[typeOnegative]

Originally Posted by TaureanBull

Folks need your help on this lens for my D90.

AF NIKON 70-300mm f/4-5.6G ZOOM-NIKKOR

Is it ok for a price of 7k? Or do I REALLY need a VR lens.

I got my 70-300mm G for 5850 in Mumbai. I put on a Hoya filter and that took the price to 7100. Which brings me to think that you are being quoted a higher price than necessary.

[raju2512]

Originally Posted by raju2512

Just picked up this lens from ebay US for a total of 25 USD. I am not sure I have hit a jackpot but at around Rs.1200 it was worth a risk. I will get the lens here by end Feb and will update. If it works fine , it gives me bigger budget for a prime

VIVITAR AUTO FOCUS ZOOM 70 - 210mm 1:4.5-5.6 MACRO 1:5X

Finally the lens reached me yesterday. I am attaching a few photos here from the lens. I have resized the photos for web and no other PP done

Initial impressions

1. The auto focus was quite fast (atleast as fast as my 28-80.)

2. Good bokeh

3. The lens came with tiffen Haze-1 filter



The auto focus worked well in this shot









A crop from the above photo

[R2D2]

Originally Posted by raju2512

Finally the lens reached me yesterday. I am attaching a few photos here from the lens. I have resized the photos for web and no other PP done

Initial impressions

1. The auto focus was quite fast (atleast as fast as my 28-80.)

2. Good bokeh

3. The lens came with tiffen Haze-1 filter

Congrats on a great deal. Lens sharpness and bokeh look really good. You cant get better than this for that kinda money. Did you have to pay Customs?

Regards,

[gd1418]

Thank you all.

@KP: lagta hai tumhari joota khaane ki ichcha ho rahi hai..

@Rajiv: will try to shoot some good macros...

Originally Posted by TaureanBull

Very nice purchase. A good price too.

Originally Posted by R2D2

Congrats gd1418, this is a lovely lens at a superb price I must say. Makes me feel like buying a macro..but the lens that I am aiming for is the 24-70 (already in your collection) sometime later this year.

Originally Posted by kpzen

Congrats.

You have an amazing collection of lenses.

Ghar pe darshan ho gaya iska ?

Originally Posted by rkbharat

wow congrats, now shows us some super macros :P

[pjay_in]

Originally Posted by kkr2k2

Congratulations!! Thats one heck of a buy!!! And the decision to buy the 35mm prime is equally laudable(also because I suggested it ). On a serious note the 35mm lens being a Normal lens on the cropped body, you will understand what lens you need to buy in future. Also it being a fast lens, and the Nikons in general are good low light performers, you can get lovely pics in the parties you attend and that too with out the need of a flash!!!

BTW, if you manual lenses in the back of your mind, then D7000 is a fantastic investment!! My heart says, D7000 will be retaining its value better than D90!!

Thanks kkr2k2! Yes I will certainly be looking around for cheap manual lenses in future..

Originally Posted by R2D2

Congrats pjay_in. Have fun with your new DSLR. The D7000 is one of the best in the market today.

Cheers!

Thanks R2D2. It will be a while before I start benefiting from all those advanced features D7000 offers

[pjay_in]

Posting some initial point & shoot results from my D7000. Only the lamp photo is taken with the 35mm prime, the others are from the 18-105mm kit lens.

[raju2512]

Originally Posted by R2D2

Congrats on a great deal. Lens sharpness and bokeh look really good. You cant get better than this for that kinda money. Did you have to pay Customs?

Regards,

Thanks

I got this delivered to my friend's place in US and he brought it over here.

The lens looks as good as new. No scratches or damages anywhere.

[gd1418]

Looked around in my old camera bag and found Vitacon 1A 52mm filter and the 52mm screw-on rubber hood. Fitted on the Micro lens. Phew...some saving..!

Also found a Tamron 52mm cross screen filter.

Originally Posted by gd1418

AF Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8D

Finally finally I got my Macro lens today. Picked up from Chandni Chowk from my usual & regular source. Costed 28K.

Attachment 511987

[SilkDrive]

I have been clicking with the Canon A590IS for 3 years and have got some good photos in Aperture priority, Program Auto and in Manual modes as well. I am fairly interested in photography, but still far from the “eat & sleep photos” type. In free time I keep going through youtube videos to get pointers on improving compositions, lighting, appropriate settings etc. (Perhaps would also buy some good book for better insight into these soon).

With this background, I wish to enter the DSLR space, now, and walk the learning curve. Short listed the Canon 500D and the Nikon D3100. Need all your help in choosing between the two.

Usage : Will mostly be used for some normal lightweight photography, like landscapes portraits and macros shot during holidays and trips and also pictures taken at parties/weddings of friends and relatives. I might travel to Budapest in a couple of months and wish to take good pictures of the monuments and landscapes there.

Preferences : Video is not of ultra importance to me but is good to have. It might come in handy for some special moments during weddings and parties. Sturdiness would be good to have as I wish to keep whatever I buy for long. Don’t understand enough to list any more preferences, apart from these.

Researched on these 2 models and I am currently leaning towards the Canon since it seems to be better at still photography than the Nikon. Please let me know what you all feel to be a better option.

PS: Checked with a dealer at Hyderabad. Prices are 30K for Nikon and 32K for canon. Is this fair enough? Please suggest some good dealers in Hyderabad.

[evo8]

@ SilkDrive : I own a EOS 500D, Bought this with the 18-200 kit and I'm quite happy with the camera. As I progressed Upgraded my lens to 24-70 and 70-200 f2.8, retaining the body. If I upgrade It will only be to a FF sensor.

Though camera makes a very little difference with your photos,I would suggest investing in some good lenses along. ALso get the 18-200 Kit with the 500D, its quite wide and got a good tele.

[shajufx]

Originally Posted by gd1418

AF Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8D
Finally finally I got my Macro lens today. Picked up from Chandni Chowk from my usual & regular source. Costed 28K.

Congrats again ! Curious to know which God you pray to these days ! Some people keep the money and wait to decide on the lens, some have already decided but money not yet become reachable, some have both but dont use them !! Let me know, if you need any assistance in carrying the bag while on a trip.

I am selling my 35mm 1.8 and getting a 50mm 1.4, slowly preparing myself for the FX body, preferably the new upgrade expected of D700. So far no idea about the launch date. Birding is out of my 'hot' interest, otherwise I would not have thought of FX.

Trying to shoot something unique these days have become a very very tough job. You shoot a bird, there are 100s of similar images over the web ! You shoot a macro, you get 1000s of them again. You shoot an air show, you find 100 people post the same image same angle and even the same jet ! Luckily I missed the Kambala festival (buffalo race). There are 100s of images already. I no more have interest in group walks, above situation explains it. Its like the whole of Indian Army reporting at the boarder with their weapons. By the time you take out your gun, others have killed the enemies and gone back and even published the story on Facebook (with photos off course)

I might end up writing a book about "How to shoot different from others".

[gd1418]

@SilkDrive: Whatever brand you go for, finally it is the man behind the machine that matters. Having said that, you seem to have stepped into hot waters by making this statement.

I would be interested to know what made you come to this conclusion?

Originally Posted by SilkDrive

Researched on these 2 models and I am currently leaning towards the Canon since it seems to be better at still photography than the Nikon. Please let me know what you all feel to be a better option.

Thanks Shaju. I pray to Ganpati daily.

Originally Posted by shajufx

Congrats again ! Curious to know which God you pray to these days !

In which category do I fall into? As far as carrying the bag is concerned, maybe few more years down the line I might summon your services. Thanks for the offer anyway...

Originally Posted by shajufx

Some people keep the money and wait to decide on the lens, some have already decided but money not yet become reachable, some have both but dont use them !! Let me know, if you need any assistance in carrying the bag while on a trip.

I would rather suggest you to go for the 60mm f/2.8. It shall do all that of a 50mm and some more - Macro.

Originally Posted by shajufx

I am selling my 35mm 1.8 and getting a 50mm 1.4, slowly preparing myself for the FX body, preferably the new upgrade expected of D700. So far no idea about the launch date. Birding is out of my 'hot' interest, otherwise I would not have thought of FX.

As far as shooting something unique is concerned, I totally agree with what you have mentioned; with every single word. I shoot to satisfy myself and feel happy. Mostly it is wildlife only. The advantage being not many visit the sanctuaries and those who visit, only 5% out of them carry specialised equipment.

Originally Posted by shajufx

Trying to shoot something unique these days have become a very very tough job. You shoot a bird, there are 100s of similar images over the web ! You shoot a macro, you get 1000s of them again. You shoot an air show, you find 100 people post the same image same angle and even the same jet ! Luckily I missed the Kambala festival (buffalo race). There are 100s of images already. I no more have interest in group walks, above situation explains it. Its like the whole of Indian Army reporting at the boarder with their weapons. By the time you take out your gun, others have killed the enemies and gone back and even published the story on Facebook (with photos off course)

As & when you write this book and publish, give me a signed copy....

Originally Posted by shajufx

I might end up writing a book about "How to shoot different from others".

[SilkDrive]

Originally Posted by gd1418

@SilkDrive: Whatever brand you go for, finally it is the man behind the machine that matters. Having said that, you seem to have stepped into hot waters by making this statement.

I would be interested to know what made you come to this conclusion?

Thank you gd and evo !

Hot waters it is... so please allow me to correct myself. I was referring to only the "500D" and "D3100" by the words "Canon" and "Nikon" respectively. Did not make that statement for the brands in general.

[clevermax]

Originally Posted by shajufx

I might end up writing a book about "How to shoot different from others".

Shaju, if other shooters shoot the subject away, it might be a good idea to shoot the shooters... A copy for me too..

[Samurai]

Originally Posted by shajufx

Trying to shoot something unique these days have become a very very tough job. You shoot a bird, there are 100s of similar images over the web ! You shoot a macro, you get 1000s of them again. You shoot an air show, you find 100 people post the same image same angle and even the same jet ! Luckily I missed the Kambala festival (buffalo race). There are 100s of images already. I no more have interest in group walks, above situation explains it. Its like the whole of Indian Army reporting at the boarder with their weapons. By the time you take out your gun, others have killed the enemies and gone back and even published the story on Facebook (with photos off course)

I might end up writing a book about "How to shoot different from others".

Good, you have finally completed one full circle. It is important to go through that phase where you get to understand all the nuances (technical/composition) of shooting under different situations. Through that phase, you also get to understand what kind of photography you like to do.

In my opinion, to be different should not be the goal. That means you are letting others influence what you shoot, instead of what you want to shoot. That is still peer pressure. For example, I didn't buy into Olympus family to be different, I went by the features that appealed to me among the options available during my dive into dSLRs. Frankly, it is pain to be in Olympus family, but there are rewards.

I think you have explored into all kind of topics in the past couple years. Now think about what was most satisfying, and focus on that. Don't worry about what everybody else is doing, this is not a career move where you need to think about competition.