Gallery Update | Veronica

Gallery updated with  Veronica’s recent photo shoot. Check it out !!

View Main Gallery

View Veronica’s Gallery

Camera: Nikon D700
Lens: Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8; Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VRII
Flash: SB-900

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 200-400mm f/4G ED VR II announced

Nikon has announced the release of the AF-S NIKKOR 200-400mm f/4G ED VR II. The AF-S NIKKOR 200-400mm f/4G ED VR II is a successor to the AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 200-400mm f/4G IF-ED which was only released 6 years ago.  The added features are the adoption of Nano Crystal Coat and the VR II vibration reduction system, which offers camera shake compensation equivalent to a shutter speed increase of approximately 4 stops.

In terms of lens construction, both are based on 24 elements in 17 groups with 4 ED glass elements and have a pretty much identical MTF performance. Both weight about the same with the VRII being 100 grams heavier.

This super telephoto zoom lens is popular amongst sport and wild life photographers. It is listed for $7k USD at the date of release. Given that the target audience for this lens is professional photographers, there shouldn’t be any hesitation in upgrading to this lens.

Additional features:

Three Focus Modes
A/M mode joins the familiar M/A and M modes, enhancing AF control versatility with fast, secure switching between auto and manual focus to accommodate personal shooting techniques.

Nano Crystal Coat
Further reduces ghosting and interior flare across a wide range of wavelengths for even greater image clarity.

Nikon VR II (Vibration Reduction) Image Stabilization
Vibration Reduction, engineered specifically for each VR NIKKOR lens, enables handheld shooting at up to 4 shutter speeds slower than would otherwise be possible, assuring dramatically sharper still images and video capture.

 

AF-S NIKKOR 200-400mm f/4G ED VR II	AF-S NIKKOR 200-400mm f/4G ED VR
MTF Chart – Left: Wide; Right: Tele	MTF Chart – Left: Wide; Right: Tele
Release 2010 Lens construction 24 elements in 17 groups (with four ED glass elements, Nano Crystal Coat), and one detachable protective glass Number of diaphragm blades 9 (rounded) Minimum focus distance 2 m/6.6 ft. (in AF mode), 1.95 m/6.4 ft. (in MF mode) Maximum reproduction ratio 0.27x (in AF mode), 0.28x (in MF mode) Diameter x length (extension from lens mount) Approximately 124 x 365.5 mm/4.9 x 14.4 in. Weight Approximately 3,360 g/7.4 lbs. (with protective glass)	Release 2004 Lens construction 24 elements in 17 groups (4 ED glass elements), as well as one detachable protective lens Number of diaphragm blades 9 (rounded) Minimum focus distance 2m in AF mode (1.95m in MF mode) through the entire zoom range Maximum reproduction ratio  0.27x (in AF mode), 0.28x (in MF mode) Diameter x length (extension from lens mount) 124×365 mm with protective lens (124×358 mm without) Weight (approx.): 3,275g with protective lens (3,150g without)

Where can I find the equipment seen on this site?

If you find this site useful and planning to purchase any of the equipment seen on this site, please show your support by purchasing your photo equipment at B&H Photo Video or through any of the affiliate links seen on this site.

• AF-S NIKKOR 200-400mm f/4G ED VR
• AF-S NIKKOR 200-400mm f/4G ED VR II

Portraits | Veronica

I was expecting rain on the weekend and without much hope of shooting anything. But the morning turned out to be pretty good, so with a bit of quick arrangement,  I was out having a portrait session with Veronica (Thanks Veronica for coming in such a short notice). While the weather was pretty average, no blue sky and all that, Veronica’s Denim jacket certainly made up for the lack of blue sky.

What did I use for the shoot? Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8, Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VRII and SB-900. I had the Think Tank pro speed belt on which let me to switch between lenses very quickly.

Here are some shots taken on the day. Enjoy !

A couple of page galleries from the photoshoot.

DoF with Nikon 50mm f/1.4

The Nikon 50mm f/1.4 is compact and light weight which makes it ideal for travel. Its maximum aperture of f/1.4 is handy when it comes to low light. It is also a very capable lens for full body portraits.

The Nikon 50mm f/1.4 can create interesting images with very shallow Depth of Field (DoF). At the minimum focus distance of 0.45m and aperture f/1.4,  the Depth of Field (DoF) is only 0.6cm. Nikon announced the AF-S 50mm in 2008 superseding the AF-D model introduced since 1995.

I think everyone should either have a 50mm f/1.8 or this in their lens line up. It is light weight, fast and doesn’t cost you an arm and a leg like the 24mm f/1.4. It also helps you to develop a habit of moving around when taking your shots.

AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4G	AF NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4D
Release 2008	Release 1995
Lens (Elements) 8	Lens (Elements) 7
Lens (Groups) 7	Lens (Groups) 6
Diaphragm Blades 9	Diaphragm Blades 7
AF-S (Silent Wave Motor) Yes	AF-S (Silent Wave Motor) No
Focus Mode Auto, Manual, Manual/Auto	Focus Mode Auto, Manual
Filter Size 58mm	Filter Size 52mm
Dimensions (Approx.)2.9x2.1 in. (Diameter x Length) 73.5x54.2mm (Diameter x Length)	Dimensions (Approx.)2.5x1.7 in. (Diameter x Length) 64.5x42.5mm (Diameter x Length)
Weight (Approx.)9.9 oz. (280g)	Weight (Approx.)8.1 oz. (230g)

Here are some creative images from the Nikon 50mm f/1.4

@ f/2, focus distance 450mm, DOF =0.9cm

@ f/2.8, focus distance 600mm, DOF =2.22cm

@ f/1.8, focus distance 450mm, DOF =0.78cm

@ f/2, focus distance 1.7m, DOF =13.5cm

@ f/1.4, focus distance 450mm, DOF =0.60cm (Minimum DOF)

Where can I find the equipment seen on this site?

If you find this site useful and planning to purchase any of the equipment seen on this site, please show your support by purchasing your photo equipment at B&H Photo Video or through any of the affiliate links seen on this site.

Nikon FP High Speed Sync with SB-900

Nikon and Canon’s flash sync is typically 1/250s. This number defines the shortest time that the shutter curtain can maintain fully open. Any use of faster shutter speed will enable the 2nd curtain to close while the 1st curtain is still being opened. This effectively means the shutter is no longer fully open, but only exposes the sensor via a slit. If you apply a normal flash which has a duration of ~1/1000s, only part of the frame will be exposed to the flash and you will get a partial darkened image where the flash has tailed off while the slit is still travelling.

Check out Jeffrey Friedl’s animation on a D3 shutter release in slow motion (originated from Marianne Oelund). In the animation you can see the shutter is fully opened exposing the sensor so the shutter speed must be slower than 1/250s. Should the shutter speed be faster than 1/250s, the 2nd certain will come down while the 1st certain is still opening.

Cameras now days lock the fastest shutter speed to 1/250s when using flash to avoid the above problem and typically, you will get the most benefits of your flash by shooting below the sync speed (1/250s) where you can

i) fully utilise the full flash power

ii) maximise flash range and

iii) achieve faster recycle time.

However, the problem occurs when you are shooting with flash under brightly lit condition and require a shallow DoF or to stop motion where your shutter speed is usually above 1/250s. You will need to enable FP High Speed Sync using an external flash (onboard flash has no FP High Speed Sync). With FP High Speed Sync enabled, the flash will fire for the duration of the shutter curtain’s travel, so it syncs with the camera’s shutter speed (as shown in 2nd half of the below diagram).  Because the flash is continuously lit, more flash power is being lost and flash range is significantly reduced.

You can see the shutter and flash sequences between a slow shutter and a fast shutter from the below diagram.

For example: In the below image taken at a recent portrait session, I was shooting into the sun the shutter speed was well above the sync speed, and in fact I also wanted a shallow DoF, the shutter speed was set to 1/8000s. Because I am shooting into the sun, I will need fill-in flash to properly lit the model, otherwise she will be in complete shadow.

This is where I need to turn on FP High Speed Sync, so I can proper lit my subject and shoot @ f/2.8, 1/8000s.

As you can see even with flash power being lost and flash range being reduced,  the SB-900 was still able to overpower the shadows when shooting into the sun.

Nikon D700 | Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 | SB-900 FP

f/2.8 | 1/8000s

Where can I find the equipment seen on this site?

If you find this site useful and planning to purchase any of the equipment seen on this site, please show your support by purchasing your photo equipment at B&H Photo Video or through any of the affiliate links seen on this site.

• Nikon SB-900

Portraits | Grace

The weekend weather was once again nothing short of sunshine and blue sky. As winter approaches, there is probably a handful of good weather left. Grace and I spent the afternoon taking some shots, we waited till the sun dropped a little so we can add a bit of sun flares to the images. Shooting into the sun is always challenging and no doubt it gave the Nikon 70-200mm VRII and SB-900 a good work out. Here’s a few shots taken on the day.

 

 

 

 

Camera: Nikon D700

Lenses: Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8; Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VRII

Flash: SB-900

Wellington botanic garden

The Easter weekend also calls for the end of day light saving which signals winter is coming.  I thought this is the last chance to check out the last bit of floral blossom before winter comes. Fortunately we had a couple of fine days over the Easter break, so I headed to Wellington botanic garden to enjoy the last bit of summer and do a bit of non-work related shooting.

Floral blossom at Wellington botanic garden

  A photo page of the images captured on the day

Camera: Nikon D700

Lenses: Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8and Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VRII

Happy Easter 2010 !!

Happy Easter everyone !!!

Camera: Nikon D700

Lens: Nikon 50mm f/1.4