The D300 - A Week Later

 Nikon D300, Zeiss Planar T* 1.4/85 ZF.2

I've now had the D300 back for a week. And I'm at just shy of 600 shots on it already. In comparison, the D90 didn't hit 800 even after a year of ownership. The sad part is that there's really nothing I'm doing that couldn't have been done on the D90, aside from shooting my AI lenses with metering. The 55/3.5 Micro has seen a bunch of use, and the 300/4.5 a little bit, but most of my shooting has been with lenses that worked just fine on the D90. So what gives? Handling and confidence mostly. On the handling side I just find the D300 to be seamless to shoot with, the D90 never was. And on confidence, I never trusted the AF of the D90, and it didn't have AF Fine Tune to adjust things. I found it was alright, but it never hit with the same confidence as the D200 I had did, despite having a newer revision of the same AF (I also had good luck with that same AF sensor on the D3200). The D300 has my personal favourite Nikon AF system, the 51 point unit (which I also had on the D700 and D7100).

Interestingly I'm actually starting to get used to the AF system's more complex capabilities, instead of just using it in 51 point 3D Color mode (aka Auto), or single point mode. I've been making use of the D9 mode where a group of 9 sensors is selected around one point. It works pretty well and gives me more control over AF point selection, while still keeping the coverage of multiple points.

In other milestones, I'm shooting the same system after a year. It's been a while since that occurred, and even longer since I was really satisfied. I picked up another Sigma 10-20 f4-5.6 (the third of these lenses I've owned) and I really do have a mostly sorted lens system. I just need something in the 100-135mm range, probably just a 135/2.8 AI or E. Right now my system really tops out at 85mm via the 16-85 or the Zeiss 85 Planar. I do have an old Tokina 80-200/4.5 that I was given, but it hasn't impressed me much.

Last of the m43

Panasonic GX7, Sigma Art 60mm f2.8 DN

This is the last image in my backlog of Micro 4/3rds work, from what might have been my favourite combo in the system, the GX7 and the Sigma 60 Art. I always got great results from that pairing, even if the files ended up a bit crunchy. But the detail is superb, the colour good and the overall rendering is quite pleasing. The 60 is a gem that any m43 shooter should have in their bag (the other two f2.8 DN Art lenses, the 19 & 30, are better suited to APS-C than m43, although still excellent lenses, I've owned all 3 in m43 at one time or another).

60 on Film

Nikon F80, 35/1.8 DX, HP5+

Shot this with the F80, a thoroughly competent, yet also thoroughly mediocre camera. I'm generally fond of mine, it's smallish, light and performs well, but does lack an AI tab and like all film cameras it's also incompatible with the new E lenses. I do wish I had more compatible lenses with it, particularly a wide of some sort.

I really do wish Nikon would bring out an F7, pretty much with the F6 body and D810 electronics (and update it to take the EN-EL18 battery from the D4(s) and D810 grip). I'd love to see what folks could do with the superb new E lenses (especially the 105/1.4) and Portra or low-speed B&W film.

Back Where I Began

Nikon D300, Micro-Nikkor 55mm f3.5 AI


So the D90 is gone, I just never got along with it and there's little point in owning a camera that you don't want to shoot. Replaced it with a D300 for a shockingly low cost (seriously measured in beer).

And I'm reminded exactly why I shouldn't have sold my D300 8 years ago. Yeah, it's a brick, but it's a very, very good camera that just happens to be heavy. As it has an AI tab, I can now shoot with my AI lenses, especially the 55 Micro-Nikkor, which is an utter gem, and my old faithful 300/4.5 AI'd, that I've owned for years.

Selling my D300 has long been the point where I really started chasing the dragon with regards to my gear. I went through a bunch of gear before then, but always had real performance issues with it until I got the D300. After that it was a mix of performance issues and the grass is greener. There's no reason I couldn't have stayed with the D300 system, the A700 system, the D7100 system or the D700 system I've had. The mirrorless stuff worked less well for me, but even then the E-M5, E-M1 or GX7 all were more than enough for what I needed.

So I'm back where I began, and I hope to stay there for a while. I need a lens (UWA) or two to round things out, but I largely have what I need and don't really see a reason to change.

And I'm back

 D90, Zeiss Planar 85/1.4 ZF.2

It's been quite a while since I've posted, and that's largely because I haven't been shooting. I spent most of the winter taking it easy on walking because of knee issues, and the spring just generally lacking in motivation. That seems to have changed in the last few weeks and I've been out shooting again.

Nothing's really changed on the gear front since October (pretty much a record for me), although I was given a functional D70 body, without accessories. Since I already have batteries (takes the D90's EN-EL3e's) and some CF cards lying around, I've been playing with it. I kinda like it, it's so simple compared to more modern bodies that there's really not much in the way of features to get in my way. Expect some samples soon. That said, it's old, low-res and has a horrid viewfinder, so it will never be a primary body for me, just a toy.

I cracked my last 100' roll of HP5+ last week. I'd acquired 4 such rolls several years ago and that stock is a big driver for my desire to shoot film. Once its gone, I may re-evaluate my commitment to film, given the cost of it. It's a lot harder to justify when 60 rolls worth buys you a D700.

On the subject side, I'm finding less interest in cityscapes & street. I do need to get out and shoot some more landscape and rural scenes. That might just give me a few pushes on the motivation side of things.

A Little Break

Nikon F3HP, Neopan 100SS

So there hasn't been much shooting in the last month. A fairly minor but annoying problem with my knee forced me to take a break from long walks, and thus also from much shooting activity. It has been resolved and I'll be shooting some more for the remainder of the year. I don't however expect to hit either my next checkpoint of 46 rolls or my final goal of 52 rolls for the year unless something unusual occurs. I'm currently at 29 rolls shot this year and I'd have to average 3 or more rolls a week for the next 6 weeks to hit those goals, which is unlikely.

That said, I do hope to finish in the mid 30's, a solid base for increasing my shooting activity for next year. And as long as I'm shooting steadily, I have a basis for improving the quality of my work at the same time.

Right now I see film continuing to increase its role in my shooting. Frankly, the D90 is not doing much for me overall. It's a competent but uninspiring camera to work with and I've also been struggling with focus issues with mine. Combine that with the fact I'm shooting more colour film and you have a situation where digital just isn't a huge need for me.

Chchchchanges...

 
Nikon N6000 (F601m), Nikon Series E 50mm f1.8, Fujifilm Neopan 100SS


Had a scanner casualty this week, my trusty Epson Perfection 4870 finally expired after more than a decade of regular use. This has been my flatbed of choice for a long time, scanning all my Medium Format & Large Format work as well as my 35mm since my Minolta Scan Dual IV died. After a quick check online to make sure my Betterscanning.com ANR inserts and 120 holder were compatible I replaced it with a V500 at a superb price. While it's technically a lower-end scanner (the 4870's modern equivalent is  the V800) the V500's faster, has better resolution and DMax and can handle all my current needs. If I ever start shooting LF again, I'll need to look at upgrading to regain compatibility with sheet film (the 4870 could do 4x5, while the V500 does 120/220 as it's largest supported film type).

On the plus side, I acquired a very nice bit of glass, the Zeiss ZF.2 85/1.4 Planar and have been shooting with it constantly. Looking forward to seeing the first results on film in an hour or so when the first roll finishes drying. I do like it on the D90, but that's a bit of a waste as an application, due to the crop factor.