Doing the Happy Dance--Ordered My New Camera!--It's Here!!

[ducklite]

I ordered a D-300 yesterday--I should be here by Thursday!

While I was at it I also bought a used Tamron 2x teleconvertor (bought the Tamron because the Nikkor won't work in AF with my Nikkor ED AF-S lens, but the Tamron will--how crazy is that?), and a used Nikon 28-70mm f/2.8 AF-S that has perfect glass--just a couple scratches on the housing. I got that for $500 less than brand new would have cost! (Also bought a Hoya UV filter for the lens, I always use UV filters to protect my lens', cheaper to replace a $40 filter than a $1500 lens.)

I'm pretty much done camera/lens shopping for a long time now, what I've got once these new items come in will do everything I need it to, and having two bodies will mean minimal lens swapping. Yeah!

 

[Scottl]

I got my D300 the day after Thanksgiving. I love it. I also got the MB-D10 battery pack. I think it will make things so much easier in the parks all day not having to worry about switching batteries.

 

[ducklite]

I got my D300 the day after Thanksgiving. I love it. I also got the MB-D10 battery pack. I think it will make things so much easier in the parks all day not having to worry about switching batteries.

In you experience how long does the EN-EL3e last when used alone? In my D-70 I can get 1500 shots (maximum size and quality .jpg) out of the EN-EL3 and still have plenty of juice left.

One thing I like about the D-300 is that in a pinch you can convert to readily available AA batteries.

I was originally looking at a D2/3X, but for $3000 less the D-300 seems to have most of the bells and whistles, and the few things it doesn't have are IMHO not worth the additional expense.

 

[Scottl]

In you experience how long does the EN-EL3e last when used alone? In my D-70 I can get 1500 shots (maximum size and quality .jpg) out of the EN-EL3 and still have plenty of juice left.

One thing I like about the D-300 is that in a pinch you can convert to readily available AA batteries.

I was originally looking at a D2/3X, but for $3000 less the D-300 seems to have most of the bells and whistles, and the few things it doesn't have are IMHO not worth the additional expense.

I got around 1200 pictures at a wedding I photographed last weekend, that was in RAW though. I haven't shot that many jpegs yet. It still had a little juice left but not much. I don't think you can use AA batteries without the battery grip.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Go ahead, rub it in. I'm sure we'll be very happy with our new snowblower.

Congrats - as my mother would say, use it in good health!

 

[ducklite]

I got around 1200 pictures at a wedding I photographed last weekend, that was in RAW though. I haven't shot that many jpegs yet. It still had a little juice left but not much. I don't think you can use AA batteries without the battery grip.

Thanks--that helps. I only have a few times a year that I shoot "that much" and I'll be using both bodies, so I should be fine. My big consideration for getting the grip is the added FPS, I don't really mind changing batteries.

Do you have problems with your hands cramping when working for that long? My Nikkor 80-200 AF-S ED is my primary lens, and that sucker is heavy--almost five pounds between the body and that lens, and my hands get terribly cramped on long shoots, as I can't use a tri-pod for the type of work I do.

 

[ducklite]

Go ahead, rub it in. I'm sure we'll be very happy with our new snowblower.

Congrats - as my mother would say, use it in good health!

I was never so happy as the day I moved out of Syracuse. Oy the snow! I can remember once we got so much overnight that we had to take the window out of the storm door and lean out with the shovel through the space to shovel away the snow before we could open the door. I've still got photos of the snow covering the bottom half of our first floor windows.

I'm sure you'll get good use out of the snowblower. In all honesty if that was my choice, I would ahve gone for the snowblower too if I still lived up north.

 

[Scottl]

Do you have problems with your hands cramping when working for that long? My Nikkor 80-200 AF-S ED is my primary lens, and that sucker is heavy--almost five pounds between the body and that lens, and my hands get terribly cramped on long shoots, as I can't use a tri-pod for the type of work I do.

Yes, my hands crap up. I primarly use the 17-55 for weddings and 18-200 for some wedding shots and everything else.

 

[El Nebuloso]

Thanks--that helps. I only have a few times a year that I shoot "that much" and I'll be using both bodies, so I should be fine. My big consideration for getting the grip is the added FPS, I don't really mind changing batteries.

Congrats on the new (amazing!) camera

Keep in mind, that the battery grip will only deliver the extra two FPS when using 8 AA's or with an en-el4. The grip comes with a cartridge for the AA's, but not for the en-el4. Also, the en-el4 requires a different charger, significantly adding to the cost if you chose to go that route.

Enjoy the new gear, it's an awesome setup!

 

[DisneyJosh]

Thanks--that helps. I only have a few times a year that I shoot "that much" and I'll be using both bodies, so I should be fine. My big consideration for getting the grip is the added FPS, I don't really mind changing batteries.

Do you have problems with your hands cramping when working for that long? My Nikkor 80-200 AF-S ED is my primary lens, and that sucker is heavy--almost five pounds between the body and that lens, and my hands get terribly cramped on long shoots, as I can't use a tri-pod for the type of work I do.

Are you able to use a monopod? Those would provide support but wouldn't be as bulky or heavy if a tripod isn't feasible to you.

Congrats on your new D300!

 

[ducklite]

Are you able to use a monopod? Those would provide support but wouldn't be as bulky or heavy if a tripod isn't feasible to you.

Congrats on your new D300!

No, monopod not allowed either, unless it's a board shoot, then I can use a tripod, but those happen once, maybe twice a year, and for the 15 minutes I'm shooting in that situation it's a non-issue.

 

[Miss Kelly]

Congrats on the camera! I hear great things about it. Although, for some reason, I thought you were a Canon shooter.

 

[ducklite]

Nope, originally a Minolta user (back in the 70's and 80's) then switched to Nikon, although I've got a Minolta DiMage P&S that's a dandy little camera.

 

[ducklite]

I'm in heaven!!!

I've put in to shoot Hannah Montana next week, it could be an interesting first outing for the new gear.

 

[jfulcer]

I'm in heaven!!!

I've put in to shoot Hannah Montana next week, it could be an interesting first outing for the new gear.

Oh, Oh, Oh, my DD would love it if you're able to share any of those. DW took along the S2 and got a couple of ok pictures out of the nearly 200 she took.

 

[Gdad]

Excellent- I'm sure you will love it. I just ordered the grip for mine. The 28-70 is also a fine lens but I sold mine bacause it was such a monster- it probably weighs almost what your 80-200 does.

 

[ducklite]

Excellent- I'm sure you will love it. I just ordered the grip for mine. The 28-70 is also a fine lens but I sold mine bacause it was such a monster- it probably weighs almost what your 80-200 does.

I played with it a little the night it got here, but quickly got bored taking photos of the black dog sleeping on the dark brown dog bed.

I need the 29-70 f/2.8 for the type of work I do. I've been making do with the 80-200, but really need both lenses. I'll be using both cameras moving forward, probably the D-70 with the 80-200 and the D-300 with the 28-70, but that might change.

DS is at a Civil War reenactment with his unit this weekend, as as long as the weather cooperates I'll go out with the new camera tomorrow and take some battlefield shots.

I'm probably going to order the grip in the next month or so--if nothing else I'm thinking it might help with some of the hand cramping on longer shoots. DH took a survey for WDW that entered him into a random drawing for a $500 Amazon gift card, and won! So he told me to go ahead and use it for the grip and some additional CF cards. I feel guilty about using his gift card, but not too much.

 

[Scottwdw]

I was never so happy as the day I moved out of Syracuse. Oy the snow!

Oh, sure, rub in why don't'cha?

Waving from snowbound Central NY. Hey, we are only supposed to get another 12 inches of snow today. Geesh!

Enjoy the new camera! I'm saving up for mine.