feedback thats really great information.<br>

I know the Sigma 120-400 is enormous ... and I love the sound of a tack sharp lens, but wouldn't the 70-300mm be significant overlap? I guess with the 16-85mm and the 70-300mm I am covered and have 2 very portable lenses ! <br>

I would make the 18-135mm redundant so I need to see if thats the way I want to go. In a lot of respects it makes sense.<br>

LOL. What seemed simple seems to be much more complicated than I thought!</p>

<p>Just got back from my trip to Yellowstone and havuing a cuppa before downloading the images.<br>

THANKS TO EVERYONE! I really truly appreciate the advice and suggestions. I'm certainI am keeping the D80 and going to add to my glass collection! :) What I add - I need to determine yet. As good as the 18-200 VRII is - I dont think it will be that. I will re-examine the photos that I am getting from my kit lens - as long as I am happy with them - there is no reason to swap it out for a 'better' but pretty much similar range lens.<br>

Quick hits:<br>

Not sure who it was that analized the D80 vs D90 from a technical perspective - but that was hugely helpful and put the nail in the coffin for a new body.<br>

I'll check out the other lenses - the 16-85 seems to come HIGHLY recommended. But again - if I am keeping the 18-135mm kit lens then it seems like a lot of overlap. So I am going to research the Ultra-wide options. Both zoom and prime. I don't mind switching out lenses .... the bigger deal is carrying the equipment.<br>

*** Tripod - yes I have one!! NO - I never use it because I went cheap and hate it!! Everything on this trip was hand held!!! *** If someone wants to recommend a really user friendly Tripod / mount - I'd be real grateful!! Will touch base after more research.</p>

<p>Again - Thanks!</p><div></div>

<p>Thanks Eric - The plan would be to replace the kit lens with the 18-200 if I go that route... But I am getting good pics with the kit lens so I need to be practical rather than be too wishful!</p>

<p>I keep saying Tokina 11-17 ... its actually 11-16 and gets great reviews, but may be too wide.</p>

<p>I'm still researching!</p>

 

<p>Many thanks Mark. I'll look into the Tamron lens ... 2.8 is attractive! Will let you know what I work out.</p>

<p>Well - maybe 'newbies' are not aware of what's needed for other (more experienced) photographers to make suggestions. In many respects I thought that the fact that I am not worried about Live View or Video might be enough. However - to help others help me - I'd say I like to take Landscape and Wildlife - I love macros and I could shoot flowers all day.<br>

At the moment - as a father of a soon to be 2 year old daughter - I don't get to shoot as much as I would want and there are a lot of portraits and shots of my daughter dominating my usage. This week I have been in Yellowstone and for the first time experienced the importance of fast lenses in low light during the pre-dawn expiditions. <br>

If more information is needed let me know. Thanks. </p>

<p>Elliot said "I find Nikon's straps too short, too narrow and not padded enough." . . . and I agree 100% !! Given the amount of support on the subject from the posters I think that the individuals bashing the originator of the thread a little over the top.</p>

<p>I have started to research an uprade for my D80 which I have been using for sometime. I have the kit 18-135mm lens plus a Nikon 50mm prime lens - a Tokina Macro lens - and a Sigma 120-400mm (bought as I went to Yellowstone this week!).<br>

If I upgrade the Body I will go to a D90 - which gets nothing but rave reviews. Having said that I don't think I need live view or video.... So last night I thought about upgrading my lens. I might not do it all in one hit - but if I don't get the D90 body, I would be looking at getting the Nikon 18-200mm VRII as a replacement to the 18-135mm - and at some point I want to add the Nikon 12-24 (or 10-24) or the Tokona 11-17.... Wide angle would have been great in Yellowstone too!!<br>

If anyone has observations or comments I would be very glad to listen. I am an amateur and at the moment I think I am leaning towards improving the my lenses ....<br>

Thanks to all who help.</p>