Trying out different Nikkors on the doggies

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Nikkor 105mm micro VR 1/350 sec F/5.5 ISO200

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Nikkor 18-200mm at 50mm 1/350 sec F/11 ISO200



1/350 sec at F/13 ISO 140 Nikkor 18-200mm at 200mm

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All shot with the Nikkor 12-24mm

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All shot with the Nikkor 12-24mm 1/250sec at F/11

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Shot with the Nikkor 50mm. One of the shots that just missed (focus is not on the eyes, but slightly behind the head). Still, I liked the action it conveys.

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Nikkor 18-200mm

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Dogs can look happy somehow



Waiting for a stick to be thrown



Looking at my wife, who had a little treat in her hand



What is going on?

[PKFUSION]

Blimey, you post pictures faster than I can take them! Of all, I prefer the third. I think it's the pleasing triangle made by the human and dog faces.
Hope you do not mind me asking but I too have a D90 and a variety of lenses. Was the upgrade to the D7000, worthwhile?

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Peter, thanks for the comments. He is a difficult subject, because of his dark hair, so I am always glad when I get some (sharp) keepers.

On the D7000, I feel it was worth the upgrade for me. In terms of quality, I think the D90 is pretty good as well. Looking back at some of the photos I shot with the D90, I am still happy with the results.
The D7000 though has a number of possibilities that go beyond the D90. TBH, if you mainly use your camera on semi-automatic (aperture or shutter) and are happy with the end results you get, and you don't really bother too much about tweaking settings, it might be unnecessary to upgrade.

On the D7000 I particularly like the focus settings and the manual settings. The ISO can move automatically if you want and on manual settings this can sometimes help you getting pictures that you wouldn't have shot with the D90.
For my macro photos and also for the doggies (aperture and speed on fixed settings and ISO doing its magic on the available light) it is very useful I find.

At 16Mp the quality of the photos is pretty good with all my lenses.

[JPS]

Peter,
I'm a Canon man myself (hiss ) so cannot give much comment on technical issues, so I won't.

However, just wanted to say I love dogs and really enjoyed viewing all of your images. Many thanks for sharing.

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Thanks John for the kind comment. I appreciate it.

[rpcrowe]

I love this series of shots. Only one slight improvement might be suggested. Do you think that some fill flash might have lightened the darker dogs faces a bit and provided some catchlights in the eyes...

BTW: Are these neat dogs Cairn Terriers?

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Richard, yes, they are Cairn terriers. If you look back at the photos you'll see them untrimmed (shaggy) and trimmed. I pluck them a couple of times per year. Heavy work and the dogs don't really like it.
Once plucked they are left with a very soft hairy (under)coat. They look years younger all of a sudden.

On the fill flash...it is a good idea, but difficult outdoors. These dogs do not stand still for you and with my 18-200mm lens I have to zoom in and out quickly to get them in the frame at all.
Indoors it might work, but I would have to be quick though.

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Battlefield near Hastings

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With and without...

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Trying out a new Nikkor, the 85mm F/1.8 AF-D
Reminds me of the 50mm F/1.8 AF-D, if I look at the bokeh

Both shots below were taken inside, at F/1.8, without flash or any additional light.




1/125 sec, F/1.8 at ISO 400



1/125 sec F/1.8 and ISO 6400

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And one taken with the Nikkor 12-24mm in very strong sunlight. I had to use curves to adjust dark and light a bit and lessen the difference.

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the 85mm once again

[blakemcguire]

Absolutely adorable dogs!

+1 on the fill flash, I would just pop it up, leave the flash on auto set to -2 or -3 EV. Even outdoors it makes a huge difference.

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Nikkor 85mm on F/1.8