Comments on: Comparing 2 Aspects of the D700 and D300 Cameras http://jonvandalen.com/newblog/2008/08/10/comparing-2-aspects-of-the-d700-vs-d300-cameras/ Photography, Design, Technology, Games and Gadgets Tue, 06 Jan 2009 08:35:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Jon Van Dalen http://jonvandalen.com/newblog/2008/08/10/comparing-2-aspects-of-the-d700-vs-d300-cameras/comment-page-1/#comment-392 Jon Van Dalen Sat, 20 Dec 2008 18:40:15 +0000 http://jonvandalen.com/newblog/?p=169#comment-392 Sorry Mike, but I did in fact own and use both cameras. And, as I stated in my post, I stood in the same location and used the same lens for each shot. So I'm not sure what your beef is. Sorry Mike, but I did in fact own and use both cameras. And, as I stated in my post, I stood in the same location and used the same lens for each shot. So I’m not sure what your beef is.

]]> By: Mike http://jonvandalen.com/newblog/2008/08/10/comparing-2-aspects-of-the-d700-vs-d300-cameras/comment-page-1/#comment-389 Mike Mon, 15 Dec 2008 22:47:07 +0000 http://jonvandalen.com/newblog/?p=169#comment-389 These are not accurate pictures at all. A crop factor does not magnify the subject being photographed. In the above images the cans and the bags should appear to be the SAME size. Clearly the DX shot has the cans/bottles/bags appear larger. Whether DX or Fx or medium format, 50 mm is 50mm. The only difference is the angle of view. A 50 mm lens on a DX body has the same magnification as an FX body. The difference is that the DX ANGLE OF VIEW is the same as if a 75 mm lens was placed on an FX body. The images above are for demonstration only and don't reflect accurately what a 50 mm lens looks like on a D700 and then a D300. I doubt both cameras were used here. Putting a 200 mm lens on a DX body does not make it magically become a 300 mm lens. Instead it remains a 200 mm lens but with 100% less viewable area compared to an FX lens. Ack! These are not accurate pictures at all. A crop factor does not magnify the subject being photographed. In the above images the cans and the bags should appear to be the SAME size. Clearly the DX shot has the cans/bottles/bags appear larger. Whether DX or Fx or medium format, 50 mm is 50mm. The only difference is the angle of view. A 50 mm lens on a DX body has the same magnification as an FX body. The difference is that the DX ANGLE OF VIEW is the same as if a 75 mm lens was placed on an FX body. The images above are for demonstration only and don’t reflect accurately what a 50 mm lens looks like on a D700 and then a D300. I doubt both cameras were used here. Putting a 200 mm lens on a DX body does not make it magically become a 300 mm lens. Instead it remains a 200 mm lens but with 100% less viewable area compared to an FX lens. Ack!

]]> By: JIM HAY http://jonvandalen.com/newblog/2008/08/10/comparing-2-aspects-of-the-d700-vs-d300-cameras/comment-page-1/#comment-362 JIM HAY Mon, 13 Oct 2008 02:22:35 +0000 http://jonvandalen.com/newblog/?p=169#comment-362 And as far as my first of 2 emails are concerned is there any validity to what I had written early today? tnx JIM HAY Says: October 12th, 2008 at 9:38 am Jon: Thanks so much for your response regarding the D300 and it’s 1.5X enlargement. You mentioned that there are no “drawbacks” when an image is enlarged on a D300, so if that is the case, then I am assumming with each 50% enlargement of a medium telephoto or long range telephoto lens there is roughly a 50% cost-savings from buying the more powerful 270mm lens when i use my 180mm….adding to that the 180mm will give me an advantage of far less chance of “camera shake” than i would have had if i were to use an actual 270mm on a D700. I would also think that sports photographers would use the D300 rather than a D700 because of the reasons above…although when i go to a baseball game their lens-lengths are so long they seem to reach first base. Tnx again, Jim Hay Brooklyn, NY PS: I am afraid if i has a split screen installed it would cancel my WARRANTY.... And as far as my first of 2 emails are concerned is there any validity to what I had written early today? tnx
JIM HAY Says:

October 12th, 2008 at 9:38 am
Jon:
Thanks so much for your response regarding the D300 and it’s 1.5X enlargement. You mentioned that there are no “drawbacks” when an image is enlarged on a D300, so if that is the case, then I am assumming with each 50% enlargement of a medium telephoto or long range telephoto lens there is roughly a 50% cost-savings from buying the more powerful 270mm lens when i use my 180mm….adding to that the 180mm will give me an advantage of far less chance of “camera shake” than i would have had if i were to use an actual 270mm on a D700. I would also think that sports photographers would use the D300 rather than a D700 because of the reasons above…although when i go to a baseball game their lens-lengths are so long they seem to reach first base.
Tnx again,
Jim Hay Brooklyn, NY
PS: I am afraid if i has a split screen installed it would cancel my WARRANTY….

]]> By: Jon http://jonvandalen.com/newblog/2008/08/10/comparing-2-aspects-of-the-d700-vs-d300-cameras/comment-page-1/#comment-361 Jon Mon, 13 Oct 2008 01:15:35 +0000 http://jonvandalen.com/newblog/?p=169#comment-361 Hi Jim, The only way to improve manual focus on the D300 is to see if there is a split focus screen available from Katz-Eye which replaces the Nikon focus screen, or to use live view and see if that helps. Hi Jim,

The only way to improve manual focus on the D300 is to see if there is a split focus screen available from Katz-Eye which replaces the Nikon focus screen, or to use live view and see if that helps.

]]> By: JIM HAY http://jonvandalen.com/newblog/2008/08/10/comparing-2-aspects-of-the-d700-vs-d300-cameras/comment-page-1/#comment-360 JIM HAY Sun, 12 Oct 2008 21:45:41 +0000 http://jonvandalen.com/newblog/?p=169#comment-360 Hi Jon: Forgot to add this part re the D300: The reason i bought this camera was because I had 9 AI NIKKOR lenses that i bought after I purchased the NIKON F3 and they have lain dormant since the mid nineties. They are extremelty compatible with my new acquistion but as you know all are MANUAL FOCUSING. I am still learning about the subtleties of the D3OO and one of the sleeping subtelty-problems that have been appearing is when i take a picture that I think looks good on the monitor is actually out of focus in only one part of the picture....e.g the subject is out of focus while the rest of the picture is in focus like the background. So my queston is have you heard or read about this problem? I thought i read somewhere on WIKIPEDIA that manual compatible lenses' SWEET-SPOT is much narrower than the auto focusing lens which are made special for the D300 camera...True? Your help is needed Jim Hay Brooklyn, NY Hi Jon:
Forgot to add this part re the D300: The reason i bought this camera was because I had 9 AI NIKKOR lenses that i bought after I purchased the NIKON F3 and they have lain dormant since the mid nineties. They are extremelty compatible with my new acquistion but as you know all are MANUAL FOCUSING. I am still learning about the subtleties of the D3OO and one of the sleeping subtelty-problems that have been appearing is when i take a picture that I think looks good on the monitor is actually out of focus in only one part of the picture….e.g the subject is out of focus while the rest of the picture is in focus like the background. So my queston is have you heard or read about this problem? I thought i read somewhere on WIKIPEDIA that manual compatible lenses’ SWEET-SPOT is much narrower than the auto focusing lens which are made special for the D300 camera…True? Your help is needed

Jim Hay
Brooklyn, NY

]]> By: JIM HAY http://jonvandalen.com/newblog/2008/08/10/comparing-2-aspects-of-the-d700-vs-d300-cameras/comment-page-1/#comment-359 JIM HAY Sun, 12 Oct 2008 14:38:37 +0000 http://jonvandalen.com/newblog/?p=169#comment-359 Jon: Thanks so much for your response regarding the D300 and it's 1.5X enlargement. You mentioned that there are no "drawbacks" when an image is enlarged on a D300, so if that is the case, then I am assumming with each 50% enlargement of a medium telephoto or long range telephoto lens there is roughly a 50% cost-savings from buying the more powerful 270mm lens when i use my 180mm....adding to that the 180mm will give me an advantage of far less chance of "camera shake" than i would have had if i were to use an actual 270mm on a D700. I would also think that sports photographers would use the D300 rather than a D700 because of the reasons above...although when i go to a baseball game their lens-lengths are so long they seem to reach first base. Tnx again, Jim Hay Brooklyn, NY Jon:
Thanks so much for your response regarding the D300 and it’s 1.5X enlargement. You mentioned that there are no “drawbacks” when an image is enlarged on a D300, so if that is the case, then I am assumming with each 50% enlargement of a medium telephoto or long range telephoto lens there is roughly a 50% cost-savings from buying the more powerful 270mm lens when i use my 180mm….adding to that the 180mm will give me an advantage of far less chance of “camera shake” than i would have had if i were to use an actual 270mm on a D700. I would also think that sports photographers would use the D300 rather than a D700 because of the reasons above…although when i go to a baseball game their lens-lengths are so long they seem to reach first base.
Tnx again,
Jim Hay Brooklyn, NY

]]> By: Jon http://jonvandalen.com/newblog/2008/08/10/comparing-2-aspects-of-the-d700-vs-d300-cameras/comment-page-1/#comment-358 Jon Tue, 07 Oct 2008 18:15:20 +0000 http://jonvandalen.com/newblog/?p=169#comment-358 Hi Jim, Thanks for the kind words. On a DX body (also called APS-C or "digital crop" sensor by other companies) you are getting 1.5 times the normal length of your lenses. So yes, a 180mm lens works just like a 270mm lens on your D300 with no drawbacks. Also, a 70-200 zoom lens would become, for example, roughly a 105-300 zoom. For telephoto range, I actually agree with you.. it's nice to get a free boost in length. When you get down to 50mm and 35mm ranges, however, the 1.5x factor can sort of ruin the "natural" look of those lenses. For example, you might expect a 50mm to work well indoors and on a 1.5x camera you will constantly be stepping back as far as you can. So, there are advantages and disadvantages to both formats. Fix that CAPS lock key, it's become stuck ;) Hi Jim,

Thanks for the kind words. On a DX body (also called APS-C or “digital crop” sensor by other companies) you are getting 1.5 times the normal length of your lenses. So yes, a 180mm lens works just like a 270mm lens on your D300 with no drawbacks. Also, a 70-200 zoom lens would become, for example, roughly a 105-300 zoom.

For telephoto range, I actually agree with you.. it’s nice to get a free boost in length. When you get down to 50mm and 35mm ranges, however, the 1.5x factor can sort of ruin the “natural” look of those lenses. For example, you might expect a 50mm to work well indoors and on a 1.5x camera you will constantly be stepping back as far as you can. So, there are advantages and disadvantages to both formats.

Fix that CAPS lock key, it’s become stuck ;)

]]> By: JIM HAY http://jonvandalen.com/newblog/2008/08/10/comparing-2-aspects-of-the-d700-vs-d300-cameras/comment-page-1/#comment-357 JIM HAY Tue, 07 Oct 2008 17:46:50 +0000 http://jonvandalen.com/newblog/?p=169#comment-357 THE LENS CONVERSION SHUD HAVE BEEN 270MM @ 1.5X NOT 360MM SORRY FOR THE ERROR FOLKS JIM HAY THE LENS CONVERSION SHUD HAVE BEEN 270MM @ 1.5X NOT 360MM SORRY FOR THE ERROR FOLKS

JIM HAY

]]> By: JIM HAY http://jonvandalen.com/newblog/2008/08/10/comparing-2-aspects-of-the-d700-vs-d300-cameras/comment-page-1/#comment-356 JIM HAY Tue, 07 Oct 2008 17:44:09 +0000 http://jonvandalen.com/newblog/?p=169#comment-356 PLS HELP ME UNDERSTAND PLS HELP ME UNDERSTAND

]]> By: JIM HAY http://jonvandalen.com/newblog/2008/08/10/comparing-2-aspects-of-the-d700-vs-d300-cameras/comment-page-1/#comment-355 JIM HAY Tue, 07 Oct 2008 17:42:58 +0000 http://jonvandalen.com/newblog/?p=169#comment-355 I HV BEEN TRYING TO UNDERSTAND FOR SOMETIME THE LARGER SLR DIGITAL LENSE FACTOR OF 1.5 X OVER A FILM CAMERA WHEN USING THE SAME LENS. MANUFACTURERS OF DIGITAL CAMERAS HAVE ALWAYS ADVERTISED THAT A LENS ON A FILM CAMERA OF 2OOMM WILL BE EQUAL TO A 300MM ON A DIGITAL. I BOUGHT THE D300 NIKON FOR THAT REASON BUT WHEN I VIEWED THE IMAGE ON THE D300 I ASKED MYSELF WAS I LOOKING THRU A 180 MM LENS THAT CONVERTED TO A 360MM LENS (1.5X LARGER IMAGE) OR WAS I JUST SIMPLY GETTING A NARROWER FIELD OF VIEW WITH NO ENLARGEMENT. BUT YOUR WONDERFUL PICTURES OF COMPARING THE D700 AND D300 SHOWED ME HANDS DOWN THAT I AM ACTUALLY LOOKING THRU THE 180 MM LENS BUT GETTING A 360 MM IMAGE WHICH I PREFER BY FAR OVER A WIDER FIELD OF VIEW. IS THERE ANYTHING I AM MISSING OR IS MY INTIAL ASSUMPTION IN BUYING THE D300 MEAN I WILL SAVE ON BUYING A 360MM LENS BECAUSE THE SMALLER SENSOR IS ACTUALLY PROVIDING ME AN ENLARGEMENT OF 1.5X ? YOUR PICTURES SEEM TO HAVE SUPPORTED MY ORIGINAL REASONS FOR BUYING THIS GREAT CAMERA. THE PICS WERE GREAT AND SEEMED TO PROVE THAT I AM ACTUALLY GETTING A 1.5X IMAGE(I HOPE)..TNX AGAIN JIM HAY I HV BEEN TRYING TO UNDERSTAND FOR SOMETIME THE LARGER SLR DIGITAL LENSE FACTOR OF 1.5 X OVER A FILM CAMERA WHEN USING THE SAME LENS. MANUFACTURERS OF DIGITAL CAMERAS HAVE ALWAYS ADVERTISED THAT A LENS ON A FILM CAMERA OF 2OOMM WILL BE EQUAL TO A 300MM ON A DIGITAL. I BOUGHT THE D300 NIKON FOR THAT REASON BUT WHEN I VIEWED THE IMAGE ON THE D300 I ASKED MYSELF WAS I LOOKING THRU A 180 MM LENS THAT CONVERTED TO A 360MM LENS (1.5X LARGER IMAGE) OR WAS I JUST SIMPLY GETTING A NARROWER FIELD OF VIEW WITH NO ENLARGEMENT. BUT YOUR WONDERFUL PICTURES OF COMPARING THE D700 AND D300 SHOWED ME HANDS DOWN THAT I AM ACTUALLY LOOKING THRU THE 180 MM LENS BUT GETTING A 360 MM IMAGE WHICH I PREFER BY FAR OVER A WIDER FIELD OF VIEW. IS THERE ANYTHING I AM MISSING OR IS MY INTIAL ASSUMPTION IN BUYING THE D300 MEAN I WILL SAVE ON BUYING A 360MM LENS BECAUSE THE SMALLER SENSOR IS ACTUALLY PROVIDING ME AN ENLARGEMENT OF 1.5X ? YOUR PICTURES SEEM TO HAVE SUPPORTED MY ORIGINAL REASONS FOR BUYING THIS GREAT CAMERA. THE PICS WERE GREAT AND SEEMED TO PROVE THAT I AM ACTUALLY GETTING A 1.5X IMAGE(I HOPE)..TNX AGAIN JIM HAY

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