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Newb w ancient Nikons, time for Canon?
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Jan 27, 2019 18:53:13   #
Velvetmarmoset
 
I’m a brand spanking new digital photography baby. I’m a navy vet, disabled public health doc, electrical/biomedical engineer and aviation enthusiast who now takes photos of stupid things like my hands to get free nail polish, and I occasionally photograph important things like nature, aircraft, ... and my kids. Oh. And the cat. And the devilbird.

In my teens I did some film work with my dad’s Leica and Nikon collections. I’ve inherited my dad’s digital Nikons (d700 and d300 IIRC but they’re all packed up and I have the memory of an amnestic goldfish), and a whole bunch of lenses, but my seat-of-the-pants efforts have resulted in awful pics and I can’t seem to find the right lens to get good hand pics while looking through the damn viewfinder or at the battery sucking tiny screen.

I need to be able to shoot great macros, close up whole hand and product photos & video tutorials, and edit and post them on a budget. While I feel like I should stick w Nikon to use all the expensive lenses my dad collected, Canon is looking so much easier at first glance. I doubt anyone’s still reading but if you are, I’d treasure your advice!

Thanks!!

-Velvet

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Jan 27, 2019 19:24:33   #
mcmama
 
I’d stick with Nikon since you’ve got what might be some very good lenses. I was new to Nikon until over a year ago, and I love my two cameras.

If you’re on a budget, I’d say definitely stick with Nikon because of the lenses you’ve already got. From what ivread on this site, the D700 is a decent camera. I have a D750 and it’s amazing.

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Jan 27, 2019 19:25:18   #
jack schade Loc: La Pine Oregon
 
Hi Velvet. I would suggest you get a couple of books for your Nikons. There will be a learning curve. Canon will not be any easier. I have used both for many years. Since you have those lenses it makes sense to stay with Nikon. Best of luck and welcome to the forum.

Jack

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Jan 27, 2019 19:25:55   #
LWW Loc: Banana Republic of America
 
Velvetmarmoset wrote:
I’m a brand spanking new digital photography baby. I’m a navy vet, disabled public health doc, electrical/biomedical engineer and aviation enthusiast who now takes photos of stupid things like my hands to get free nail polish, and I occasionally photograph important things like nature, aircraft, ... and my kids. Oh. And the cat. And the devilbird.

In my teens I did some film work with my dad’s Leica and Nikon collections. I’ve inherited my dad’s digital Nikons (d700 and d300 IIRC but they’re all packed up and I have the memory of an amnestic goldfish), and a whole bunch of lenses, but my seat-of-the-pants efforts have resulted in awful pics and I can’t seem to find the right lens to get good hand pics while looking through the damn viewfinder or at the battery sucking tiny screen.

I need to be able to shoot great macros, close up whole hand and product photos & video tutorials, and edit and post them on a budget. While I feel like I should stick w Nikon to use all the expensive lenses my dad collected, Canon is looking so much easier at first glance. I doubt anyone’s still reading but if you are, I’d treasure your advice!

Thanks!!

-Velvet
I’m a brand spanking new digital photography baby.... (show quote)


What makes CANON look better?

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Jan 27, 2019 19:29:32   #
Murray Loc: New Westminster
 
Stick with Nikon. There’s no such thing as “easier, etc.,” brand to brand. I use both, but I can’t honestly say there’s a difference. Best of luck going forward!

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Jan 27, 2019 19:35:30   #
Earnest Botello Loc: Hockley, Texas
 
Welcome to the Hog Velvet, with all the Nikon gear that you have I would stick with Nikon.

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Jan 27, 2019 19:43:28   #
Alans844
 
I'm a Nikon shooter. Assuming you are talking about using a DSLR, Canon will be no easier. The solution is in technique and the right lens. The D700 and D300 are absolutely capable of doing the job you describe. What lenses do you have? Actually moving to a more modern Nikon body would make more sense than switching to Canon and wasting all the glass you have. You'd then have to buy new glass too. If your father had both a D700 and D300 I'd bet he had some pretty good glass. You are going to have to do some research to learn what to buy and then how to use any new gear. A better approach would be to learn what you have and how to use it and then use that to inform your decision about what to buy. Best of luck.

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Jan 27, 2019 19:46:29   #
Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States
 
mcmama wrote:
I’d stick with Nikon since you’ve got what might be some very good lenses. I was new to Nikon until over a year ago, and I love my two cameras.

If you’re on a budget, I’d say definitely stick with Nikon because of the lenses you’ve already got. From what ivread on this site, the D700 is a decent camera. I have a D750 and it’s amazing.



You should have what you need already, I'd work with them first.

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Jan 27, 2019 19:48:21   #
Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.
 
Velvetmarmoset wrote:
I’m a brand spanking new digital photography baby. I’m a navy vet, disabled public health doc, electrical/biomedical engineer and aviation enthusiast who now takes photos of stupid things like my hands to get free nail polish, and I occasionally photograph important things like nature, aircraft, ... and my kids. Oh. And the cat. And the devilbird.

In my teens I did some film work with my dad’s Leica and Nikon collections. I’ve inherited my dad’s digital Nikons (d700 and d300 IIRC but they’re all packed up and I have the memory of an amnestic goldfish), and a whole bunch of lenses, but my seat-of-the-pants efforts have resulted in awful pics and I can’t seem to find the right lens to get good hand pics while looking through the damn viewfinder or at the battery sucking tiny screen.

I need to be able to shoot great macros, close up whole hand and product photos & video tutorials, and edit and post them on a budget. While I feel like I should stick w Nikon to use all the expensive lenses my dad collected, Canon is looking so much easier at first glance. I doubt anyone’s still reading but if you are, I’d treasure your advice!

Thanks!!

-Velvet
I’m a brand spanking new digital photography baby.... (show quote)


Welcome to UHH from an old USS Forrestal sailor.
I am a Nikon user so I may be biased, but I would say, like the others, stick with Nikon.
The Nikon Df can handle many of Nikon's legacy lenses. You will have to do your own research to find which of your lenses are compatible with the Df and other Nikon models.
Have fun.

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Jan 27, 2019 19:54:52   #
Ched49 Loc: Pittsburgh, Pa.
 
The legendary full frame D700 and the D300, both are about ten years old and the D700 was a professional camera back in the day. Both are good cameras even by today's standards. I seriously doubt changing brands is going to make your photographs any better, I suggest buying a book about those two cameras, the book will tell you more about those cameras than any owners manual.

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Jan 27, 2019 20:14:04   #
Velvetmarmoset
 
First thank you all so much. Canon looked better at first glance only superficially because it had that nice flip out display and made me believe it would be easier to transfer images and videos and the settings seemed more intuitive. But again — superficially only. I was dazzled by the newness and the fact that so many bloggers in my “community” use Canons so I figured they couldn’t be too hard to learn at a basic level. The Nikons I have just seen so counterintuitive to me and I can’t see a dang thing at the level of detail I require. I think I just need to get a cable and a monitor so I can view the shots larger since I’m mostly working at a desk or light box, and then I need a few seriously-hand-holding yet short-attention-span tutorials and books.

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Jan 27, 2019 20:17:32   #
Velvetmarmoset
 
Ooh Forrestal has always had a special place in my safety-loving occupational medicine-loving heart.

Mac wrote:
Welcome to UHH from an old USS Forrestal sailor.
I am a Nikon user so I may be biased, but I would say, like the others, stick with Nikon.
The Nikon Df can handle many of Nikon's legacy lenses. You will have to do your own research to find which of your lenses are compatible with the Df and other Nikon models.
Have fun.

Reply
Jan 27, 2019 20:19:12   #
Velvetmarmoset
 
My husband hid all the camera gear for a play date so when I find it I will list the lenses that my husband hasn’t pilfered for work (he’s a PAO).

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Jan 27, 2019 20:22:45   #
charlieTDC
 
I'd spend $20 on an Amazon basics tripod and $10 on a cable release or maybe $30 on a wireless remote first thing. If you are shooting indoors you need a tripod to get any kind of sharp shots or videos and a wireless release or cable release let you trigger the camera without jostling it. As far as figuring out all the settings- start with auto for video and program "macro" mode for stills and see how it goes. It might be all you need for YouTube.

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Jan 27, 2019 22:04:22   #
Velvetmarmoset
 
Ohhh that’s the other thing. I prefer to take my pics outside (sorry, migraine fog) when there’s good light, but then I *really* can’t see a thing in the viewfinder or display, and I have yet to find a lens I can comfortably get my left hand in front of while still looking through the viewfinder. I do have a good tripod, at least.

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