A little Sunday reading for Nikon and Canon users

Here are some nice articles for your Sunday reading list. A little bit for everyone...

Nikon cameras

Nikon D800

William Beem Photography (If it sounds like I’m try­ing to con­vince you that you shouldn’t buy the Nikon ...)
Amateur Photographers (We talk about the bar being raised occasionally, and Nikon has certainly raised ...)

Nikon D3S

Amateur Photographers (When this technology is combined with high-definition video, the D3S becomes a t...)

Nikon D4

Neo Camera (It is hard to describe the D4 without superlatives. This large professional DSLR...)
Amateur Photographers (Both the Nikon D3 and D3S were hugely important cameras when released, and for a...)

Nikon D600

Dan Carr Photography (  But the AF points and shooting speed WILL make a difference to sports and wild...)
Amateur Photographers (Although initially slightly disappointed in some of the D600's specification, th...)

Nikon D7000

Amateur Photographers (Nikon DSLR users have been waiting a long time for the D7000, not so much as an ...)

Nikon D3200

Amateur Photographers (The nikon D3200 handles in a very similar way to the less expensive D3100, so th...)

Nikon D5100

Amateur Photographers (As technology filters down from professional models, some pretty stunning featur...)

Nikon D300S

Amateur Photographers (With the D300s, Nikon has taken a good camera and made it better. Although there...)

Nikon D3100

Amateur Photographers (Thanks to the improvements in features and build quality, the Nikon D3100 has re...)

Nikon wide zoom lenses

Nikon standard zoom lenses

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G ED VR

Amateur Photographers (Although this optic will not appeal to many professionals, it would seem that Ni...)

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR

The first 10.000 (The bottom line is that it’s silly to expect a lens to do something that it wasn...)

Nikon tele zoom lenses

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/4G ED VR

SLRGear (There is a lot to like about the Nikon 70-200mm ƒ/4G ED VR AF-S, not the least o...)

Nikon DX standard zoom lenses

Nikon AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR 40mm f/2.8G

Amateur Photographers (Although the AF-S DX Micro Nikkor 40mm f/2.8G has obvious limitations when it co...)

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR

Amateur Photographers (The AF-s DX Nikkor 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR is an ideal lens for those times wh...)

Canon cameras

Canon 5D Mark III

Dan Carr Photography (These are really the main points to consider in this argument and it seems that ...)
Amateur Photographers (It was always going to be a challenge to replace the EOS 5D Mark II. Thankfully,...)

Canon 6D

Photography Blog (On paper the new Canon EOS 6D seems rather poorly specified compared to its main...)
Dan Carr Photography (These are really the main points to consider in this argument and it seems that ...)
Dan Carr Photography (  But the AF points and shooting speed WILL make a difference to sports and wild...)

Canon 1D X

Amateur Photographers (Cameras at this level have extremely high standards to live up to and the 1D X c...)

Canon 600D / Rebel T3i

Amateur Photographers (The Canon EOS 600D is more of a tweaked EOS 550D than a completely new model, an...)

Canon 550D / Rebel T2i

Amateur Photographers (Those who are concerned that the EOS 550D only has nine AF points rather than th...)

Canon 650D / Rebel T4i

Amateur Photographers (Canon sticks to a successful formula by using the same 18-million-pixel sensor a...)

Canon 7D

Amateur Photographers (Nikon’s enthusiasm for putting the same (or similar) technology in top-level and...)

Canon 1D Mark IV

Amateur Photographers (In many situations the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV captures superbly detailed images wi...)

Canon 1100D / Rebel T3

Amateur Photographers (Three years is a long time to wait and in some respects it is easy to feel a lit...)

Canon wide zoom lenses

Canon EF 8-15 mm f/4L USM Fisheye

Dan Carr Photography (Hats off to Canon’s engineers for coming up with the idea for this lens, it’s al...)
Amateur Photographers (The Canon EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM remains a slight oddity and yet an extremel...)

Canon standard zoom lenses

Canon tele zoom lenses

Canon EF 70-200 2.8 L IS II

Dan Carr Photography (So would I recommend this lens despite the couple of flaws that are noted ? ABSO...)

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM

Dan Carr Photography (The two things that people will likely fixate on first with this lens are the va...)
Dan Carr Photography (So would I recommend this lens despite the couple of flaws that are noted ? ABSO...)

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM 

Dan Carr Photography (The two things that people will likely fixate on first with this lens are the va...)
Amateur Photographers (Canon's EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM lens doesn't have the impressive numbers you...)

Canon wide lenses

Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM

Dan Carr Photography (By now you’ve probably gathered that I quite like this lens. I went into this re...)

Canon EF 35mm f/2

Ken Rockwell (There's really no reason to pay more for the newest 35mm f/2 IS (2012-) or profe...)

Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM

Ken Rockwell (If you would you pay almost three times as much as the perfectly good previous-m...)

Canon normal lenses

Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM

Canonrumors (I knew why I purchased the Canon 50mm f/1.4 over the 50mm f/1.8; the more rounde...)

Canon tele lenses

Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM

Dan Carr Photography (Beyond that though there was really not much to write home about, they are both ...)
Dan Carr Photography (Comparing any lens to the 300mm f2.8 L IS is tough because it will have a tenden...)
Dan Carr Photography (I never thought that I would be more than mildly impressed with the 2X TC but fr...)

Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM

Dan Carr Photography (Beyond that though there was really not much to write home about, they are both ...)

Canon EF 300mm f/4L IS USM

Dan Carr Photography (Comparing any lens to the 300mm f2.8 L IS is tough because it will have a tenden...)

Canon EF-S lenses

Canon macro lenses

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 IS Macro USM

Dan Carr Photography (The first thing to say about this lens is that it is extremely fun to use.  I’m ...)

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Best place to find your next photography gear

I have created a major update to my list to photography equipment, so that it includes both lenses and camera body. The expansion also includes Canon equipment. So now it possible to get an overview of all current Canon and Nikon lenses (with a lot of older lenses too) and all Canon and Nikon digital camera SLR bodies.

So why the expansion to include Canon equipment? Well I am not switching to Canon equipment. I am very happy with the Nikon equipment that I have. There are several reasons:

1. I have some friends that are Canon users and I want to help them too
2. I would like more visitors on my web-site
3. And I want to make some comparison between Canon and Nikon equipment

The Canon part isn't as big as Nikon yet, but my goal is that it should be about the same amount of articles. Someday Canon might even have more articles. Who knows? Here are links to the different sections:

• Nikon DSLR cameras 
• Nikon wide zoom lenses 
• Nikon standard zoom lenses 
• Nikon tele zoom lenses 
• Nikon wide lenses 
• Nikon normal lenses 
• Nikon tele lenses 
• Nikon macro and special lenses 
• Nikon DX lenses 
• Canon DSLR cameras 
• Canon wide zoom lenses 
• Canon standard zoom lenses 
• Canon tele zoom lenses 
• Canon wide lenses 
• Canon normal lenses 
• Canon tele lenses 
• Canon EF-S lenses

As always. If you have something that needs to be in some of the lists or you have some correction to the list. Leave a comment or contact me on G+ (see the icon with link in the right sidebar).

Enjoy ;-)

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Do you have the right Nikon standard zoom lens?

Do you think you have the right standard zoom lens for your Nikon DSLR or are you looking for a new lens to your system. Take a look at this analysis I have created for you. It lists a lot of articles about the different options that you have:

• Standard zoom lens database

It is the professionel lenses that tops the list which doesn't come as any surprise. The big surprise is that one of the lenses from the film days are doing very well here in the new full frame world. And guess what I have that lens and it has been packed away for 8 years and I even thought that I would sell it to help pay for the new Nikon body, but know I am going to keep it until I decide to upgrade my standard zoom.

If there are any other lenses you are looking for take a look here to start your research or just get an overview over which are available. You might even learn something about the lenses that you already have.

• 50mms lens database
• Wide zoom lens database
• Tele zoom lens database 
• Macro and special lens database
• DX standard zooms
• Wide lens database

If you have written an article yourself about the lens (doesn't even have to be an review). Let me know, so we can get a good collection of articles about the Nikon lenses.

More is coming soon and the goal is to also have Canon lists by the end of the year. Enjoy ;-)

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Wide angle lenses added to the lens datbase

Well another section is done. It is the section about the wide lenses. This is where you want to go if you want something that is light in weight or/and if you need to shoot pictures at very low light or indoor. There are some extremely great lenses among them, where the 16mm fisheye is a bit of a surprise as a very sharp lens, but also a special purpose lens. Otherwise it is the newer 24mm 1.4g, 35mm 1.4g and 28mm 1.8g that offers some of the best lenses. So here are the complete list:

• 50mms lens database
• Wide zoom lens database
• Tele zoom lens database 
• Macro and special lens database
• DX standard zooms
• Wide lens database

More is coming soon and the goal is to also have Canon lists by the end of the year. Enjoy ;-)

MT442SBB2P5S
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DX standard zooms added to the lens database

Well another section is done. It is the section about the DX standard zooms, Where there are a lot of options both for the more serious shooter and for the casual shooter. So here are the complete list:

• 50mms lens database
• Wide zoom lens database
• Tele zoom lens database 
• Macro and special lens database
• DX standard zooms

Enjoy ;-)

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Yet another part to my lens database is done

Well another section is done. It is the section about the macro, PC and DC lenses, which are special purpose lenses, but to some degree can be used to other things. All lenses are high quality and should give you great pictures. So here are the complete list:

• 50mms lens database
• Wide zoom lens database
• Tele zoom lens database 
• Macro and special lens database

Enjoy ;-)

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A new section to the lens database

I have created a new section for the lens database, so that the following now is available:

• 50mms lens database
• Wide zoom lens database
• Tele zoom lens database (NEW)

And more is still to come in the coming weeks ;-)

The Tele zoom lens database even contains the brand new 70-200mm f/4 VR, but there is off cause no reviews of this yet, but I am sure that once you can buy it there will reviews of it too.

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Buyers guide to Nikon 50mm lenses

I have looked at different articles, reviews and test from around the web about the different Nikon 50mm there are available for you as a Nikon DSLR user. There are 4 options:

• Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D
• Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.4G
• Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D
• Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G

The price range for these couple of lenses goes from $125 to $439 (October 2012 prices). An important factor involving choosing the right 50mm is if you camera body has autofocus engine. The advance and professionel editions have and low model doesn't have. If you have one of the camera bodies that don't have an autofocus engine. Then you need to buy one of the AF-S editions. Otherwise you can choose any of the four versions.

It might not come as any surprise that you get the best lens with the most expensive lens, but can you settle with less? Well based on the articles that I have read. You can settle with Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G which gives you about the same performance as the Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.4G for less money. You shouldn't choose the Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D or the Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D unless you are on a budget. They are still good lens, but if you are buying new you should go for the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G, which should be a good lens for either Nikon D800, Nikon D600 or any other Nikon body.

If you need more information about which lens to buy then you can look through the lenses that I have collected in the Nikon prime normal lens test/review database


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Lens database

As I wrote in my former blog entry I am going create a collection of reviews/test from around the web on different kind of lenses that Nikon has made.

Since the last blog entry I have changed my mind and I am doing the collection in groups that are related, so that you will be able to see every lens with reviews in a category at the same time.

The lens are sorted by average image quality that the review/test have given the lens. As review/test are done at different point in time and with different camera bodies this can be a little misleading about which lens is the best, but it should give you a good idea about with lens is the best in certain category.

If there is a review/test that is missing and you think should be on the list. Just leave a comment on the page and I will add it to the collection.

If you see a lens that should be on the list. Leave a comment, but wait until the group is published.

Also leave a comment if there are some main points that you disagree with or that you think should be added.

The first part that is ready is the Nikon primes in normal range with more to come in the coming weeks as I go through each group. Once this is done I might look at different brands that also might fit Nikon bodies or maybe Canon lenses in the same way. Any ideas are welcome :-)

I hope this will help you (and me) in deciding which lenses to keep and which to buy and maybe use your collection of lenses better.

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105mm f/2.8G AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor lens review summary

This is the first of hopefully a long serie about Nikon lenses where I am going to look at what kind of reviews that have been written on the net and what I have learned about the lens myself. The serie will start with the lens that I own myself and later I will focus on lenses that I am considering to buy and lastly it will focus on all other lenses. My serie will start with the Nikon 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor Lens.

The lens have had multiple reviews on the net with mostly very positive reviews, but there are some that complain the autofocus, but almost everyone likes the image quality that comes out of this lens. What might come as surprise to some people it also is very good as a portrait lens. You can see a complete summary of the reviews here.

What important to remember with this lens are:

• Sweet spot between f/5.6 to F/11, but you don't loose much outside the range
• Very nice bokeh
• Just as good as portrait lens as macro lens
• Use the focus limiter when used as a portrait lens

An example of using this lens as a portrait lens:

[Nikon D800 and 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR]

[1/125s, f/3, ISO 2500]

An example of using this lens as a macro lens:

[Nikon D800 and 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR]

[1/160s, f/4, ISO 100]

A lens that I highly recommend.

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