Yet another D-SLR Thread

lol!

Of the differences (Pixels/LCD/Continuous drive/ISO ratings etc....), it's been the lack of DOF preview that's been influencing my leaning toward the D80.
But thinking about it......... the main reason I'm switching to Digital is for the freedom and convenience it offers to experiment and shoot. Fire off 50 shots and if all but one are crap, then delete all but that one. So, perhaps being able to preview DOF isn't so important?

Considering the price difference, I think I'll go for the D50. This might well change with in the next 10 min's after reading some more though

Dixons of all people seem to offer the best deals on the D50!

 

Am I right in thinking the D50 doesn't have multiple exposure or black and white MOdes?

 

It has multiple exposures in that iot has burst mode and it can take three shots all with different stops.

It does not have black and white, but there again all that is, is a desaturated colour image done at the camera end, you can do that in two seconds on a computer. Or there are better ways of getting black and white with more contrast.

As for DOF, for me its not an issue because I never used it when I had the facility, I guess this was available on film cameras as well and may have had more importance on them?

 

DOF preview is most useful when you are using manual focus lenses - if you are looking to maximise DOF then you use the distance marks on the camera barel to define the limits of your focus range - the subject itself may appear out of focus in the viewfinder. the DOF preview is then used to check that everything that should come out sharp actually will. I'd say that most people these days use 'kit' AF zooms which are not particularly fast, so have limited options for tweaking DOF anyway.

 

I personally don't find DOF preview that useful.

ME and B/W modes are mostly irrelevant in digital. The 20D has a "feature" whereby not only will it do black and white mode, but it has in-camera red, orange and yellow filters. I've not used them... The minor advantage of the in-camera B/W mode is that it avoids luminosity changes due to the bayer interpolation which can be circumvented.

It's worth having a good quality wide lens. The crop factor (as you'll be familiar with from the pronea) means that an 18mm lens is equivalent FOV to a 27mm lens with 35mm film. The 18-55 kit lenses (both canon and nikon) are ok for their price, but both manufacturers make much better lenses in that range.

 

true, but your heart will tell you to get one of these (lovingly draped on my D70)...


hellooo ladies!

 

(awaits Isaac's reply including a picture of £10K Canon long lense)

 

Not quite 10k... but I do have this:



I've had sigma lenses in the past. Never again.

 

Probably weighs 10k tho.

 

Hopefully without sounding to stupid, how much better is the image quality on the 80 over the 50 or 70 ?

I would have thought the most important thing is image quality, and then if you can justify extra features, go for it.

Just remember, you are making images 100% of the time using 2% of the features. How many times are you likely to use the features ?

Simplicity, is often over looked as a good feature !

 

Interesting point Levi_501. I'm not sure at what resolution level the gains in picture quality become academic. I.e. the additional resolution is not apparent when viewing on a normal PC monitor or printing at "normal" size pictures. A dealer suggested that about 5MP should be more than enough for "normal" viewing.

Having said that, it could be argued that features such as better and brighter viewfinder/bigger display can help to take better pictures in the first place/decide which ones to delete respectively.

Taking the thread slightly off topic what I find an issue is the size of the SLRs (I'd like to see Isaac pocket his Camera/lens above). I own a 3.1MP digital compact camera which I use much more often than the D70S simply because it's easier to slip into my pocket. Unfortunately it didn't survive a recent plane journey so I'm on the lookout for a replacement.

 

I could not agree more.

Prior to my SLR, I had a Canon compact camera, could fit it in my pocket, took what I thought was superb pictures.

I took it eveywhere with me, photographed everything that took my fancy.

Now, with the photo satchel it is a task in its own right to take it anywhere !

 

Horses for courses. P&S digitals are getting very good and a good camera in your hand is better than a brilliant one left at home. I would like a small, light, cheap digi P&S that I can take mountain biking and just say "oh well" when I fall on it and break it (well, probably more like "oooowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!", but you get the idea). However, for the times when I am prepared to carry it (and the 20D is not a chore after EOS3 + PB-E2) then I'm always thankful for the advantages of the SLR.

 

I guess it depends on if you just wanna take snaps or better pics...

I think I'll end up buying an DSLR at some point - whilst I'm happy with my FZ7 I'm disapointed with it with low light situations...

 

Thanks again for all the replies.

As a side note, I'm going to a friends wedding on the weekend and will be taking my camera along for the reception. I tried in 3 places and the only film I could find was ISO 100 and 200. I'd like something faster. I'm sure I'll be able to pick some up before I go, but it just shows how much film is dying out. These stores used to have wide selections which are now replaced by meMOry cards.
There was a few MOre options for APS, but hardly anything for 35mm

 

Yea its going to become a nieche market. However in my opinion digital cameras really have come of age, its not like record Vs CD or Analogue TV Vs Digital.

Mo, just wait till you pick up a digital SLR be it Nikon or Canon, they are sooo quick compared to cheapy digicams.

On a personal note I find my D50 is more robust and better built than far more expensive canons, so if you have any chance of rough handling its worthy of consideration.

Finally its all moot if it sits at home in a cupboard. And also lenses are the important thing, if you have a budget the D50 is superb then you can afford a better lens. I have found the sigmas to not be very good just in terms or ergonomics.

 

I found the use of multipole exposure a useful facility with film. Fu to play about with. I took some pic's of a friend playing cards against herself and such. I suppose like B+W, this can all be done with software on the PC now though.

With regards to the Pronea... I purchased it with a single kit lens with the intention of adding another later. When trying to do so I was told not possible as there were no other APS lenses! This sped up my decision to go for a new 35mm. From meMOry I asked in about 3 stores and not one mentioned the ability to use standard 35mm lenses (with the crop factor considered). Only after contacting Nikon did I find that out. Great service from the stores eh?

Anyhoooo....

with the D80 RRP seems to be £700 (body only), £900 (inc 18 - 70), and £950 (inc 18 - 135).

the cheapest seems to be around £600 (body only), £775 (inc 18 - 70), and £800 (inc 18 - 135).

So, the 18 - 135 kit lens adds about £200. Worth it, or better going for body only and adding a different lens?

Thanks again for all replies.

ps, play.com dabs.com and camerabox.co.uk appear to have the best prices. Anyone ever used camerabox?

 

I popped into Jessops for "play" with the D80 and D50. I'd never so much as held a DSLR so found myself a bit lost, and having the sales assistant breathing down my neck and the only info/advice he seemed willing to give me was about how 10MP was sooooooooo much better than 6

Anyhoo, both had a great feel to them, solid and well built with a decent size and weight. The D50 had a MOre familiar feel to it with the D80 including it's front wheel. I would (and hopefully soon will), be happy to own either. The D80 obviously has a higher desirability factor and i'm still undecided which to go for.

However, I'm pretty sure I'll go for the 18-200 VR lens. It seems very well thought of and would give me the convenience I'm after whilst seemingly also being a great performer.

So, at about £500 - £600 for just the lens, that's already pushing my budget to what I'd initially planned on spending

I'm still tempted by the D80, but will probably go for the D50. As has been said here and elsewhere, glass lasts, bodies come and go. I'd imagine in the Next year or so features like anti-shock, anti-static and a generally higher spec will be introduced at lower prices, so perhaps I'll hold out till the gains are MOre significant (affordable) before changing bodies.

 

You seem set on the D50 which is a nice camera. Ive just bought a Sony A100. So far im reasonably impressed, it takes good photos and does everything i need it to do. Kit lens has bit more than most at 18-70mm (28-105 equiv).

Heres one of the first images i took with it, this morning after a storm last night. Severely reduced in size, but you get the idea

 

Yea out of focus.

Is the sony an SLR or do you look at a digi image in the view finder?