Yet another D-SLR Thread

Part of the flower is perfectly in focus, but due to shallow depth of field other parts arent. This is what you get with DSLRs.

 

Hey I wasn't having a go, perhaps part of the flower is in focus but when dealing with such shallow DOF its probably best to be clear what it is you are focusing on:



I realised the sony you have was the collaboration with Konica Minolta, how do you find it?

 

I had a look at the Sony after coming across a lot of positive comments about it. It also seemed well built and spec'd (competing with the D80 and 400D). It has the features I mentioned earlier - built in anti-shake and dust.
Seems like a good camera and as with Nikon/Canon it's about personal pref/choice i'd guess.

The just announced Pentax also seems similarly spec'd and provides MOre competition. http://ericcloninger.com/albums/DPRShots/StevesK10DRelease.pdf

Again, I'd rather stick with Nikon though. If anything just to keep my choices narrowed or I'll be here forever!

 

Yeh i know, just re-read my reply and it might have seemed a bit off but wasnt meant that way! Im still learning to shoot with the sony as when i shot that id had it less than a day Sony have bought out konica minoltas dslr designs and this is a refinement of the 5D. Camera is OK to use, few buttons in slightly awkward places for me, but think this is personal preference more than anything and getting used to it. Overall its good but ill have to get some more lenses eventually and perhaps an adapter to use my takumars.

Nice shot by the way

 

One thing is for certain the button you want is never quite where you need it regardless of make.

As sony make most of the sensors for all cameras it makes sense they get back on the DSLR band wagon. My only problem would be the constant pushing of their sony sticks thing, is it the same for this model?

Secure digital is so cheap now (24 quid for 2 gigs) that its a no brainer for me.

 

It takes CF cards as did the KMs (they obviously havent had time to adapt it, i doubt the same will apply for the next ones they release) It also comes with an CF to duo pro adapter. Ive got a couple of SD cards and you can get CF adapters for those too.

 

Excuse my ignorance, but I've noticed a few people saying they'd rather CF over SD..... reasons?

 

Largely historical. As long as a new camera has SDHC compatibility then CF no longer holds any real advantage. I was very much in the CF camp while the alternatives were Smartmedia, MS, MS Pro, etc for space, speed, compatibility, etc. SDHC offers those things. I'd like my next camera to have both (as the EOS 1D series now do) so I can continue to use existing cards as well as adding SDHC cards.

 

Although not quite my topic I am keeping a eye on this, just an off the wall question;

Is there any difference in image quality wether you store your images to say a Jessops memory card/stick or a Canon/Sony branded memeory card/stick ?

 

Hehehe... That would be a nice can of worms.

No.

 

I think it's not so much which brand, rather any treatment processes that have been applied. Cryogenically frozen and such

I think the difference between one brand and another is down to over all reliability (which would effect performance I'd guess), and speed.

 

The differences between manufacturer is not as important as their speed. 50x SD are plenty fast enough for a D50, it actually increases the printed specs for cache and shots per second.

 

D50 D80 D50 D80 D50 D80 D50......

D80

Ordered the D80 (18-135) today. Currently out of stock so not sure when it'll arrive. I came to the decision after lots of research and reviews. The D50 is no doubt a great camera, but various things pushed my decision. If I'd have gone for the D50 I'd have ended up just thinking maybe I hsould have gone for the D80.

I recieved an email from Dabs the other day offering £50 off on orders over £750 to try and get me back spending with them. Seems like they knew I'd been browsing their site?

My plan is to go for the 18-200vr lens. It seems hard to come by right now and that obviously keeps prices high, so by the time I save it should hopefully be MOre available and better priced.

Thanks for all input and I'll let you know how I find it when it arrives.

 

Good choice. I'm sure you'll love it. Can you sense my envy? .

 

Good choice, and frankly I hate you.

The 55-200 will be a usable lens but if I were you I would keep an eye out for an 80-200mm F2.8, these come and go on eBay for around the 300 mark and are serious bits of kit. There are also a couple of F2.8 straight throughs on the lower zoom range, the two lenses would piss all over something trying to be all things to all men.

Oh and and an F2 35mm prime in the bag is essential, for all the lenses I went through this gets the most use.

 

the one thing that irritates me about my D70, and I'd be interested if it's been addressed on the 50 and 80, is the remote control. the sensor only picks up from in front of the camera, which is all very well for taking pics of yourself but f all use for hiding in a bush and taking pictures of a bird from behind the tripod, say. I prefer the old wire based systems which let you stand wherever you wanted...

note on the VR lenses - the photo subgroup on BirdForum (http://www.birdforum.net/forumdisplay.php?f=293) is a good place to pick up real world experience on lenses (there are also some humblingly good pictures on that site), and suggestion there has been that some of the VR's don't work at all well when mounted on a tripod as the reduction system then actually introduces noise/shake; better off always hand holding

 

VRs are not supposed to be used on tripods.

 

With Canon's IS system, the big IS lenses (300 F2.8, 400 F2.8, 500 F4 and 600 F4) that are not really going to be used without a tripod or monopod have an IS mode that is designed to counter the small amplitude high-frequency vibrations that are found on a tripod, rather than the bigger amplitude, lower frequency of hand-holding. Do Nikon not do a similar thing?

 

I believe nikons argument was if you are using a tripod then you don't need anti shake (However I do not know if they fixed this issue or not a newer ones)

 

55-200? I've gone for the 18-135.
By all accounts it's meant to be pretty good for a kit lens. And with this being my first real step into digital, I'm sure it will be plenty good enough while I find my way around the camera.

The 18-200VR seems like an ideal lens. Great range, apparantly very sharp and the advantage of VR.
A one lens-for-(just about)-all solution. A 2.8 would be nice but the 2.8 vr lenses are rather expensive.

I'll need to see closer to the time what I feel I need MOst, a faster lens, or VR.