i saw some cute halloween costumes on facebook! can't wait to see how your lens worked And this reminds me, i need to post photos from last weekend's texas picnic, but i'll do that way after you post yours!
The lens is unreal yet kinda un-practical for shooting dogs. You'll notice a lot of missing paws, legs, tails. While I use 100-120 all the time with my 70-300, I felt limited due to the simple act of people walking in front of me. Come show time, that wouldn't be a problem but I would be better suited with the new 70-200 f/4
The question now is what to do for indoor conditions and poor light conditions? I think, I'll rent Nikon's 85mm AF-d f/1.8. It is just as sharp but without the DC control.
Holy crap that red puppy is so fluffy haha, adorable. Great shots of @timkim's dogs too! I really like Musashi's face, is his/her owner on here? Great photographs! I really need to get a fast lens for dogs, is your issue with it that it has too much magnification on the low end for events like this?
@Cezieg Couple things, I really wanted this lens for indoor events, where lighting is very poor. Indoor sports, dog events/pet expo, family events etc. While I found it very easy to move around to frame a shot, the distance that I had to shoot at made it easy for people to walk right in front of me. Another issue is that I shoot Nikon DX (smaller sensor) vs FX- I get a 1.5X crop factor so a 105mm is 1.5x that in reach.
I was really hoping to score a Tokina 50-135mm F/2.8. The problem being that is was discontinued. I'm going to try a 85mm next, with the crop factor that would put me at 135mm. There is a f/1.8 version and a f/1.4.
For these events, I think a 70-200mm f/4 (smaller body than the f/2.8) would be perfect. Plus most zoom lenses produce great bokeh.
Here is a perfect example. Normally I like to get shots that at least get three legs in. In the show ring, I can fit the whole dog but at these its a crap shoot. I really had a hard time framing these. Yet the earlier shots with the LC were super easy.
@*JackBurton* Oops my reply must not have posted before. Interesting, I'll be picking up a new Nikon body + kit in the next few weeks to get back into photography. I wasn't aware of crop factor due to having only had my D40 for a few months, so I didn't really get far into the hobby enough to have a solid knowledge. Fast motion in natural light is what I would mostly be shooting (dogs and nature) so it's really interesting to read about what you use, thanks!
@cezieg - I started out on a D40 and I loved it. IMO it was one of the best if not the best entry level camera DSLR from Nikon. The downside is that you are limited to AF-S style lenses. Which for the people who don't know, means that the focus motors are in the lens itself. Because of that two of my favorite lenses are not really an option for you. Nikon 85mm F/1.8 and the Nikon 80-200 F/2.8 require the focus motor to be in the body of the camera.
You do however have access to comes great lenses. Since you are talking about fast motion in natural light, I would look at the new 70-200 F/4 VRIII and of course nikon makes AFS versions of their 85mm F/1.8
The beauty of DX over FX, is that our sensors take advantage of the sweet spot (middle) of the lenes. So an FX lens that is dark or soft in the corners isn't really that way on DX. Just make sure that you continue to buy FX lenses. DX will fade out over time and quality FX(aka 35mm) lenses will last you a good 15 years plus.
@*JackBurton* Well I meant that I only had it for a total of a few months, after that I sold it to my little sister due to not using it often enough at the time to have been worth the money. I'll be looking at a new kit with a budget of $700'ish and have only just started looking at the current bodies that are out. My cousin just started his own studio in Venezuela and was up here recently for my sister's wedding + Black Friday. He snagged a D7000 kit (2 lenses, body, bag, 32gb card) for about $1300. Depending on how the holiday deals turnout I may be able to find a nicer body+lense kit for the same price as the kit that is a step down, with a motor in the body.
That's really interesting to know about the DX vs FX sensors, and it makes total sense. Never would have thought about that off the bat. Do you have any good photog blogs you could recommend?
@cezieg I would focus on three cameras. All three are DX censors from Nikon but they fit the bill. I'll rank them from most useful based off what you mentioned in the above post.
Before I get into it, I look at three webpages for information. The first, most people can't stand him, is Ken Rockwell. He is opinionated and sometimes comes up with odd conclusions. People don't like his "you can't shoot like I do attitude" -but- to I like the fact that he gives an opinion. From there, I head over to slrgear.com and look at the lens reviews. I use this site to fact-check ken. Lastly, I head over to DPreview.com which has reviews etc etc.
Before I get into it part II: Camera bodies should be where you save money. Glass could last you a very long time a consumer camera bodies get outdated very fast. If you have a body with a drive motor you can find some great "bargin" glass. In reality they are older 35mm lenses that were considered pro back in the day.
D7000: $750-$850 body only. Don't bother with kit lenses on this one get the body and then if you need a cheap kit lenses score a 18-55 off ebay for very little money. The camera has a decent internal focus motor, good high ISO performance, and two card slots. Your outdoor nature lenes option would be the 70-200 F/4 VRIII $1400. For sports indoor you have either the 70-200 f/2.8 at $2200 but with the internal focus motor you can also go with the older 80-200 F/2.8 @ $800 used.
The advantage with the older 80-200 glass, or anything af-d for the matter, is that they will last FOREVER. Lots of metal construction with these lenses. Speaking of lenes, lets look at the $1300 budget you listed for you cousin.
Using Amazon: D7000 $896, Nikor 50mm f/1.8 AF-D $109, Nikor 55-200 VR $249, Nikor 18-55 $105. = $1369. Negatives to this setup is that there is a lot of DX lenes being used here. The positive is the 50mm will let you shoot indoors without a flash all day long. Personally, I wouldn't go this route, but I wanted to illustrate how going body only is better for you. To make this fit, I really had to skimp on the glass.
The next two are interchangeable depending on the route you want to go. The D90 is if you want to still have an internal focus motor. The D5100 is for higher iso-performance and megapixel. Since you mentioned focus motor I will go d90 first.
D90: http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d90.htm I just noticed that the super sale prices on the D90 are gone but used is a decent option. You get to keep access to the drive motor lenes. Your high ISO performance is good but nothing like todays DSLR.
It has the same sensor as my d7000. Pay $7.95 through Adorama and get their 1 year extended warranty for free. Some credit cards will double your warranty as well. You are at $495 with a kit lens and then you can start shopping for lenes. Since the 5100 has great high-iso stuff you can consider some of the new F4 lenses. One that comes to mind is the 24-120 F/4
Conclusion, the D5100 is a great price. With the new D5200 coming out, people are looking to upgrade. I would not spend money on a d5200. D7000 upgrade is rumored to be coming but Nikonrumors.com thinks that the D300 line is going to get merged with the D7000 line so expect a jump in price tag. I know I just threw a lot of information at you and I totally ignored Canon. Since you are starting over, you might want to take a look at Canon. IMO Canon > Nikon on the high end stuff. Nikon > Canon on the prosumer stuff.
Comments
And this reminds me, i need to post photos from last weekend's texas picnic, but i'll do that way after you post yours!
Tim Kim's Brindles Karin and Tachitora
Kaya
Musashi
The question now is what to do for indoor conditions and poor light conditions? I think, I'll rent Nikon's 85mm AF-d f/1.8. It is just as sharp but without the DC control.
Great photographs! I really need to get a fast lens for dogs, is your issue with it that it has too much magnification on the low end for events like this?
I was really hoping to score a Tokina 50-135mm F/2.8. The problem being that is was discontinued. I'm going to try a 85mm next, with the crop factor that would put me at 135mm. There is a f/1.8 version and a f/1.4.
For these events, I think a 70-200mm f/4 (smaller body than the f/2.8) would be perfect. Plus most zoom lenses produce great bokeh.
@rikumom She's a popular little girl!
Her face hasn't changed much but her body has gotten bigger, much longer legs since her pumpkin days :-)
You do however have access to comes great lenses. Since you are talking about fast motion in natural light, I would look at the new 70-200 F/4 VRIII and of course nikon makes AFS versions of their 85mm F/1.8
The beauty of DX over FX, is that our sensors take advantage of the sweet spot (middle) of the lenes. So an FX lens that is dark or soft in the corners isn't really that way on DX. Just make sure that you continue to buy FX lenses. DX will fade out over time and quality FX(aka 35mm) lenses will last you a good 15 years plus.
That's really interesting to know about the DX vs FX sensors, and it makes total sense. Never would have thought about that off the bat. Do you have any good photog blogs you could recommend?
Before I get into it, I look at three webpages for information. The first, most people can't stand him, is Ken Rockwell. He is opinionated and sometimes comes up with odd conclusions. People don't like his "you can't shoot like I do attitude" -but- to I like the fact that he gives an opinion. From there, I head over to slrgear.com and look at the lens reviews. I use this site to fact-check ken. Lastly, I head over to DPreview.com which has reviews etc etc.
Before I get into it part II: Camera bodies should be where you save money. Glass could last you a very long time a consumer camera bodies get outdated very fast. If you have a body with a drive motor you can find some great "bargin" glass. In reality they are older 35mm lenses that were considered pro back in the day.
D7000: $750-$850 body only. Don't bother with kit lenses on this one get the body and then if you need a cheap kit lenses score a 18-55 off ebay for very little money. The camera has a decent internal focus motor, good high ISO performance, and two card slots. Your outdoor nature lenes option would be the 70-200 F/4 VRIII $1400. For sports indoor you have either the 70-200 f/2.8 at $2200 but with the internal focus motor you can also go with the older 80-200 F/2.8 @ $800 used.
The advantage with the older 80-200 glass, or anything af-d for the matter, is that they will last FOREVER. Lots of metal construction with these lenses. Speaking of lenes, lets look at the $1300 budget you listed for you cousin.
Using Amazon: D7000 $896, Nikor 50mm f/1.8 AF-D $109, Nikor 55-200 VR $249, Nikor 18-55 $105. = $1369. Negatives to this setup is that there is a lot of DX lenes being used here. The positive is the 50mm will let you shoot indoors without a flash all day long. Personally, I wouldn't go this route, but I wanted to illustrate how going body only is better for you. To make this fit, I really had to skimp on the glass.
The next two are interchangeable depending on the route you want to go. The D90 is if you want to still have an internal focus motor. The D5100 is for higher iso-performance and megapixel. Since you mentioned focus motor I will go d90 first.
D90: http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d90.htm I just noticed that the super sale prices on the D90 are gone but used is a decent option. You get to keep access to the drive motor lenes. Your high ISO performance is good but nothing like todays DSLR.
IF you are willing to ditch the internal motor - the better deal is this one D5100:
http://www.adorama.com/INKD5100KR.html?utm_term=Other&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=Other&utm_source=rflAID021866
It has the same sensor as my d7000. Pay $7.95 through Adorama and get their 1 year extended warranty for free. Some credit cards will double your warranty as well. You are at $495 with a kit lens and then you can start shopping for lenes. Since the 5100 has great high-iso stuff you can consider some of the new F4 lenses. One that comes to mind is the 24-120 F/4
Check out Jonathan's Blog (He owns a shiba too)
http://jonathanfleming.wordpress.com/2010/10/05/nikkor-24-120mm-f4-vrii-first-impression/
Another lens you can look for is:
http://jonathanfleming.wordpress.com/2009/09/16/tamron-sp-17-50mm-f2-8-di-ii-vc/
Lastly the AFS version of Nikon's 50mm f/1.8 is only $216
http://www.adorama.com/NK5018GU.html
Conclusion, the D5100 is a great price. With the new D5200 coming out, people are looking to upgrade. I would not spend money on a d5200. D7000 upgrade is rumored to be coming but Nikonrumors.com thinks that the D300 line is going to get merged with the D7000 line so expect a jump in price tag. I know I just threw a lot of information at you and I totally ignored Canon. Since you are starting over, you might want to take a look at Canon. IMO Canon > Nikon on the high end stuff. Nikon > Canon on the prosumer stuff.