First post! New lens in Osaka, Japan :)

Danoz · Mar 19, 2011

Hello, I am new to these forums. They seem insanely busy, so I'm concerned a lot gets buried in a place like this but here is my introduction. I started photography when I lived in D.C. and worked for a non-profit, Gates funded global health organization. Starting as a web assistant, the job grew into one where I was expected to stay abreast of all technologies, manage the website/email/new media and the works-- and eventually, to be program photographer. After a great deal of research and study I bought a D80 and a few basic lenses with program funds... using a 50mm to take my indoor podium shots in low light. After a few years, I left the program and moved to Japan-- where I am now.

Over Christmas I bought a Nikon D90 (with the 18-105mm VR consumer lens) and have supplemented with a 50mm 1.8 as necessary. I've got my a 70-300mm VR in the mail (very excited about this). Here are some shots I took in Osaka with a friend's 70-300mm Nikkor (absent VR). Here are some shots I was able to get:

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Let me know your thoughts! Very little postwork, with the exception of the elder lady flipping through paintings.

As for the 70-300, I've been impressed with the results. Looking forward to having my own and trying with the VR. The following was taken without VR at 300:

This is at 300 without a tripod (and I wasn't using the VR)--- though I was perched down trying to stabilize the camera. Took a couple shots to get it.

100% crop at 300. Tip of Osaka Castle taken from the museum (pretty far away). Anyway, nice to meet everybody

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Frequency · Mar 20, 2011

hello there and welcome to TPF
I really liked the first shot and and that little girl in violet blanket; others are also good; better number your images for specific evaluations

How is the present state of things there in Japan. how far away you are from the location of mishap?

Pray things would normalize soon; wishing you all the best here

Regards

Danoz · Mar 23, 2011

Frequency said:
hello there and welcome to TPF
I really liked the first shot and and that little girl in violet blanket; others are also good; better number your images for specific evaluations

How is the present state of things there in Japan. how far away you are from the location of mishap?

Pray things would normalize soon; wishing you all the best here

Regards

Thanks, Frequency! Also thanks for the tip (I numbered the posts). We didn't get hit much south of Tokyo, but I think we're just now seeing how terrible this situation is. Hopefully they get those reactors under control soon, as well. In the mean time... staying glued to the news :/

Got the new lens in the other day and have already run a few tests. Would appreciate your thoughts!
Standing on a bridge facing the Hidaka river:

Shot with the 18-105mm VR (ISO 200 - 18mm - f/3.5 - 1/250). Essentially this is where I was standing.

Shot with the 50mm 1.8 Nikkor (my favorite little fixed lens-- sharpest thing ever and so inexpensive) at 400 ISO - f/9 - 1/125. This is probably my favorite shot... love a lens you can keep in your pocket

Shot with the 70-300mm VR from the same location at 116mm - ISO 220 - f/4.8 - 1/125

70-300mm VR again-- maxed at 300mm! ISO 400 - f/5.6 - 1/80. Compare to the first image at 18mm. I've never worked with a zoom like this and the VR seems to work great... going to have some fun at the baseball game in Osaka coming up

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