OT: Vacations

[MindzEye]

I use a Nikon 5300 - I have a kit lens (18-55m), an 18-200mm Sigma lens, and an f1.2 85mm Nikon lens.

Did a lot of family/kid portrait stuff for friends to pay for the lenses but now I just take photos for fun/travel. Mostly just stick with Lightroom for editing.

It's not really an up to date Nikon model but I like that I can send all the pictures to my phone by WiFi while I'm on vacation.

(Mindz go easy on me)

Nothing to go easy on. It all comes down to use case, the 5300 is a solid little prosumer level rig, more than most people need. Paired with that 85mm (I'm assuming you meant the 1.4G? you could do gorgeous portrait work with it, that lens is butter, crazy good focal length for portrait on a APSC) . Tons of resolution in that sensor (basically the same sensor that's in the D3400, and a photo that came off of a D3400 won photo of the year a few years ago despite not being a "professional" sensor).

Only thing I'd do in your case is grab the 50mm 1.8 or the DX version of the 35mm for dirt cheap on marketplace (I see copies of both go for 150-200 all the time) or an old Sigma 18-50 2.8 for something a bit better in low light as a walkaround lens for travel. You've got more than enough camera body to take fantastic shots.

 

[MindzEye]

I think we should all post our camera makes / models for ME to assess and tell us we’re idiots for buying it.

Never. It's all about use case man.

 

[MindzEye]

Hey I have that exact same product. Hopefully ME doesn't shit on it.

Edit: fuck

It's fine as a walkaround camera for travel. Better and more versatile than a cellphone camera.

 

[lecoqsportif]

I think we should all post our camera makes / models for ME to assess and tell us we’re idiots for buying it.

It is one of the worst fanboy cultures I’ve ever encountered. Luckily, I’m a noob re: photography and don’t give a flying fuck (there’s that term again!) what any one thinks. I’m a cheap discount shopper and I managed to take pics that I truly like. That’s about the extent of it.

 

[MindzEye]

It is one of the worst fanboy culture I’ve ever encountered. Luckily, I’m a noob re: photography and don’t give a flying fuck (there’s that term again!) what any one thinks. I’m a cheap discount shopper and I managed to take pics that I truly like. That’s about the extent of it.

Yeah, though I identify as a Nikon fanboy it's just about use case for me, all of the manufacturers turn out excellent gear. I don't shoot a ton of sports, so okay just okay auto focus performance (until I buy the Z8 in a few months) is fine. I dig Nikon, but I can't in good conscience suggest a Nikon setup for a budget sports & wildlife shooter.

 

[G-Dub]

Doin it wrong

I'm literally the best vacationer on this forum. Last year I traveled 9 kilometers to stay at a beautiful Airbnb for free (owned by someone I know). The property was absolutely gorgeous, I ate at Five Guys one time, and I visited a local attraction that I would have otherwise ignored. I even brought some beautiful Panera bagels to enjoy during my stay. The best part is that I will always have the memories saved as photos taken with my P&S iPhone 13 mini camera. Gosh Bless!

 

[MindzEye]

Sounds like you had a great time. Gosh bless you too Gordo.

 

[lecoqsportif]

Gear won’t save someone who doesn’t understand the exposure triangle or sucks at composition.

I have a 2nd gen Olympus MFT. I understand its limitations (e.g. dynamic range, not for astro) but it has its strengths to (e.g. stabilization, light as a feather.) I just wish it had built in bracketing, doing that in post is annoying.

 

[trujaysfan]

Those who have traveled with infants... what would you reccomend (other than leaving them with grandparents).

 

[MindzEye]

I just wish it had built in bracketing, doing that in post is annoying.

Are you saying that the camera has auto bracketing, but it doesn't combine them in camera?

Ever used lightroom with the enfuse plugin?

 

[lecoqsportif]

Those who have traveled with infants... what would you reccomend (other than leaving them with grandparents).

Leave them with aunties.

 

[trujaysfan]

Leave them with aunties.

 

[CH1]

It's fine as a walkaround camera for travel. Better and more versatile than a cellphone camera.

Exactly why I got it back then (cellphone cams were even more limited back then)

 

[lecoqsportif]

Once our kiddos were big enough to walk whole days without strollers we went ‘Berta. Badlands, dinosaurs and mountains. Great trip.

 

[lecoqsportif]

Are you saying that the camera has auto bracketing, but it doesn't combine them in camera?

Ever used lightroom with the enfuse plugin?

Yeah, no autostack. I’ll look at Lightroom again, but I was annoyed with their subscription based approach.

So instead I got some post software to eliminate noise (among other things.) It also has AI to transform native body/lens palette to hundreds of old skool films, like Kodachrome 25.

 

[MindzEye]

Yeah, no autostack. I’ll look at Lightroom again, but I was annoyed with their subscription based approach.

So instead I got some post software to eliminate noise (among other things.) It also has AI to transform native body/lens palette to hundreds of old skool films, like Kodachrome 25.

I always default to suggesting Lightroom because it comes bundled with Photoshop for cheap and it's just really good. The enfuse plugin (have to buy extra, but it's a "buy me a coffee, whatever you think it's worth" type purchase directly from the creator) is the only HDR engine I'm aware of that does batch jobs as well, so if you've taken a pile of brackets you just set them to run through enfuse and walk away for a half hour. I've used Aurora & Photomatix, both are fine as well but for quality and workflow if you're dealing with multiple sets, LR + Enfuse is the way.

 

[mbow30]

I'm literally the best vacationer on this forum. Last year I traveled 9 kilometers to stay at a beautiful Airbnb for free (owned by someone I know). The property was absolutely gorgeous, I ate at Five Guys one time, and I visited a local attraction that I would have otherwise ignored. I even brought some beautiful Panera bagels to enjoy during my stay. The best part is that I will always have the memories saved as photos taken with my P&S iPhone 13 mini camera. Gosh Bless!

Can’t be me

Never eaten at 5 guys

would never get my bagels from panera

have an iPhone 11 Pro and an iPhone 12

 

[hockeylover]

Nothing to go easy on. It all comes down to use case, the 5300 is a solid little prosumer level rig, more than most people need. Paired with that 85mm (I'm assuming you meant the 1.4G? you could do gorgeous portrait work with it, that lens is butter, crazy good focal length for portrait on a APSC) . Tons of resolution in that sensor (basically the same sensor that's in the D3400, and a photo that came off of a D3400 won photo of the year a few years ago despite not being a "professional" sensor).

Only thing I'd do in your case is grab the 50mm 1.8 or the DX version of the 35mm for dirt cheap on marketplace (I see copies of both go for 150-200 all the time) or an old Sigma 18-50 2.8 for something a bit better in low light as a walkaround lens for travel. You've got more than enough camera body to take fantastic shots.

I checked and it's an 85mm 1.4 Sigma.

I'd love a 35mm, next maybe.

 

[MindzEye]

I checked and it's an 85mm 1.4 Sigma.

ah man, their primes are crazy good. You've got a gorgeous lens. I shoot their 14-24mm for a lot of my architectural stuff and I'm in love with it.

I have the Nikon 1.8G and it's good, but I'm a bit jelly right now.

I'd love a 35mm, next maybe.

If you want to avoid that 35mm DX nikon (it's okay, just okay) take a look at the Sigma 24mm Art series (36mm on your camera) or the Nikon 28mm G series (42mm on the D5300). Both are excellent (the Sigma is better tbh)

 

[Preston]

Can’t be me

Never eaten at 5 guys

would never get my bagels from panera

have an iPhone 11 Pro and an iPhone 12

I've had five guys once I think.

I may have had a bagel at Panera way back many years ago. Unconfirmed though.

Never had an apple product in my life.