COnsidering selling my D2X and gear for 5D and T/S lens

--
Henri Karapuu
http://www.karapuu.com

--
Henri Karapuu
http://www.karapuu.com

If you are lucky, you might be able to find a deal on 5D with a price under $2000.

You can then consider to spend your money on 100-400 (or 70-200), 24-70, 17-40, TS-E lens, and 15mm fisheye lens.

In terms of landscape photography, larger format can provide more natural perspective. So, you will definitly be happy with the switch (of course, I guess Hassy is even better...if you can afford it.)

In case you need the AF performance of D2X, you always have the flexibity to get a used mk2 or a new mk2n with around $3k. Frankly speaking, I don't think you will ever look back after you switch to Canon.

For landscape the definitive 35mm kit is a 5D (or a 1Ds mk2), a 24mm TSE, a 45mm TSE and a 70-200 mm f2.8L. You really don´t need more weight in your camera bag. With tilt you can make definitive better images as with the D2x.
--
http://www.robertotolin.com

Roman,

There is no question that the full frame will be a huge plus for you right off the bat. I moved from Nikon a couple 3 years ago and haved never looked back. The future for sensor technology also makes eos a wise choice. I have owned the 24TS, and it's a wonderful lens, however the tilt (control of focus plane) is really the only feature of use with CS2's distort capabilities, and that may be a plus for you. I was just wondering why you are so interested in the shift capibilities to controll converging lines when it is so easy to control in photoshop w/o 12mm limitations or vinyetting.

What are you looking for with the 24 TS?
Jon
--
'A mans' gots to know his limitations'
Dirty Harry 'Magnum Force'

Hi Roman. Fancy meeting you here. I too have been looking at the 5D, but so far have resisted the urge. It's not a perfect solution either. My take on the 5D is wonderful sensor, so-so body (and by body I mean not just the physical construction, but also the autofocus, controls, and radio interference shielding). At this point, I'd have to agree with Sascha - wait until PMA and then make a decision. You've gotten by this long with your D2X and lenses - you can get by a few more months.

By the way, the main reason I've been looking at the 5D is the exact same reason you've been looking at it. It's not so much the camera itself, it's the lenses. In your case, it's the tilt-shift lenses. In my case it's the modern wide and mid-range primes Canon continues to develop (35/1.4L, 50/1.2L, 85/1.2L, 135/2L - all with USM). The difference betweeen the 5D and Nikon bodies is marginal, despite what Canon affictiionados would have you believe. But the lenses - Nikon is falling on it's own sword in the area of lenses. If someone is going to switch, I think that's the reason why - not for the bodies.

By the way, before you make a decision, check this thread. I don't think it applies to your type of photography, but you never know.

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1032&message=21092354

Cheers,
Hans.

--
I Reject Your Reality And Substitute My Own

Web Site - http://www.hgiersberg.com/

RomanJohnston said:

I shoot mainly landscapes and have started to learn the benifit of
Tilt/Shift lenses.

Click to expand...

There's another way: get a tilt/shift bellows for the D2x, such as the Horseman LD. You'll get more ability than the TS lenses themselves can give.

However, both on the Horseman and on the 5D with the 24mm TSE you're going to have big problems trying to apply Scheimpflug: you simply can't see the shift effects well enough with the DSLR focus screens to maximize your DOF. I also see a lot of CA in shifted positions on both the Nikon and Canon lenses.

--
Thom Hogan
author, Nikon Field Guide & Nikon Flash Guide
editor, Nikon DSLR Report
author, Complete Guides: D50, D70, D100, D200, D1 series, D2h, D2x, S2 Pro
http://www.bythom.com

RomanJohnston said:

I am considering trading in my Nikon gear for a 5D, a 24MM T/S
lens, a 17-55, and the 100-400 IS. If I throw in a 2x Extender, my
gaps should be filled with that setup.

Click to expand...

The 24 TS is acceptable for sharpness but does have visible CA. This is not bad considering the size of the image circle. The 17-40 or 24-70 are quite good for FF. The 100-400 is somewhat soft but useful.

The 24 TS has a strange way of working if you want both tilt and shift for horizontal and vertical images - you need a screwdriver!

I find it difficult to use the lens tilt - you cannot see much effect on the focus screen. One way to help is to get the right-angle view finder which has a 2.5 X magnification. When I use the tilt for scenic, I usually visually estimate the degree of tilt - this is pretty easy if you know the basic theory. This often gives what I want however is not perfect - but checking with the 2.5x viewfinder helps.
--
tony
http://www.tphoto.ca

Sure....I can do it with photoshop...but it degrades the image....you end up working with less of the information that you recorded

Converging lines and DOF are the exactly are my primary concern with wide shots....and I feel my style really maximizes these areas.

And when printing VERY large....every pixel counts.

Roman

--

Sometimes I do get to places just when God's ready to have somebody click the shutter. Ansel Adams

http://www.pbase.com/romansphotos/

I used to loathe wide angles as a necessary evil. After the 5D and the 24mm TS-e I am now a wide angle convert. I feel more well rounded in my photography. I also love using my 14mm nikkor in the way it was intended. I still use DX on my D200 but I like having options. Where FF fails DX picks up and where DX comes short the FF shines.

RomanJohnston said:

Hi, Nikon user here.

I shoot mainly landscapes and have started to learn the benifit of
Tilt/Shift lenses.

Having learned that Nikon offerings (1 lens) in that arena are
seriously lacking.

I am considering trading in my Nikon gear for a 5D, a 24MM T/S
lens, a 17-55, and the 100-400 IS. If I throw in a 2x Extender, my
gaps should be filled with that setup.

I do very little portrait work, and focus mostly on landscape.

Guessing later....I could add in the 70-200 IS.

I would have about a $6000.00 budget and the 5D and the 24MM T/S is
manditory.

Any suggestions about lenses that can fill all those gaps with pro
quality any better than the lineup I have suggested?

Anyone out there who has moved from the D2X to the 5D and if so, do
you have any wisdom or pertnient info?

Roman
--
Sometimes I do get to places just when God's ready to have somebody
click the shutter. Ansel Adams

http://www.pbase.com/romansphotos/

Click to expand...

Definitly going to look into this!!!!

Roman
--

Sometimes I do get to places just when God's ready to have somebody click the shutter. Ansel Adams

http://www.pbase.com/romansphotos/

If you are thinking that route then remember that the 5D sports a larger viewfinder. Good luck either way.

RomanJohnston said:

Definitly going to look into this!!!!

Roman
--
Sometimes I do get to places just when God's ready to have somebody
click the shutter. Ansel Adams

http://www.pbase.com/romansphotos/

Click to expand...

I just switched from Nikon to Canon, I went from a D2x D2h and D50 to a Canon 5d, 1DMarkIIn, and 30d.

I wound up taking back the 5d, did not like the feel at all, I have since picked up the 1DsMarkII and could not be happier.

Would not give up the D2x for a 5d My oppinion
--
Mike

Hummmmm......

Time to see what the diffrences it is....it is big....costs about $2500.00, and looks very difficult to use.

Ok....option...but still want to explore what the Canon lenses truly are capable of doing.

Roman
--

Sometimes I do get to places just when God's ready to have somebody click the shutter. Ansel Adams

http://www.pbase.com/romansphotos/

...based on the work you do, here's what I'd suggest:

5D + 24-105/4L (or 24-70/2.8L if you think the extra stop would be beneficial) + 24/3.5L TS-E + 70-200/2.8L (Non-IS - not sure if you need IS for your landscape work) + 2xTC

Though the 2xTC might bust the budget, but would get you 400mm with arguably the same quality of the 100-400IS with the option of a brighter viewscreen and larger aperture from 70-200mm.

RomanJohnston said:

Hi, Nikon user here.

I shoot mainly landscapes and have started to learn the benifit of
Tilt/Shift lenses.

Having learned that Nikon offerings (1 lens) in that arena are
seriously lacking.

I am considering trading in my Nikon gear for a 5D, a 24MM T/S
lens, a 17-55, and the 100-400 IS. If I throw in a 2x Extender, my
gaps should be filled with that setup.

I do very little portrait work, and focus mostly on landscape.

Guessing later....I could add in the 70-200 IS.

I would have about a $6000.00 budget and the 5D and the 24MM T/S is
manditory.

Any suggestions about lenses that can fill all those gaps with pro
quality any better than the lineup I have suggested?

Anyone out there who has moved from the D2X to the 5D and if so, do
you have any wisdom or pertnient info?

Roman
--
Sometimes I do get to places just when God's ready to have somebody
click the shutter. Ansel Adams

http://www.pbase.com/romansphotos/

Click to expand...

--
- -
Kabe Luna

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kabeluna/

I just ran a few test shots. At full tilt, (same as full shift) I get very subtle CA, so my earlier statement isn't quite true. But I have to really look for it, which explains why I'd never noticed it before. The subject was almost black against a white background. You might want to have your lens checked if it's really noticeable.

Thanks for mentioning it though. In some situations it maybe more troublesome than others.

my bad.........

Roman, I suppose you may have seen this weblink before but in case you haven't:
http://www.naturfotograf.com/28pc.html

• yes that's a Nikon 28PC converted into a tilt/shift lens - but Bjorn doesn't offer a conversion service (and I don't blame him!). I am sure I a have seen a write-up somewhere by someone else who did a similar project and described in detail how to do it - can't remember where but if I find a weblink I'll post it. I got the impression it wan't a project for the faint hearted!

Anyway just thought this was interesting.
Maybe someone out there might do this conversion for a fee?!

Another possibility maybe worth checking out is the zork tilt/shift adaptor:
http://www.zoerk.com/pages/p_pshift.htm

I note they mention they do special versions for various DSLR bodies etc and I suppose an adaptor like that may offer the possibility of using larger format lenses - larger imaging circle therefore in theory more leeway for tilit/shift perhaps without running into light fall-off problems. Maybe!
I have no experience of this unit but it looks interesting.

Cheers

Frank

Main reason was picture quality after I went through 3 D200s.

I did the switch about half a year ago. I still can't get used to the layout of the 5D. The controls of the D200 are much more convenient.

Apart from that I'm having a blast with the 5D. The T/S is a bonus. It wasn't the reason to switch, but I would not like to miss it in the future.

Apart from the 24TS I got the 17-40, 24-105, 50 1.8, 70-200. Forget about the 100-400. At the long end it is rather poor. The Nikon 80-400 is one of the few Nikon's that is truly superior to the Canon counterpart.

With the cropped Nikon sensor, even the 24mm TS-E lens is just a slightly wide normal lens. For that field of view, you'll get better results using the Canon 45mm TS-E than either the 24 Canon or the 28mm Nikkor on the Horseman device on a Nikon APS-C sensor camera.

Nobody makes a lens with a short enough focal length and a wide enough field of view mountable on a cropped Nikon to replicate what the Canon 24mm TS-E can do on a 5D or 1DsMKII. It simply doesn't exist at any price.