Camera recommendation...Nikon or Fuji

[mjcmt]

Thanks Derrel, I've heard people say that, but I think the G series would be beneficial when it comes time to sell the camera down the road.

I received the Nikon D750 camera today and pouring over it, an online manual, Youtube videos, and did a handful of test shots to get it to a usable state. Huge learning curve. Tomorrow I'm going out around the neighborhood to shoot a few elementary test photos w/ my various old Nikkor lenses.

Here is a test shot I took hand held out the front door w/ my old 180mm telephoto at f2.8, 1/250 sec, 3200 iso,. It's been so many years since I've shot w/ a telephoto that the look surprised me, after seeing the world in 35mm focal length.

 

[Derrel]

I bought the 50mm f / 1.8 AFS g series around 2012. I never liked it... It used a 58 millimeter filter thread even though the front element was much smaller and it easily could have been made with a 52 mm filter thread size. The bayonet on lens hood had a habit of falling off whenever the lens was jostled and the lens was unnecessarily bulky.I bought a 50 mm f 1.8 pre-D around 2001 and I kept it and sold the 50 1.8 AFS g last Summer.

I am not sure why Nikon made such a fat and ungainly 50 mm with the f 1.8 AFS g. It was quite a disappointment to me and unlike the 85 m m f 1.8 AFS-G which is outstandingly sharp, the 50 mm was no better than a lens that was 30 years older in design.

 

[Derrel]

The 180 is nice

 

[Derrel]

This was shot with the 180 mm a f d on a Nikon d610 which has about the same sensor as the d750. the image was desaturated and given a sort of retro look in Lightroom.

 

[Derrel]

Here is the only other 180mm shot that I have on my phone. This was taken on the Columbia River at Astoria on June 6th 2017 with a Nikon d610 and the180 mm AF - d. The ship is about 1/2 Mile distant.

 

[JBPhotog]

I think you made the right choice with D750.

I bought a Fuji X-T1, 14mm F2.8, 23mm 1.4, 56mm F1.2, 16-55mm f2.8 and the 55-200 mm as a travel kit when it first came out. Did a few trips with it and overall I was happy with the images but they eat batteries like crazy. The Fuji menu system and Custom settings are just bonkers and the button layout and levers are poorly designed for anyone with adult sized hands. Sold it all off and don’t regret it for a second.

 

[mjcmt]

Thanks for the heads up on the 50 Derrel. I considered it as a cheap alternative and think the G lenses are wider because of the SWM in them. I like the 52 mm filter size as well when possible. I'm more convinced the 35 1.8 ED is for me.

Thanks for your experiences w/ the Fuji, JB. The xt3 was my other alternative. Their menus are a bit confusing for sure and the D750 is not really a big camera. It's good to be back w/ Nikon after 20 years.

 

[mjcmt]

Another test shot yesterday w/ 180 2.8 edif at close focus distance wide open. Not a bad lens and camera sensor is plenty good for me, better than film for clarity in my experience. The lens has a nice film quality to it. The camera seemed to focus on knee, maybe should have done point autofocusing where I move the little square to the spot, but another step. I have a lot to learn mastering the D750. This is my only autofocus lens from 25 years ago, but this is the first time using on an autofucus camera. The screw drive AF is very fast and precise. I was surprised. (BYW, I think my 180 edif is a pre D lens, but don't know it's place in the long line of 180s.)

 

[mjcmt]

I'm having buyer's remorse buying such a nice and larger camera that I won't take with me everywhere. I bought a full frame camera to use all my old Nikkor MF lenses. Even though the quality is great I don't need anything like the D750.

To lessen the pain I've listed all my Nikon MF equipment on CraigsList locally - FM2n w/ MD12 motor drive, 20 2.8 ais, 35 1.4 ais, 28 3.5 PC and I'm praying they sell.
If any of it sells I'll buy the 35mm 1.8 ED G and only have the D750 w/ 35mm for a carry around camera (maybe keep the 180 2.8 IF-ED lens for special occasions).

Here's a test photo shot w/ the 20mm while I'm learning the camera

Here's another shot w/ the 180mm

Next I need to start taking people photos w/ my MF 35mm and see if I can get used to carrying it in public w/o being embarrassed. After shooting a tiny silent mirrorless camera the DSLR shutter sound could be a problem in public. Funny it never bothered me when I was younger shooting with a F3 w/ motor drive and 35mm 1.4 on the street shooting film in the '80s.

Thank you for listening to my ramblings.

 

[mjcmt]

Here's a photo of D750 w/ my Nikkor 35mm 1.4 ais. If I can reconcile the size and cost, and have one prime lens, then this may be manageable for me. But my Fuji X100T will be my take everywhere camera.

Shot w/ x100T, still pretty good for 3 generations earlier than x100v.

 

[Dave Maciak]

I'm having buyer's remorse buying such a nice and larger camera that I won't take with me everywhere. I bought a full frame camera to use all my old Nikkor MF lenses. Even though the quality is great I don't need anything like the D750.

To lessen the pain I've listed all my Nikon MF equipment on CraigsList locally - FM2n w/ MD12 motor drive, 20 2.8 ais, 35 1.4 ais, 28 3.5 PC and I'm praying they sell.
If any of it sells I'll buy the 35mm 1.8 ED G and only have the D750 w/ 35mm for a carry around camera (maybe keep the 180 2.8 IF-ED lens for special occasions).

Here's a test photo shot w/ the 20mm while I'm learning the camera
View attachment 196446

Here's another shot w/ the 180mm
View attachment 196445

Next I need to start taking people photos w/ my MF 35mm and see if I can get used to carrying it in public w/o being embarrassed. After shooting a tiny silent mirrorless camera the DSLR shutter sound could be a problem in public. Funny it never bothered me when I was younger shooting with a F3 w/ motor drive and 35mm 1.4 on the street shooting film in the '80s.

Thank you for listening to my ramblings.

 

[mjcmt]

I'm having buyer's remorse buying such a nice and larger camera that I won't take with me everywhere. I bought a full frame camera to use all my old Nikkor MF lenses. Even though the quality is great I don't need anything like the D750.

To lessen the pain I've listed all my Nikon MF equipment on CraigsList locally - FM2n w/ MD12 motor drive, 20 2.8 ais, 35 1.4 ais, 28 3.5 PC and I'm praying they sell.
If any of it sells I'll buy the 35mm 1.8 ED G and only have the D750 w/ 35mm for a carry around camera (maybe keep the 180 2.8 IF-ED lens for special occasions).

Here's a test photo shot w/ the 20mm while I'm learning the camera
View attachment 196446

Here's another shot w/ the 180mm
View attachment 196445

Next I need to start taking people photos w/ my MF 35mm and see if I can get used to carrying it in public w/o being embarrassed. After shooting a tiny silent mirrorless camera the DSLR shutter sound could be a problem in public. Funny it never bothered me when I was younger shooting with a F3 w/ motor drive and 35mm 1.4 on the street shooting film in the '80s.

Thank you for listening to my ramblings.

I don't see your response, just a quote from me, Dave.

 

[Derrel]

If you want to go small, the newer high-end smartphones are very good. And they seem to be almost invisible to people these days. I would say that the average smartphone lens gives roughly a 28 mm on full-frame equivalent view.

 

[Dave Maciak]

Your OK! I love the street and after 50 plus years doing it, I can tell you this; First be prepared! Have everything all set up, ready to go! You don't want to waste time fiddling with this and that. Be quick; you should be able with a modern dslr ready to frame and shoot as soon as you "see" the shot. I learned that walking around in the souk in
Bahrain. Those folks were not at all wanting photographs done. Don't carry a lot of gear: maybe 2 lenses and myself always had a small strobe---but rarely used it for the street---however, there were times.
I think most of all--don't be shy. Get in as close as you can. And as has been noted in several posts a long lens pointed at them ca really upset them. On the other hand there individuals, strangers, who love to clown in front of a camera!
Like you, I used my F3 for a large majority of shots and never worried about noise except when the MD4 was ripping off exposures to it's limit!! Then keep your distance.
BTW, I'm all for a 35mm for the street. Get the image in it's entirety and don't worry about anything else. Also I am a Fuji X100T owner as well, also a left eye shooter.
Good luck and enjoy!

 

[mjcmt]

Your OK! I love the street and after 50 plus years doing it, I can tell you this; First be prepared! Have everything all set up, ready to go! You don't want to waste time fiddling with this and that. Be quick; you should be able with a modern dslr ready to frame and shoot as soon as you "see" the shot. I learned that walking around in the souk in
Bahrain. Those folks were not at all wanting photographs done. Don't carry a lot of gear: maybe 2 lenses and myself always had a small strobe---but rarely used it for the street---however, there were times.
I think most of all--don't be shy. Get in as close as you can. And as has been noted in several posts a long lens pointed at them ca really upset them. On the other hand there individuals, strangers, who love to clown in front of a camera!
Like you, I used my F3 for a large majority of shots and never worried about noise except when the MD4 was ripping off exposures to it's limit!! Then keep your distance.
BTW, I'm all for a 35mm for the street. Get the image in it's entirety and don't worry about anything else. Also I am a Fuji X100T owner as well, also a left eye shooter.
Good luck and enjoy!

I shot street exclusively w/ a 35mm in the film days and have done so w/ my X100T. There are a few from both cameras posted on my flickr page. I like the D750 image quality and my old MF lenses still are OK. But I'm trying to sell my old lenses and film body and was thinking of the 35mm f1.8 ED G as my only lens, but the 28mm f1.8 G w/ nano coating has peaked my interest. If I have the D750 body and one street lens the camera is doable. Thanks for your experiences Dave.