CAN YOU GO BACKWARDS WITH EQUIPMENT

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raider2727

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I recently sold all my Nikon digital gear (D700 PRO NIKON LENSES) bar one lens a new 16-35 F4 VR which I have been using on my old film camera.
I sold my kit as I am partially sighted and found myself being frustrated by my photographic ability with my sight problem, but to be honest I find film horrible now and miss my hobby very much.
My Wife has a Canon 40D and 2 good lenses but when we are out sharing and queuing to use the camera is not ideal

On Sunday we were out walking along the Canal and I met a chap who had a similar problem to myself and he has given me hope that maybe photography is still an option.

I am into landscapes and always have been but that was also my problem as fine detail was hard to see with my eye problem.
The chap I met only has one lens a 70-200 vr on a D300 body, he takes photos of just about everything and uses the lens telephoto ability as a sight aid.
He can see the fine detail that is missing when you use a wide angle lens as obviously the image is magnified.

So I am left wondering if maybe photography is still an option and rather than give up totally that I should just alter my style and preferred subject of Landscapes.

My main concern is that I probably cant justify buying another full frame camera so a crop like the D300 would be within my budget, but will I be happy with that after being use to full frame now? Or will I be selling and buying full frame or just giving up through a different frustration.
Has anyone taken a step backwards and then found they were not happy with what a crop body can offer? Or were you surprised how easy the step backwards was.
 
Have you thought about using something like this?

gigtube.jpg


A cable attached live view monitor, its only 2.5 inches, the same as most DSLR rear screens but it may be of help.
 
Of course you can. Full frame is a luxury that you'll soon forget about - obviously for the very widest photos. I'm useless on Nikon's side of things, but a Canon 10-22mm EFS is pretty much the same as 16mm on a full frame camera and isn't a massively expensive lens.

As for your sight problem - have you considered using the LCD screen? You can zoom in and see the detail to ensure things are focused whilst still using a wide lens...sounds like the best of both worlds to me. Stick it on a tripod if needs be.

I'd definitely say go for it, it seems a horrible waste not to if you enjoy it, but bide your time. Go down the second-hand route and be patient, find a bargain. Also - why not move to Canon so you can share with your wife? You could easily, easily get a 50D for £500 and sticking a new 10-22mm on the front of it would still cost less than a D300. And you get the instant bonus of the lens your wife isn't using!
 
Do you mind me asking what's wrong with your sight.


I have sight difficulties which is one of the main reason I went for my 5DII, as the Hi res allows me to crop the hell out of images [digital zoom basicly], I don't do a great deal of landscapes mainly sport and portraits now but I find its definatly more hit and miss with my photos then with my other friends, sometimes i get a scharp shot sometimes I think i get a sharp shot but dont lol.

I wouldn't sell up if I got frustrated just adapt your kit to suit, Love my 70-200 would like something a bit longer 100-400 because there are still somethings you can't see with a 70-200 especally on FF body.




raider2727 said:
SNIP
Click to expand...
 
JackMcIntyre said:
Have you thought about using something like this?

gigtube.jpg


A cable attached live view monitor, its only 2.5 inches, the same as most DSLR rear screens but it may be of help.
Click to expand...

Would be better with something like 7/8" 2.5 is smaller then the screen on most cameras these days.
 
JackMcIntyre said:
Have you thought about using something like this?

gigtube.jpg


A cable attached live view monitor, its only 2.5 inches, the same as most DSLR rear screens but it may be of help.
Click to expand...

Hi Jack,
Thanks very much for that it is much appreciated, i have tried something similar and to be honest i might as well use the main screen.
Tony
 
As for your sight problem - have you considered using the LCD screen?

Hi Andrew,
To be honest if the sun is out i cant even see the screen even with a shade so this is not an option i can use daily.
As for using the Wifes lenses and buying a Canon body although it makes sense it is not ideal as my Eye problem leads me to believe the focal plain to be totally straight however it is about a quarter of an inch higher on the left.
With the Nikon D700 i had the virtual horizon set on a function button so i could see it through the view finder as i took the shot which was a godsend.
As this feature is also available on the D300s i guess this or the D700 are my only options.
Plus i changed to Nikon from Canon and find the lenses and camera to be in a different league on so many different levels.
 
with my canon and a simple usb cable i can use the laptop as my screen.. i can use the laptop to press the shutter.. software comes wiht the camera.. i dont know what models of a canon can do this though....
 
KIPAX said:
with my canon and a simple usb cable i can use the laptop as my screen.. i can use the laptop to press the shutter.. software comes wiht the camera.. i dont know what models of a canon can do this though....
Click to expand...

I was just about to suggest this. Look into Nikon's camera control software. You can tether shoot and use the camera through the computer / laptop as a monitor. Perhaps a netbook would be useful as lugging a mid to large sized laptop around might prove cumbersome.
 
kiteninja said:
Do you mind me asking what's wrong with your sight.

Hi Morgan,
No I don’t mind you asking, I have something called Chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia, which is a by product from also having mitochondrial myopathy, a form of muscular dystrophy.

Basically I have a muscle wasting disease and this affects the muscles in my eyes and the top half of my body for now.
The problems I have are my eyes don’t move left, right, up or down more than 18% of normal function, I have 40% vision in my right eye and 18% vision in my left on top of this the muscles in my eye lids are also buggered so I also have ptosis and a thing called dry eye.

I have spent a small fortune buying photographic equipment and having to sell it while I try and find something that works for me.
As my condition is progressive it is normally not long before what ever I am using no longer works for me so I sell and start all over again.
I have been accused a number of times of being a dealer on here and I wish I was, the sad truth is every time I buy something I end up selling for far less than I buy it for, so more of a mug than a dealer.
I excuse others ignorance in the hope of one day finding a camera and lens or lenses which allow me to keep doing something I really enjoy and take great pride in.
I am 49 years old and brought my first camera on my 18th Birthday so going out without a camera after 31 years is like going out without your right leg

I think how ever much it hurts I will have to accept that Landscapes are no longer an option as well as full frame and ill try and trade my 16-35 VR for a tele lens of some kind and look out for a used D300s as I need the virtual horizon function.
My next problem will be the length and weight of a tele lens which will mean I need VR or OS of some kind.
It just seems never ending.
Tony
Click to expand...
 
KIPAX said:
with my canon and a simple usb cable i can use the laptop as my screen.. i can use the laptop to press the shutter.. software comes wiht the camera.. i dont know what models of a canon can do this though....
Click to expand...

Thank you for that too, a screen out side is probably a no go for me but i will certainly look into it and thanks for the help
Tony
 
I know its ducking around the problem really but a camera with multi AF and metering points sounds like a cheapish solution as you can then let the camera do the work in making sure the different detail points of the image are both in focus and metered correctly.

I don't know which of the current crop of DSLR's have the feature as my disability has meant getting rid of the DSLR (to heavy for me to hold) and moving to a canon G11 and panasonic G1, the G1 has the feature as well as a 3" multi angle screen and a very handy auto zoom feature on manual focusing.
 
Maybe consider going with a 5x4 half-plate camera for landscapes instead?
Black cloth and everything?

Slows your work-process right down, but the quality is almost as good as a D700 (lol)
 
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