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09/21/2007 08:02:50 PM · #1 |
I go over reviews every day so that now I have them just about memorized! While I really wanted the convenience and size of a superzoom, I just cannot see the point of spending $500 for something that is useable at the lowest ISO only.
So, I have been hunting down dSLRs again. I am not going back to the Canon 5D and since all my lenses are gone as well, I can start over - or more to the point, I HAVE to start over. (The only Canon item I have left is the 2x extender).
Still being camera-less is driving me crazy and here is my problem - which I hope you guys can sort of help me solve.
I have looked at the Sony A700, Canon 400D, 40D, Oly E-510, awaiting the E-3, Nikon D300 (but that is not shipping until Nov and body only - Amazon has Dec 15 down for the kit)....so what I settled on is the Nikon D200 - only because I don't want to wait until December. It seems that Nikon is forcing people to pre-order a camera which has not been thoroughly reviewed in the hopes of not being on some long waiting list into 2008. And not knowing Nikon, I will not pre-order it.
While I would like the new features of the D300, I am thinking the D200 would be a good choice at this point. It's that or the Canon 40D - one camera is older and one is new.
I am a lover of telephoto and macro and that Zuiko 18-180mm looks so fine. For this reason I really, really wanted to try the four-thirds system, but again the E-3 is coming in November and the E-510 is not so hot.
As to lenses - I want to keep it simple. I want a walk around lens that can do it all LOL Ok, most of what I want :)
I am thinking the Nikkor 18-200 but would like your recommendations. I had L glass - too expensive and too heavy which is a reason I am leary of getting back into Canon - unless there is a great third party lens I can use on the 40D.
After looking at so many cameras, I am trying now to find the best lenses for my purposes and then match a body to them.
What I used to have : Canons all - 24-70 2.8L, 70-200 2.8L, 100-400, 15mm fisheye (loved that baby), 100mm macro.
Help :)
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09/21/2007 08:49:15 PM · #2 |
If you go with canon a good everyday lens could be Canon EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 II USM. This is what i have on my camera most of the time. Thats if you are not going for L series stuff... a little pricer but good one too is the EF 28-135mm IS USM.
I just upgraded to the 40D from 350 rebel and am very happy i did... i can't really speak too much towards the other contenders (nikon, sony, etc) with any authority so i'll leave that for others to speak up on.
But i can say that in general... i will never buy any sony product. I have had cd players, stero's, phones made by sony and they have all had issues shortly after purchasing and very short life spans. Numerous friends have had same experience as me as well.
Just my 2 cents...
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09/21/2007 09:59:16 PM · #3 |
Looked at Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM was ok but soft in most reviews, the EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM Lens was not so good, EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM (a must if I get a Canon!).
On the Nikon side .... the 18-200mm is enough to make me get a Nikon!
Adorama has the Nikon D300 DX Digital D-SLR Camera Outfit with 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AFS DX VR Zoom-Nikkor Lens, U.S.A. kit for $2500. If I only knew how long it would take!
Message edited by author 2007-09-21 22:20:57.
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09/21/2007 10:03:08 PM · #4 |
| why don't you check out e bay i saw a couple 20d bodies on there pretty cheep- then wait for the 50-d |
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09/21/2007 10:23:20 PM · #5 |
Originally posted by rider:
why don't you check out e bay i saw a couple 20d bodies on there pretty cheep- then wait for the 50-d |
Actually, I'd stick with Canon since I have had 3 Canon dSLRs, but it has become a lens issue.
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09/23/2007 12:00:12 PM · #6 |
I spent all of yesterday going through lens reviews and Adorama / B&H sites. This is my wish list for each...
I'd love feedback as I still do not know which way to go. Canon has the great wide angle lens and Nikon has the nice telezooms.
NIKON
-Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED-IF AF-S VR DX Zoom (on camera package)
-Nikon 12-24mm f/4 - OR - Tokina Zoom Super Wide Angle AF 12-24mm ($499.95) f/4 AT-X 124AF Pro DX Autofocus Lens for Nikon Digital Cameras
-AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED ($759.95)
-Nikon Zoom Telephoto AF VR Zoom Nikkor 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED Autofocus Lens (Vibration Reduction) ($1,329.95)
CANON
-Canon EF-S 10mm - 22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM Autofocus Zoom Lens for EOS 20D and Digital Rebel Cameras - U.S.A. Warranty. ($689.00)
-Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro Auto Focus Lens - 58mm ($469.95)
-need a medium range zoom so I'd opt for the camera package with the EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS, and wait for the Tamron 28-300
Third Party
Tamron AF28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC LD Aspherical (IF) MACRO zoom lens
not available yet, but I want this for the Canon setup ($599.95)
Accessories for either / both
-Phoenix Digital LED Ring Light?
-Kenko 1.4x Teleplus Pro 300 DG Teleconverter for Nikon AF-D ($194.95)
-SunBlitz RL1200 Macro Ring Lite with a Constant 12 LEDs, Fits Lenses 52mm to 62mm (for Canon) $109.95
-Canon Auto Focus Extension Tube EF 25 II for Close-up and Macro Photography.$129.95
-Canon Auto Focus Extension Tube EF 12 II for Close-up and Macro Photography. $79.95
Cameras
-Canon EOS-40D Digital SLR Camera with 28-135 IS USM Lens, 10.1 Megapixel, 1.5x - 10x Zoom and 3" LCD Screen
-Nikon D300 DX Digital D-SLR Camera Outfit with 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AFS DX VR Zoom-Nikkor Lens, U.S.A. $2,539.95
-Nikon D200 Digital 10.2mp SLR Camera Outfit with 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AFS DX VR Zoom-Nikkor Lens, U.S.A.
> [Rebate Available] $2,299.95
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09/23/2007 12:20:39 PM · #7 |
definitely a tough choice. If you are leaning towards Nikon and you can possibly hold out, it's probably worth waiting for more conclusive results on the D300 before buying a D200. Not only will the price of the D200 come down, but the extra few hundred dollars for the D300 will probably be worthwhile.
Out of curiosity, was it the Canon lens system that made you shun them? You're the first person I can remember hearing that wasn't totally in love with their 5d! |
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09/23/2007 12:35:36 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by valkner:
Out of curiosity, was it the Canon lens system that made you shun them? You're the first person I can remember hearing that wasn't totally in love with their 5d! |
Yeah whats up? |
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09/23/2007 12:40:06 PM · #9 |
You say it's the lenses (not the bodies) that have you interested in switching to Nikon. In that case you should really consider the best, otherwise why switch to something you are not familiar.
The AF VR Zoom Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8D G-AFS ED-IF Autofocus Lens isn't that much more expensive than the 80-400 you mention, but is a much better lens and will focus much faster.
If you want the 105mm macro for macro use on a tripod, you might want to consider finding the older version without VR or AF-S which has slightly better optics and costs less.
The 18-200 while great for travel as a single lens isn't the best at the short end and is far from the best at the long end (the 70-200 certainly is!). You could save money by switching to either the 18-70 or 18-135, both still consumer lenses but no worse within their ranges than the 18-200, or go for the 17-55 F/2.8.
For the superwide, it's a tough call between the Nikkor and Tokina. The Nikkor is slightly better, but costs twice as much.
Frankly, while the D200 is a fine camera, I'd wait for the D300, especially if I had a Canon before. You might find the high ISO noise objectionable after shooting with the 5D. The D300 is claimed to have about a stop and a half noise advantage over the D200, but of course we won't know for sure for another couple of months.
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09/23/2007 12:44:17 PM · #10 |
Originally posted by valkner:
definitely a tough choice. If you are leaning towards Nikon and you can possibly hold out, it's probably worth waiting for more conclusive results on the D300 before buying a D200. Not only will the price of the D200 come down, but the extra few hundred dollars for the D300 will probably be worthwhile.
Out of curiosity, was it the Canon lens system that made you shun them? You're the first person I can remember hearing that wasn't totally in love with their 5d! |
No shunning involved. All of my equipment was stolen in August, so I have to start over. Yes, I did love my 5D, but I do not expect anything from the insurance near replacement costs. In the meantime as well, I learned that I had too much to drag around while traveling, so I am looking to lighten the load, as it were :)
I tried looking at superzooms, but just could not live with the IQ - or lack thereof. Not after a 5D and L glass!
I do realize I have to make concessions since I am not looking to get the large and heavy pro glass. Thus the research into lenses yesterday. It might just come down to which is available! The 40D is now and if I went to Nikon, I think I had better settle for the D200 - though I am loathe to spend the bucks since they should be cheaper already LOL
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09/23/2007 01:02:02 PM · #11 |
My experience with the Nikon lenses you mention...
18-200: I bought this when they were hard to come by, knowing that I could resell it easily, not knowing if I'd like it or not. I ended up liking it more than I thought I would, though there are others that don't. It's a fun lens. Lightweight, sharp enough, fast enough, relatively free of distortion, and has VR, so I can use it without a tripod or monopod. I use it as a travel/walking around lens. Unless I'm going on a 'photography' trip, it's the only lens I take when I travel. I wouldn't confuse it with my professional lenses, but I do know professional wedding photogs who use this as their primary lens. I would think it's a little slow for weddings, but they seem to manage. It has more CA than any of my other lenses, but that's easy enough to fix in PS. I had the 18-70, and I'm getting much better results from this lens.
Tokina 12-24: A sharp, high-quality lens. At this focal length, f/4 is fast enough. For this focal length, distortion is pretty good. I've never had to fix CA on a shot I took with this lens. For the price, this is the one to get. If I were a full time professional, I might get the Nikon, but it's hard to beat this for the price.
Micro-NIKKOR 105: I used this one at a workshop once. It was a very nice lens, and a good focal length for macro work, but not worth the price for me. I bought an older non-VR 105 instead, and am very happy with that lens. The autofocus on the older one is a bit finicky, but once it locks on, it's *very* sharp.
80-400: No experience with this. I have the 80-200 AF-D instead, and *love* it. It doesn't have VR, but it's considerably cheaper than either the 80-400 or the 70-200. It's heavy enough that I always use a monopod. The 80-200 with the Kenko teleconverter you mentioned is a really nice setup. I have both the 1.4x and 2x Kenko/Tamron teleconverters. I've had great results with the 1.4x and the 80-200. Fast focusing and sharp. I haven't had as as good results with the 2x, but I've barely used it, and I'm not sure if it's me or the TC yet.
edit: I was typing when you sent your last reply...If you want light, the 80-200 (and 70-200) are heavy, so you probably don't want those. All the rest I mentioned are reasonable. The specs on the Kenko teleconverters say the lens needs to be f/2.8 or faster to autofocus, and 90mm or longer. I haven't tried it with any of my slower or shorter lenses, but if you need a guinea pig, PM me.
Message edited by author 2007-09-23 13:09:19. |
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09/23/2007 01:17:15 PM · #12 |
I hate to be stupid, but if I don't ask, I'll never know....
What's L glass?
What's a superzoom?
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09/23/2007 01:20:20 PM · #13 |
Originally posted by NikonJeb:
I hate to be stupid, but if I don't ask, I'll never know....
What's L glass?
What's a superzoom? |
L glass is the top of the line Canon Lenses.....
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09/23/2007 01:21:03 PM · #14 |
Thanks annpatt. That 18-200 would be my walk-around lens. I should have also specified the types of shooting I do - landscape, wildlife and macro. Of course with a less intrusive telephoto, I can get into street photography!
There's nothing comparable in the Canon line - smallish and wide zoom range. Of course, they do have that yummy 10-22 :) But the telephoto would be used every day and that becomes the basis of my choice at this point.
I am seeing reports that the D300 may not even be widely available before Christmas, so the D200 is what is left (camera body solved in the Nikon line).
I should have checked on the teleconverter specs. Forget those :) I would like some sort of ringlight for macro (never had that) and extension tubes (never had/used those either). Ringlight is more important than the tubes for now.
The 80-400 is a wish-list lens for the zoo and such :)
Message edited by author 2007-09-23 13:21:30.
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09/23/2007 01:24:46 PM · #15 |
Originally posted by NikonJeb:
I hate to be stupid, but if I don't ask, I'll never know....
What's L glass?
What's a superzoom? |
L glass - what Jeb said :) Heavy and expensive lenses Canon designates with an "L".
Superzoom is sometimes called a "bridge" camera - bridging the gap between compact Point & Shoots and entry level SLRs. They have 10x zooms or better - up to 18x, I have seen. They work fine at ISO 100 or lower and would make a fine back-up camera, but I'd rather spend the $400-$500 on a lens :)
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09/23/2007 01:26:09 PM · #16 |
I had the D200 and sold it in favour of the Fuji S5 Pro because, to me, the Fuji was the better camera, not faster, better for colour, dynamic range.. The fuji takes Nikon glass so it was easier for me to decide. If I was in your position I would hold out for the D300, we all know it will be a cracking camera. Not so convinced about the 18-200 VR it felt very cheap and nasty and the results have been a bit disappointing IMHO.
Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 is a FANTASTIC bit of glass.
AF-ED 80-200mmf2.8D again is brilliant lens
I would urge you away from the D200 because the price will fall like a lead brick after the D300 hits town. If you want to go with Nikon glass please either wait for the D300 or get a Fujifilm S5 Pro with the grip and extra battery.
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09/23/2007 01:48:52 PM · #17 |
Originally posted by MAK:
I had the D200 and sold it in favour of the Fuji S5 Pro because, to me, the Fuji was the better camera, not faster, better for colour, dynamic range.. The fuji takes Nikon glass so it was easier for me to decide. If I was in your position I would hold out for the D300, we all know it will be a cracking camera. Not so convinced about the 18-200 VR it felt very cheap and nasty and the results have been a bit disappointing IMHO.
Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 is a FANTASTIC bit of glass.
AF-ED 80-200mmf2.8D again is brilliant lens
I would urge you away from the D200 because the price will fall like a lead brick after the D300 hits town. If you want to go with Nikon glass please either wait for the D300 or get a Fujifilm S5 Pro with the grip and extra battery. |
Thanks for the suggestion. I am looking at them right now.
About the S5, it says: "Nikon F-mount compatibility for full functionality with all Nikkor AF-D/G and the lastest AF-S optics"
Not being familiar with the Nikon lenses, I'd ask, what does it NOT take? Or do I just look for the AF and AF-S designation to know that it will work with it? Thankfully, it DOES accept VR lenses :)
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09/23/2007 02:00:07 PM · #18 |
There is always Pentax and the whole range of lenses that work with them. K100D is a super 6 megapixel camera with IS built in. K10D is 10 megapixel with weatherproofing, dust sealing and IS. Both are really good value for money and I am sure a new model isn't very far off!
Message edited by author 2007-09-23 14:00:28. |
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09/23/2007 02:45:49 PM · #19 |
Originally posted by papagei:
Thanks for the suggestion. I am looking at them right now.
About the S5, it says: "Nikon F-mount compatibility for full functionality with all Nikkor AF-D/G and the lastest AF-S optics"
Not being familiar with the Nikon lenses, I'd ask, what does it NOT take? Or do I just look for the AF and AF-S designation to know that it will work with it? Thankfully, it DOES accept VR lenses :) |
As long as you aren't shopping for very old lenses (prior to 1977) or some specialty lenses, anything will work. BTW there are excellent bargains available in older manual focus (AI and AIS) Nikkor lenses. |
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09/24/2007 11:20:20 AM · #20 |
Originally posted by papagei:
Originally posted by MAK:
I had the D200 and sold it in favour of the Fuji S5 Pro because, to me, the Fuji was the better camera, not faster, better for colour, dynamic range.. The fuji takes Nikon glass so it was easier for me to decide. If I was in your position I would hold out for the D300, we all know it will be a cracking camera. Not so convinced about the 18-200 VR it felt very cheap and nasty and the results have been a bit disappointing IMHO.
Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 is a FANTASTIC bit of glass.
AF-ED 80-200mmf2.8D again is brilliant lens
I would urge you away from the D200 because the price will fall like a lead brick after the D300 hits town. If you want to go with Nikon glass please either wait for the D300 or get a Fujifilm S5 Pro with the grip and extra battery. |
Thanks for the suggestion. I am looking at them right now.
About the S5, it says: "Nikon F-mount compatibility for full functionality with all Nikkor AF-D/G and the lastest AF-S optics"
Not being familiar with the Nikon lenses, I'd ask, what does it NOT take? Or do I just look for the AF and AF-S designation to know that it will work with it? Thankfully, it DOES accept VR lenses :) |
The Fuji S5 will not totally work with the older pre 1977 lenses but to be honest, I have never felt the need to put anything that old on my camera..
Anything post 1977 will work fine with the S5 same as the D200 VR works great as does sigma's HSM/OS. Great machine the S5, even the older S3 is a fantastic camera and I am considering getting one as a back up if these wedding jobs pick up a bit.
I see talmy has answered the question also... |
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09/24/2007 11:27:31 AM · #21 |
tamron 17-50mm 2.8. Probably the single best walkaround lens I can name for a non-full frame Canon. Sharp, fast and I just adore it.
It can be bought for less thsn $390 if you shop and it's worth dbl that. |
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09/24/2007 12:28:39 PM · #22 |
Thanks to everyone for their input. While I am still hunting down reviews of various lenses, I have decided to wait the 3 or 4 long months for the D300 to come out.
In the meantime, I am buying a Canon Powershot S5 just because I have to have something!! :)
Of course it all depends upon what I might get from the insurance on my stolen equipment. I may have to revise my list a bit and go cheaper, but let's hope (and pray) that I will not have to!
from your future Nikonian LOL
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09/24/2007 01:10:04 PM · #23 |
Originally posted by papagei:
from your future Nikonian LOL |
Booooooooo! |
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09/24/2007 01:23:26 PM · #24 |
LOL
Hey, in one month I have gone back and forth, so nothing is set in stone here. And I have 3-4 months to go yet!
At least I will have a camera this week - cannot wait for it even though it is just a PowerShot :)
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09/26/2007 02:00:17 PM · #25 |
Canon 40D just arrived! Battery charging right now!!!
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