D700-INDOOR ARENA USE

[inmotion]

HI HERE WE GO MY FIRST POST PLEASE BE KIND. I AM AN ESTABLISHED CANON USER ABOUT TO MAKE A FORCED CHANGE TO NIKON.I NEED TO SHOOT INDOOR HORSE ARENA WORK AND THE D700 SEEMS TRUMPS FOR LOW NOISE VS HIGH ISO
FROM MY IN STORE LOW LIGHT TESTS.HAS ANYONE USED THE D700-I WAS GOING FOR A 1D MK111 BUT THE D700 SEEMS TO NAIL IT FOR LOW LIGHT WORK--JIM
CURRANT EQUPT
30D X2
35-350 L SERIES --GREAT LENS
70-200 IS F2.8
28-105 TAMRON
50-500 SIGMA
CANON 2X CONVERTER
TAMRON 1.4 X CONVERTER

[Geoff]

Hi Immotion,
First and foremost, welcome to the forum! Please take the time to read the FAQ carefully and if you will, please put a meaningful location in your profile. This will help us, in effect, help you. i.e if you live near someone and have a problem with equipment you may like to meet up etc. This is a requirement of the forum. Also, why use caps lock? To me, it's like yelling but that's a minor quibble.

In relation to your question though, I can't recommend the D700 highly enough for low light, high ISO work. It's an amazing piece of equipment with a great dynamic range and incredibly noise/grain free iamges, I am sure you wouldn't be dissapointed...I notice you don't have too much invested (only two lenses you could sell quite easily on fleabay etc) in your canon lens lineup so swapping over to a Nikon body is plausable. I'm not hugely familiar with the canon cameras but have you considered the 5D? You could also sell your 2 x 30D's on ebay as well with possibly enough to purchase a new D700 and some Nikon glass..but a body change is...well a big deal.

I'm sure some people from the canon corale could talk more about that but I would cautiously advise you that swtiching bodies is a big step and one that (in my opinion) needs careful consideration...

I hope this is of some help.

[inmotion]

HI Geoff thanks for the early reply. as for caps lock --oops didnt look up untill i fin typing-sorry
Location is Adelaide.As i shoot out door sports mostly I had been told the 5d weather sealing is not great??

[inmotion]

Also lens under consideration
sigma 120-300
nikon 80-400vr
sigma 50-500
any one using these lenses-how sharp? and colour saturation is impt to me--cheers jim

[gstark]

Hi Jim, and welcome.

As Geoff has indicated, you need to put a meaningful location into your profile ASAP.

And also, (as Geoff has already mentioned) please don't use all caps. It does seem like you're shouting, and you'll end up waking all the Olympus users.

Ok ...

Moving from one marque to another is a big step. A very big step.

Yes, the D700 is an awesome camera, great for low-light situations, but in switching, you're going to be needing to also equip yourself with new glass. Looking at your current lineup, I would be suggesting the Nikkor 24-70 f/2.8, the Nikkor 70-200 f/2.8 VR, and the Nikkor 80-400 VR, along with the Nikon 1.7 TC.

With two bodies, you're looking at an investment of around PP14K, and that's a lot of pesos, plus, of course, you have the learning curve, and the different ergonomics.

Have you considered the Canon 5D? Many users find it to be more than adequate in low-light/high ISO situations, and you can probably grab one for somewhere in the high 2's.

This would permit you to stay with your existing kit, with minimal learning curve, and few real disadvantages.

Of course the new 5d II would be an even better option, but it's not available for another two months or so; can you wait till then?

[aim54x]

If you move over to Nikon take it as a opportunity to streamline your kit. Looking at what you already have you have a lot of overlap (not unlike myself in the mid range zoom). Consider:
- D700
- 24-70 f/2.8
- 70-200 f/2.8 VR
- TC-17
EITHER
- Sigma 50-500
- Tamron 200-500
- 80-400mm VR
- 200-400mm f/4 VR (if you want the best)

I agree with Gary and Geoff with the learning curve and the costs involved. Consider the 5D or even the new 5D II, that will reduce the change over time associated with a new system and also mean you have fewer purchases to make. Maybe sell the 35-350 L (causes the most overlap for your kit).

[gstark]

Location is Adelaide.

So, please, put something into your profile, but please note that "adelaide" itself is not acceptable. Suburb, state, please.

And in your profile.

[Thommo]

http://flickr.com/photos/jamesthomsonph ... 859626356/

Iso 5000!!! enough said!

[bwhinnen]

Also lens under consideration
sigma 120-300
nikon 80-400vr
sigma 50-500
any one using these lenses-how sharp? and colour saturation is impt to me--cheers jim

I use a 120-300 sigma lens quite often and it is superb! The sharpness, the saturation and everything, well worth the money! I can't comment on the other two though...

[inmotion]

Thanks Brett I am certain I will go for the 120-300 probally with sigmaa 1.4 TC I am allready getting feelers on my Canon equipt so that should move ok------cheers Jim

[inmotion]

http://flickr.com/photos/jamesthomsonph ... 859626356/

Iso 5000!!! enough said!

Great Shot I look forward to trying the 700 , what i am looking for is no noise high shutter speed(hopefully by high ISO)-Great Gig Shot my son is booking me already--cheers Jim