Took the plunge and switched from Canon to Nikon

[junior2725]

I had to start from scratch because all of my gear was stolen, and decided to switch to the D300. I just picked it up today, and after playing with it for a little bit, I realized how much I have to learn. The controls are nothing like my 20D. I'm sure that in the long run I will be happy. So far I have the 18-200mm Nikon lens and I just ordered the Tokina 10-17mm fisheye zoom, and the Nikon 105mm macro. I'm excited to have a camera again, but it is kinda frustrating not knowing how to use it. Well I guess I better get back to reading the manual.

 

[Warren_L]

Congrats, that's a nice setup. Remember, the lenses turn the other way to mount them.

 

[Fota]

I had to start from scratch because all of my gear was stolen, and decided to switch to the D300. I just picked it up today, and after playing with it for a little bit, I realized how much I have to learn. The controls are nothing like my 20D. I'm sure that in the long run I will be happy. So far I have the 18-200mm Nikon lens and I just ordered the Tokina 10-17mm fisheye zoom, and the Nikon 105mm macro. I'm excited to have a camera again, but it is kinda frustrating not knowing how to use it. Well I guess I better get back to reading the manual.

Welcome to the Nikon family!

Here is where you can post questions. What's really cool with the D300 is that it's so adjustable. You can make your own menues, you can assign almost anything to any knob, you have two wheels to turn and sooo many options and settings.

I just got my D300 yesterday as well. I switched from D200.

You have picked very good uw-lenses, but note that the 18-200 is not a top notch land lens. It's an OK lens with a good range. You will get many great shots with it and the VR is really nice. But if you feel that the D300 is not meeting your expectation under some conditions (low light e.g.) with the 18-200, concider getting a more special purpose lens as well. The Nikon 12-24 is a very nice lens is you are into land based wide angle.

To get fantastic land based flash shots, you can get the small and cheap SB-400 and make your own a-better-bounce-card. The results are amazing (I have done that).

Oh, and finally, before you go on your expensive diving trip, make sure your system is honky. Check all lenses that you get perfect focus (no front/back-fokus) and that the D300 housing's AF is spot on. Mine is superb, the D200 was good too (even if it's AF wasn't half as good) but I've had several new lenses that needed (more or less) service/adjustment. The service at Nikon was really fast, for free and the lenses came back 100% sharp. The problem is that I didn't check this before my diving trip...
None of this is typical for Nikon, you get it with any brand, but it's worth mentioning over and over.

The D300 liveview has got alot of negative feedback. It sure sucks in many ways (and so does most other D-SLR liveview!), if you use the liveVew Tripod mode, Manual focus and zoom in the display, you have the most fantastic macro (actually any static subjects, not only macro!!!) manual focus system ever made. Partly due to the amazing display on the D300.

All in all the D300 is an amazing camera with an AF that really works spot on (even in low light!!!), but when it comes to low noise high ISO and improved auto WB, I dunno (well I've only tested the camera for a couple of hours...). So far I haven't felt _that_ much of a difference compared to my D200 (indoor WB is still better when set manually and there is more noise even in ISO 400 than I like). But, as I've sold the D200 I can't really make an A to B comparisment...


/Fota

 

[junior2725]

Congrats, that's a nice setup. Remember, the lenses turn the other way to mount them.

Yeah, I figured that out in the store when I was looking at the camera. I kept trying to put the lens on and it wouldn't work. It will take some getting used to as I still try and turn them the wrong way. I also end up playing with trying to get the lens cover on.

 

[junior2725]

Welcome to the Nikon family!

Here is where you can post questions. What's really cool with the D300 is that it's so adjustable. You can make your own menues, you can assign almost anything to any knob, you have two wheels to turn and sooo many options and settings.

I just got my D300 yesterday as well. I switched from D200.

You have picked very good uw-lenses, but note that the 18-200 is not a top notch land lens. It's an OK lens with a good range. You will get many great shots with it and the VR is really nice. But if you feel that the D300 is not meeting your expectation under some conditions (low light e.g.) with the 18-200, concider getting a more special purpose lens as well. The Nikon 12-24 is a very nice lens is you are into land based wide angle.

To get fantastic land based flash shots, you can get the small and cheap SB-400 and make your own a-better-bounce-card. The results are amazing (I have done that).

Oh, and finally, before you go on your expensive diving trip, make sure your system is honky. Check all lenses that you get perfect focus (no front/back-fokus) and that the D300 housing's AF is spot on. Mine is superb, the D200 was good too (even if it's AF wasn't half as good) but I've had several new lenses that needed (more or less) service/adjustment. The service at Nikon was really fast, for free and the lenses came back 100% sharp. The problem is that I didn't check this before my diving trip...
None of this is typical for Nikon, you get it with any brand, but it's worth mentioning over and over.

The D300 liveview has got alot of negative feedback. It sure sucks in many ways (and so does most other D-SLR liveview!), if you use the liveVew Tripod mode, Manual focus and zoom in the display, you have the most fantastic macro (actually any static subjects, not only macro!!!) manual focus system ever made. Partly due to the amazing display on the D300.

All in all the D300 is an amazing camera with an AF that really works spot on (even in low light!!!), but when it comes to low noise high ISO and improved auto WB, I dunno (well I've only tested the camera for a couple of hours...). So far I haven't felt _that_ much of a difference compared to my D200 (indoor WB is still better when set manually and there is more noise even in ISO 400 than I like). But, as I've sold the D200 I can't really make an A to B comparisment...


/Fota

I picked the 18-200mm for just a basic starter lens for my topside stuff. I will use my 105mm macro lens topside also. I don't think that the 10-17mm will be used much topside, but I think it will be great underwater. Either the Tokina or Nikon 12-24mm lens will be my next lens purchase. I need a good lens for landscape work. It just wasn't in the budget. What I have ordered/gotten is already costing me a little over a grand over what the insurance paid out on my old equipment. I did go ahead and purchase the SB800 speedlight. I already have two DS-125 strobes and the 8in dome for ikelite. I have a couple of ports that I can't use now, because of the lens switch. I think I am going to hang onto the one and probably try and sell the other one. Of course my new housing is on the way, along with new ports. I can't wait to get it underwater. I've spent the morning looking through the manual and learning how to change settings on the camera. There is a lot more to it than there was to my 20D. I love it.

 

[H2O Photo Pros]

Congrats on the new camera. Its amazing!! Now its time to get that bad boy underwater.

 

[DivePhotoGuide]

Large zoom range lenses do not perform well underwater. I'd avoid the 18-200 in a housing and go with fixed (10.5) or short range zoom lesnes (like the 12-24 or tokina 10-17). Don't sacrifice quality for versatility, it's a big tradeoff.

 

[junior2725]

Large zoom range lenses do not perform well underwater. I'd avoid the 18-200 in a housing and go with fixed (10.5) or short range zoom lesnes (like the 12-24 or tokina 10-17). Don't sacrifice quality for versatility, it's a big tradeoff.

I got the 18-200 for a starter land lens, this one wouldn't really be any use for underwater. I got the Tokina 10-17 fisheye and Nikon 105mm macro for underwater.

 

[JackConnick]

The 60mm macro is a favorite of most. Fast, sharp and cheap, at least for the older non-AFS version.

 

[DivePhotoGuide]

You got the right lenses! Now all you have to do is get wet and shoot! Enjoy!