I just got back from Rwanda where I was playing with my new Nikon D300 and 14-24mm lens. There’s something invigorating about getting a new piece of equipment you’re excited about, and I couldn’t wait to put the new tools into action.

I really like the camera, though after using a D2X, I know that the D3 would feel more familiar. But I like the smaller size of the D300, and the 14-24mm f2.8 zoom is just plain fun to work with.

The huge protruding front element on the ultra-wide zoom won't allow a filter to protect it, which did make me a little uncomfortable. Afterall, it's an expensive piece of glass and when something is so new, you want to make sure it stays that way.

I always would have a protective UV filter on the front of my lenses, but about a year and a half ago, I took the filter off my 17-55mm f2.8 lens. Why not? Life's too short, and just like my Grandma eventually peeled the protective plastic off her couch after 20 years, I figured these are just tools, so why not squeeze every pixel of quality out of the optics. Even a B&W filter is still an extra piece of glass between the lens and the sensor.

But after careful evaluation, I really didn't see any difference between my naked lens and one protected with the UV glass. So I decided that I would keep a filter on any new lens acquisitions. Except the 14-24 that is, which shows off it's beautiful front element with a Robert DiNiro scowl, “You wanna scratch me?”

Go ahead, scratch my front element.

So it’s the only lens I keep a lens cap on. When I'm out shooting I like to be ready to pull the camera out of the bag/holster and start shooting immediately, so I never keep lenscaps on lenses; until now.

I've been a Nikon shooter for a very long time, and the last time I got this excited about a lens was when I got my 18mm f4, which I remember quite fondly. There’s a feeling of intimacy I feel shooting wide gives, but you need to use it carefully, and I always try and keep the front element as perpendicular as I can to the ground to minimize distortion. The effective range on this lens is about 21mm-36mm, which is perfect for the kind of work I was doing.

I moved in really tight, and the distortion is minimal in my opinion. The measuring stick for me is that I don’t want the first thing the viewer of my image to think is “wow, that’s a wide angle lens that took that”. I want the viewer to see the content.

I’ve included a few images here for you to see. Note the one shot at 3200 ISO. Nikon shooters can now shoot in low available light! I know the D3 is even better in no light, but I was really impressed with the D300. I think this is the beginning of a beautiful relationship.

Oh yeah, this is an Aperture Blog. This was my first trip that I left Aperture behind. Not that I wanted to, but it does not yet support the RAW files from these new Nikons. I was hoping support would be coming any day, but it did not.

So I re-introduced myself to CS3 Raw and Photo Mechanic. Aperture: Having a great time. Wish you were here. More later.

3200 ISO!