Equipment Santa? Is that you?

[Jumeira_Johnny]

I could have sworn as a kid he wasn't 2 months late!



This is step 1 in my 6, er..8...no 10.....12ish step procurement plan. I can finally put the D200 into the shop to get the rubber on the grip replaced. It's been driving me nuts!

[Flibblebot]

You know, it's quite easy to go off some people ...

What's it like compared to the D200?

[Jumeira_Johnny]

The build quality of the body is still first rate, still sealed, still solid magnesium. No plastic. That being said, Nikon has a long standing issue with keeping the rubber attached to the body. It's so soft that over time it "creeps" or stretches. Especially under hard use in a warm climate. It's been that way since the F5. That is why the D200 is going in, for a good cleaning and new grips.

The 3" screen is pornographically good. For once you can actually use it to check focus, and not just lighting. You could watch a Lost episode on it.

So far the AF is cracking, although I have it at 11 points rather then the 51, for what I do there isn't really time to scroll through that many AF points.

High ISO is just...wow. ISO 1600 looks like ISO 400. Base ISO is 200, and I can see myself regularly shooting at 800 to 1600. I can only imagine what the D3 will look like at 1600. I was screwing around last night with the Auto ISO+Aperture priority+SB800. While it's not how I shoot, it's amazing how the camera can sort it all out for you, 90% of the time. Drunken photography just got easier.

Live view is . I can see it useful for goofing off, or in a car.

The grip...is a magnitude better. The D200's grip was plastic, and I went through 3 of them in a year and a half. This one is magnesium like the body. and they included a separate mini joystick to make AF point selection easier in portrait. A lot better then the AF ON+Sub command dial of the D200's. Best of all, they have designed it to accept the D2/D3 battery, so you can slim your battery and charger setup down to just one type. Making this a great choice for a back up body....should Santa ever decide to stop by again....soon.....next month....*cough*

There are a ton of minor "fine tune" settings that I haven't had time to delve into, but it took me 2 months to get my D200 dialed in.

All in all, a great camera. At least after 2 days.

Edit* In case anyone was wondering, there was a SB800 camera left at 1/1 shooting through a scrim and one SB800 at 1/16th camera right behind and above-both clamped to the back of my dining room chairs. 1/100th @ f/8. The backdrop was my wife's abya, that she wears when she travels to Saudi. How's that for quick and dirty?

[Fod]

seriously, canon better have something VERY shiny around the corner otherwise nikon's gonna be seeing a lot of converts...

[Naked_Dave]

Now you can be as good as me

I find that the shutter release on the grip can be a bit light. How does yours feel?

[Vers]

The D300 is a great body...very tempting indeed, though I'd probably go for the D3+14-24 f/2.8+24-70 f/2.8. Now thats a pretty sexy menaje' twa

Can you imagine what ISO25600 looks like on a D3?
Its actually not bad.

Anyways...congratulations on step 1. Onto step 2....

[Jumeira_Johnny]

Originally Posted by Vers

The D300 is a great body...very tempting indeed, though I'd probably go for the D3+14-24 f/2.8+24-70 f/2.8. Now thats a pretty sexy menaje' twa

Anyways...congratulations on step 1. Onto step 2....

You just listed step 2, 5, 3 right there.

As for the grip release being a bit light, yes, it is. But I would rather have a light release then have to squeeze like a mad man.

As for the D3's super high ISO, it looks a lot like 1600 tri-x. Not that I think I would go beyond 3200 on that body. Still, just being able to consider 3200 as usable, it's a big jump over being liminted to ISO 800.

[BioSniper]

Originally Posted by Fod

seriously, canon better have something VERY shiny around the corner otherwise nikon's gonna be seeing a lot of converts...

I know that feeling fod, I'm starting to loose a little faith in Canons ability to innovate.

Also, you KNOW you want to give that D300 to me.. really, its for a good cause :P

[Jumeira_Johnny]

Originally Posted by BioSniper

I know that feeling fod, I'm starting to loose a little faith in Canons ability to innovate.

Also, you KNOW you want to give that D300 to me.. really, its for a good cause :P

I would hardly consider the current Canon field as poor, and I sincerely doubt that they have lost the ability to innovate. Look, there is just now market parity. Well, sort of, given the staggered offerings. But that is hardly a reason to start doubting the equipment. IF you think that Canon is in a lull, then no doubt there are things in the works that will hit the market in time.

[Cheap Mod Wannabe]

I'm actually happy that Canon is getting slapped around a bit. Maybe they will finally gonna have to let up on the idea not to change what works/sells, but work on the idea of staying ahead.

[Vers]

Eh...I wouldn't go ahead an count Canon out of the party so soon. IMO the whole 1DMKIII sub mirror fiasco has really put a damper on its image/sales and I truly believe it is the reason the 5DMKII/7D of w/e they will call it was postponed (I think it may use the same submirror/AF system as the MKIII). So Nikon has produced a couple of great bodies and a set of killer lenses...they hit the nail on the head this time. I am only happy they did because hopefully this will put a little more motivation into Canon's slack pants development department. Still, Nikon has nothing that rivals Canon's long teles, 135L, 85L, 50L, 35L, 24L and Canon has nothing that beats Nikon's 14-24, 24-70, 70-200 f/2.8 VR, and I'm sure theres a few others, in IQ. Either way they are both excellent producers of glass and bodies. Wait for what comes up at this years photokina...I am sure we will see some great pieces of equip unveiled...hopefully a 14-24L and 5DMKII

and johnny...don't you mean step 5K, 1.5K and 1.7K? lol...maybe I'll see you at some of the meetings if your ever in the states.

[Jumeira_Johnny]

Originally Posted by Vers

So Nikon has produced a couple of great bodies and a set of killer lenses...they hit the nail on the head this time.

I wouldn't go so far as to suggest that Nikon only now has seen success in the market. They have made very good bodies and lenses for a very long time. The high ISO argument never held any water for good photogs, so that simply isn't valid. They have very had some very solid cameras for years now. You need to look beyond the marketing hype.

Originally Posted by Vers

and johnny...don't you mean step 5K, 1.5K and 1.7K? lol...maybe I'll see you at some of the meetings if your ever in the states.

LoL, I don't have a problem. It's not like it affects my life.

The beauty of making money from photography is that it feeds the need. My wife's only requirement is that I cover rent and my equipment costs. Done.

[Vers]

Originally Posted by Jumeira_Johnny

I wouldn't go so far as to suggest that Nikon only now has seen success in the market. They have made very good bodies and lenses for a very long time. The high ISO argument never held any water for good photogs, so that simply isn't valid. They have very had some very solid cameras for years now. You need to look beyond the marketing hype.

Was referring to all the Canon negativity going around, not stating Nikon only got good recently. The fact is many people have begun to jump ship from Canon to Nikon based on the release of a few new tempting products. No doubt Nikon is a great producer of photography equip...never had questioned that.

And stop living your life in denial! Admit your addiction!
haha, good luck...be sure to post some images soon.

[cpemma]

Originally Posted by Cheap Mod Wannabe

I'm actually happy that Canon is getting slapped around a bit. Maybe they will finally gonna have to let up on the idea not to change what works/sells, but work on the idea of staying ahead.

Drifting away from J_J's rather nice camera, but I wish Canon would improve their customer online service. To install the updated camera software that actually works in Vista I have to first install the original from CD that doesn't;

Originally Posted by Canon

In order to update to ZoomBrowser EX 5.8, it is necessary that ZoomBrowser EX 2 or 3 is already installed on the target computer.

lose or damage it and you can't download a full version or run the update. Someone in that predicament contacted Canon;

Did you try calling Canon's support line? They can probably send you a new CD or provide a link for you. Just guessing though.

Yes, I called and this is their "kind" reply to a customer who paid $600+ for a camera: