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Every time I pick up a Canon, I'm underwhelmed. Like Towert7, I don't 'get' their ergonomics. It's like holding a plastic shell. The Nikons I've used all have a fuller grip and feel more substantial.
Well, the other day I saw a deal so good for a 35-70 F2.8, that I couldn't not buy it. Seems like a pretty nifty lens thus far, though I'm not sure I prefer it to the Sigma 24-60 for everday shooting. The AF is pretty sluggish by comparison. The faux-macro mode is very cool though, and much better than I had expected (I figured it would be an afterthought, toss-on feature).
Peter ... nice pickup. How close does the Macro (Micro, in Nikon speak) mode let you get, and what magnification? Can it do 1:1? If so, that is quite a gem, and you should have a lot of fun with it.
__________________ There's a prize in every box! Aarrgh!
Headphoneus Supremus: Videographus Supremus: Makes audio cables using super-advanced materials, like "some clear tape" and "some not so clear tape."
Originally Posted by agile_one
I have the new 60mm AF S Micro, and think it is a fabulous lens. Perhaps the sharpest in my bag, quick to focus, and very flexible on a crop body (D300). Can double as a "long" normal lens and "short" portrait. Colors and contrast are superb - one of my favorite lenses.
Hm? Did you jump ship back to Nikon? Or are you in both camps now?
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My advice to you:
- Use your own ears as everybody's hearing and preferences are different.
- Try to audition as much equipment as possible to find your sound.
- Buy used to save money.
Peter ... nice pickup. How close does the Macro (Micro, in Nikon speak) mode let you get, and what magnification? Can it do 1:1? If so, that is quite a gem, and you should have a lot of fun with it.
The macro mode (not called micro in this case) on the 35-70mm is 'ok', but it is not true 1:1 macro. You can get pretty close though, since you are in 35mm. My old kit 18-55mm did better macro work at 55mm though.
Anyone have a D50 they want to dump for cheap? I dropped mine during a trip last week, and my command dial doesn't work now. No more short cuts for me, and now I'm stuck shooting at f1.4. It's cool for the most part since I shoot wide open usually, but I would like to stop down a little on occasions where I don't need to capture that much light. I don't want to be w/o a dslr while its out in service OR I can wait till Tues and find out who's announcing their next camera, and make a decision off that.
My options are either to wait for a D50 to come up on craigslist for cheap, or go pick up a d40/d60 and sell my screw drive lenses(50mm 1.4 and 85mm 1.8), or wait for D80 successor(d300 sensor? ). I'm not against getting a d40/d60 because I mostly use my Sigma 30mm 1.4(has HSM), and I'm planning on getting the Sigma 18-50mm 2.8 HSM so I can have a zoom again. I use my Nikkor 50mm for shows a lot, but I can always get the Sig 50mm(if its anything like their 30mm, I dont care if it costs more than the Nikkor). Or I can keep my lenses and then just get the next mid level consumer model that should give us some better AF, and cleaner high ISOs. In the end though, I'm gonna end up with 30mm 1.4, and an 18-50mm 2.8(or wide to mid equiv zoom) for lenses, because those are the lengths and apertures I use.
__________________ Home Rig: Samsung DVD-HD841--> Little Dot Micro Tube --> Grado SR-225 Portable Rig: Black Jailbroken iPhone 3G 16gb--> Translucent Black HearYourself AE1s head-fi feedback ebay feedback
If the D40 is the best you can afford, there is nothing wrong with that. If that is the case, get it and start having fun!
The 18-55 and 55-200 will give you a decent range, and it will be a good way for you to fool around with the range and see what you prefer or what you end up using more. From there, you can look into better, more specific, lenses.
I looked on bhphoto, and couldn't find the D40 (or D40x) body alone, and they only come with the kit 18-55mm. The D60 comes with a kit 18-55mm VR. Nikon | D60 SLR Digital Camera Kit with 18-55mm VR Lens | 25438
That would be a nice budget DSLR kit, especially if what M0T0XGUY says about the new 18-55VR vs. the older 18-55mm is true.
That's very true: you're buying a camera to use as much as you're buying a camera to admire its pictures. As a young kid, I actually didn't mind the Rebel's button placement and ergonomics, although I agree that the 40D underwhelmed me in comparison to the D200 / D300.
In terms of lenses, it's impossible to say for sure which brand has the superior selection. There are a few Canon lenses I'd love to have in a Nikon equivalent (70-200 f/4 / f/4 IS, 17-40 f/4) but by the same token, I'd hate to have a Canon camera without Nikon's superior 35 f/2.
Sometimes, I wonder why I didn't buy a Canon 40D instead of a D200 (they'd be the same price), but looking at the lenses I have, the pictures I've taken, and the relative ergonomics of the two, I'm glad I stuck with Nikon.
__________________ Main Rig: Kenwood DP-1100II CDP -> Heath AP-2510 Preamplifier -> MAD EAR+ HD -> Grado RS-1's Photo-Fi: Nikon D200 - 35mm f/2D - 85mm f/1.8D - 80mm-200mm f/2.8D
Headphoneus Supremus: Loyal member of Team Useful Post.
Sad to say it, but Canon's 35/1.4L runs rings around the Nikon 35/2. The 28/1.4...well, that's another story. I am hoping that Nikon starts updating their primes now that they finally have a full-frame body. I would love a good, modern 35/1.4 for the D3. Hopefully their will be some updated AFS primes at Photokina.
Sad to say it, but Canon's 35/1.4L runs rings around the Nikon 35/2. The 28/1.4...well, that's another story. I am hoping that Nikon starts updating their primes now that they finally have a full-frame body. I would love a good, modern 35/1.4 for the D3. Hopefully their will be some updated AFS primes at Photokina.
That would be wonderful if they did. Can always use some good wide angle lenses.
For me, I'm still waiting for a full frame D300/D80 type camera. I imagine that will take truly fantastic pictures compared to the typical APS sensors.
Let the DX dark ages end already I say!
Or are you in both camps now? 
OR I can wait till Tues and find out who's announcing their next camera, and make a decision off that. 
). I'm not against getting a d40/d60 because I mostly use my Sigma 30mm 1.4(has HSM), and I'm planning on getting the Sigma 18-50mm 2.8 HSM so I can have a zoom again. I use my Nikkor 50mm for shows a lot, but I can always get the Sig 50mm(if its anything like their 30mm, I dont care if it costs more than the Nikkor). Or I can keep my lenses and then just get the next mid level consumer model that should give us some better AF, and cleaner high ISOs. In the end though, I'm gonna end up with 30mm 1.4, and an 18-50mm 2.8(or wide to mid equiv zoom) for lenses, because those are the lengths and apertures I use.
