Nikon D3/D300 news

[Lazy Llama]

There's a new firmware out for the D300, which fixes a banding problem for long exposures (I think).

Hmm.... link isn't showing as underlines on "new firmware"

 

[liberty]

Blimey. That's some generous gift!

He's a generous man

How are you finding it Ed, living up to your expectations?

 

[liberty]

Blimey! You're one lucky gal!

I'm very jealous.

I will let you have a go when I see you

 

[liberty]

Can anyone who has the D300 let me know of a good carera bag for it..

Just tried to fit it in mine but it is too deep...

 

[editor]

Can anyone who has the D300 let me know of a good carera bag for it..

I use an old bobble hat and a backpack! I cant be arsed with zippy cases.

It's a fabulous camera.

 

[liberty]

I have only taken a couple of shots as I have not received the lens and I am currently borrowing one..

The quality is more than I could have ever hoped for..

I love it

 

[FunkyUK]

Can anyone who has the D300 let me know of a good carera bag for it..

Just tried to fit it in mine but it is too deep...

Depends what lens(es) you will keep on it? If 'm just carrying the camera with a single lens for a walk, I tend not to use a bag. I was toying with gettiing one of the crumpler prettyboy (or million dollar home) range a while back but couldn't decide which to get.

This is a very useful link showing users gear in their bags ..... http://www.cambags.com/

hth

 

[liberty]

Thanks for the info FunkyUK I found the pretty boy on ebay for a very good price so I have ordered it.

At the moment I have the Nikon 18-200 VF lens. Wanting to het a wide angle and macro but they may have to wait a while

 

[Paul Russell]

I've been keen on updating my trusty Nikon D70 (coming up to its 4th birthday) but am always dangerously skint.

A couple of days ago a Nikon D300 type amount of money appeared in my bank account, which I think is a tax rebate. I should spend it elsewhere, but I'm tempted to get a new camera...

The only other camera that could tempt me is the Pentax K20D, which I'm sure will be a worse camera in terms of low light performance and focusing speed, but is better for me in terms of being smaller and having some really small lenses. In some ways the controls are better for the Pentax, for example you can assign the front and back wheels to whatever you fancy, e.g. ISO.

Tricky...

 

[Valve]

Paul– Have you considered the Canon 5D? As far as I know it isn't that much more than the D300, and it is, of course, full frame. You mention Pentax so I assume switching makes isn't too big a deal with regard to lenses. I use Pentax for film so I can't vouch for their digital equipment. That said, apparently they are not going to make a digital back for my MF camera because of the success of their *ist dslrs.

 

[Paul Russell]

Paul– Have you considered the Canon 5D? As far as I know it isn't that much more than the D300, and it is, of course, full frame. You mention Pentax so I assume switching makes isn't too big a deal with regard to lenses. I use Pentax for film so I can't vouch for their digital equipment. That said, apparently they are not going to make a digital back for my MF camera because of the success of their *ist dslrs.

Hi

Yes, the Canon 5D is a great camera, and you can probably get it for a good price now.

The appeal of the Nikon is that I have a few Nikon lenses and it seems to be a bit better than the 5D, and the appeal of the Pentax is the smaller size of the body and the very small lenses available, like the 21mm. So I ruled out the 5D, maybe for non-logical reasons!

 

[editor]

There's no denying that the D300 is a chunky beast, but it's a really lovely camera and a massive leap up from the D70.

 

[Paul Russell]

There's no denying that the D300 is a chunky beast, but it's a really lovely camera and a massive leap up from the D70.

Oh yeah, I could do with the extra pixels for a start.

The huge size of the D300 is a minus point for me but being able to use ISO 1600 opens up whole new possibilities for indoor photography, etc. as I've never liked using flash.

So I'm wavering between the D300 for the general quality and low light ability vs the Pentax K20D for the smaller size and size of lenses.

 

[FunkyUK]

being able to use ISO 1600

using ISO 3200 on the d300 is comparable noise-wise to using iso 800 on my d70

d300 is astonishing in low light.

 

[Paul Russell]

using ISO 3200 on the d300 is comparable noise-wise to using iso 800 on my d70

d300 is astonishing in low light.

Thanks, yes -- I'm weighing up the options.

This whole new high ISO is a bit of a photo milestone, innit -- being able to use natural light when there's almost none.

 

[kage]

Well I went out and bought it yesterday, haven't told the girlfriend yet . I picked it up with the 18-200 VR, 4 Gb card and a UV filter for three grand (canadian)

It's breathtaking, and immediately exposes my rather limited skill. It's gonna take some getting used to.

 

[editor]

The D3 has just got a frothing review at dpreview.com:

we can confirm that from an image quality and performance point of view the D3 raises the bar by a fair degree. For a sports camera it's also a surprisingly good studio and landscape camera, and if there's a better DSLR out there for photojournalists and red carpet paps we've yet to meet it. Image quality (especially at higher ISOs) is stunning, the camera a joy to use and the speed and responsiveness breathtaking. If there is an EOS-1Ds Mark III - bating 'D3X' coming this year it will have quite a job to do to better the D3; possibly the most compelling, capable and well-rounded professional digital SLR ever made.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/NikonD3/

 

[Bernie Gunther]

I had a play with a D3 today. Bit expensive for my tastes and somewhat huge, but awesome capability. Really notice the difference in autofocus over my D200 and picture quality is just stunning.