A beginner’s buyer guide for Nikon DSLR

There are probably hundreds of similar guides out there, so why not one more? Here is my take on what should be considered when buying a beginners Nikon DSLR. The great thing about DSLR is that you can mix and match camera body with a massive number of lenses, not only Nikon’s own Nikkor lenses, but also Tokina, Sigma and Tamron among others.

Advertisement

Reikan FoCal 2, my experience (so far)

Reikan FoCal is not very known by DSLR users, so what is it all about? Copied from their info:

So what exactly is FoCal?

FoCal is computer software you install on a PC or Mac, and a special target you attach to a wall. You connect your camera to the PC with the standard USB cable and start the software.

FoCal guides you through the correct positioning of the camera and target, then you can run any of the tools at the touch of a button.

FoCal works with Canon and Nikon DSLR cameras that support AF Microadjustment/Fine Tune – see the Supported Cameras page for more details.

Nikon predictions for 2018

Historically it has been relatively easy to predict what will come out of Nikons production plants, but this has changed to be increasingly more and more difficult in the later years. A couple of reasons for that are the economy crises and the flooding of a Thailand plant in 2011. So I guess this could be the reason that it wasn’t an immediate replacement for the D300s and the D700 and by this messing up the time line a bit. Lately they’ve also struggled with reorganization and saving money because of shrinking market for compacts and DSLR’s.

Why and how you should use AF fine tune in your Nikon DSLR

What is AF fine tune and why should you use it?

AF fine tune is an option in the menu of your camera (if it’s supported by your camera, it was introduced with the D3 and D300, but it’s not supported by the D3000 and D5000 series). What it does is that it compensate that your camera and lens combination may be off by a little bit making the auto focus to miss to lesser or greater degree. Every camera body and lens is produced within a certain tolerances and if the body and lens are off to the same side, it will make the focus to miss. You might also be so lucky that they are off to opposite sides and by this cancel out the differences, but that’s not any guaranty. If you happen to own several lenses, I’m convinced that most of them need some minor fine tune and maybe a couple need considerable fine tune. Adding the correct fine tune will then compensate for any misalignment between the body and lens, making the auto focus focus correctly.

Why is it important to calibrate your monitor or laptop?

So why is it important to calibrate your monitor while working with photos (and video) before publishing them online, selling them, giving them away or making prints?

The first argument against you will hear is that; no one else has a calibrated screen, so why should I care?

Chargers

Apart from your passport and credit card, the chargers are probably the most important thing you bring on your travels. In this modern time with everything is running on battery, being able to charge is essential. We basically has two options, either in the car or the bus/train (if you are lucky), or in the place you are staying for the night. Most people will rely on the latter I guess, and that may bring a challenge in itself.  For us, we bring a laptop, a tablet, two telephones, rechargeable speaker and two to three cameras that sometimes all need to be charged for the next day.

The camera strap that will change your life

As we’ve all have noticed, there is a lot of different camera straps available in the shops. Most of them are just a variation of the strap that comes in the box with your camera, others are quite different. So why just stick with the strap that your camera manufacturer gives you?

To filter or not to filter, that’s the question (many ask)

I’m not talking about ND, polarizer or color filters, but about clear or UV filters. Do we need them or not. Of course do we need them, but do we need them on all of the time and are they for everybody? Often do we come across arguments one way or the other online or in person about the pros and cons of using those filters. So to jump right into it, what are actually the pros and cons?

What’s in our photo bags?

What to bring on a trip is always a question on how are you traveling and what you expect doing there, and of course your priorities. In most cases you can’t bring all your photo gear, so already there, your priority starts. After we acquired the phenomenal Think Tank Airport International v3 rolling bag, most of our problems did go away.

Recommended Nikon cameras

The discussion about the “best” camera is a debate that never ends and is also a personal choice. These are my recommendations based on my opinion and needs. As this is a photography blog with lots of travel pictures and some more personal photos, the recommendations reflect this.

Recommended Nikon Nikkor and third party lenses for DX and FX (F-mount)

The discussion about the “best” lenses is a debate that never ends and is also a personal choice. These are my recommendations based on my opinion and needs. As this is a photography blog with lots of travel pictures and some more personal photos, the recommendations reflect this.