[M35]

Originally Posted by condor

Actually, let's make that 7 floors worth of height. To put things in perspective, here is the full image:

From the picture one can’t make out if there is any back focus issue.
A quick test such as this would suffice. This is what I did first detecting a severe back focus issue with my Sigma 150-500 @ 500/f6.3.


The focus issue should be very evident while shooting with the lens wide open and the subject at a very close distance = thin DOF.

• Place your Camera on a solid support/ Tripod
• Set a high shutter speed, say 1/500 s or faster and lowest f-number [wide open]. Assuming you have good ambient light available. If not you may adjust the ISO accordingly.
• Keep the subject of interest [simple example shown below] at 45 degree from the ‘focus plane’ and place the centre Single AF-Point at one point and take a few pictures. Load those images on your computer and see if the sharp focus is on where you placed the AF point initially. In the example below, the focus was spot on.

Please do post your findings here in order to rule out any human error.

[nilanjanray]

Are Sigma 150-600mm S and C versions available in India?

Best place to buy?

I have been checking Amazon/Flipkart, also checked with RK Photo Guide, they don't have the Sigmas yet.

[gr8guzzler]

Originally Posted by nilanjanray

I have been checking Amazon/Flipkart, also checked with RK Photo Guide, they don't have the Sigmas yet.

Check with these folks http://www.shetalacamera.com/index.asp. I think they are Sigma dealers, never bought from them though.

[nilanjanray]

Originally Posted by gr8guzzler

Check with these folks http://www.shetalacamera.com/index.asp. I think they are Sigma dealers, never bought from them though.

Thanks. Had checked with them, not in stock yet. Checking with Jayesh from Fotocircle.

[bluevolt]

Please recommend zoom lens for Nikon D3100 with auto focus functionality. I am eyeing for at least 200-300 mm. Budget under 15k. Urgent purchase. Please recommend asap.

[Tassem]

I've heard really good things about these:

Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G AF-S VR DX IF-ED

Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 55-300mm F/4.5-5.6G VR

I'm primarily a Canon user, but we use Nikon at Work and I have a lot of Nikonian friends.

Originally Posted by bluevolt

Please recommend zoom lens for Nikon D3100 with auto focus functionality. I am eyeing for at least 200-300 mm. Budget under 15k. Urgent purchase. Please recommend asap.

[bluevolt]

Are these models same? And do they have auto focus functionality for nikon d3100?

http://www.flipkart.com/nikon-af-s-d...1-b16089ad9d2d

http://www.amazon.in/Nikon-55-200mm-...words=nikon+55

Since budget is less than 15 k i cant go for this model as suggested by you
http://www.amazon.in/Nikon-Nikkor-55...words=nikon+55

I am also looking for a new camera bag and a tripod. Please recommend which one will be good for carrying camera body with lens and a spare lens along with charger.

[Aroy]

Originally Posted by gr8guzzler

Check with these folks http://www.shetalacamera.com/index.asp. I think they are Sigma dealers, never bought from them though.

They are charging quite some premium for what is a $2,000/ lens.
http://www.shetalacamera.com/product...sp?prodid=1809
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...6_3_dg_os.html

This used to be situation with Nikon also, till the e-tailers came and the prices started coming down (and the Nikon reduced them)

[nilanjanray]

Originally Posted by Aroy

They are charging quite some premium for what is a $2,000/ lens.
http://www.shetalacamera.com/product...sp?prodid=1809
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...6_3_dg_os.html

This used to be situation with Nikon also, till the e-tailers came and the prices started coming down (and the Nikon reduced them)

Yes the prices there are crazy. I will try with the Bangalore retailers.

Offline prices are nowadays better than online prices. A D810 is appx 1.72L offline. It is around 1.8L online.

Btw DPReview has reviewed the Samsung NX1 and rated it highly. The best auto focus among mirror less cameras - as good as the best crop sensor cameras' in good light, fantastic dynamic range. Me thinks that Samsung will play a key role in making DSLRs redundant after a few iterations of their cameras. They have fantastic R&D - they were #1 in patent filing last year. If they seriously focus on the camera segment then the smaller players don't have much of a chance. And they can buy glass making capabilities (acquire companies), or ensure that their cameras work easily with Canikon glasses. And they understand the connected world and changing consumer preferences a lot better than the traditonal photography companies.

Disclaimer: Nikon DSLR user, Samsung smartphone user.

[Samurai]

Originally Posted by nilanjanray

Btw DPReview has reviewed the Samsung NX1 and rated it highly. The best auto focus among mirror less cameras - as good as the best crop sensor cameras' in good light, fantastic dynamic range. Me thinks that Samsung will play a key role in making DSLRs redundant after a few iterations of their cameras.

Well, they have kind of created a crossover camera. It is a dSLR sized mirrorless camera. People buy mirrorless cameras at a premium cost for the compactness. Without the compactness, it is no different than any dSLR. Therefore, the NX1 is really aimed at dSLR users and not mirrorless users.

[nilanjanray]

Originally Posted by Samurai

Well, they have kind of created a crossover camera. It is a dSLR sized mirrorless camera. People buy mirrorless cameras at a premium cost for the compactness. Without the compactness, it is no different than any dSLR. Therefore, the NX1 is really aimed at dSLR users and not mirrorless users.

I was talking more from a technology/ industry perspective than size perspective.

On a separate note: I am planning to sell off my Nikon D7100, 18-105 and 70-300 vr.

[ajay_satpute]

Originally Posted by Tassem

I've heard really good things about these:

Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G AF-S VR DX IF-ED

Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 55-300mm F/4.5-5.6G VR

I'm primarily a Canon user, but we use Nikon at Work and I have a lot of Nikonian friends.

Originally Posted by bluevolt

Are these models same? And do they have auto focus functionality for nikon d3100?

http://www.flipkart.com/nikon-af-s-d...1-b16089ad9d2d

http://www.amazon.in/Nikon-55-200mm-...words=nikon+55

Since budget is less than 15 k i cant go for this model as suggested by you
http://www.amazon.in/Nikon-Nikkor-55...words=nikon+55

I am also looking for a new camera bag and a tripod. Please recommend which one will be good for carrying camera body with lens and a spare lens along with charger.

Please note that Flipkart is not an authorised dealer of Nikon, as per Nikon India website. So beware.




Nikon has released an upgraded version of the 55-200mm lens about a month ago.

[Aroy]

Yes neither Flipkart nor Snapdeal is an authorised dealer for Nikon. They are acting as a market place only. When I got my D3300 from Snapdeal, it came with a bill from Authorised Nikon retail shop in Varanasi. Similarly my lens through flipkat was from another B town retailer.

[M35]

Originally Posted by nilanjanray

On a separate note: I am planning to sell off my Nikon D7100, 18-105 and 70-300 vr.

D7200 or D810 ? Tamron 150 -600 or Sigma 150-600 S ?


How better is the Sigma ‘S’ over the Tamron, especially when the former costs way more than double the price of the latter ?

[condor]

ajay_satpute : lease note that Flipkart is not an authorised dealer of Nikon, as per Nikon India website. So beware.

Flipkart is like a marketplace. But some sellers like WS Retail may be authorised resellers. Check that part.