Nikon AF-D 28-70mm vs AF-S ED 18-105mm VR @ 70mm f5.6

Just did the lawn moving and cleaned the weeds on my backyard last weekend, then it was raining a lot on the day before yesterday. It helps cooling down the hot Summer day. However, the flowers can not withstand the ravages of the pouring rain and all have been crooked.

The little Nikkor AF 28-70mm f3.5-4.5D will never disappointing me. At the 70mm focal length, it performs better than the Nikkor AF-S DX 18-105mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR. Better resolution, DOF is excellent and color rendering is comparable to ED lens!

f5.6 is always my preferable aperture, so I only did a simple comparison at this setting. All photos taken with Nikon D300 at ISO200, handheld.

It takes slightly larger frame coverage for the 18-105 VR. Although VR is on, the 28-70 AF-D takes sharper image.

The leaves located just above the center flower is sharper on 28-70 AF-D. Please look at the wood grains behind the leaves for DOF comparison.

Both about the same with 18-105 VR very slightly better, if you can see the difference.

The 28-70 AF-D is inarguable sharp for the corner performance!

I always love to capture the wood grains to test the image resolution. It is easier to determine the detail.

However, it is soft at 28mm focal length.

Vancouver Wireless Station, Delta - Apr 1st, 2012 (part 1 of 2)

Where: Vancouver Wireless Station, Delta, BC, Canada (Just at the north of Boundary Bay Airport)
When : April 01, 2012, Sunday
Gears : Nikon D300, Nikkor AF-S DX 18-105mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR

I went to Boundary Bay again for some birds photos shooting and found this place: the previous Vancouver Wireless Station. It is now an unleashed dog park. 

The Vancouver Wireless Station (VWS) was built on the site of the WWII Boundary Bay Airport and operated as a Canadian Army Signal Corps site monitoring the Soviet Union Arctic land, sea and air military communications from 1949 to 1971. Within this area a self-contained community of roughly 500 people was developed to meet the needs of service families and other personnel. The buildings are gone, but the roads and basic foundations of many features are still visible.

Nikkor AF-S DX 18-105mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR @ 62mm, ISO200, f8, 1/160s

Nikkor AF-S DX 18-105mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR @ 75mm, 1EV under ISO200(ISO100), f8, 1/800s, -0.67EV

Nikkor AF-S DX 18-105mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR @ 18mm, 1EV under ISO200(ISO100), f8, 1/50s, -0.33EV

Nikkor AF-S DX 18-105mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR @ 21mm, 1EV under ISO200(ISO100), f8, 1/400s, -0.67EV

Nikkor AF-S DX 18-105mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR @ 40mm, 1EV under ISO200(ISO100), f8, 1/200s

Nikkor AF-S DX 18-105mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR @ 70mm, 1EV under ISO200(ISO100), f8, 1/160s

First birds photos in my early photography stage

Quite a while ago, I dug up some old bird photos that I took in my early photography stage. The slides are fine, however the color negatives have mold on them. Fortunately, the most important frame has mild mold

on it and it was mostly recovered after the cleaning. Then, scanned with the Nikon Coolscan and touched up some fine scratches. 

I have limited gears at that time; only shot with Nikon F90 + Sigma AF the APO 70-210mm f3.5-4.5. Fortunately, I can shot in close distance. I took a roll of chrome and a roll of color negative in total.

That was several years ago, as you can see from the above mentioned gears I used. On an evening at the front of my house back home, I heard birds chirping from bamboo trees. I went to have a look and saw a mother bird was teaching its offspring, but the fledgling chicks was too small and seemed to be its first flying. It fell beside a small creek and I rescued it. Putting it on my palm held it towards the mother bird. The mother can’t do anything because was too afraid of human. It just anxiously crying on top of the Bamboo tree and was hesitated to fly down to save the baby. The baby was unable to fly again and it was late and getting dark. Due to wildlife in the dark, I

was worry about the chicks, so decided to take it home. Put it in a temporary cage, did not dare to feed any food and only feed with water and covered three sides of the cage with fabric to keep it warmth.

On the next morning, I woke up early, that's minutes after 6am. I looked for anything that I can use for shooting; chose of a small pot of flower and hung a black fabric as backdrop. Unfortunately, I didn't find any black velvet in the house. Then I took one roll of chrome shot. During the shooting, the baby was constantly calling her mother.

Chrome

Next, I moved the chicks onto another camera and only took a few shot of color negatives. Then the mother appeared. I moved the chicks to the papaya tree beside my house, and partially hiding myself about 4 meters away. The mother flew down carefully, looked around with alert and then checked the baby and comforted it. The 210 mm focal length was not close enough, I just took a few randomly. After the mother began to catch food and feed the baby, I just set up the tripod about 2.5 meters away, exposed myself in the open air, without any camo or cover and finished up the rest of the color negatives. Soon after the shooting, the baby ate a lot and the strength has been restored, it began to fly in a short distance. From a distance from another tree above, the mother was chirping and encouraging the chicks to fly. It flew from one branch up to another branch incrementally and then met with the mother. Finally, the both flew away from my sight. At that moment, I was so grateful and relieved. Appreciated that the baby became my first bird model and relieved that the mother and child reunioned.

Negative

Boundary Bay Birds Photos (2) - 2012/02/05 (part 2 of 2)

Where: Boundary Bay, Delta, BC, Canada
When : Feb 05, 2012, Sunday
Gears : Nikon D300, Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D IF-ED, Nikon AF-S TC-14E II

Sometime, the wildlife animals love to show off as well. This bald eagle is not exceptional. It probably doesn't like that little sprout which covers its face, so it bite it off and let me catch its handsome face. Unfortunately, that doesn't help much.

This was the best angle that I can find. I was kneeling at the edge of the dyke; with another half a pace, I would have falling into the ditch.

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF, 1EV under ISO200(ISO100), f5.6, 1/640s, -0.33EV

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF, 1EV under ISO200(ISO100), f5.6, 1/640s, -0.33EV, cropped from above

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF + Nikon AF-S TC-14E II @ 420mm, 1EV under ISO200(ISO100), f8, 1/250s, +0.33EV

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF + Nikon AF-S TC-14E II @ 420mm, 1EV under ISO200(ISO100), f8, 1/125s, +0.67EV

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF + Nikon AF-S TC-14E II @ 420mm, 1EV under ISO200(ISO100), f8, 1/125s, +0.67EV

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF + Nikon AF-S TC-14E II @ 420mm, 1EV under ISO200(ISO100), f8, 1/125s, +0.67EV

Hmm... this is nice! But it continues to bite some more...

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF + Nikon AF-S TC-14E II @ 420mm, 1EV under ISO200(ISO100), f8, 1/160s, +0.67EV

It peeled some skin off and caught some on his beak!

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF + Nikon AF-S TC-14E II @ 420mm, 1EV under ISO200(ISO100), f8, 1/250s, +0.33EV

Shake..shake...shake it off. Yeh!

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF + Nikon AF-S TC-14E II @ 420mm, 1EV under ISO200(ISO100), f8, 1/160s, +0.33EV

Boundary Bay Birds Photos (2) - 2012/02/05 (part 1 of 2)

I went to the Boundary Bay, Delta for more shooting again. Snowy owls were still there.

Where: Boundary Bay, Delta, BC, Canada

When : Feb 05, 2012, Sunday
Gears : Nikon D300, Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D IF-ED, Nikon AF-S TC-14E II, Rokinon 14mm f2.8

Rokinon 14mm f2.8, ISO200, f8, 1/200s

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF, ISO200, f5.6, 1/200s, -0.33EV

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF + Nikon AF-S TC-14E II @ 420mm, ISO200, f5.6, 1/160s, +0.67EV

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF + Nikon AF-S TC-14E II @ 420mm, ISO400, f7.1, 1/640s, -0.67EV, cropped

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF + Nikon AF-S TC-14E II @ 420mm, ISO200, f7.1, 1/250s, -0.33EV, cropped

 Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF, 1EV under ISO200(ISO100), f5.6, 1/1000s, -0.33EV

 Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF, 1EV under ISO200(ISO100), f6.3, 1/320s, -0.33EV

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF + Nikon AF-S TC-14E II @ 420mm, 1EV under ISO200(ISO100), f5.6, 1/250s, -0.33EV

Boundary Bay Birds Photos - 2012/01/14~15

Snow everywhere in Lower Mainland of Greater Vancouver on Saturday 01/14, except South Delta, Ladner & Tsawwassen, surprisinghly! However, there was little snow on the morning on Sunday 01/15.

I went to the Boundary Bay, Delta, mainly to shoot the snowy owls. However, I found many kinds of birds there. These are the shots of that weekend.

Where: Boundary Bay, Delta, BC, Canada

When : Jan 14, 2012, Saturday
Gears : Nikon D300, Nikkor AF-S VR 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G ED-IF, Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D IF-ED, Nikon AF-S TC-14E II, Nikon AF-S TC-20E II

Nikkor AF-S VR 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G ED-IF @ 70mm, ISO400, f4.5, 1/2500s (Oops! forgot to stop down)

Nikkor AF-S VR 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G ED-IF @ 70mm, ISO400, f8, 1/200s

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF + Nikon AF-S TC-20E II @ 600mm, ISO800, f8, 1/500s, +0.3EV

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF + Nikon AF-S TC-20E II @ 600mm, ISO800, f8, 1/40s

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF + Nikon AF-S TC-20E II @ 600mm, ISO800, f8, 1/640s, +0.3EV

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF + Nikon AF-S TC-20E II @ 600mm, ISO640, f8, 1/2000s

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF + Nikon AF-S TC-20E II @ 600mm, ISO640, f8, 1/200s, +1.3EV

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF + Nikon AF-S TC-20E II @ 600mm, ISO800, f8, 1/800s, +0.7EV

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF + Nikon AF-S TC-20E II @ 600mm, ISO800, f8, 1/320s, +1EV

The great blue heron

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF + Nikon AF-S TC-20E II @ 600mm, ISO800, f8, 1/320s, +1EV

American Robin

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF + Nikon AF-S TC-20E II @ 600mm, ISO800, f8, 1/500s, +0.3EV

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF + Nikon AF-S TC-20E II @ 600mm, ISO800, f8, 1/640s, +0.3EV

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF + Nikon AF-S TC-20E II @ 600mm, ISO1250, f8, 1/500s, -0.7EV

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF + Nikon AF-S TC-20E II @ 600mm, ISO800, f8, 1/80s, +0.3EV

Golden-crowned Sparrow - male

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF + Nikon AF-S TC-14E II @ 420mm, ISO1250, f5.6, 1/4000s

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF + Nikon AF-S TC-14E II @ 420mm, ISO400, f5.6, 1/1000s, +0.3EV

Golden-crowned Sparrow - female

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF + Nikon AF-S TC-14E II @ 420mm, ISO1250, f5.6, 1/4000s

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF + Nikon AF-S TC-14E II @ 420mm, ISO400, f5.6, 1/2000s

Where: Boundary Bay, Delta, BC, Canada

When : Jan 15, 2012, Sunday

Gears : Nikon D300, Nikkor AF-S VR 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G ED-IF, Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D IF-ED, Nikkor AF-S DX 18-105mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR, Nikon AF-S TC-14E II, Nikon AF-S TC-20E II, Rokinon 14mm f2.8

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF + Nikon AF-S TC-14E II @ 420mm, ISO400, f5.6, 1/6000s, +0.3EV

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF + Nikon AF-S TC-20E II @ 600mm, ISO400, f8, 1/500s, +0.3EV

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF + Nikon AF-S TC-20E II @ 600mm, ISO400, f8, 1/640s, +0.3EV

See the steam from its breath?

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF + Nikon AF-S TC-20E II @ 600mm, ISO400, f8, 1/1000s, +0.3EV

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF + Nikon AF-S TC-20E II @ 600mm, ISO400, f8, 1/800s, +0.3EV

Nikkor AF-S DX 18-105mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR @ 105mm, ISO200, f5.6, 1/400s

Great Blue Heron

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF + Nikon AF-S TC-20E II @ 600mm, ISO800, f8, 1/640s, -0.3EV

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF + Nikon AF-S TC-20E II @ 600mm, ISO800, f8, 1/2000s, +0.7EV

European Starling

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF + Nikon AF-S TC-20E II @ 600mm, ISO400, f8, 1/1000s

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF + Nikon AF-S TC-20E II @ 600mm, ISO400, f8, 1/500s

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF + Nikon AF-S TC-20E II @ 600mm, ISO400, f8, 1/640s, +0.3EV