Only issue with the 40mm macro lens is the 1:1 distance is too close. Can easily chase the insects and also blocks lighting =( I am currently looking for macro lens lol. 105 VR at 3050. What's the price like in KL?

True

Well, turns out the 105 VR is still the more versatile choice, only issue is longer focal length means lesser DOF? And also if handheld easier to handshake but there's VR to compensate. I'm not a macro shooter, I might be wrong though.

I won't even bother using the 105 VR as portrait lens when I have 70200 or 85 around I think the 105 VR focuses slower than the 85

Reading that statement, it still 105mm right, just aperture to f/4.8? I noticed this when using it before, the aperture automatically changed. But then again, shooting 1:1 at f/2.8? At that working distance I think very little is in focus.

Err, even when shooting at 1:1, you still need close up filter or extension tube for smaller objects.

Have you seen the that lens when doing 5:1? It is so long it feels like a tele I think the working mechanism is similar to extension tube, so its just like a macro lens with build in extension tube for the extra magnification.

As far as I know, lens breathing refers to lens such as the 70200 VRII. At 200mm MFD, you only get around 130mm. The only time you will hit close to 200mm is when you focus at infinity. Cropping... Most Nikon body have only 12MP... not exactly a lot of room to crop :S.

Even using 40mm also you need to step down on the aperture else insufficient DOF.

Among your choices, the 16-85 is probably the best in terms of image quality. Else you can consider the Tamron 1750 VC, or the DX King, Nikkor 17-55 f/2.8.

Fixed Well, the 1755 doesn't look like it is within his budget. The lens he have in mind are all sub 3k lens. The 1755 is close to 5k.

If budget allows, then go for the 17-55. Don't limit yourself just because you think 'you don't deserve it due to photo crappy etc'. There is no rules saying beginner can't use pro lens/body, or a pro photog cannot use a beginner lens/body.

Well, you said its not out of budget. If its within your budget, that is the best choice. Are you on DX? If yes then the 16-35 is not here not there kinda lens. Trust me, I have used it before and I know. Plus at f/4, it is a slow lens especially for DX (well maybe the D7000 can handle though).

The lens with Nanocoat are equivalent of the L. Well not exactly, but whatever the Canon has for L, Nikon has equivalents except the few such as 50 f/1.2, f/1.0 and 85 f/1.2 for example.

Its not exactly a 'series'. But yes, generally you can say that.

Yeah, the old pro line up before the introduction of Nanocoat .

A photographer choose what s/he wants to show, if you think you can do better than your '5 min edit work', then do it. Don't post up a sub par work then comment it is due to a '5 min work'. Unless when you were editing it and you didn't notice then its a different story.

Agree, on my office monitor (not calibrated and also some old TN junk), the nose seems to be disappearing, her fingers too.

Well, then don't use '5 minutes editing' as an excuse ;-)

He is using D700 if not mistaken, its not yet the D3s . But yeah, sensor technology improved quite a bit, big leap since the introduction of D3/D700 and the D3s as the ultimate low light king.

Well... D70s --> D700, or D70s --> D7000 bigger leap?

Yes, among Nikon DX sensors the D7000 has the best.

Nikon have it on D5100. I don't think swivel LCD display is still good enough, especially on the pro bodies where weather sealing and all is required. Plus when you keep twisting the screen, how long will it actually last before giving way? Nikon must have taken these into account. The only body I know with weather sealing and all and have a swivel screen should be the Olympus E-3 type. But unfortunately my friend's E-3 screen went intermittent, probably due to loose connection to the LCD, sometimes color appears good, sometimes 1 channel is missing.

When doing a long exposure, the sensor will heat up. This will definitely introduce noise even when using base ISO (200 for most Nikon sensors, 100 for new sensors). So Nikon body will automatically attempt to reduce this via long exposure noise reduction.

Totally agree, the swivel display should only be implemented on entry bodies for beginners whose used to point and shoot. Imagine a D4 with swivel? Ew...

Man, the grip looks real! I mean... if he didn't have another battery case to compare else would not have detected. But however, I was thinking due to the huge price differences, the material should be different? Hence the feel of the grip is different too. I have held friend's third party D700 grip, and its not magnesium alloy. Can feel it immediately, feels really plastic.

Well well, 16-85 is a good lens. But it ain't cheap. 18-55 and 16-85 has a big differences in terms of pricing. 18-55 is pretty good as a kit lens for daily use already.

I would say go for the 55-300 VR 18-55 is fine as your standard zoom. You need a telephoto with VR.

This post has been edited by celciuz: Sep 18 2011, 06:30 PM

D7000 vs D700, its a tough choice. Its like a 2010 Civic to a 2008 Accord? >_< Dunno kira upgrade or downgrade lols.

FX over DX's advantage (or sometimes disadvantage), DOF or rather known as bokeh.


Cheryl, Semifinal by CY Pixels, on Flickr

Using the same lens and shooting the same magnification, it will be different since DX has to step further back.