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DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> Input from D70 & 20D/ 10D Sports/ Wildlife Photogs
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Showing posts 26 - 33 of 33, (reverse)
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 12/19/2004 12:33:30 AM · #26
Kavey

I have not had my D70 long (only a couple of weeks) but I bought a 28-300 Tamron as a cheap long lens to go with the kit lens. As of yet I have had no problems with it searching for focus. I shoot in some pretty bad light and had not liked the handheld results but no auto-focus problems. See this site for examples:

Tamron 28-300 Test Shots

J.B.
 12/19/2004 02:51:46 AM · #27
i encountered that problem for the first time last night actually, using a 50mm quantaray macro lens that i hhad borrowed from a friend. I think the lens just sucked and since it was macro has such a big focusing range...it was in realy low light...I was shooting a concert on stage (my friend said it was a 50mm 1.8 so u can imagine my dissapointment to find out it was a 2.8 macro..but whatever, still better than 3.5)...i wasnt really surprised or dissapointed. otherwise i havent had problems with this.
12/19/2004 02:59:14 AM · #28
I had that problem once with a crappy sigma lens. Never with any nikon lens or any other lens, for that matter, that cost more than $250... In the course of about 15K shots.

Edit: btw, if your lens has that feature, you can limit the range it will go through while trying to focus. There should be a full/limit switch on the lens, or whatever it's called. They say it's helpful.

Message edited by author 2004-12-19 03:01:50.
 12/19/2004 03:44:10 AM · #29
I've just been deciding between Nikon and Canon, I ordered my D70 yesterday.

During the last few weeks I've been doing lots of research and my overall conclusion was, if I could afford a 1D(s) MkII and 'L' glass then I would go with canon, but in the realistic world of my finances Nikon is a much better option.

I had been comparing the D70 to the 300D as the package I'm looking at means these options are in the same price range. I had also decided that if I bought the 300D then I would be looking to get at least a 20D within a year and some 'L' glass for it. Thus, again the Nikon with it's higher quality entry set-up proved to be a winner.

I do appreciate that going the Nikon route means that my advancement is somewhat limited (there is no questioning Canon at the top end), but if I do ever reach this level then the situation could be very different.

As part of my initial set-up I'd planned to get a 70-300 G (there seems to be no real advantages with th D ED), but after reading many horror stories of the focusing issues (and image quality) with this lens I've decided to go for a second hand, now discontinued 70-210.

Hope this helps

Darren
 12/19/2004 07:22:20 AM · #30
Thanks for the continued input, folks!

Just to clarify:-

The subjects I have been taking with the D70 when experiencing problems are not subjects where I would expect any SLR to have problems autofocusing - we're talking very good light and nice contrast in the subject matter.

This has occured both during the 2 month Africa trip as well as this 3 week Antarctica trip so it's not a matter of the cold affecting the lens (though the long lens also froze up in the cold from time to time, this was clearly a different thing).

I have used film SLRs (the second of which is an inexpensive Minolta film SLR) for over 20 years so I think I'm being fair and reasonable as to what is reasonable to expect from an autofocus system (I don't see that the camera being digital should have any impact on this issue).

Can anyone tell me more about this full/ limit switch on the lens in terms of it going through the focal range? THANKS
 12/19/2004 12:06:01 PM · #31
Kavey,
With regard to the "focus limiters", canon, and I believe Nikon, on some lenses have a switch to "lock out" the nearest focus range. My Canon 70-200 lens has minimum focus of 1.4m, for example. The switch locks out focusing at distances less than 2.5m. This has the effect of speeding up AF since the lens needs to move in a narrower range.
It sounds to me like there is a problem with either the lens or the camera, or perhaps they just don't "play well" together. It would certainly be worth having them looked at (as a pair) by Nikon service. AF problems are not all that uncommon, whether with Nikon or Canon.

12/19/2004 12:27:05 PM · #32
I too am torn between Canon and Nikon. yesterday Nikon was in the lead (D70) today Canon (20D if i have the money, a D30 or D60 if i don't / if impatience wins)

I like the D70 for the reasons you stated. I like Nikon optics. Except for the kit lens, i'd probably have a Tamron 28-300 as my only other option, so body band does not matter as much.

I agree that Canon seems to be in the Digital SLR lead. That is the main reason i am considering them

I got my Fuji602 from a guy who had autofocus issues with it hunting and seeking. He moved on to a dRebel and seems satisfied. I don't take the kind of pics he does, so i have had no problems beyond what all the reviews point out (low light focus issues).

Can you set up a situation where the issue can be commanded to happen (near a hiway focusing on moving cars for example)? Can you find a Canon owner to come with you and see what his camera does under the exact some conditions? (Finding a fellow DPC'r is one thought)

Or, go Canon and make me a deal on the D70...we both win!
 12/19/2004 01:06:54 PM · #33
Originally posted by Prof_Fate:
Can you set up a situation where the issue can be commanded to happen (near a hiway focusing on moving cars for example)? Can you find a Canon owner to come with you and see what his camera does under the exact some conditions? (Finding a fellow DPC'r is one thought)


It's intermittent so I don't know that I could set up a situation where it would happen though if we spent a few hours photographing the chances are good that it would happen...

Originally posted by Prof_Fate:
Or, go Canon and make me a deal on the D70...we both win!


Hold that thought... how soon are you thinking to buy? We want to make the decision (to stick with Nikon or to jump ship) as soon as possible and if we jump ship we'd want to sell the Nikon privately as part ex rates are much lower than actual sale prices.
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