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I bought a used copy for my 200-400 for only $50. As others have said, the cost of a few cosmetic dings and scratches on a lens in this price range will pay for a lot of lens coats. And, it does provide some, albeit not much, comfort against bumping the lens. Dave Harris

These are very fine shots. I should take more tele landscapes. I started a thread on "portraits of portrait lenses", and start it off with my 105s. https://www.nikoncafe.com/vforums/showthread.php?t=286833 Dave Harris P.S. I hate to admit but I was a little misleading in my prior...

My Portrait Lens Madness I think seeing portraits of fast portrait lenses is fun, and especially so if shot with another fast portrait lens. Artistic portraits of portrait lenses ... Aaaah, what could be better? But, it does take two to tango ... portrait lenses, that is. To start off...

I've enjoyed this thread very much. And though I've seen hundreds of pics from the 1.8 lens and read some test reports on it, I've not had the chance to shoot it. I currently have four 105 2.5's in various incarnations, and a 105 2.5 DC, and their big brothers the 135 AIs and a 135 DC. I can...

Disaster About a month ago I went to my home studio to take some pictures. I took my D80 off the tripod, from which I’d been shooting the night before, changed lenses and got an error message that the lens and camera weren’t on speaking terms anymore. The camera was locked up. My friendly...

I've never used the Tamron 90 macro, but I have used several copies of the 105 nikon (non VR), as well as the Sigma 70, 105 and 150. I also have used the inexpensive Phoenix/Vivtar 100mm f/3.5 macro (two copies, sold both, regret both sales :frown: ). But, if I were doing what you are doing...

Great shot. Lots of personality. It's fun to look at. Thanks for showing it to us. One technical pointer might be simply to layer one version on another and play with the opacity level, and then, selectively erase. I created a new version from the two previous in about a minute or two. I...

This is a very nice shot. I could see this shot gracing the cover of a magazine or a book. Keep up the fine work, and thanks for sharing. Dave Harris

I have to agree with the comment that #2 shows off the model and #1 is more for the photographer. I'm sure that every model would want both in her sample portfolio, but the second would be more persuasive about this model's appearance. Great job. Dave Harris

Amazing how much interest a bunch of mannequins and one girl can create. But, count me in!! It's great. Deserves every bit of the praise you've gotten. Thanks for sharing. Dave Harris

I'll bite. Depending on distance I'd go for a 135 f/2 DC, or the 105 DC. Very artistic wide-open. Dave Harris

Hmmmmmm...... Maximum DOF is the objective - isn't that synonymous with softer corners making the VR I better even on D3??? And, you get the vignetting for free!!!! Dave Harris

Dprview's careful review of the VR I lens says exactly this - that the VR I is great on DX. http://www.dpreview.com/lensreviews/nikon_70-200_2p8_vr_n15/ However, they explicitly caution FX would-be-buyers about getting a VR I lens. I have a VR I lens and I love it. On my D80 it's...

You said: I think you should try out the green dot before dismissing it. You might be pleasantly surprised. I posted a thread on this (Warning .. Large Pics) here: https://www.nikoncafe.com/vforums/showthread.php?t=242068&highlight=green+dot and also here...

A very nice picture. I wish I were there instead of here in Syracuse NY in a snow storm, that's for sure. But, I do have to say that I can't help but ask myself - Why pay all that money and shoot this lens at f/8?? Of course, perhaps f/8 is the right thing to do for this shot and this is...

Another Good Luck story. I bought a KEH Bgn 80-200 afs 2.8 from them for $800. It didn't work at all - no wonder it's a bargain?? Anyway, they took it back and replaced the entire bayonet/electrical system. The barrel was perfect, the glass was perfect, focus motors/system was perfect and...

I think I'd try Nikon if I were you. If I'd sent the lens to the second shop on my list, Photo Tech, I bet that I'd have paid as much or more than with Nikon - even if they both had the felt. And, even with no felt, I'm pretty sure Photo Tech (or any other independent shop) would have hit me...

Really, I have nothing to complain about. Quite the opposite - I get everything back working well, and clean, and I don't pay anything. I owe them for improving my situation as much as they did. Nice to have the felt? Yes, but $200 nice? Maybe not. Not too bad without it, and much better...

Actually, he wasn't bad-but I didn't buy any CDs or stealth-record the concert. Much better than the average bar band, and the songs were mostly, if not all, original. Pretty good songs. It was a nice evening. But, if it weren't for the women dragging their men along, I don't think it would...

I had this same problem, but all of my felt, or what was left, was jammed out of reach. I gave the lens to Nikon in Melville NY. They took it apart, removed the felt, cleaned the lens, and sent it back "no charge" because they didn't have the needed parts. The needed part, apparently, was...

I'd have to take the two zooms. I don't like to change lenses very often and I especially value the flexibility of being able to respond to changing photo ops as quickly as possible. Two zooms are what I relied on for my China trip. An 18-200, that I used in better light, especially useful...

Well... I had one and optically, it is really great: sharp, fast focusing, great contrast and color - and, did I mention... sharp. On a tripod it is great, though not with the factory tripod, which is not good, per Bjorn Rorslett. I sold it for $150 more than I paid for it, so I've got no...

Yes, for some strictly "macro" shots. But, the 500D (and the Nikon 6T) allow you take some very nice macro shots with Any Lens! I used my 300 afs f/4 with it and think it's a pretty good reason to get another 300 just to use with it. I think a close up filter allows combos that are much...

I compared full size pics in photoshop by selecting similar areas in each picture with a rectangular selection and compared the standard deviations. Higher is better. The old consistently scored highest and much higher in well-lit areas. However, there is a caveat, this works best when you...

If you really want to see something special from MF, try out the 105 f/2.5 Ai, or Ais. Wide-open, I don't think there is a superior portrait lens. The current 105 f/2 DC uses the same optical formula, glass, etc. Maybe there are different coatings - but not nanocoatigs. So, realistically...

At the risk of being repeititive ... get the 35 1.8.... Mine is very, very sharp wide open and fast glass makes hand-held indoor shots much better. This lens actually is unbelievably sharp and I think it should be everyone's bag. For example, the 35 1.8 is sharper at f/1.8 than the...

I like my Sigma 70mm f/2.8 macro very much. I also have the Sigma 150mm macro and have had the Sigma 105 and the Nikon 105 macros. But, if I were buying a new macro today I'd certainly get the Tamron 60mm f/2 macro. It gets very good reviews and is sharp at f/2. But, it is also an...

... Bargain Alert ... There is a buy-it-now on Ebay for just $9,999 with the matching 1.4 TC :biggrin: Dave Harris

I suppose this is heresy, but, when I went to China I took two lenses with my D80, the 17-35 2.8 afs and the 18-200 VR. I found that in dim light, especially indoors at parties, dinners, and other family gatherings that the 17-35 was great - and would be even better with better hi-iso like the...

Thanks for the kind words. Yes, it is Chittenango Falls, NY. It's a very nice place, but the hiking focuses mainly on down and then back up the falls, on both sides, with a bridge across the stream at the base. I've shot there on cloudy days which smooth out the water very nicely without so...

You know, that's just a quick example, straight from the camera. It goes into an HDR pictures made of several pics. And, yes, I do straighten them out as well. Dave Harris

Yes. I stacked the cpl in front of the neutral density filter. Dave Harris

I'm using a Promaster 8-stop neutral density filter along with a small f-stop and my lowest iso, 100 and getting 3-8 second exposures. I am often using my 17-35 2.8 with this filter and the results are great. Also, I do a bit of HDR on my pics as well. As long as the lens is on the tripod...

Fritz, I'm the guy that bought your 35 1.4. The spots don't seem to have increased, and I've not seen any problems arising from them. Since I got this lens, I've been looking at all of the Ebay listings for 35 1.4 lenses and about 1/3 or so also show spots - at least of the sale listings with...

A very nice series that captures the mood well. Thanks for sharing. Dave Harris

I'm missing mine as well. I sold it to fund my 200-400, or to fund a fraction of the cost, anyway. But, I really do miss the light weight and small size, though it didn't seem that small before - but the 200-400 gives me a new definition of big. I think the 300 af-s takes pictures just a...

I do love my 17-35 on my D80, but I also see an FX camera in my near future. But, I've noticed that the resale price of my 17-35 has risen quite a bit, whereas it seems the resale prices of 17-55 has not done so. So, on the one hand, perhaps, the 17-35 is a better investment, but, on the other...

I don't think you have any really good choices in third-party lenses with this zoom range and a comparable level of quality. But, if you can live with 16-50 2.8, the Tokina is a very fine lens, perhaps it has even better resolution than the beast. Here is the beast's lens test at Photozone...

Let's all sing!!! All I want for Christmas is my 200 f/2, my 200 f/2, my 200 f/2 All I want for Christmas is my 200 f/2 ... Thanks for the great pics, and I wish you all a very Merry Christmas Dave Harris

Wife's karaoke singing Nikon 28-70 2.8, 70mm f/3.5, 1/200 sec, Dave Harris

A very inexpensive non-Nikkor option is a 100mm f/3.5 AF macro, branded under Phoenix, Vivitar, Cosina,... Usually available for between $100 and $150. I've had two of them and thinking about getting it once again. Nice portrait lens, too. It comes with a 1:1 filter/lens, and shoots 1:2...

If you're not certain whether it is best, check the going prices on completed transactions for the lens in that big auction house in the sky. If you're getting a very good example for less, then get it, check it out thoroughly, and, if not to your taste, you can resell for no loss. If not...

Once again, you raise a very good point. I guess that I tend not to worry too much about consistency,except as to getting something that looks good to me. That suits my rather haphazard style, but would not be up to standard for a more demanding series of shots. BTW, the DVD illustrated a...

I think that what you are saying is exactly correct. However, I do rather like the i-TTL feature of the Speedlight system, as I am a non-strobist. If it weren't for complete, automatic camera control I would hardly ever use flash. With the automatic system I try not to make any adjustments...

Robert, Thank you very much for the explanation. I thought I was asking the right persons this question - and I was! This is all very informative, and a lot to digest. I was pretty taken with the speedlight demo - and they did use up to 12 or 14 in a single shot. But, what you're...

Great shots. Thanks so much for sharing them. I've just finished watching a Nikon Creative Lighting DVD with McNally and Krist. They use combinations of speedlights and the on-camera control system to do some pretty amazing portraits. What do you get from your setup that makes it better...

Really, really makes me look forward to winter here in Syracuse :frown::frown::frown: Great shots. Dave Harris

Here's my solution - a Manfrotto 3421 for both tripod and monopod. https://www.nikoncafe.com/vforums/showthread.php?t=136116&highlight=manfrotto&page=2 Pretty cheap, and it works really well. Dave Harris

You've also got a major problem with color balance. Any fill flash (without a filter) being shot in sunset is going to make the portrait go cold. We all know what "magic hour" colors look like, and so this is pretty hard to deal with, unless you just need a little bit of fill. You could have...

These are great. I especially liked number 2. It was a pleasure to see them. Dave Harris