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Thanks Brett.

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Great photos Eric!!!

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I also second what DB just said about the jump to a 200/300.

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If $1700ish is not an issue….hands down the Nikon 200mm Micro.

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Love the casting images.

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I also dig these shots!

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Hey Brett did you switch to a 1DMK3 ?

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Shot taken on the 12-24mm

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Congrats John.

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Ahh no worries John, I totally agree with the 50 vs. Nikon if all you want is to shoot Wildlife and are already invested.

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John, you are missing the point here 😉  My comparisons were for Eric in the beginning about D700 vs. the 5DMKii.  I still think the d700 is a better camera.  I mentioned some of my personal opinions about the 1Ds series about some flaws that it had and that was part of my reason why I moved away from the MKii and went with Nikon.  

I really did not intend for this thread to bleed over in a Canon 1Ds MK3 debate vs. Nikon or the D700.  I shoot BLACK and I haven’t gone back.. 😉

You posted pictures about your AF system and how great it is on your camera body. I get that….  but what I think is interesting is prosumer bodies are pushing the limits and capturing some great images that rival or are if not better than some of the things I have seen on Pro bodies.  Does that mean one is going to automatically assume that spending less can give them just the same results….no!  I do not think people are going to be switching over like you say. No I havent forgotten anything John and if you want my comparisons about a 40D vs. a Nikon D700, there is none.

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Fantastic work!

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Right on John.   I could put a bird feeder in my back yard and hit shots of song birds every night after work with the 70-200. Jays, chickadees, finches, sparrows…  I am letting this one go.  I enjoy your photography a lot.  

Again Eric, I apologize for turning this into a Canon vs. Nikon debate. I can’t wait to see some of your stuff on the new body.

Take care.

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Eric,

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John,  I have had my 700 for just a few. However, with that said I feel confident that I do not have any issues with quality.

Has my D700 captured anything like that….. no, but then again I have not dedicated any time to birding with the new hardware.  I did however spend some time shooting birds with my Canon 40D and managed to get some decent shots.  I had to really work for them.   Was it 15ft in front of me…no.  But at the end of the day I didn’t think this thread was going to be a swingin dick contest either 😉
 
The above shot was taken on a Canon 40D with a 100-400L

(above) my 700 does just fine at the end of the day.

I have seen very impressive bird shots on the 700 and even 300 with a Nikkor 500mm f/2.8 prime.  Try holding that hand cannon with a 1.7extender (800mm) on a Baldy that charges.  (http://www.flytowater.com threshers blog for example.  Some of the most impressive bird/eagle shots I have ever seen.)

John I was never knocking you for what you sport.  I was mearily stating the reasons why I think the MKII is inferior to the 700 and why I did not go with the MKII.  If you took it personal I apologize it was not intended to be any kind of personal attack.  You ought to know that 😉    /shrug

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Its custom function menu screen 17. I can do it in about 1 to 2 seconds. Manually setting my WB is pretty easy as well.

“Custom Function Menu Screen 17” got me laughing.  Sorry John  ;D
Where you talking about “Pre-Set” white balance?

As for Canon WB settings this about sums it up:
http://www.5min.com/Video/How-to-adjust-white-balance-on-the-Canon-EOS-camer-6986   😮

Eric, that is exciting.  I bet you are chompin’ at the bit to get the new body and start shooting!  Let us know.

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There is some great info here.

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Hello Eric,  I appreciate your comments.  I understand everyone has a preference or brand they like to shoot so I do not intend to turn this thread into a Canon vs. Nikon thread. (I truly apologize if I have already).

I really did my homework when considering the two bodies (5D MKII vs. D700).  It came down to a few things.  I will try and name just the big ones for me.

1. Reliability.  The 1D MK Series has had some serious issues.  I will not get into them and I felt this could carry over into the new Canon (Different Topic). I was also concerned that a couple items did not change from the previous 5D model (The AF POints are horrible.  Come on Canon….only 9 points??? You had the chance to fix this one.).  Also, after reading Michael Reichman’s trip report I thought long and hard about the new 5D and it’s reliability http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/antarctica-2009-worked.shtml  

Hands down the D700 beats out the MKII with both of these issues.

2. Fixed Shutter Speed (Shutter Speed Priority).  Canon can’t do it.  I use this more an more in low light conditions.  Nikon Auto ISO on the 700 is much nicer.

3. I really wanted to get more involved with portrait photography, specifically with lighting.  I did not have the means to buy a bunch of extra equipment and the 700 on camera flash syncs with my speedlight.   With the 5DII I would have to buy a wireless TTL Control.  Flash metering on the 5DII and other Canon bodies are very inconsitant and the more I read about it the more people say it just takes time to dial it in vs. the D700 which is near perfect every time.
(http://www.jaymorrphotography.blogspot.com)

4. FPS!  With my D700 extended battery grip I get 8FPS.  The extra FPS with birding, fly fishing, etc.  I do a lot of HDR and the faster FPS allows me to hand hold most of my bracketed shots.

5. Comfort, Features, Build (Canon could have done better on the 5DII construction build, improving upon its weather seals) and how well the D700 performs in low light conditions were also big items to consider.

HD Video and the 21mp did not suck me in like it does many others.  While I think it would be cool to shoot vid, I have better cameras for this type of thing.  And with Nikon putting out their new line up in November they will improve upon the technology by offering use of autofocus and zoom while shooting in Vid Mode.  

The decision was easy for me.  If I were a landscape photog I would buy a 5DII or if I were already committed or seriously invested in “L” glass.  Fortunately it was easy to sell off my Canon lens library and buy the equivelant in Nikon.  

My current bag kit consists of the following:
Nikon 17-35mm 2.8:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/186250-USA/Nikon_1960_AF_S_Zoom_Nikkor_17_35mm.html
Nikon 50mm 1.4
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/585343-USA/Nikon_2180_AF_S_Nikkor_50mm_f_1_4G.html
70-200mm 2.8 VR.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/274780-USA/Nikon_2139_70_200mm_f_2_8_VR_G_AFS.html

SB-900 Speedlight.

I was able to switch my Canon stuff out for all of the above.  I still use my 40D as a backup (but I have yet to use it since my baptism and conversion to the D-ZYTE).

Again just my take and what works for me.  I have seen some very impressive results with the 5DII and shot all year long next to a photog sporting this body at the little league games.  I appreciated my faster speeds 😉

Once you go black you never go back 😀  
“Join the Powah’ TURN TO THE DARKSIDE”  

PS.  Eric, “Full-Frame” is pretty damn nice.  Me personally….If it were between the 50 or MKII, hands down the MKII.  Keep the thirty as a back up and benefit from going to a full frame camera body.  

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I bought the 5D MKII and sent it back and then joined the DarkSide 😉

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The Madison 2009

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