Digital SLR's

[AJ]

Hey ya'll:

I'm in the market for a new camera... I've been looking at some of the lower end digital SLR camera's and have been fairly impressed with the Nikon D50. I was wondering if any of you have any experience with this camera? All the reviews I've read are positive, it seems like a pretty solid camera for the price.

Any suggestions for a guy switching from the old 35mm to Digital?

Many thanks!

 

[BlessedOverAll]

I would go for it, Nokia is an excellent brand for digital cameras (just as good or even better than canon).
My oncle switched to digital one or two years ago and he is very happy with his camera (same with my grand-father, both like taking nice pictures with 'professional' tools), I didn't notice much difference, when taking pictures, between digital and the 'old' system (I don't got the word at hand).
I'm taking great pictures with digital where as I hardly took pictures with my other camera.

 

[Gnasher]

I have been using digital cameras now for a couple of years, and have been thinking about going to dslr...

The main thing to remember is what you want to use the camera for?

As both Nikon and Cannon are the top ones, what lens do you want to? as this could also take into account..

In regards to reviews - Digital Photo mags are a must... or even the net... If I have the money and choice I would go with the EOS Cannon - but then you have loads of models to choose from.. it's all down to personnal taste like how many mega pixels you want etc..

I have not used a nikon but I have a cannon and was very impressed with it.

 

[Southern Cross]

The D50 is a pretty good starter SLR. Just be aware that it takes a smaller card, whereas most serious digital SLRS use CF cards as a standard.

That said, it might be wise to purchse a Nikon D70S. It has a few more features, the price is reasonable, and it's capable of professional level work.

I buy all my gear from B&H Camera and Video out of NY City. They're very reliable and their prices are pretty good.

 

[Southern Cross]

Also wanted to make a comment about the lenses that come in "kit deals". If you are considering Nikon, be sure to specify the 18-70mm f3.5-4.5 AF-S kit lens. The cost difference is negligible, and it's a very sharp lens. I have lenses that cost thousands of dollars, and it's interesting that this little lens does a terric job at a fraction of the cost. I have two of these lenses - they are so cheap as far as zooms go.

If you don't have a sharp lens mated to a good camera body, your images will suffer is some situations.

I'm not too sure what Canon offers. They have pretty good cameras. You'll need to do your research.

Somebody above mentioned Nokia. I've never heard of a Nokia SLR camera. Perhaps they meant Nikon?

Another option is the new Sony Alpha camera. They are roughly $900-$1K, but the neat thing is that htey have image stabilization built right into the camera body. It takes Minolta Maxxum mount autofocus lenses (Sony bought out Konica Minolta). It also has the same image sensor as the nikon D200 (Sony makes the sensor for Nikon). This camera might be a winner in it's price class.

Chris

 

[BlessedOverAll]

lol, yes, I meant nikon, I don't know what I was thinking about, thank you Southern Cross.

 

[Boss_BlueAngels]

I switched from film to DSLR 5 months ago and have never been happier! My advice is just to shoot, shoot, shoot! Enjoy the fact you don't have to pay for each individual picture! haha Plus, taking more pictures will accelerate your learning as it is sooo incredibly easy to go back and analize each picture and all settings used to get it.

 

[oliveplants]

I'm not for sure, but I think my uncle has the Nikon. All his pictures turned out yellow. Probably he just had the wrong setting....
My brother has the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT and it does very well.
We have the Minolte Dimage; not an SLR, but next best thing. It is pretty good with the fast memory, but not like the Canon.

 

[longjetty]

Nikon are fairly reliable in my mind.

 

[fieldmouse3]

I've heard good things about the Digital Rebels...I know because I've been asking around, too! I've only seen the 18-55mm lens included in kits, though.

 

[AJ]

Well... I took the plunge and bought a Nikon D50. I have been so busy with some issues at work that I haven't had much time to take pictures, but hopefully that will change soon. I have noticed the significant difference in the Depth Of Field with digital, but I've been sucessful in overcoming it by working with my f-stops.

The quality of the images has really been amazing. I'm having a lot of fun!

 

[loribee59]

I'm looking into getting digital camera. Since I do crafts, I like to do some zoom shots. my 35mm camera can't handle it. And I'm also looking for one that can take pictures in different settings: color, B/W and/or sepia.

Sounds like Nikon is the best camera. I have 35mm Nikon, so maybe Nikon would be the logical choice...?

 

[AJ]

Sounds like Nikon is the best camera. I have 35mm Nikon, so maybe Nikon would be the logical choice...?

There is a good chance that your Nikon lenses will be compatiable with a DSLR. You should look into that!

 

[therays]

The Lenses with a Nikon N65 are compatiable with a Nikon D50. This is the reason I went with the Nikon. It's a great camera.

 

[Miss Mayberry]

I have a D50 and I love, love, LOVE it! I upgraded last Christmas and it's the best camera I have ever owned. I recently bought a 70-300 mm lens for it and have been out around town shooting for the past two weeks.

It's definitely worth the price.

 

[TexasCatholic]

I'm buying a Canon Rebel XTi (400D), because it's $200 less than the Nikon D80 and in every image test I've seen, it has slightly better images. Even more convincing, the Nikon and Sony have a ways to go to beat the Canon at 800 and 1600 ISO. The Canon images at ISO1600 are usable, clear images with only minor "grain" that looks more like film than the ugly noise in the Nikon and Sony, which BTW, both have Sony-built sensors. Canon designs their own sensors.

Either way, both Canon and Nikon (and for that matter Sony and Pentax) make great dSLRs. They blow the doors off of the point-and-shoot cameras.

One poster mentioned having a Minolta DiMage. I currently have a Konica Minolta DiMage A200, which is an 8.0 megapixel "SLR-type" camera. Meaning, it looks sorta like an SLR, but isn't really. The actual image sensor on a basic dSLR is 6x (six times) larger than the sensor in the 8.0 megapixel point and shoot zoom cameras. That multiplier goes up when compared to the super compact 8.0mp cameras, which take horrific pictures above ISO200.

You won't be disappointed with the Nikon D80. I'm going with the Canon Rebel XTi

-Michael

 

[eieiowe61]

Hey ya'll:

I'm in the market for a new camera... I've been looking at some of the lower end digital SLR camera's and have been fairly impressed with the Nikon D50. I was wondering if any of you have any experience with this camera? All the reviews I've read are positive, it seems like a pretty solid camera for the price.

Any suggestions for a guy switching from the old 35mm to Digital?

Many thanks!

I've had my Nikon D50 for a year now and have never grown tired of it. In fact, I absolutely love it--it's fast, responsive, and takes awesome pictures!

You'll love the "instant gratification" you get with digital and the ability to retake pictures if it doesn't turn out (instead of developing film only to discover your prized shot didn't turn out!! )

 

[SumTinWong]

All the reviews i have read have convinced me to buy the XTi over the D80 but since the price will not fit my budget . . .

Have you looked AT the D40?

 

[christianpaintballer32]

My wife and I use a Nikkon D70 and the picture quality is amazing. The D50 is just is just a step down and if it is anything like the D70 you will love it! Nikkon is definately some of the most reliable cameras out there. The new D80 is supposed to be outstanding, but I wish I could afford the D200...maybe someday! But to begin with a D50 will certainly do the trick. Ritz and Kitz camera has great deals and sells packages with cleaning and care kits for cheap.

 

[Andyman_1970]

I've got a D70 and love it. I was pretty serious about photography about 10 years ago, but then took a decade long break from it. On somewhat of a whim I talked myself into a D70 and have been bitten by the "bug" again. One thing to keep in mind with Nikon DSLR's is that your focal lenght doesn't really translate to film focal length regarding lenses. Example, the 18-70 lens on a DSLR has a focal length of more like 28-105 on a film camera. That was a bit of a surprise to me when I got my 28-80 lens and it just didn't feel like things were "wide" enough..........LOL.......they weren't.

Anyway enjoy your camera............