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.

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.

kanuck said:
Yes the Holly Trinity set of enormous weight^^

you got that right! Im thnking about tanking my 28-70mm for a 50mm as I never zoom with that thing... My 14-24mm and 70-200mm stay.

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..

Yes the Holly Trinity set of enormous weight^^

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

R8R said:
"14 Bit" .........
"Lossless compressed". = 41.3 MB
"Compressed" = 35.9 MB
"Uncompressed" = 74.4 MB

"12 Bit" ..........
"Lossless Compressed" = 32.4 MB
"Compressed" = 29.0 MB
"Uncompressed" = 57.0 MB

The whopper is TIFF: 108.2 MB
o_O

These file sizes vary, though, depending on the image. I mean the compressed ones.

THANKS

The good news is that I can gain control in manual by using the aperture ring. The not so good news is that the control panel goes a bit nuts with fEE flashes (= off min setting) and various f stops that don't coincide with what is set. In image review the meta data shows a - for f stop which is unfortunate. Oh well, too bad the lens isn't compatible.

Thanks again

If you are talking about desert conditions.. i would seriously consider taking the tough little coolpix AW100.. and you can have that with almost all the time ! :-) even in the shower ! :-)

Geoff_K said:
A portable HEATED shower. ;- >

I could see that being handy, lol

msmoto said:
One thought I had was to take any other gear you have at the moment, pack it into individual shipping boxes and address them, then if needed you could have someone ship them to you.

Also, you made a statement about your fiancé not being too happy about all this. Not certain why you said this, but maybe you can sit down with someone and discuss the entire trip, goals to be accomplished, and then look at the equipment. So often, a non involved party can help us when we are going off for a long time. Maybe there is something else you are forgetting.

This all relates to playing in the big sandbox across the pond (from the US) as some have called it. My photography has nothing to do with the goals to be accomplished looking at it from a job standpoint, this is just something for me to relax and focus my attention somewhere else.

The fiance not happy about this is more of a stress for me feeling bad about leaving her behind you might say, she understands and is proud of me but still does not want to see me leave. With all this, I more wanted an outside check to make sure I was not forgetting something basic that would have been photography critical you might say. So far it seems I didn't loose my mind totally, lol.

Gear choice might be a bit strange but I understand and agree that it really depends on the person and location your heading to really know what your going to need. Unfortunately I really don't know all the information either so I am flying a bit blind on this trip. Thanks for everyone's input.

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.

@Geoff_K if you have a smartphone...like the iPhone...just get the iPhone App by Nikon and download the manuals for your cameras for all the ones you want. :D

http://www.nikonusa.com/en/Learn-And-Explore/Article/fyu1ffrj/Learn-And-Explore-for-the-iPhone.html
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/manual-viewer/id468999172?mt=8

RDA I think PB PM and msmoto has it right. I also found this on the Tamron web site. Hope it helps.

Setting the f-numbers with Nikon & Pentax cameras
Photographing in a programmed-AE or a shutter-speed-priority-AE mode, rotate the lens
aperture ring to the minimum aperture setting position, in the case of a Nikon camera, and
set on the "A" position in the case of a Pentax camera.The aperture ring will be locked in
position automatically.When shooting in an aperture-priority-AE or manual-exposure mode,
release the lens aperture ring by rotating the ring from the AE lock position and depressing
the Aperture ring lock button. If your camera is a Nikon F401 or F50, you can set the aperture
to any desired f-number, leaving the aperture ring at the minimum opening position.
* The lens aperture varies with zooming movement. Cameras read the different lens openings
and automatically adjust the exposure properly.
* For further details, please read the instruction manual of your camera.

Nice to see this pos come back to the front. I'm heading out of town on the 14th to about the 24 or later. So I have decided to take...hmmm lets see....Everything! Less the monopod. LOL!

D4
D7000
10.5 2.8 Fisheye (DX)
24 1.5G
35 1.8G
50 1.4G
85 1.8G
105 2.8G VRII
The Holly Trinity Set (14-24, 24-70, 70-200 2.8)
SB 700
RRS Tripod
GPS Units
Promote Controle System
Extra Batteries for both bodies and flash
ND, CPL and color filters
17" MPB Pro Laptop
Two Backpacks to hold all the gear

And some more goodies...but you get the idea. I hate not having the what it take to get the shot I'm after. :P

Ooh and I get lucky to hook up with Eric up in Napa (which is where I'm heading), I just might get my hands on his 300 2.8 for a bit as well.

This lens does have a manual aperture ring and it should be set at f/22 for shutter or program priority. If shooting M or A, I believe the ring will determine the aperture setting.

The instructions for the lens are not very clear.

I have realized that each individual decision regarding what to take on a trip is actually made on what is to be photographed. And, I do not have any idea what the end goal is, scoobysmak.

One thought I had was to take any other gear you have at the moment, pack it into individual shipping boxes and address them, then if needed you could have someone ship them to you.

Also, you made a statement about your fiancé not being too happy about all this. Not certain why you said this, but maybe you can sit down with someone and discuss the entire trip, goals to be accomplished, and then look at the equipment. So often, a non involved party can help us when we are going off for a long time. Maybe there is something else you are forgetting.

@ Geoff_K Tape....you mean all forty hours of it? LOL

It is on my iPhone and computer. Actually very easy to reference and search. There is way too much information to remember...

I leave mine in 14bit. I changed it to 12 when I started shooting with it and decided to try it at 14. It didnt seem to make much difference in my computer editing time, so I left it at 14.

I cannot say I noticed a difference however I was not really looking at an image difference, just if it would make a noticeable difference in my editing time. I leave it at 14 for the same reason I leave it at 36MP.

R8R, do they have it on tape ? ;- >

A portable HEATED shower. ;- >

Does the Tamron have a physical aperture ring? If so what is it set to?

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