Moving from canon to nikon d700 questions

[photowerkz]

I'm concidering the move from canon gear over to the d700, because it suits my needs better than what canon has to offer at the moment. Been shooting with canon gear for a few years, so canon is all I know

The kind of work I do you can see on http://www.mariusaasheim.com
(all shot with canon xt/xti)

I've used some of canon's best zoom lenses (10-22, 17-55 f2.8, 70-200 f4 IS) and found that:

a.) I mostly stuck to the 17-35mm range (+1.6 crop factor)
b.) I rearly use zoom at all

So with nikon, if I decide to turn to the dark side , I was thinking of getting the nikon AF-D 50mm f1.8 as my main lens and a 30mm f2.0 for tighter spots. I've ruled out the 20/24/28mm ones because from reviews they seem to have too much distortion and arn't as sharp.

Now, beeing a total nikon-noob, I've got some stupid questions about the gear (sorry, as I stated: I only know canon gear):

- The AF-D lenses on the d700 will give me auto focus?
(hey, shut up, don't laugh!)

- Is the 35mm as sharp as the 50mm, making the 50mm some what pointless?

- Does the f1.4 version of the 50mm provide any enhancement to image quality over the f1.8? As far as I've seen, it doesn't. Which is why I'd rather save some money and go for the 1.8 instead. But maybe some of you nikonians have some experience to share?

- Exposure bracketing as I've understood it can be set as high as 9 steps. Is there a dedicated menu fuction for this, or do you have to fool around in the custom menus to set it up?

[K1W1]

For the 50mm you should have a real good look at the new AF-S 50mm f1.4 G lens.

And yes the AF D lenses will auto focus.

Edit: Welcome to the dark side. The only condition of entry is that you regularly post in the Picture of the Day thread.

[Visual Reality]

The 35mm f/2 and the 50 1.8 will be good affordable options. It's up to you whether you want the new AF-S 50 or the AF-D.

The 35 is as sharp as the 50. Some people say its better, I'll let someone who has both comment.

The D700 will autofocus AF-D, even older lenses such as AI-S.

Exposure bracketing can be set to a custom button. You have 2 buttons on the front, one is DoF preview. I set mine to quick Spot Metering and the other to my exposure bracketing. You hold the button then turn the dial to set your # of exposures. Set it back to 0 to disable. The other dial changes the +EV between shots (use the full +1 EV).

Don't forget to put the camera into CH (continuous) mode to bracket.

[Rooz]

I'm concidering the move from canon gear over to the d700, because it suits my needs better than what canon has to offer at the moment. Been shooting with canon gear for a few years, so canon is all I know

The kind of work I do you can see on http://www.mariusaasheim.com
(all shot with canon xt/xti)

hmmmm...all that work is still life, no need for speed in handling, frame rate and AF so not sure why you think d700 is a better option to a MkII.

I've used some of canon's best zoom lenses (10-22, 17-55 f2.8, 70-200 f4 IS) and found that:

a.) I mostly stuck to the 17-35mm range (+1.6 crop factor)
b.) I rearly use zoom at all

you do realise that with a d700 you lose the 1.6 crop. so you may actually be using zoom more than you think.

- The AF-D lenses on the d700 will give me auto focus?
(hey, shut up, don't laugh!)

yes, any AF lens will AF on a d700. only the d60/40 have AF limitations.

- Is the 35mm as sharp as the 50mm, making the 50mm some what pointless

its sharper. no, its not pointless cos its a different FOV. you should probably be clearer on your budget too. personally i wouldnt be buying any old nikkor primes right now. they will all be updated, (as per the 50mm), within the next 12 months. a 35/2 or 35/1.4 will be here within 6 months imo.

- Does the f1.4 version of the 50mm provide any enhancement to image quality over the f1.8? As far as I've seen, it doesn't. Which is why I'd rather save some money and go for the 1.8 instead. But maybe some of you nikonians have some experience to share?

the new 1.4 afs is sharper and miles better than either. if you wanted the 50mm i wouldnt consider anythin but the new version.

Exposure bracketing as I've understood it can be set as high as 9 steps. Is there a dedicated menu fuction for this, or do you have to fool around in the custom menus to set it up?

it can be set up as one touch bracketing. your eye doesnt have to leave the VF. i have my custom buttons set up exactly the same as VR. one is for spot metering, one for bracketing. or, if i'm in flash bank, one is spot meter and one is FV lock.

[Visual Reality]

I hope you're right Rooz about the primes, but my AF-D 35 f/2 is pretty fun as-is

Didn't even think about the full-frame factor - no crop. Either re-think your focal lengths, go for the D300 or keep what you have.

[Rooz]

not even nikon would be arrogant and obnoxious enough to ask pros to put a screw drive, 20 year old prime on an $8k D3x. once the hi-res camera arrived then, imo, it just made the prime update thing inevitable.

[XaiLo]

goody goody goody

[nsjuice]

Bewtiful work. I'm a big fan of vintage cars.

I want to see what you decide with in the end.

With whats at hand in terms of bigger sensord cameras, I decided to go with the d300.

Ive had a personal gripe with canon since the Mkii
Debuted.

But in your case, you're great at what you do.

Hope you update us on your decision.

Good luck

[e_dawg]

Seeing as you shoot objects that don't move, how do you feel about manual focus? If you don't mind it, you can always get some excellent Zeiss ZF lenses that outperform the Nikon wide primes (anything below 50 mm).

[Turn]