Camera Talk

This is the year I bought a digital FF (full-frame) DSLR. I don't think the brand makes much difference to my feelings about it, but it's a Nikon D610.

What a game changer, for me. It felt like I'd come home again. Now a 35mm lens is a 35mm lens and photography looks and feels the way it did through my decades of 35mm film camera use. I mostly use the D610 with a small set of primes: especially 28, 35, 50, and 85mm. I also use a 60mm macro lens extensively. (Nothing against zooms -- I use a 70-300VR when I'm shooting waterfowl and other things that benefit from telephoto.)

It may be irrational, but the 35mm experience is my home base in photography and it feels great to be back to the equivalent in digital.

Anyone else felt this with digital FF, whether Nikon, Canon, or Sony?

Gene

I still have and use my Nikon D700. No reason for me to upgrade right now as it does everything I need very well.

I started out with a D80 DX format body and it was frustrating sometimes given I was so accustom to the 35mm format. It just felt different. When I upgraded to the D700, it was a breath of fresh air. I got my wide angles back and I the what I think it better control of DOF. It just felt more natural to me. I can't imagine going back.

What I really want is an affordable full frame compact mirrorless camera body that will accept all my Nikon lenses. The D700 is a beast of a camera and I find myself leaving it behind sometimes due to the weight. In addition to some Nikon zoom lenses, I have a pretty good selection of 1.8 or higher primes now that help with this. I intentionally did not go with the 1.4 primes due to the size and added weight. I have a 17mm Tokina Lens, Nikon 35 2.0, 50 1.8, 85 1.8 and 60 2.8 micro. The are all amazing lenses. Still want to add the 105mm Micro at some point.

I wonder if Nikon will bring out a smaller, mirrorless FF at some point. As you say, it would be nice to use a lighter body (although the D610 isn't bad).

Has anyone tried a Nikon F adapter on a Sony A7?

Gene

The A7 is an interesting camera that I have been looking at. It's probably the closest thing to my ultimate camera available right now. But, I will probably hold out a couple more years to see what is coming.

My main issue is whether to seek or wait for a small FF system that will accept my Nikon lenses or so I cut bait and go an entirely new direction with a smaller body and lenses? At this point, I would probably be willing to sell all my Nikon gear if I could get into a small full frame mirrorless system with a good lens lineup. There are some options out there now, but not in full frame. I really like using very narrow/small DOF and it's just not possible without full frame. At least not without a lot of post processing. Best case scenerio would be for Nikon to come out with such a body that could use my current lenses and use new smaller lenses.

I've given some serious thought to jumping into the full-frame arena.

Jim, have you had any issues with oil spots on the sensor?

You know, it's funny that you mention enjoying the 35mm experience. I picked up my Pentax K10D, and the first thing that I noticed was that the viewfinder was very tiny.

I've been thinking that my next jump into digital will be a full-frame dSLR.

After using a Nikon D200 for five years, and thinking about buying a D7100, a friend offered me an incredible deal on his low-mileage D700. I have the 24-85mm and 70-300mm zooms, which are outstanding, and I can once again enjoy using my old AI/AIS prime lenses too. I've tested the 55mm/1.2 and 85mm/2.0 lenses on the D700, and they give wonderfully sharp images.

I carried the D700 with 24-85mm for 17 days in Wales and London, and while I definitely noticed the four pounds of weight around my neck, I never regretted it. It is good to be back to the big viewfinder, and where shooting a large aperture lens can definitely throw the background out of focus, which was difficult with the DX format. The D700 full-frame is fabulous. The D610 must also be a great camera to own.

Gene, my second digital camera was a Kodak SLR/n. Quirky as hell, but FF and color accuracy Nikon can only dream of, the ISO 6 setting is just amazing...

Fast forward several years and I finally bought a D3 last fall, haven't shot too much with it, but it handles pretty much the same as the D2's, just full frame and decent high ISO performance. The best part is the drawer and a half of Nikon AI lenses I have work wonderfully, far better than on any of my earlier bodies.

Jim, it really depends, how deep are you in Nikkor lenses? in my case, having this:
image by epatsellis, on Flickr

image by epatsellis, on Flickr

Kinda makes the decision for me.

erie