New Body v New Lens

[CivicMan]

I'm currently using as my standard set up a Nikon D80 with the 18/55 kit lens. To try and approach GetCarters level of image quality which I find stunning, should I :

A. Upgrade the body to the D300
B. Upgrade the lens to the 17/55 2.8
C. Not change at all as will never get quality like his!!

Thoughts appreciated! (Sticking with Nikon as all my other lens' are Nikons).

[mmertens]

CivicMan said:

I'm currently using as my standard set up a Nikon D80 with the 18/55 kit lens. To try and approach GetCarters level of image quality which I find stunning, should I :

A. Upgrade the body to the D300
B. Upgrade the lens to the 17/55 2.8
C. Not change at all as will never get quality like his!!

Thoughts appreciated! (Sticking with Nikon as all my other lens' are Nikons).

C, imho. Getcarter's indeed very nice work would seem to me be the fruit of a very good eye for landscapes, a fantastic environment to live in for landscapes, patience to wait for the right light, good to excellent allround technique, and I suppose good post-processing. And then, at some distance, good equipment. Basically, if with your D80 & 18/55 you don't get at least quite close to his work, a better camera and/or lens will at most only marginally improve that.

Now if you must spend some cash, better glass anyday. Having said that, rather than the 17/55 I'd give recent Sigma or Tamron lenses in that same range a very close look as many tests available online have shown that they are really not that far off Nikons offering. And you can buy e.g. a Sigma 18-50 2.8 AND a Sigma 10-20 for the price of the Nikon. Surely at the normal picture sizes posted on the web I doubt anyone could tell pictures from a 17-55 from a Sigma or Tamron equivalent.
HTH
Maarten

[Scho]

glass. all day.

better long term investment than more megapixels.

[_dobbo_]

Another vote for the better glass. Having moved from an 18-70 kit lens to a 28-70 f/2.8 I can tell you that the difference in quality is worlds apart.

[CivicMan]

Ok, thanks for that information - looks like I'll head for new glass!

[CVP]

Would also recommend glass and possibly classes or workshops too. The D80 is a really capable machine, Mrs CVP makes some great images with hers that we have printed up to A3 size.

The only reason I suggested classes or a workshop is that we can all always learn more. Sometimes a day workshop with an experienced pro can be very beneficial to how you think about your images etc. For instance have a look at the landscape work of David Noton (I don't have his site info to hand) but I know he does some workshops. The one in Italy is 4 days, around GBP 750 plus flights. You'd get a holiday in a great location plus some intentsive tutoring.

Chris

[Jenx]

Me, I'm happy with my lenses...I keep thinking about a 1Ds3

Martin.

[CivicMan]

CVP said:

Would also recommend glass and possibly classes or workshops too. The D80 is a really capable machine, Mrs CVP makes some great images with hers that we have printed up to A3 size.

The only reason I suggested classes or a workshop is that we can all always learn more. Sometimes a day workshop with an experienced pro can be very beneficial to how you think about your images etc. For instance have a look at the landscape work of David Noton (I don't have his site info to hand) but I know he does some workshops. The one in Italy is 4 days, around GBP 750 plus flights. You'd get a holiday in a great location plus some intentsive tutoring.

Chris

Appreciate that but I was for some 15 years a professional photographer working for provincial newspapers as a staffer and nationals as a stringer. This was all through the 80's to the mid 90's when it was all film, the camera body meant little and then lens was all. (I had Nikons then as well). I've been out of pro photography for about 10 years now.

With digital however, I'm aware that the camera's guts play a major part in image processing, hence my question!

Incidentally I go to Italy every year for a photographic buzz - it is SO photogenic.

[Andy M]

Jenx said:

Me, I'm happy with my lenses...I keep thinking about a 1Ds3

Martin.

Do it!

All the best people av 'em!

If you do buy, may sure you check it for: http://www.northlight-images.co.uk/article_pages/c... Mine's currently away being repaired

In reply to the original question; lens. Then buy a D3

[Simpo Two]

CivicMan said:

I'm currently using as my standard set up a Nikon D80 with the 18/55 kit lens. To try and approach GetCarters level of image quality which I find stunning, should I :

A. Upgrade the body to the D300
B. Upgrade the lens to the 17/55 2.8
C. Not change at all as will never get quality like his!!

Thoughts appreciated! (Sticking with Nikon as all my other lens' are Nikons).

If by 'Get Carters level' you mean landscape photography, the to my mind the key is place, time and light. You can have all the kit in the world but if the place, time and light are wrong, you won't get a good result. However, if you do find yourself in such a fortunate position, then from yor list I'd take the 17-55mm f2.8

[CVP]

My apologies, didn't know your background. In that case glass all the way

Chris

[CivicMan]

No, thank you for your input, it's much appreciated!

[Andy M]

Just incidentally, have you considered the Fujifilm S5 Pro?

I'd always thought of it as a rebadged D300, but with a supposed better chip giving better tonal graduations etc? It's also a lot cheaper.

[Simpo Two]

Andy M said:

Just incidentally, have you considered the Fujifilm S5 Pro?

I'd always thought of it as a rebadged D300, but with a supposed better chip giving better tonal graduations etc? It's also a lot cheaper.

Actually a D200 body but different insides. Some bits better, some bits worse - read the reviews and decide. My conclusion was 'flawed gem' and chose the D200.

[Olivero]

I have a D300 and while happy with what I have managed so far I am already looking at new glass.
For my style I am finding fixed lenses are best if pricey.
With an 85mm lens for instance, the difference between the 1.8 and the 1.4 "feels" huge.
Go and have a play in a camera shop and see what you enjoy using would be my advice.

[CivicMan]

Andy M said:

Just incidentally, have you considered the Fujifilm S5 Pro?

I'd always thought of it as a rebadged D300, but with a supposed better chip giving better tonal graduations etc? It's also a lot cheaper.

Actualy the Fuji had crossed my mind but a review in , I think, Digital Pro magazine, said very much as Simpo says, insofar as it's a flawed gem. A point they made in particular was it's weakness in landscapes which is one of my loves so I let it drop off my radar.

Thanks for the thought though!

[Elderly]

CivicMan said:

Andy M said:

Just incidentally, have you considered the Fujifilm S5 Pro?

I'd always thought of it as a rebadged D300, but with a supposed better chip giving better tonal graduations etc? It's also a lot cheaper.

Actualy the Fuji had crossed my mind but a review in , I think, Digital Pro magazine, said very much as Simpo says, insofar as it's a flawed gem. A point they made in particular was it's weakness in landscapes which is one of my loves so I let it drop off my radar.

I was mislead into buying an S5Pro (my first DSLR) because all the reviews said that it gave the 'best' OOC jpegs of any DSLR, and I did NOT want to spend loads of time post processing.

It does have it's downsides; the fps is woefully slow ( it's the one factor that might cause me to sell mine) and the RAW files are HUGE.
But doing direct comparisons with a D200, the Fuji's dynamic range is much much better and it's much less noisy at high ISO than the D200.

As for shooting landscapes; pixel peeped jpegs on screen are disappointing
but if you shoot RAW (which I did not intend to do), you do get really good looking large prints on paper.

[chris.mapey]

CivicMan said:

I'm currently using as my standard set up a Nikon D80 with the 18/55 kit lens. To try and approach GetCarters level of image quality which I find stunning, should I :

A. Upgrade the body to the D300
B. Upgrade the lens to the 17/55 2.8
C. Not change at all as will never get quality like his!!

Thoughts appreciated! (Sticking with Nikon as all my other lens' are Nikons).

Don't know where you are, but if you are ever near Suffolk, let me know and you can have a try out with my 17-55 2.8 on your D80, and also try it on my D300 if you want.

HTH

Chris

[CivicMan]

chris.mapey said:

CivicMan said:

I'm currently using as my standard set up a Nikon D80 with the 18/55 kit lens. To try and approach GetCarters level of image quality which I find stunning, should I :

A. Upgrade the body to the D300
B. Upgrade the lens to the 17/55 2.8
C. Not change at all as will never get quality like his!!

Thoughts appreciated! (Sticking with Nikon as all my other lens' are Nikons).

Don't know where you are, but if you are ever near Suffolk, let me know and you can have a try out with my 17-55 2.8 on your D80, and also try it on my D300 if you want.

HTH
Chris

Really kind of you, but don't think we're up that way until the Southwold Literature Festival later in the year. Will bear it in mind though, thanks!!

EDITED!!! Strolling past my local used camera dealer this afternoon, found he had a used Nikon 24/85 2.8 that he let me have for £250...... and yes, you are all correct, image quality has leapt. Just taken a couple of snaps of my guard dog and the difference is almost tangible. Thank you all.

Edited by CivicMan on Friday 16th May 17:05