advertising the event was not a lot, so I and two friends who came with me we do not have to wait long to get into machines and test objectives.
The event was to prove to customers (after registration at the counter, who breaks pays ...) virtually all current range of bodies and Nikon lenses (plus a few things out of production), among which stands out above all the new releases : D3s, D300s, Micro-Nikkor 85 f3.5 and Nikkor 70-200 f2.8 VRII.
was not available the new Nikkor AF-S VR 300 f2.8, presented only two days before the event.
To entice the public was placed a small set downstairs, equipped with two studio flash (on softbox) and two beautiful models. Much better than photographing the walls, newspapers or a bystander! I
, arriving late (at 15) I lost D3s, I'd like to try, but at least I could still spoil a fantastic D3, with all respect ottihe such f2.8D AF 80-200, AF 85 f1.4D, AF-S 28-70 f2.8, 14-24 f2.8 and, wonder of wonders, the AF-S VR 300 f2.8. Then I could try, because they had made friends who came with me, D3X with 24-70 f2.8 and D300s with the new 70-200. Really bad!
The objectives were also seen only in the magazine 400 f2.8 (a monster huge and heavy) and the 200 f2 (according to people who tested that day rather difficult to use because of heavy weight), as well as various PC-E Nikkor, which I have not tried because the manual focus in low light is not my forte.
Even though I got some good photos there are a couple of things that were not organized at best, in my opinion: First, not photographed one by one, but there were always more or less about 15 people who photographed the models, which alternated between them. This meant that no one could find a really good point shooting, and sometimes some good pictures because I have not taken There was someone's head in the middle (especially when using the 300, because you're 4 or 5 meters from the model). A problem, however I doubt this could easily be remedied: with so many people it is unthinkable to take one at a time.
The second problem was the lighting: the flashes were connected to a single camera, and then used by a single, lucky photographer. So the models, between shots and the other, were lit only by the pilot of the flash lamps, our only source of light. The result is that we poor mortals have had to use the targets at full aperture and high ISO. Part of me has been the same good, because at ISO 800 D3 has less noise in my D40 at ISO 400, then the shots came very clean anyway.
One could solve the problem by using light bulbs still a bit 'powerful.
Despite this I was able to sample the excellent quality of the D3, I had already tried a couple of times, but never like this, and high-end Nikkor lenses. In particular, the 300 f2.8 I was amazed, it is crystal clear, and despite the weight because the VR is able to shoot at 1 / 160 of a second, without a shadow of a shake-. Too bad for the cost, about 5000 €, which automatically excludes it from the list of my wishes for the future.
The only errors that found in the images are mine, the picture is not the kind that I practice more often, and do not have much experience. This, coupled with the fact that I do not know the objectives and the machines I used (in particular the D3 and D300 series of autofocus is very complicated to use the first few times, especially for me that I'm used to that, poverty, D40) made sure that the photos are really successful a rather low proportion.
A small note on the models. In a portrait of the credit for a good photo is the model, at least in such a situation, where he worked almost independently. If it all should set themselves to tell the model that you should take all placed in total confusion. A good model then knows to look a bit 'all, alternatively, hold the poses a bit' longer to make sure that even those who do not look straight objective has time to shoot, eccerera, and so on.
Picture Data (in order):
opening Photos: Nikon D3, Nikkor 300 f2.8 VR
1 / 125, F2.8, ISO 800, Picture Control: Neutral
touches: a slight increase in brightness and contrast, especially on the eyes, light skin smoothing and sharpening.
Photo 2: Nikon D3, Nikkor 85 f1.4
1 / 80, F2.8, ISO 800, Picture Control: Neutral
touches: a general increase in brightness and contrast, saturation and sharpening.
Photo 3: Nikon D300s, Nikkor 70-200 VRII
1 / 80, F2.8, ISO 400, Picture Control: Neutral, 14bit NEF
Touches: slight increase brightness and contrast, light smoothing of the skin and mask contrast.
Photo 4: Nikon D3, Nikkor 300 f2.8 VR
1 / 200, F2.8, ISO 800, Picture Control: Neutral
Touches: increase brightness and contrast, light smoothing of the skin and mask contrast.
