If you fly into Singapore, you can claim back the GST. Else, if you ask them to send the item out by post to you, tell them that GST should not be applicable.

Else, you can try and source Ebay.

Errr... Buy the 24-70 AND upgrade to D700? Wouldn't that break the bank?

What are you guys talking? Isn't 17-55 on DX equal to 25.5-82.5? That's very similar to 24-70 on FX.

On the DX and if you happen to use the 17-55, do you see yourself using more wide end or on the tele end?

If on the wide side, perhaps you can settle for the cheaper 16-35mm f/4 which is a stop slower lens than the 24-70mm f/2.8?

Must a lens have VR for it to become useful? How did people shoot with Nikon when the earlier 400mm, 500mm and 600mm lenses were without telephoto but yet still delivery stunning images?

I sometimes think we rely too much on technology. With proper shooting technique, you'll have no problems getting high keep rates with the 80-200mm f/2.8.

Besides, if you're into shooting fast action sports, you'd usually shoot without VR since VR interferes slightly with the focus acquisition and the time the camera needs to lock focus. Of course VR is useful during panning but even then it's not necessary.

If bbuser91 did not complain about the 17mm end from the 17-55mm f/2.8 DX lens, why would he complain about 16mm?

I'm more worried that he says the 35mm end from the 16-35mm f/4 is not tele enough...

If you talk about birding with 500mm and 600mm f/4 lenses, you do not need a hand of steel. There is this thing called the tripod. For large lenses, you'd want the full Wimberley head or the smaller Wimberley Sidekick with arca swiss clamp ballhead. When you put the lens on a solid tripod mount, you'd want to turn off VR anyways.





Sorry lah. Example shows a C lens.

LOL

Ultra wide category is in the 10mm region on DX provided by the Sigma 10-20mm and Nikon's own 10-24mm which is 15mm equivalent on full frame. The 14-24mm f/2.8 is ultra wide on FX. The widest lens on FX is the Sigma 12-24mm f/4 if I'm not wrong.

You forgot two lenses that were already discontinued...

Nikkor 18mm f/2.8
Nikkor 28mm f/1.4

Incidentally, both are precission grounded glass.

Depends on how much you can get the AF-S 80-200mm f/2.8 for... If you're planning to use the VR 1 on FX body, it's ok unless you don't mind living with vignetting at wide open f/2.8.


The cost of repairing motor of ANY AF-S lenses cost a bomb. ANY lens that has it's AF-S motor spoiled would render the AF-S lens non-functioning. The problem is not isolated to the AF-S 80-200mm f/2.8.


I think you're going to be more heartache when the D3s gets replaced...

The 135mm f/2.0 DC is one of my favourites.

Assuming it's a good copy, that's a very fair price.

Yes, I would do the same too. Then when you need something better, sell it. You can still command good price for it.

I think a simple lubrication service at Nikon SC should be able to cure the problem.

It's the person behind the camera that matters most of the time. It's how you work around your equipment.

I believe that's a very old statement. Canon has already re-called and provided a "fix" but it still remains a problem if I'm not mistaken. What I heard is the 1D Mark IV while better at AF, it introduces new set of AF problems.

Any reason why? 24mm f/1.4 better than 35mm f/1.4?

Yup, for most people, it's overkill since landscapes are always shot stopped down.

Big apertures on wide angles benefit people shooting in low light like photojournalist.

The pic posted is the old Nikkor Manual Focus lens. So it is possible that Nikon would come out with an AF-S version.

Heck, one of the most coveted lenses i.e. Noct is a 58mm f/1.2.

The 35mm and the 85mm without ED element also takes great pics, no?

I would think selection between 24 or 35mm f/1.4 would have to do more with shooting style than anything else. Not because of CPL or because it has an ED lens element.

My personal opinion is 24mm is a little wide while 35mm is just nice and neutral point of view. But having said that, I've seen great pics from both the 24mm and the 35mm.

Good point. But I don't think I would put on a CPL to use it as a landscape lens when using the 24mm f/1.4.

Not sure if you can get a 2nd hand AF-S 300mm f/4 at that price. The older AF 300mmf/4 (also great optics) is worth a look and cheaper but does not AF with certain Nikon bodies.

If I was looking for ND filer, I would look for the graduated type. The cheap one I know is Cokin.

It's not about moving in and out. It's about different perspectives !

Not bad. But it's a little small to actually appreciate it.

Great photos. But it does look like the skies still burns out. What ND did you use? Perhaps not enough?

Anyway, I guess nowadays with Photoshop, you can always simulate the graduated filter effect.

I'm poor and I'm an amatuer. Therefore I either do not use a filter or stick with the Cokin which I have only used once for the last 5 years.

Not too bad. Do you have the full EXIF for this shot?

Just have a look at the lenses on Nikon's webpage. You'd see which lenses are classified as wide, normal or tele.

By Nikon's definition, the 35mm FX lens is still considered as wide.

Somehow Flickr does not allow me to see and extract the EXIF.

Did you apply sharpening (USM)? How does it look like straight out of the camera?

Thanks for the reply. Saw the EXIF and confirmed my suspicion that flash was fired.

Can you have one shot without flash and cropped at 100%?

That's excellent.

In reality, that's correct. But all items are still taxed if they are found to be more than RM 500 (after including shipping cost).

How much was the item declared on the shipping slip (including shipping price)?

If your item is handled by Pos Laju or Pos Malaysia, they are not so strict. The ones from UPS, FedEx and DHL are the worst. They will just automatically send the bill to ask you to clear the tax on the item.

If there is no value declared on the shipping slip, or the value (+ shipping charges) after conversion is less than RM 500, there should be no tax.

I agree that sometimes they do not follow rules and there is no consistency. I had an ex-colleague who bought for his friend a wooden door for a real antique Mini car that cost around RM 3k plus from UK. DHL delivered it right to the office without a single tax. Car parts would easily be subjected 30% tax without question.

Anyway, if items handled by Pos Malaysia, they will always send a letter to you saying that your item ditahan and you can fax the letter back and fill up the authorisation for them to clear the item for you on your behalf. If you choose to clear it yourself, you need to go all the way to the Pos Office HQ situated next to the LCCT terminal. There is a chance that you can argue your case if you clear the item personally.

Of course this is at the expense of reduced flash power...

Have you checked the contacts at the lens mount? Dirty?

Only pro bodies like D2, D3, D300 and D700 series can.

Did you test it on a tripod? At what subject distance were you focusing? It's very difficult to get correct focusing at the lens MFD.

That was my thought too... A limitation on the body itself?

I'm confused... I thought you do not recommend DX lenses?

Like that might as well get the newer 10-24 DX lens. Closer MFD.