New tool!!

[handicap18]

UPS finally delivered my new photography tool yesterday night:

Didn't get much of a chance to play with it last night, but I'm off tomorrow so I'll be snapping away to get a feel for it.

 

[Suburbanmom]

That is SO pretty. I see you even changed your signature already.
I have my sights set on one of those too. Take some pictures and share them with us right away!!

 

[mabas9395]

Ooops, looks like they shipped you a Nikon by mistake. I'm sure you ment to order a Canon (jk).

Enjoy your to toy, er, I mean tool.

 

[MICKEY88]

congrats...nice tool, we all look forward to seeing some of the work you do with it..

 

[fitzperry]

Congrats on the new addition to the family! I see the video feature didn't sway you to the D90. You'll love this camera!

 

[handicap18]

Thanks guys...

Jen, I did think about the D90, but I was really sold a while back when I went to a local camera store and held the D300 and snapped a few images. Then after having a few conversations with different people I pretty much made up my mind before the D90 came out. I did offer the D90 some serious consideration. I read everything I could find. The video feature is very cool and someday could be something I'd like to have, but in the end it was the D300 for me.

Here are a few first shots with my Sigma 30mm f/1.4 attached.
Nothing earth shattering or impressive, just straight out of the camera converted from a 14-bit RAW image.

 

[fitzperry]

I doubt you'll be sorry. I'm pretty impressed with what I've seen from that video feature too, but the D300 is a wonderful camera.

Great pictures--love your dd's shirt, and your littlest one is getting big!

 

[handicap18]

I doubt you'll be sorry. I'm pretty impressed with what I've seen from that video feature too, but the D300 is a wonderful camera.

Great pictures--love your dd's shirt, and your littlest one is getting big!

Thanks Jen. Definitely a big jump from the D50.

Yeah, with the shirt; We have a bunch of different one's similar to that. I like "Whats an extra Chromosome between friends". The littlest turned 2 last month. Though I would really like it if he had just turned 3. I'm not liking his version of "2".

 

[YesDear]

Congrats. I have one and I know Gdad has one as well. If I can answer any questions, let me know. There is a slight learning curve. I even took the Nikonians 1 day class on the D300 and loved it.

You will love it. You will be amazed at the different colors you get with the different sensor and the lack of noise at higher ISO's

 

[Quicklabs]

Woo Hooo! Congrats! I always like when you post pics of your adorable kids. Both are absolutely precious, but your daughter's sweet smile and expression steals my heart.

 

[Gdad]

Awesome Kyle! I know you will love it. As said- any questions come up feel free to shoot me a PM.

 

[wenrob]

Well, I don't think those cuties could take a bad pic! They are adorable. Great pics, congrats on your new, ahem, "tool."

 

[AndrewWG]

SWEET! Nice pick-up. Can't wait to see how it performs for you. I'm sure you will like that much more than your D50 (I think that is what you had).

 

[Steve's Girl]

Wow! Congrats Kyle. I've been afraid to even go look at those things! I'll live vicariously through you for awhile! Keep posting photos.

 

[NostalgicDad]

Congrats, Kyle! I've had mine for a few months now and am continually impressed by it's performance. You will have no regrets.

 

[YEKCIM]

I'm very happy for you Kyle. From all reports, the D300 is a superb piece of gear and should give you many years of good service.

So, do you have a trip planned to WDW to put it thru its paces, yet?

~Ed

 

[Furgus]

Kyle,
How is the MBD10? I am looking to pick one up when I get my D300. Is it comfotable? How is the extra few frames a second?

Congrats on the new body, I keep counting the days until mine gets ordered....

 

[Gdad]

Kyle,
How is the MBD10? I am looking to pick one up when I get my D300. Is it comfotable? How is the extra few frames a second?

Congrats on the new body, I keep counting the days until mine gets ordered....

You directed the question to Kyle but I will offer my $0.02-

It is a very solid build and better design than the previous grips with no play in the attachment. Not plasticy feeling like the D80/D200 grip. You can get from 6fps to 8fps by using the grip but not with the EN-EL3e camera battery. I just use rechargable AA's since I am too cheap to buy the EN-EL4a battery and charger- about $230 for the pair at B&H. The AA's seem to last forever anyway.

BTW Kyle- when you attach the grip there is an indent on the top of it to store the little rubber filler piece that seals the camera when it is without the grip. A handy feature to avoid loosing that little piece.

 

[handicap18]

You directed the question to Kyle but I will offer my $0.02-

It is a very solid build and better design than the previous grips with no play in the attachment. Not plasticy feeling like the D80/D200 grip. You can get from 6fps to 8fps by using the grip but not with the EN-EL3e camera battery. I just use rechargable AA's since I am too cheap to buy the EN-EL4a battery and charger- about $230 for the pair at B&H. The AA's seem to last forever anyway.

BTW Kyle- when you attach the grip there is an indent on the top of it to store the little rubber filler piece that seals the camera when it is without the grip. A handy feature to avoid loosing that little piece.

COOL Jeff! I did not realize that yet. To bad there isn't a place to store the plastic cover for the MB-10


As for the grip itself. Nice! Very nice. Solid feel. Works like a charm. Makes the camera overall very big and dwarf's the D50. I haven't tried it out with the 8 AA's yet. I'll probably do that this weekend at oldest DS' soccer game. I like that it is easy to switch the battery power from the camera body to the battery grip. There is also a screen in the menu that shows how much battery life is left by percentage.

Lots of great extra little features.

 

[handicap18]

I'm very happy for you Kyle. From all reports, the D300 is a superb piece of gear and should give you many years of good service.

So, do you have a trip planned to WDW to put it thru its paces, yet?

~Ed

I so wish we did have a trip planned. Though I don't think we'll be going back till 2010 (both DW and I turn 40 that year and we will also celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary that year).

I was thinking I may try to see how much a 1 or 2 night stay would be, but I don't know that DW would go for that. She just went back to work and over the last 4 years we spent a lot of our savings while she was home so we need to build up the savings first.

Anyone who wants to sponsor me to go down for a day or too I'll be happy to go!