kanuck said:
Interesting to know, thanks itsnotmeyouknow for sharing and welcome to the forum. You didn't waste much time and quickly built up an impressive list of gear! The 35mm ZF .2 F2 is fantastic isn't it? I heard the 21 and 25 lenses are outstanding especially on the D800. I had a 25mm ZF original version for my F100 a while back but had to trade it in for a zoom lens. I think it was part of the 24-70mm lens that I picked up back in 2010..

Thanks for the welcome! Yes the Zeiss is excellent on both cameras. The focus grip is as smooth as silk. It's also very sharp. I had a brief look at the 25 and the 21 and decided to stick with the 35 as that is a good FL to have stuck to the camera for a walkabout. I'm amazed that since I bought my D800 in September I have taken almost 16,000 shots! I do tend to be quite snap happy! I do love the detail of the D800, it's USP for me is the dynamic range. Maybe Canon will catch up. But resolution isn't everything they will need to catch up on the DR or handle the noise better at low ISO when you are forced to push the shadows.

bleephotography said:
Thanks all for the input. If my third copy of the Canon 24-70 II arrives subpar, I will be switching over to Nikon indefinitely. Although Canon has its advantages, I feel like the current feature set of Nikon might be more suitable for my intended progression.

If this ends up being the case, what do you think of the following setup for a Nikon noob:
D800E
14-24 f/2.8
24-70 f/2.8
70-200 f/2.8 VR II
35 f/1.4

and one SB-910.

With this setup my approach is minimalist and versatility, with the intention of covering my bases for anything from weddings to landscapes, and even to sports...

Your story is almost exactly like my story. I just got to feel that I (and everyone else) was not getting any younger and at my stage in life, I was no longer willing to just wait for Canon to enter the high MP game. I do landscapes and seascapes and every time I go out and shoot I can choose to pick up a Nikon bag or a Canon bag. I've been a Canon shooter for about 9 years and a Nikon shooter for less than a year. But in my own testing using one of my actual landscape locations I've compared all the lenses of both Canon and Nikon. I miss my 17 tse Canon lens and the dual axis 24 tse Canon lens. The Nikon 24 tse is ok but I really enjoy using the Nikon 14-24 which is very versatile. The extra resolution and much higher dynamic range of my Nikon is much better than my Canon work. I have both the D800 and D800e and I prefer the "E" model, although I keep it for special occasions (like really good weather).

Right now I'm having a focusing problem with the D800 and the 24-70 (needs -20 af adjust at 70), but I'll send it into Nikon. My D800e doesn't have the problem. By the way, if you can afford to, you CAN keep your Canon equipment and just choose to shoot Nikon. I really feel that Canon will come around sometime in the next 2-4 years and deliver (actually deliver - not just announce) a high MP camera (over 40mp). Then I will once again enjoy all my great Canon lenses plus my Nikon lenses (because Nikon lenses CAN fit - with Noveflex adapters - Canon bodies). I hope you enjoy your Nikon experience.

Or at the every least at a discount.

msmoto......

Using the back pack would also work, but there's just a bit more air in there, and it may have a bit of moisture in it; actually, all you're trying to do is to let the equipment warm up without being in contact with air, as air almost always has some moisture in it.

I guess no one has tried a Hoodman loupe; I noticed a used, "like new" one on eBay, that started out at $42; it took 4 days of waiting, but I scored it yesterday for $62 and free shipping; (better than paying $80 I guess!) I have noticed that my focus has been a little off in my night shots of Xmas lights, so I'm going to use this thing's 3X magnification to achieve more accurate manual focus.

Now I must run to the Court House.......just found out that you must give the county $20 for a license before you can get married !
Bummer, that ! ( I think 80 yr olds should be able to get married for free ! )

sometime, when working in the dark

Having set the Hyperfocal distance to the widest aperture I am going to use
I fix the focus to manual, then tape over the focus ring, so it cannot be accidentally moved

Don't forget to "zero out" when you get home

Thanks Charley. I actually place all the gear in my small Lowepro backpack and wait a while if it is extremely cold where I was shooting. Often, if traveling by car...I place the camera in a blanket when I get into the car. This is on the floor and apparently allows the body to warm up slowly.

Rx4Photo; (and anyone else)

One good tip for when you're going to be out in the cold with your camera; be sure to take a few gallon size zip-loc freezer bags with you ! (They'll fit in a shirt pocket) Before you come back inside where it's warm, stick your camera body in a bag, and zip it shut; ditto with each lens you have with you; when you come back in, don't remove anything from the bags until the contents have warmed up to the ambient indoor temp. You won't get any condensation externally or internally on your camera gear.

Charley

There has been great advice already posted here. As someone who a couple of months ago went through exactly the dilemma you are now, here's my $0.02.

- I ended up sticking with Canon, and buying a 5dMkIII. After 2 months, I am increasingly happy with my decision. For what it's worth, Popular Photography just awarded the 5DMkIII its Camera of the Year for 2012, and their reasoning is pretty sound. If I had made the switch - which would've hurt financially - I'm sure I would now be regretting the move.

- That said, I enjoyed my time playing with Nikons. Teething issues notwithstanding, there's a lot for Nikkor owners to feel excited about.

- Unless you are a professional photographer who has a very very specific need for something the D800 or 5D does better, and this is going to make you more money, switching systems is pretty dumb.

Friedmud has the right idea with the mitts. I have a thin glove on underneath these so you never expose your skin to the cold. I shoot in -20C. By then I'm wearing a balaclava to keep my face protected.

friedmud said:
If the core of your body starts to get cold your body will automatically react to save itself... and will start cutting circulation off to your hands and feet to keep your core warm. This means that one of the best things you can do to keep your hands warm is... wear a big ass coat.

msmoto said:
If one keeps the core temperature of the body very warm, even a bit on the "hot" side, the vasodilatation of the extremities will tend to keep the fingers and toes much warmer. So, bundle up the head, neck and torso in multiple layers and enjoy warm fingers.

Haha, now this is what I call a real pro tip! Not that it would be completely unknown fact, but keeping it in mind and being serious about it is.

Interesting to know, thanks itsnotmeyouknow for sharing and welcome to the forum. You didn't waste much time and quickly built up an impressive list of gear! The 35mm ZF .2 F2 is fantastic isn't it? I heard the 21 and 25 lenses are outstanding especially on the D800. I had a 25mm ZF original version for my F100 a while back but had to trade it in for a zoom lens. I think it was part of the 24-70mm lens that I picked up back in 2010..

I still have the 5D mk III but have sold some of my L glass and Zeiss 35 f/2 to get good 2nd hand glass for my D800. The reason I changed is because of the noise banding on the mk III made many shots unuseable without softening the shot with Noise Reduction. I concur with those that say the quiet mode is far superior on the Canon. It is massively superior.

Dynamic range they are worlds apart with the D800 winning by some distance. My set up is as follows:

Nikkor 14 - 24
24 - 70
80 - 200 AF-S
200 macro f/4
AFS 300 f/4 plus 1.7 extender
AFS 50 1.8 G
AFS 60 2.8 G macro
AFD 85 1.8
Tamron 100 macro
Carl Zeiss 35 f/2 ZF2

This thread is becoming more and more relevant as I've read it in the last few days. I'll be going to Steamboat Springs, Colorado just after New Years and I know I'll want to get out and do some "lone wolf" photography. Most daytime shooting I'll likely bring (drag) my family with me but I would love to do a bit of late evening or nighttime shooting as well. Those times I'll likely be alone. I know it'll definitely be colder than anything I've grown accustomed to so all of this info is good stuff.

Thanks for all of your posts here. I've nothing to contribute but reading this give's me ideas of what I might needed for the trip.

Ironheart says;

Nothing beats a good beard however ;-)

Ohhhheee ! I "use" to wear a beard; (way back in the 50's or 60's when everyone going by turned around and STARED at you) !
I think every guy has to see what he looks like with a beard, at least one time in his life; well, I had my "one time", I now "know", and I'm no longer curious. But that's not saying that I'm always clean shaven; I always am, at least when there will be anyone seeing me;
I think I must be part "plant"; you know, this time of year, when there are a lot of dreary, sunless days, and the plants just kinda, "droop down"........it's kinda what I do, I tend to respond to warmth and sunlight. Today it was bright and sunny.......for several hours; so I perked right up, went to town, bought a few things, had a bite to eat, (so there would be no dishes to wash).

I actually did start the day off today with a nice close shave; I always feel so much better after brushing my teeth, shaving, showering, and getting into nice clean clothes.

While I'm thinking about it, can anyone tell me this..........after a few years of enjoying the best view finder ever made, (on my F-5), there are many times that I find the VF on my 300s "lacking"; so I tend to use "live view" quite a bit; just recently, I have determined that I need a really good loupe to "enhance" the view, and even magnify it slightly; I'm thinking very strongly of buying a Hoodman Loupe to use on the LCD; has anyone used the Hoodman, or does anyone know of any other options ? I see a bunch of $25 ones, but I'm sure they have inexpensive plastic lenses in them; at least I've heard that the Hoodman uses German made optical glass lenses, and they do have focusing; so has anyone used one, and if so, what are your thoughts ?

Mac The knife said:
I bought a D70s off of Ebay that ended up having a stuck shutter. While emailing the seller, I found a web page detailing what a guy did to fix his, and did the same, but without the scissors. I may have got lucky, but I kept the camera, and the seller and I agreed upon a 50 dollar refund.

That repair job only works of you're hoping that the stuck shutter will unstick itself. I wouldn't invest in a possibly dud camera.

Here's the webpage,,,, http://johnbagnell.blogspot.com/2009/08/how-to-fix-d70s-or-d70-shutter.html

I bought a D70s off of Ebay that ended up having a stuck shutter. While emailing the seller, I found a web page detailing what a guy did to fix his, and did the same, but without the scissors. I may have got lucky, but I kept the camera, and the seller and I agreed upon a 50 dollar refund.

You can get a very nice D70s or D50 from Adorama used for $150-200. For more money a more current body such as a D90 or other. Having an old body repaired is way too expensive. Once a body is several years old, unless it is a pro body, repairs are almost more than what it is worth.

Find another body. Take it for free. Working $120 - $200tops

framer

Hi Bob,

Welcome to the forum.

I would pass on that one if it were me. Presuming you would get it repaired, you would end up paying quite a lot for a really old tech camera. If you are thinking of getting it converted to infra-red, then it may be worth it but it doesn't sound like that's your plan.

Hi All,
I am Bob with an opportunity to buy a D60 (body only) with a known stuck shutter for about $50. I currently have an N2000 that does not work, no display in viewfinder with new batteries, but know that lenses will work on D60. Is this fixable, cheap, or should I look for another. Also will my lenses work on any other Nikon digital camera?

Cheers,
Bob

Did Nikon add an option to switch off the DoF preview in LV in any recent firmware update or is it still always engaged?

Nothing beats a good beard however ;-)

Glad you guys found it useful!

Gitzo: Good point about a cell-phone. One thing that's cool about iPhones is that if you setup "Find My Friends" with your wife... she can keep track of where you are when you're out doing photography.

Even if it isn't perfect, at least the search and rescue team has somewhere to start looking ;-)

Another thing I find useful when it's cold is a "buff" to keep the wind off my face. I really like these from Eddie Baur (they call them "Multiclavas" over there):

http://www.eddiebauer.com/catalog/product.jsp?ensembleId=40736&catPath=&viewAll=n&pg=1&cmPathInfo=T307

They are really small (you can wad them up and put them in your pocket if you have to. They won't make you hot... but they do keep the wind off your face for less windburn...

If one keeps the core temperature of the body very warm, even a bit on the "hot" side, the vasodilatation of the extremities will tend to keep the fingers and toes much warmer. So, bundle up the head, neck and torso in multiple layers and enjoy warm fingers. I use Gore-Tex gloves which allow control of the camera, yet avoid any wind/skin contact.