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Photo FAQs |
Photo FAQs Eric Kissa Q.:The
Nikon F100 camera does not have a built-in flash. Should I buy the Nikon
N80 instead? The Nikon N80 is a mixed bag. It is quite
suitable for an amateur who never uses manual focus lenses, extension
tubes, or bellows. This means, no real macro work or copying slides the
old and fast way. These limitations, as well as the 1/125 s synch speed
instead of 1/250 s and the exposure compensation in 1/2 stops instead
of 1/3 stops, make the Nikon N90S look good for a mere $ 120 more. Many photographers believe that the F100 is
the best Nikon ever built but is it worth twice the price of the Nikon
N80? This depends on the user. Q.:Which long zoom lens is the best? A.:For
Canon owners the answer is simple - the 75-300mm/4.0-5.6 USM IS, or if
the budget is limited, the 75-300mm/4.0-5.6 III USM. The motors in some
independent brand lenses are more noisy and less durable than the Canon
motors. For Nikon, Minolta, and Pentax
the selection of a long zoom is much wider. Nikon has two 70-300mm/4.0-5.6
lenses: the entry level cheapy G AF lens without an aperture ring, and
the ED D lens which replaced the heavy and sturdy 75-300mm/4.5-5.6 lens
(ED stands for low dispersion glass elements). Sigma makes two 70-300/4.0-5.6
lenses in the Nikon D mount, the low cost Sigma DL Macro Super with one
low dispersion glass element and the Sigma 70-300/4.0-5.6 APO Super with
three low dispersion glass elements. Both Sigmas can reach a 1:2 image
ratio. The optical performance of the Sigma APO is outstanding in the
70-200 range but mediocre at 300 mm where the Nikon ED D lens can do slightly
better. Both lenses, the Sigma APO and the Nikon ED D, have to be stopped
down at 300mm by 2 stops for critical sharpness. Until very recently, the Sigma
APO lens was slightly more expensive than the Nikon ED lens (in NY $319
vs. 300). A few weeks ago the price of the Sigma APO plunged to $219,
a real bargain! The lens in the Canon EF, Minolta AF, or Pentax AF mount
has the same low price. The price of the Sigma DL lens dropped from $199
to $169 and is now competitive with the similar Tamron lens. The durability of the Sigma
lenses, especially in the Canon mount, has been suspect. However, my Sigma
lenses have been holding up well on my Nikons for many years, even when
exposed to sand and salt on the beach or being fired at a fast rate of
4 frames/s. My travel combo consists of the AF Zoom-Nikkor 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6IFD,
the Sigma APO 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6D, and the AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D lens
for low light shots. Q.:Is a 300mm tele lens sharper than a zoom lens at this focal length? A.:Definitely yes. At and above 300mm, single focal length teles are sharper and faster than zoom lenses. The drawbacks are a higher price, heavier weight, and limited versatility. A 300/4.0 lens weighs about 4 pounds. The 300mm/2.8 and 400/2.8 are favorite teles for pros who are getting paid for lugging these 7 to 10 pound heavyweights around.
A.:This problem can have several causes. Assuming that the batteries were good, one possible cause may have been overheating. For example, Nikon warns not to exceed 15 sequential shots when charging the flash rapidly by an external battery pack. Overheating can damage the flash tube and the electronics. The flash on compact P/S cameras is vulnerable to overheating as well. When the flash feels warm, the P/S camera should be allowed to cool for a while, before using it again. -------------------------------------- |
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Apr. 2001 