[Teerawit]

Yeah, I would just be careful with it though...I wouldn't feel comfortable having my sensor exposed directly to the sun too often or for an extended period of time. Better the sensor than your retina, but still

 

[rhythmdevils]

could the sun really damage the sensor?  Never heard that before

 

[encg]

Manual focus on the 50mm f/1.8 with the older bodies is a double-edged sword.

 

[Iron_Dreamer]

Quote:

could the sun really damage the sensor?  Never heard that before

It is well known that the sun, especially if magnified by a long lens, can leave burns on an SLR's mirror.  Given the sensitivity of IC's to heat, I wouldn't think that leaving a sensor exposed to the direct sun for long periods of time would be a good thing.

 

[choka]

Quote:

could the sun really damage the sensor?  Never heard that before

If you are really stupid and use a telephoto lens to direct a light beam from the sun onto the sensor for 10 minutes.
 
For all practical reasons it is not something you should worry about. Light will deteriorate the sensor, eventually, but you probably would have wore out other parts of your camera way before that. Anyone who tells you not to shoot into the sun EVER to avoid damage is analogous to advising you to stop breathing because the air is polluted and will kill you eventually.

 

[Teraflame]

Does anyone have experience with the 70-300VR? I'm thinking of getting it for nature/landscape and street photography with occasional outdoor sports mixed in.

 

[bigshot]

I've been investigating the 70-300 VR too. It appears to be a wash image quality wise with the 55-200 VR. If I didn't already have the 18-200 VR, I'd probably just save the money and get the 55-200 instead.

 

[Teraflame]

Quote:

 It appears to be a wash image quality wise with the 55-200 VR.

Really? From what I've read people say that its incredibly sharp from 70-200mm. I can't imagine that its on the level of the 55-200

 

[JaZZ]

 

Really? From what I've read people say that its incredibly sharp from 70-200mm.

It is. Stopped down it is sharp up to 300 mm. I have no idea how it compares to the 55-200, though.
 
Photozone:    55-200    70-300
.

 

[bigshot]

The 18-55 / 55-200 combo are among Nikon's sharpest lenses. They're slow, but so is the 70-300. Check out the MTF charts on the Nikon site.

The main difference is the extra reach of the 70-300. They both have plastic mounts.

 

[nik0lai]

Sharp is relative.
 
Anyway, I left all the gear chasing when I got my D2h years ago, so I have nothing to add to this thread . She's been my left nut for the past 6 years, and you can have it when I'm out of ammo and you pry it from my cold dead fingers. (It and the Tokina 28-80 2.8 PRO that's been permanently mounted on it, ha.)

 

[bigshot]

One correction... The 70-300 has a metal ass mount (but platic filter threads).

 

[cj3209]

Nice to see another Nikon forum (in an audio forum...).
 
I too left my gear chasing with my trusty D2x (although when the D700 goes down in price, I may bite).  I've noticed that my focus is not as automatic as it used to be, especially after mating it with my 24-70/2.8.  Is it my aging body or my lens?
 
Anyone else have this issue w/a D2x?  It's not a major issue as I've been taking additional shots to compensate for some pics that seem to be back-focused.
 
CJ

 

[nik0lai]

My D2h does it sometimes. Whens the last time you cleaned it? They occasionaly loose the calibration from the factory too.

 

[ccbass]

Quote:

The 18-55 / 55-200 combo are among Nikon's sharpest lenses. They're slow, but so is the 70-300. Check out the MTF charts on the Nikon site.

The main difference is the extra reach of the 70-300. They both have plastic mounts.

 
For being cheap, slow, plastic based lenses, yes.  The 18-55mm is a freak of a lens.  Despite it being a kit lens and extremely slow, it is rather sharp.  Too sharp for a kit lens, but heck, better for the consumer. 
 
 
 
 
I own a D90, 80-200 2.8 AF-D [two ring], Sigma 18-50 2.8, and sb-800.  If you have any questions just ask because those two lenses are extremely popular vs their much more expensive big brothers.