test-shot-4, originally uploaded by DeNic Photos.

First test shots from the D700. Playing outside of Papadeux in DTC.

I have added some new gear to my bag. So really powerful new gear.

I recently purchased a Nikon D700, along with a Nikkor 50 1.8 and 80-200 2.8, and Tamron 28-75 2.8 and 17-35 2.8-4 to mount up to it.

Big move. HUGE move really!

I was previously shooting Canon and was wanting to go to a full frame body. I had been ready to buy a Canon 5DMKII, but one afternoon I had some time to kill and wound up at Wolf Camera near the studio. I played with the Nikon D700 and instantly fell in love! The camera felt like it belonged in my hand, like it had been built to fit in MY hand. I was shocked.

I have been through 3 different Canon bodies and never found the need to pick up a Nikon…let me tell you I was surprised beyond believe.

So I contemplated the Nikon all the while saving my pennies to buy the 5DMKII…but when it came time for me to actually make the purchase I just couldn’t do it. The way the Nikon felt in my hand was still forefront in my mind.

There were other things as well. I think I best explained it in this post to my fellow photog, Lori:

Well Lori it really started with how the Nikon felt in my hand compared to the Canon. The D700 felt like it was made for my hand, it fit perfectly with no strain. Hard to explain, but it was like putting on those old worn in gloves to go play in the snow instead of the new ones that mom had just bought you.

Secondly, the FPS on the D700. I shoot a lot of sports and the Canon was, IMO, a tad slow in the FPS department to really get things going on the sports side for me. With the grip on the D700 you can get 8FPS…that is crazy. 5DMKII is 3.2 I believe.

Third I felt that while the video on the Canon is cool, it would not be something I would use much if at all.

The high ISO IQ between the two cameras are about equal, nikon may edge out just a tiny bit, but no big deal…they are both great in that respect.

I would say go play with both of them and see how they feel.

The D700 for me just works and fits better. I still have my 40D setup, until I am solid on all the controls of the Nikon I want to keep it for those important shoots where I know things will need to be changed a lot on the fly.

Due to a shoulder injury I haven’t been able to get out and really test it out the new equipment but a few quick shots has me convinced I made the correct choice for myself.

Shooting a wedding next weekend so that will be the real test, but so far I am delighted with the new equipment.

Doh!, originally uploaded by Paul William Robinson.

Image found on Flickr

Over the summer I posted a blog entry about Always Being Ready with your equipment. Even when you do your best, sometimes a small item is forgotten.

When you put your camera gear away and think you have reset all your settings back to your baseline configuration…next time you go to shoot double check it.

I have been having a really odd issue with my camera and auto focus. Been having it for a while and it was to the point I was thinking I had a big issue and it needed to go back to Canon.

Basically every once in a while the camera would hunt for focus and never lock. I would have to go manual to get the shots I was after. Thought it was a lens issue and but then realized it was happening with all my lenses.

Happened yesterday at a Colorado Strobist Meet-up so I had had it. Body and all lenses were going to Canon for calibration!

But as I do, I started digging deeper online and found a suggestion that clicked in my head.

A while back I had shot a motorcycle race, set the AF to AI Servo to deal with the moving subjects. Since it is not something I hardly ever change, I never changed it back to one shot focus. I shot this race in September!!!!

I changed it back to One Shot focus and you guessed it… everything works just fine now.

DOH!

Capitol and more, originally uploaded by DeNic Photos.

I had always wondered how photographers got those great shots that encompassed so much of a city skyline. Since this whole landscape thing is new to me and my idea of a landscape photo is little less than traditional (I tend to like night images…call me weird) I wanted to try to emulate some of the great images I have found over the years.

I picked up a Tokina 12-24/f4 lens, what they call an ultra wide angle lens, and have been playing with it. The image of the Colorado State Capitol was taken with this lens on a December night with a full cold moon hiding behind the clouds.

All the other lenses I tried that night would either capture the Capitol and some street, or the moon and some street. But the UWA lens got it all and the shot was nice and clear and free of digital noise.

Having the right equipment is key in getting “that” image.

I have made a resolution for 2009, albeit a tad bit early. One of my resolutions is to make sure that I have the right equipment to get the right image…no matter what the image may be. Yes, reworking the equipment bag is a huge priority for me in this coming year.

All done to make my services a better value for YOU!

My oh so camera shy son decided to let me take his picture…and he smiled. He usually RUNS when he sees my camera so this is a rare shot, the smile makes it dang near a miracle shot.

Sometimes the perfect photo is simply the one captured. This portrait of my son Zachary has some flaws in it, but when you have a child (or adult for that matter) that does not like to be photographed and suddenly they ask you to take their picture…you go with what ya got!

There was no time to set up, no time to worry about this or that, I just had time to grab the camera and start snapping before he walked away.

I was so glad that I had started resetting my camera settings prior to putting my equipment away. I tend to leave the dial on Aperture Priority when I store my gear as that has been a fairly successful quick setting for me at times like this. I changed the white balance to cloudy since it was overcast and was able to start snapping away immediately.

I learned from an ealier mistake that just putting your gear way without at least taking a quick look can be disaterous.

Start a routine of how you store your gear and you will find that it makes the next shoot that much easier to get going.

hazel-miller-southlands, originally uploaded by Dizzle @ 2*3 Photos.

I was out shopping and wandered up on a Mix 100 concert series at the Southlands Shopping area in Aurora, Colorado. The Hazel Miller Band was performing and as usual it was a standout show. Gotta love summer and the free concert series.

I have only just recently started taking my camera bag with me all the time. Currently, my bag set-up kinda sucks so I tend to leave it at home a lot, but I decided that I was missing too many photo-ops by not having my equipment so…I toss my bag in the backseat every time I leave the house now.

That is the only reason I got this shot. I was out running errands, heard a lot of ruckus so wanted to see what was going on…and there was the Hazel Miller Band about to end their free concert. I literally jumped out of my car, grabbed the camera and started shooting photos. I probably had about 2 minutes before Hazel walked off the stage, but I got the shot!

To make my life a lot easier I plan on getting a new bag to make carrying the daily needs of a photographer a bit easier. Right now my bag holds almost all my equipment, awesome for traveling, not so awesome for day to day shooting. I plan on getting something that will simply hold the things I need for a day outing.