Hopefully Purchasing A D300

[skulkingghost]

Hello! I am transferring to a photography school full time next year, and am quite addicted now. I have finally saved up enough money to purchase a nice camera, and am looking into getting the D300 if my good student $3k scholarship comes in. I already have 2 1gb cf cards one being a sandisk Type II extreme card and one being a Lexar 1gb 133x card.

This is what my cart is as it stands. A few important questions are whether the 30mm lens will fit. I want a good portrait lens, and a good land scape lens as well. Also a nice zoom 200-300+mm. I would like good glass but not too expensive, with the crispest images, all lenses under about 7-800 please. I also would like a quick charger for these batteries. Is there such thing? Is there a better memory card to buy?

The Cart:
Nikon D300, 12.3 Megapixel SLR, Digital Camera (Camera Body) -$ 1,799.95
Nikon MB-D10 Multi-Power Battery Grip for Nikon D300 Digital Camera -$259.95
Lowepro Rover AW II Camera Backpack Kit -$ 103.55
Bogen / Manfrotto 3021BPRO Tripod Legs (Black) with 322RC2 Grip Action Ballhead (RC2) -$ 279.95
Hoya 67mm Ultraviolet UV(0) Haze Multi-Coated Glass Filter -$29.95
Nikon Imported Zoom Telephoto AF VR Zoom Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED AF-S ... -$ 469.95
Tokina Zoom Super Wide Angle AF 12-24mm f/4 AT-X 124AF Pro DX Autofocus Lens ... -$ 499.95
Sigma Normal 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM Autofocus Lens for Nikon Digital SLR ... -$ 429.00
Gepe Card Safe Extreme Combi Watertight Case - for Two Compact Flash (CF), ... -$ 18.95
Nikon EN-EL3e Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery (7.4v, 1500mAh) for Nikon .. -$ 44.95
Dot Line Remote Release for Nikon D200, D300, D2x, D2XS & D3 SLR Digital ... -$ 39.95
Lexar 2GB Professional 133x CompactFlash Card with Write Acceleration (WA) ... -$ 44.95

Any help would be great. All these prices taken off bhphoto.com.

 

[alfa147x]

what school?

i dont think memory was such a big deal, when i had my XTi i bought a 2gb for $60 from newegg then i bought a 2gb from microcenters for less then $20 and get about the same performance

 

[skulkingghost]

Antonelli school of photography then when i finish there I may take some classes at brooks / los angeles film school for underwater, range, landscape, and travel photography

 

[Heidfirst]

Originally posted by: alfa147x
i dont think memory was such a big deal, when i had my XTi i bought a 2gb for $60 from newegg then i bought a 2gb from microcenters for less then $20 and get about the same performance

depends what you shoot - for landscape etc. it won't but if you shoot sports etc. then ability to write quickly to the card becomes important hence why I'm getting ready to buy a 300x UDMA CF card.

 

[skulkingghost]

I like the 300x jsut googled it, perhaps I will substitute it. I do like taking action shots.

 

[alfa147x]

Originally posted by: Heidfirst

Originally posted by: alfa147x
i dont think memory was such a big deal, when i had my XTi i bought a 2gb for $60 from newegg then i bought a 2gb from microcenters for less then $20 and get about the same performance

depends what you shoot - for landscape etc. it won't but if you shoot sports etc. then ability to write quickly to the card becomes important hence why I'm getting ready to buy a 300x UDMA CF card.

I do shoot sports
www.inkedpaper.com
but i think its my low budget that holds me back from buying them

 

[alfa147x]

oh and if you want a 8gb card you can get a free heat sink

PNY 8GB Compact Flash (CF) Flash Card Model P-CF8GB-133W-DVDC - Retail
PNY Verto Heatsinks only - Retail Free with purchase!

Original price: $120.88
Discount: -$1.99
Combo Price: $118.89

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820178184


^ i found it funny....

edit:

holly shit this is fast!
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/...tion_CompactFlash.html

 

[magomago]

i looks like you are really missing out on 24-70. And on the 70 range, f/4 isn't that fast. Try to get a good 50mm prime in there...they are generally cheaper
edit:

didn't see 30 in there...either way i suggest a nice 50mm prime. It is generally the most used lens that I take on =)

 

[Heidfirst]

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bn...p&A=search&Q=%2A&bhs=t

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bn...p&A=search&Q=%2A&bhs=t

I believe that the Sonys are just rebranded Lexar.

 

[skulkingghost]

Originally posted by: magomago
i looks like you are really missing out on 24-70. And on the 70 range, f/4 isn't that fast. Try to get a good 50mm prime in there...they are generally cheaper
edit:

didn't see 30 in there...either way i suggest a nice 50mm prime. It is generally the most used lens that I take on =)

Thanks for the links everyone, Heid those look like some great cards! Mago, do you have any suggestions for the 50 prime? I didnt see many listed on the site, as I first was going to get a fast 50. But was recommend by a hobbyist neighbor to get a fast 85 instead of a 50.

 

[4x4expy]

You kind of skipped an important focal range from 24-70mm with your lens choices. On a budget(but obviously not too tight). I would look at the Tokina 17-50mm 2.8, along with the 70-300VR, or a nice used 80-200mm 2.8D in place of the 70-300. If you must have the 12-17mm range added in their, take a look at the Tokina 12-24mm. I have it and am pleased with it. I just find that I rarely use the focal length range. The Sigma 30 is a nice little lens, but a little wide for portraits and a little long for most landscapes. If you just want one fast aperture lens, the 50 f/1.4 (or 1.8) will do well and double as a nice portrait lens. The 85 is wonderful for portraits also, but not quite as versatile and compact as the 50's.

To sum it up... Tamron 17-50, Nikon 80-200mm 2.8, 50mm 1.8 would set you back about $1200, and cover a very usable range to start out. If you could add the 85 1.8, great.

Here are a few snapshots with the D300, 85mm 1.8 at ISO 3200. All taken at my son's Nativity play a few nights ago. They are pretty much straight out of camera, with only a small handheld stage light.

http://www.smugmug.com/photos/232785863-L.jpg
http://www.smugmug.com/photos/232792263-L.jpg
http://www.smugmug.com/photos/232802712-L.jpg
http://www.smugmug.com/photos/232808029-L.jpg

 

[soydios]

lenses:
- Tokina 12-24mm for wides
- Tokina 17-50mm f/2.8 for standard zoom
(you won't miss the 50-70mm segment)
- Nikon 70-300mm AF-S VR for telephoto zoom
- Sigma 30mm f/1.4 for normal prime
- Nikon 50mm AF f/1.8D for portrait prime

throw in an SB-600 for good measure. photography is all about capturing light, so why not add the capability to create it, and in a creative way? bounce flash will be your friend.

buy a bunch of rechargeable NiMH batteries for the flash and the MB-D10, to enable 8fps sports goodness. buying a complete EN-EL4a battery system is a very expensive way to go about getting more battery life and 8fps, unless you already have them from a D2 or D3.

memory cards are also necessary, but it does depend on how much you shoot between uploads. personally, I would go for at least whatever capacity would get you 200 lossless-compressed 12-bit RAW files.

:thumbsup: on the D300, it's an extraordinarily powerful camera, and a real bargain at $1800 for the quantity and quality of features that it puts at your fingertips.

 

[4x4expy]

Yeah, I don't really get the people spending $200-300 to use the EN-EL4a's in the grip. I already have a D2H and of course the batteries and charger, but still use AA's in the grip, since I don't have the BL-3 cover yet. It is a $40 piece of plastic that I refuse to pay the ~$150 that they are bringing on eBay. The AA's will add about 100 grams to the total weight over the EN-EL4 route, and the AA adapter is included with the grip. I have a set of 8 Eneloop 2000mah cells in my grip right now with about 1200 shots over the last 2 weeks along with a lot of LCD viewing, menu and Live view tinkering. The battery level still shows full, but of course not using proprietary(smart) batteries only gets you a full/half/empty scale instead of the 1% increments. It's also nice that when going on vacation, I don't have to wag two chargers and cables. I will just take two sets of AA's along with the en-el3e in the body as a reserve. If I run my rechargables empty, I can just pick up some cheap alkalines at any store and get another ~1000 shots for $6-8.

 

[dug777]

Awesome mate :beer:

No suggestions, but enjoy them thar D300

My director recently picked one up, and the sunset and high contrast pics I've seen from it blow me away. Ken Rockwell also has some crackers, if you're interested.

 

[skulkingghost]

Originally posted by: 4x4expy
You kind of skipped an important focal range from 24-70mm with your lens choices. On a budget(but obviously not too tight). I would look at the Tokina 17-50mm 2.8, along with the 70-300VR, or a nice used 80-200mm 2.8D in place of the 70-300. If you must have the 12-17mm range added in their, take a look at the Tokina 12-24mm. I have it and am pleased with it. I just find that I rarely use the focal length range. The Sigma 30 is a nice little lens, but a little wide for portraits and a little long for most landscapes. If you just want one fast aperture lens, the 50 f/1.4 (or 1.8) will do well and double as a nice portrait lens. The 85 is wonderful for portraits also, but not quite as versatile and compact as the 50's.

To sum it up... Tamron 17-50, Nikon 80-200mm 2.8, 50mm 1.8 would set you back about $1200, and cover a very usable range to start out. If you could add the 85 1.8, great.

Here are a few snapshots with the D300, 85mm 1.8 at ISO 3200. All taken at my son's Nativity play a few nights ago. They are pretty much straight out of camera, with only a small handheld stage light.

http://www.smugmug.com/photos/232785863-L.jpg
http://www.smugmug.com/photos/232792263-L.jpg
http://www.smugmug.com/photos/232802712-L.jpg
http://www.smugmug.com/photos/232808029-L.jpg

Wow 4x4 those shots are gorgeous. I will definitely be checking out the 85. Soydios gives some great advice I plan on checkign out, and the AA battery idea is a great Idea as well. Right now I have a 15min Energizer charger for my olympus e-10 and 8 AA's 2500mh energizers. I will pick up a few more packs and be set. I also plan on picking up another 2-4gb card. So that I will have 2x1gb card, perhaps the 2 or 4gb Ducati Card, and a UDMA 2 or 4gb.

Thanks for all the help so far!

 

[touchmyichi]

Yeah, I would really look into primes. I think a 50mm is definitely a no brainer (go for a 1.4 if you want a really good low light lens). Primes always give you much better results than zooms in the same range, plus they make you work a little harder, but in a good way.

 

[skulkingghost]

Originally posted by: touchmyichi
Yeah, I would really look into primes. I think a 50mm is definitely a no brainer (go for a 1.4 if you want a really good low light lens). Primes always give you much better results than zooms in the same range, plus they make you work a little harder, but in a good way.

I will have to look around other sites instead of just BH. I hope to find a nice fast prime soon.

 

[skulkingghost]

I have a Nikon 34-70 2.8-22 lens here on a manual slr. I will have to see if that works as well once I get it.