Just ordered some goodies :)

[Cap]

Right, I have just purchased online:

1) Manfrotto 055xprob and 488RC4 ball head
2) Tokina 12-24mm DX-II F4 wide angle lens

Just need to buy a UV filter for protection, and later some GND - that covers the landscapes I think.

Ill post up some pics when I receive them sometime next week... till then ill have sleepless nights :D

Wish List
For nature (birding) photography I want to buy in the future:
Nikon 300mm F4 Prime lens
SB900 Flash
Nikon 1.4tc
spacer tubes (300mm F4 is great for macro work too) for macro.
I just dont want to think about how much this gear will be :eek: :eek: :o

[CowsGoMoo]

I know the feeling. Is it here yet? Is it here yet? :)

[C0L0N3L]

Why did you go for the Tokina 12-24mm?

Just I have been drooling over superwides for a while and still don't know what to get.

[Cap]

I too was confused about what to get, the Sigma 10-20, the Tokina 11-16 or the Tokina 12-24. I didnt even look at the Nikon because of the price.

Also, all three lenses mentioned above have excellent reviews, they are all much the same performance wise.

I opted for the 12-24 because it gives me the widest range (up to 24mm) and I think 12mm is wide enough for me. I didnt need the wider aperture 11-16 as I wont be shooting much indoor stuff... but if I was then that would of been the lens. I also have a 28-80 so the tokina lens compliments this other one.

I bought it from DWI (cheapest I can find on the net).

[WhiteD3]

Manfrotto 055xprob and 488RC4 ball head


Is there a particular reason you chose this tripod? I ask because today I took delivery of a 190XPROB with 804RC2 Head bought on Ebay. No particular reason for choosing this model other than price and my cheap and nasty tripod died (A leg fell off:eek: ).


Oh........................and I love my Sigma 10-20mm 3.5..............could not be happier:D:D

[Cap]

I bought the 055 because of its extended height, im 6'3" so need all the height I can get! Aside from that, no other reason ;)

I bet you love the Sigma... your photos are fantastic... cant wait for my wide angle.

[Chucaro]

Is there a particular reason you chose this tripod? I ask because today I took delivery of a 190XPROB with 804RC2 Head bought on Ebay. No particular reason for choosing this model other than price and my cheap and nasty tripod died (A leg fell off:eek: ).


Oh........................and I love my Sigma 10-20mm 3.5..............could not be happier:D:D

The 190XPROB also holds only 5KG, so by the time that you for the ball head, camera, lens and flash it is on the limit .
If in the future theuser like to fit a 300mm lens then vibration problems will be affecting the shrapness of the image.
The 055PROB hold 7Kg

[dmdigital]

Get yourself an L-Bracket for the camera. It makes it much easier to orientate on the tripod and swap portrait to landscape.

I have the older 055MF3 tripod and it has been very good. One thing to remember is you can clip your [heavy] camera bag to the bottom of the centre post to help stabilise things even better.

[Chucaro]

and a shopping bag with a few rocks as well :D

[Cap]

I got the Manfrotto tripod today, and its fantastic. Well built, quality gear and tall enough for my height!

Only downside is that its a little on the heavy side for longer hikes I imagine... but worth it!

Tomorrow im expecting the Tokina lens... 1 more sleep to go... :angel:

Edit: Got the Tokina 12-24 now... great lens, feels solid and well built!

[Roadrunner]

Hi,

did you get the lense ? Interested on how the lense performs.

Matt

[Cap]

Hi,

did you get the lense ? Interested on how the lense performs.

Matt

Matt, yes got the gear, and the lens IS FANTASTIC!! A sample from my site:

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/07/511.jpg

The wide angle 12mm is more than enough for me... not much distortion (I can imagine under 12mm you would almost start tp get fish eye type distortion). Easy to use, very well built... you would think its a Nikon lens! :cool:

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for $580 :D

[dullbird]

same here very happy with mine. Although for some reason I don't seem to be able to manual to focus, do you have this problem stooge??

[Cap]

DB - so even when you pull the lens ring towards the camera you cant manually focus? That would be a mechanical issue with the lens then??

[dullbird]

I can move it in and out but don't seem to be able to use the fine adjustment ring. I can but it doesn't seem to do anything. On my nikon in manual when using the fine adjustment ring the guage that gives the distance reading moves as well when using the fine adjustment ring. Doesn't on my tokina, only moves when AF'ing

[Cap]

Let me see if I got this right....

1) You move the focus ring from the AF to the MF (by pulling forward towards the camera body)
2) Twisting the ring, whilst looking through the view finder... can you see the focus go in and out whilst turning and also the distance markers turning with the ring?

The distance markers on my lens do change when turning the ring both AF and MF, you say it doesnt with your lens? I would get that checked DB.

[dullbird]

Let me see if I got this right....

1)
You move the focus ring from the AF to the MF (by pulling forward towards the camera body)
2) Twisting the ring, whilst looking through the view finder... can you see the focus go in and out whilst turning and also the distance markers turning with the ring?

The distance markers on my lens do change when turning the ring both AF and MF, you say it doesnt with your lens? I would get that checked DB.

are you talking about the actual focus ring on the lens or the manual selection lever on the actual camera body it self?

[Chucaro]

are you talking about the actual focus ring on the lens or the manual selection lever on the actual camera body it self?

1) swith the selection lever on the camera to manual
2) Pull the ring on the lens to manual.
When the light is not good for auto focus I use the manual setting and in landscaping set the lens to infinity.

[Roadrunner]

got mine the other day:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/07/85.jpg

Matt

[Cap]

1) swith the selection lever on the camera to manual
2) Pull the ring on the lens to manual.
When the light is not good for auto focus I use the manual setting and in landscaping set the lens to infinity.

The AF/MF lever on the D80 body can stay on AF... makes no difference to the lens when you put it into MF by pulling the ring towards the camera.

Regardless of that, take the lens off the camera, slide the ring to the MF position and turn both ways... you will see the distance markers move accordingly. If they dont move, then theres a problem AFAIK.

How you find your lens RR?

[Chucaro]

The AF/MF lever on the D80 body can stay on AF... makes no difference to the lens when you put it into MF by pulling the ring towards the camera.

Regardless of that, take the lens off the camera, slide the ring to the MF position and turn both ways... you will see the distance markers move accordingly. If they dont move, then theres a problem AFAIK.

How you find your lens RR?

I read that by not turn the camera to manual a risk of damage in the camera AF operation it is possible.
It takes less than 2 seconds any way :)

[dullbird]

Yes worked it out last night .... What an idiot

[Cap]

Yes worked it out last night .... What an idiot

Awesome to hear, I like it when its a simple problem to fix :) :)

[Roadrunner]

Haven't had much time to play with it. Only took about 10 pictures. Mainly bought it as I did not have anything in that range and wanted to see if there is a focus problem with my other lenses or if it is the D90 playing up.
Still not sure if it's focus, D90 or me ;)

Have to get used to the wide end of the lense. Biggest problem seems to be your own shadow in the pictures. Bought it with a Hoya Ultra Super Slim Multi-coated UV-Cir-PL filter.

Here another one:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/07/79.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/07/80.jpg

[dullbird]

just be careful with the slim hoya filter I have been hvinng real trouble with mine binding on to the lens has happened on both my lenses on a number of occasions:(

[Cap]

DB - yes I have the same issue. I noticed that if I try to put the filter from the top (lens facing skywards) it binds really easily! However, if I put the filter while the lens is on its side, it doesnt bind at all.

[dullbird]

Makes no difference to me I always put it on from the side

[dmdigital]

This is the one big plus of B+W filters (there are other benefits too). They are a brass ring, not an aluminium and don't bind anywhere near as much as the Hoya filters.