A Day in the Park With Something New

[Richard in NC]

A new toy came today. You know I have to keep up with the Joneses. Or in this case, the Robyns. Since I was 1/2 mile from a city park, I gave it a test drive..... So far so good but I've got new things to learn. The rest is just like the other 24,000 pictures I've taken. Well, 33,000 if you count all of my digital cameras.

[Richard in NC]

And more.

[Richard in NC]

Yep. A shiny new Nikon D300S. Just announced the end of July, I may have one of the first in the city. Not too many others have shipped in the whole U.S. yet as well. I'm crossing my fingers its not buggy. It shouldn't be. Its just a D300 with a few features added from the D700 and HD video, added from the D90. It should have much better high ISO output than the D200.
http://bimmerdrivers.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=2916&stc=1&d=1251573019

[boxboss]

You know, technology can't beat knowledge to which Robyn will attest. In this case, you have both! :woot:

I expect to see your photos in the next issue of Nat Geo (can we have more breast shots?) :greenlaff:

Seriously, congrats Richard. A photographer with your technical abilities deserves a camera to match. :thumb:

[Richard in NC]

You know, technology can't beat knowledge to which Robyn will attest. In this case, you have both! :woot:

I expect to see your photos in the next issue of Nat Geo (can we have more breast shots?) :greenlaff:

Seriously, congrats Richard. A photographer with your technical abilities deserves a camera to match. :thumb:

I still have a lot to learn. Or at least I need to take the time and practice what I know. Take the volleyball game shots for example. I wasn't using any of the camera's advanced focus features. Every shot was single point focusing on the ball in the center of the image. They're in focus but not great shots. I cropped the two vertical format shots to make them look better.

Here are ways to improve that:
1. Continuous focus. I used that on a few shots but still kept the ball in the center of the image. At least I could pan near to far and maintain focus while snapping the shots I wanted.
2. Focus on an object in the center, press AF Lock, and re-compose. This works great for still objects and I do that a lot.
3. Single point focus but move the focus point. Easy to do with a D200/D300 but still only good for still objects.
4. Enable dynamic focus. The D2000/D300 have two modes that I need to practice with. Both allow you to frame the shot you want and allow the subject to move in the frame. Continuous focus must be set for this to work.
Dynamic focus allows a subject once focused in the center to be tracked.
With Auto-area focus, the camera will select the main subject anywhere in the frame and track it.

With these features set, I could have composed the images to get more of the players even with the ball moving above their heads, and just let'er snap off the shots. All would have looked as good as the vertical ones.

[BHR4CE1]

Great shots.

They say the camera adds 10 lbs. If that's the case, somebody needs to get those volleyball players a big meal STAT!!!!

[Richard in NC]

Great shots.

They say the camera adds 10 lbs. If that's the case, somebody needs to get those volleyball players a big meal STAT!!!!

It certainly adds 10 lbs. around my neck.

[InsidiousSpeed]

Nice photos as always. I thought this one of the passing plane was interesting. You captured the exhaust fume (if one looks close enough) and the propellers are fixed in motion. And the plane doesn't look that far away from you.

http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=2892&d=1251572555

[boxboss]

Focus on an object in the center, press AF Lock, and re-compose. This works great for still objects and I do that a lot.

That's one technique I know and use - invaluable for putting the main object off to the side of the pic but keeping it in focus (with spot focusing.)

[Gran Turismo]

Yep. A shiny new Nikon D300S. Just announced the end of July, I may have one of the first in the city.
... which means that my D300 - announced just 2 years ago, and I had one of the first in the city too around November 2007 - is already outdated! :ball:

Do you know if with the D300s, AF works while recording videos, Richard? (as opposed to the D90)

[boxboss]

... which means that my D300 - announced just 2 years ago, and I had one of the first in the city too around November 2007 - is already outdated! :ball:

:stupid: Ms Boss got hers Jan 08. This must be Nikon's "Life Cycle Impulse"?

[Richard in NC]

... which means that my D300 - announced just 2 years ago, and I had one of the first in the city too around November 2007 - is already outdated! :ball:

Do you know if with the D300s, AF works while recording videos, Richard? (as opposed to the D90)

Sort of. Apparently it can do contrast detect auto focus in some video modes. I haven't really tested the video yet.

There doesn't seem to be many other enhancements from the D300. But I think it was worth upgrading from my 3 1/2 year old D200.