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Author Topic: Nikon D800e backup (advice needed)  (Read 5325 times)

larkis

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Nikon D800e backup (advice needed)
« on: August 07, 2013, 06:38:16 pm »

I'm thinking of picking up a D800E for an upcoming trip to antarctica and chile that would serve as a backup for my Pentax 645D. Because of weight restrictions I'm not planning on taking a lot of lenses. My plan was to take a 85mm 1.4 (or 1.8), a 50mm and perhaps something longer. Does anyone have any suggestions on what the best 3 lenses would be ? I want the lenses to actually deliver the resolution to the D800E's sensor.

Sorry for another D800 post :)

NashvilleMike

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Re: Nikon D800e backup (advice needed)
« Reply #1 on: August 07, 2013, 11:54:04 pm »

Focal length choice is of course highly personal, but if I were trying to assemble a D800E "small kit" with extremely high quality glass, I would personally go with the Zeiss 21/2.8 and Sigma 35/1.4 for the wide angles and the 85/1.8G for the moderate telephoto. I own and have tested all three of these lenses and they will mate well with the 800E. A lens I don't own (yet) is the Zeiss 135/2 apo sonnar, which would be my next suggestion since I don't guess you want to haul around the big/heavy (but very good) 70-200/2.8G VR-II zoom.

Have fun on your trip!

-mike
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Philip Weber

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Re: Nikon D800e backup (advice needed)
« Reply #2 on: August 07, 2013, 11:56:47 pm »

My Nikkor "trinity" (14-24, 24-70 & 70-200 VRII) handles all the landscapes my D800 throws at them with aplomb and would probably be the three I'd suggest.

Depends on ones budget and from a post Michael made a while back, the new Tamron 24-70 may be the current best out there in that focal range, but I'm only recommending what I own and use. If you needed something longer, the new Nikkor 80-400 VRII looks to be very good. With weight being an issue  the 16-35 VRII and the 28-300 would buy one a lot of real estate in two smallish lenses. I have both and have found the former to be a very handy alternative to the 14-24 and while the latter is not a pro lens, I've had excellent results with mine for the times when one (or two) lenses is all I could take.

Unless you'd want to shoot ultra wide, I think you could do it in two - a 24-70 of some sort and the Nikkor 80-400. The 14-24 or the 16-35 would be my third recommendation. If you don't need a long lens, substitute the 70-200 VRII for the 80-400.

Except for my Sigma 50mm 1.4, Sigma 15mm Fisheye and my Nikkor 105 mm Macro, I don't use fixed focal lengths so if zooms aren't your cup of tea, or want something like Mike mentioned in his reply, the above lenses won't appeal.    

Best wishes on the trip...it sounds fantastic!
Phil
« Last Edit: August 07, 2013, 11:59:01 pm by Philip Weber »
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Peter McLennan

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Re: Nikon D800e backup (advice needed)
« Reply #3 on: August 08, 2013, 12:14:53 pm »

What Philip said, except that the Nikkor 70-200 f4 is just as sharp as its f2.8 older brother and is $1000 cheaper and close to half the weight and size.  My D800 loves it.

The 80-400 is indeed an excellent tool.  I'll probably swap my zoom for it soon.

Also, I just got a Samyang 14mm f 2.8.  Really fun to use and very sharp.
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mcbroomf

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Re: Nikon D800e backup (advice needed)
« Reply #4 on: August 08, 2013, 12:50:03 pm »

What P645 lenses do you have?  Consider a P645/Nikon adapter for them then fill in the gap(s) to give you the same FOV coverage/
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Petrus

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Re: Nikon D800e backup (advice needed)
« Reply #5 on: August 08, 2013, 01:01:47 pm »

Focal length choice is of course highly personal, but if I were trying to assemble a D800E "small kit" with extremely high quality glass, I would personally go with the Zeiss 21/2.8 and Sigma 35/1.4 for the wide angles and the 85/1.8G for the moderate telephoto.

I was going to say the same, but if something longer is needed then maybe 21/2.8, 50/1.8 and Zeiss 135/2.0 Apo (or Nikon 135/2.0 DC)would fit the bill.

I have those three great zooms, they are good but no match to the best primes like Sigma 35 and Nikkor 85/1.8 which I have also.

To simplify things how about just 2 D800 bodies and a few more lenses?
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larkis

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Re: Nikon D800e backup (advice needed)
« Reply #6 on: August 09, 2013, 12:57:38 am »

What P645 lenses do you have?  Consider a P645/Nikon adapter for them then fill in the gap(s) to give you the same FOV coverage/

I have the 55mm 2.8, the 120mm f4 macro, the 25mm f4, the 150mm 2.8 and the 300mm f4. I'm also planning on picking up the 90mm 2.8 with the stabilizer. I don't know how the adapters work, will a lens without an aperture ring fit ? The adapter idea does sound practical and the pixel pitch on the D800 is not that much smaller than the 645D.

David Watson

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Re: Nikon D800e backup (advice needed)
« Reply #7 on: August 09, 2013, 01:21:21 am »

I used to have the three zooms in my D800E bag (14-24, 24-70 and 70-200) - all nice lenses but it made for a very heavy bag.  I did a check of the most commonly used focal lengths and discovered that I didn't use much outside the 35-135 range.  I now have a Sigma 35 f1.4 (wonderful), 55mm Micro, 85mm f1.4 and 135mm f2 DC.  I only use the 85mm for social photography so that is often left behind as is the 55mm.  In fact on a recent trip to Cuba I only took the 35mm and did not miss any of the others.

Going to Antarctica is a different story however and I think you will need longer lenses.  The 70-200 f4 is a good bet, although f2.8 will give a little more flexibility.  So my recommendation would be 24mm f1.4, 35 mm f1.4 and the 70-200 f2.8 perhaps with a TC20 series 3.   
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mcbroomf

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Re: Nikon D800e backup (advice needed)
« Reply #8 on: August 09, 2013, 07:02:33 am »

I have the 55mm 2.8, the 120mm f4 macro, the 25mm f4, the 150mm 2.8 and the 300mm f4. I'm also planning on picking up the 90mm 2.8 with the stabilizer. I don't know how the adapters work, will a lens without an aperture ring fit ? The adapter idea does sound practical and the pixel pitch on the D800 is not that much smaller than the 645D.
If you have lenses with no aperture ring then the adapter won't let you stop down on Nikon.  Is that just the 25mm?
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larkis

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Re: Nikon D800e backup (advice needed)
« Reply #9 on: August 10, 2013, 01:33:02 am »

If you have lenses with no aperture ring then the adapter won't let you stop down on Nikon.  Is that just the 25mm?

Actually all of the new pentax lenses don't have an aperture ring. So the 55 and 25, and i'm sure the 90mm does not have one either.

muntanela

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Re: Nikon D800e backup (advice needed)
« Reply #10 on: August 10, 2013, 03:02:22 am »

Leitz  Summicron-R 35 f/2  with Leitax adapter ( :o :o), AF-S Nikkor 50 1.4 G, Nikkor 70-200 f/2,8 VRII
« Last Edit: August 10, 2013, 03:04:18 am by muntanela »
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mcbroomf

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Re: Nikon D800e backup (advice needed)
« Reply #11 on: August 10, 2013, 04:16:50 am »

Actually all of the new pentax lenses don't have an aperture ring. So the 55 and 25, and i'm sure the 90mm does not have one either.
OK, looks like that's out then.

Have you thought about just renting or even buying a backup P645 body (used perhaps)?  It will cost less than getting the Nikon + lenses (once sold after you return), weigh less and take up less room.
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larkis

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Re: Nikon D800e backup (advice needed)
« Reply #12 on: August 10, 2013, 11:01:38 am »

OK, looks like that's out then.

Have you thought about just renting or even buying a backup P645 body (used perhaps)?  It will cost less than getting the Nikon + lenses (once sold after you return), weigh less and take up less room.

I have thought about it but I think it's a camera that could be replaced soon with something newer, reason Im going to wait until the last possible moment. My thought behind the D800 is that it potentially adds another tool with abilities the 645D does not have. From what I read the D800 should do better in lower light situations, especially with lenses faster than 2.8. While I have not found the D800 to have less noise at 1600iso than the 645D in images i shot at a dealer, I assume it wins at 3200 and beyond. Also live view and better auto focus is another asset that I would not mind having in some situations.

PhotoEcosse

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Re: Nikon D800e backup (advice needed)
« Reply #13 on: August 10, 2013, 04:55:24 pm »

If DxO are to be believed, the D800 or D800E will deliver better IQ than the Pentax - so it may be worth looking more closely at one of the suggestions made farther up the thread and take two D800/E bodies so that only onbe set of lenses would require to be carried.

(Personally, I use both the D800 and the D800E and I can't tell the difference between the two in any practical photographic application - so you might as well save a few £££s and get the cheaper variant.)
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