Stingingfork Loc: Soddy Daisy, Tn

I'm from in and around the mountains of S.E. Tennessee. I've had my Nikon D300 for a number of years but used it very little until just recently now that I'm retired. My main passion is hiking and backpacking so I thought that with normal precautions I could let my D300 accompany me and get some better shots than my Sony Point & Shoot would provide. Anyone else still use a D300 on these forums that could give me some advice on taking pictures while on my treks?

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Stingingfork,

What kind of information are you looking for. You say you have had the camera for a number of years and used it little. But did you use it all? Do you need help with composition, exposure, lens choices for backpacking, ways to carry it? The D300 is a great camera for any use. If you were a little more specific about the advice you are looking for we could offer tons of advice. Many people on the forum still use the D300.

Welcome aboard the UHH. I think you have found a home and will be hearing from many people who share your interests.

Dennis

Cattreasure

Welcome to UHH. You will enjoy your D300. I have had mine for a few years. It does pack and travel well.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

welcome aboard Stingingfork - you'll find many D300 users here. I'll speak from experience using similar Canon equipment while out in the woods: you have to have the camera available to capture the moment. Looking at your picture, if you have it in your backpack stored away for protection against the elements, the P&S in your pocket will get used much more. Have a look at your current lenses. They can be as heavy as the camera. I added an EF 50mm f/1.8 recently that is like having no lens mounted to the camera in terms of added weight. Ziplock bags or specialty equipment like a Rainsleeve from OP-Tech will give you protection to have the DLSR handy and available, possible at your hip or otherwise attached to your pack.

Stingingfork Loc: Soddy Daisy, Tn

Hi Dennis,

In '07 I went from my Nikon film camera to the D300 (the best I could afford at the time) but other than using it indoors for several family weddings, the usual grandkid shots as they were growing up and family get-togethers I've never really used it very much, all of the different settings sort of intimated I guess. As much time as I spend on the hiking trails I thought about pulling it out of storage and using it in place of my point & shoot that had served me pretty well in the backcountry. I was just concerned that using it in that type of outdoors setting might hasten its' demise with the sensitive electronics unless I took extra precautions (not exactly sure what those would be specifically). I also haven't spent a lot of time on the variety of menu settings that it has, for the time being I would assume setting it on the default auto settings would be best for me unless there are some common settings that would suffice under most daylight outdoor conditions without my having to take a photography class. Most of my pics will be concentrating on waterfalls and panoramic or vista type of settings. I know the basics as far as using shutter speed to stop action or slow the shutter speed as with the water flow to give it the silky look and the aperture setting to alter my depth of field but after that my knowledge fades out. Any advice as to sticking with the auto settings or trying to go manual as well as keeping it trouble free would be appreciated.

Stingingfork Loc: Soddy Daisy, Tn

Thanks for the info about the rainsleeves, I've never seen one before. Also how would you attach a heavy body camera like the D300 to your chest or hip without it bouncing around while hiking but still be available as you mentioned to capture the moment?

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Bouncing - good question. I think OP-Tech has a shoulder sling that goes across the body. Also look at LowePro or BlackRapid for ideas. My preferred way for carrying my camera is the camera strap wrapped around my wrist. But, that doesn't work so well when I need my hands free for scrambling, ice ax or treking poles. Thinking about a backpack for overnight trips (where I haven't be out in a few seasons), I'd want a case that attaches securely to the hip connection or to the shoulder straps placing the camera someplace near my ribcage.

If you haven't been here already, Rockwell has a lot of information on the D300 dating back to 2008. http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d300.htm

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Check out a Cabelas catalog or a Bass Pro Shops catalog for a binocular harness that goes over your shoulders as the previous poster suggested. My brother uses one for binoculars and it keeps them from swinging to and fro while we hike. It would work just as well with a camera.

Dennis

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Now I understand where you are coming from. Let me say first that I consider the D300 one of the best cameras Nikon made. It has enough MP to give excellent photos and in my opinion is pretty much a professional camera with the DX format. I am in the process of selling my D300 but only because I bought another camera. Otherwise I would have kept it.

With the photos I shoot I generally set the menu once and the default menu is probably just fine as is for the time being for you. I usually set my cameras on aperture mode at 5.6, my ISO to 200 and take pictures. Generally that works for me. If I want more depth of field I stop the lens down or if I need more light I open the lens up. For me (others will have other opinions and they are all valid) that works great for my needs. Of course I do know how to go from one mode to another if I want to. If you want to put your camera in Auto mode and take pictures that is fine too but eventually you will want to stop down to get those cloudy slow water shots or change the ISO for low light shots. All of this is easy and comes with experience in using the camera.

You mentioned a rain cover. I was in my camera store yesterday and saw one that that slips over the camera and attaches at the viewfinder. I hadn't seen one before and didn't really pay that much attention other than knowing it was available if I would need one. I am sure B&H would have one listed online. Another item I do not have now but it is on my short list is a camera carrier that holds just one SLR camera with a lens. It is a padded case shaped pretty much like a camera. If you want to carry a camera that is almost ready to shoot this might work for you. It won't be as fast as having the camera out in the open around your neck but almost. Some are long enough so you can carry another lens in the bottom.

You will need to think about lenses. The 50mm already mentioned is a great lens and is lightweight. Balance that with something in the 24-70 range that is very popular now. Nikon makes a 24-85 lens that I bought which is cheaper than their 24-70 lens and it is a phenomenal lens for the price. Some people will recommend something like a 70-300 and I agree that is a great lens combination as well. You need to check your finances and needs to decide what will be best for you.

Good luck with whatever you choose. You will get great information from this site.

Dennis

Stingingfork Loc: Soddy Daisy, Tn

Thanks guys for the timely responses. I think I'm okay on my current lens collection, I've got all Nikons and they are the 70-300, 18-70 as well as the 28-105 which is my primary one that I generally use. I also purchased the extra battery pack (MB-D10) with my camera which will come in handy as a multi-power source and will extend the use of my camera while hiking. I'll be sure to check out the binocular harness as a possible fix for carrying the camera which may well work with my daypacks as well as my backpack. I'll probably look for a camera case that is shaped to fit my camera which will provide some protection for the lens and body while I'm hiking. I have a Lowepro photo backpack but it's to big to carry inside my packs I use for hiking so I've ordered a smaller Nikon carrying case which won't hold all of my gear like my photo backpack but it will carry my essentials. Thanks again for helping me care for my camera on the trail with your excellent suggestions.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Stingingfork - I tossed a brand new camera into the bottom of a backpack at the beach many years ago and when I had it out later, I discovered the LCD monitor had been pretty well scratched by sand in the bag. I looked into a number of solutions afterward and used Zing neoprene cases that are the padded and shaped models specific to camera bodies and lens combinations. There's probably others as well. But, I have noticed I've become more cavalier in my concerns about protection. Your D300 is a big rugged model. Where you have lenses with plastic mounts, if that applies, that would be combination I'd be most concerned in terms of protection in the wild. It's not that plastic is fragile, it's just not metal either ...

Stingingfork Loc: Soddy Daisy, Tn

I will check out the Zing neoprene cases and as far as the lenses, all of mine have the metal mounts so I guess I'm good to go in that department.

HEART Loc: God's Country - COLORADO

Welcome to the Hog. Hit the "Search" tab above and you can access any subject that's been posted. I've included this link. Hope it helps!

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/search.jsp?q=d300&u=&s=0

amehta Loc: Boston

The basics you want to think about:
1. focal length and composition
2. exposure: ISO, aperture, shutter speed
3. focus
4. color
5. image details

It sounds like you know enough to be very effective, just take the camera and shoot. You probably want to use A (aperture priority) instead of P (program) since you understand the nuances of shutter speed and aperture, and aperture is the physically limited parameter. I would not use auto ISO, but instead select the ISO based on the overall light, between ISO 200 - 1600 (the noise at 1600 is noticeable, so go there only if you have to).

With focus, there is a lot you can think about here:
* AF-S / AF-C, single shot or continuous AF, based on the level of motion
* Single point or auto point selection, start with auto until you need to pick a particular spot for the main subject focus
* back button focus (BBF). That's a whole different topic. :-)

For color, I would start with auto white balance and either the standard or vivid picture mode (I think you get that choice).

I would suggest shooting raw+jpeg, because you may want to just use the jpegs for now, but down the road you may want to do more with some of your shots, and the raw file will give you more flexibility. And keep the jpegs at large/fine, because it's better to deal with storage space than missing out on the best version of a great shot.

That might be enough to start with, let the camera do the rest until you want to learn about more options. :-)

erasmus666 Loc: Nuneaton England

I'm in a walking group and regularly take my D300 whilst on hikes. I only take one lens: a Nikon 35mm f1.8 prime as I can't be bothered changing lenses and don't want the risk of mud etc getting inside the body. It's a relatively light set up which has done me proud, and it copes as well with landscapes as the inside of churches which are visited en route. Michael