Digital SLR / DSLR Camera Question / DSLR Thread 2

[Baptistro]

You can cancel B&H order and get similar setup from your neighborhood Costco. Srsly.

I looked, it was around $200 more after tax and all that jazz, and that's without the 50 mm f/1.8 lens

 

[TylerW]

What makes those Afghanistan pictures so special, from a technical perspective? I don't have a trained eye yet.

From a technical perspective, they are OK at best. However, they are framed with very good composition, and they are good, honest captures of a very different culture from our own. Thety tell a story - that's what makes them compelling.

 

[VeloceMoto]

D40 with kit lens for $449

http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-Digital...1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1226514329&sr=8-1

Cool!

<rant on>Oh dear lord, Amazon.com has the most distracting, non-intuitive website design out there... second maybe only to eBay. I can't even tell if this deal is with an affiliate or if Amazon is actually selling it to me. It makes me want to quit and just walk down to that photo shop near Kearny and Post and pay retail. /rant

But yeah, now I am thinking maybe it's just not worth buying a used D40 just to save $100, eh.

 

[vman]

From a technical perspective, they are OK at best. However, they are framed with very good composition, and they are good, honest captures of a very different culture from our own. Thety tell a story - that's what makes them compelling.

+1. It is all about composition. I leave technical details to pundits who cannot wait to see the latest review of the latest gadget.

 

[BrassPremier]

Cool!

<rant on>Oh dear lord, Amazon.com has the most distracting, non-intuitive website design out there... second maybe only to eBay. I can't even tell if this deal is with an affiliate or if Amazon is actually selling it to me. It makes me want to quit and just walk down to that photo shop near Kearny and Post and pay retail. /rant

But yeah, now I am thinking maybe it's just not worth buying a used D40 just to save $100, eh.

It says right there that it is in stock and will be shipped and sold through amazon, so dont have to worry about 3rd parties

 

[VeloceMoto]

Maybe I am beating a dead horse here, but what lens would you recommend, under $200, in addition to the 18-55mm kit lens? The consensus seems to be buy a 50mm/1.8 and use the stock 18-55mm before doing or buying anything else. The 50mm/1.8 is a "must buy".

What about wide angle lenses?

 

[1sicv8]

have u decided on a canon or nikon yet?

 

[VeloceMoto]

That damn Rockwell guy convinced me I need a Nikon D40.

What's the difference between the D70 and the D40? It's not clear... the D70 is older but slightly better and bigger? I haven't gotten the hang of the manufacturer's numbering scheme...


EDIT----------
Ok, I found some info discussed in this thread, D70 vs. D40: http://photo.net/nikon-camera-forum/00K6Os

My conclusion is that price is the only real factor that should dictate a decision for someone at my level, buying a used D70 or used D40.



.

 

[1sicv8]

hhhmm theres gotta be a nikon forum around somewhere... lol

 

[wannabe]

It says right there that it is in stock and will be shipped and sold through amazon, so dont have to worry about 3rd parties

I've bought quite a bit of camera equipment through a 3rd party through amazon. It was seamless. I actually got stuff faster than I would have if it had gone through Amazon. I just like buying from Amazon (3rd party or directly) because any purchases over $10 have the option of free shipping.

 

[BrassPremier]

I've bought quite a bit of camera equipment through a 3rd party through amazon. It was seamless. I actually got stuff faster than I would have if it had gone through Amazon. I just like buying from Amazon (3rd party or directly) because any purchases over $10 have the option of free shipping.

I don't mind 3rd party stuff from amazon either, but the other poster was worried about it.

 

[VeloceMoto]

I don't mind 3rd party stuff from amazon either, but the other poster was worried about it.

I really have no opinion other than I've never done it and therefore slightly cautious.

But if you guys say it's cool, cool.

 

[wannabe]

I really have no opinion other than I've never done it and therefore slightly cautious.

But if you guys say it's cool, cool.

Yeah, it's cool. The only drawback to the 3rd party stuff is that the minimum orders for free shipping are from each party. So, if you buy 3 things that together add up to the minimum order for free shipping, but they come from 3 different vendors, then it doesn't count. Each vendor's total must be over the free shipping threshold. But, for camera equipment, you usually don't have to worry about being below that threshold. (I guess that this is good and bad at the same time.)

By the way, this is another on of the top pics from my portfolio. (I guess I have a little dance theme going on in my portfolio.)

 

[VeloceMoto]

Wtf, I just walked down the street to check out a D40 in person. In addition to trying to sell me a Sony I didn't want, he said a 50mm/1.8 is unnecessary and duplicative, since the *kit lens does the same thing*.

Save my $100??

WTF.

 

[Baptistro]

Can you guys share some settings that I will find useful?

I prefer candid shots, so capturing objects/people clearly while motion is important. Also, obviously, indoor and outdoor shots of kids in various conditions.

Perhaps someone would be willing to write up a quick start guide to camera settings?

Yeah, I'm sure I could find this info elsewhere, but if I can't count on BARFers, who can I count on?

 

[wannabe]

Can you guys share some settings that I will find useful?

I prefer candid shots, so capturing objects/people clearly while motion is important. Also, obviously, indoor and outdoor shots of kids in various conditions.

Perhaps someone would be willing to write up a quick start guide to camera settings?

Here's where I started:

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech.htm

He's kind of opinionated on gear, but the basics that he explains is pretty good. No matter what you read, a lot of it won't stay in your head until you actually have the camera in hand and put some of it to use.

This book probably did the most for me:

http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Photo...bs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1226538804&sr=8-1

Just keep readinig and practicing. You'll pick it up eventually. In the beginning, you'll be taking pics in AUTO mode almost exclusively. The real learning begins when you start to break away from that mode. It takes some courage because there will always be that initial fear of missing a good shot because you did the settings incorrectly.

Good luck!

 

[Cycle61]

Wtf, I just walked down the street to check out a D40 in person. In addition to trying to sell me a Sony I didn't want, he said a 50mm/1.8 is unnecessary and duplicative, since the *kit lens does the same thing*.

Save my $100??

WTF.

Ahh, grasshopper. You have discovered the only universal truth in all of photography.

Most people are idiots. :|

 

[Ratters]

I really have no opinion other than I've never done it and therefore slightly cautious.

But if you guys say it's cool, cool.

I love amazon.

I bought a Baxley chock off them doing third party for discountramps.com that would have cost me ten more bucks if I woulda bought it directly.

And for photo stuff it's REALLY hard to beat amazon when you factor in shipping.

 

[Cycle61]

I love amazon.

And for photo stuff it's REALLY hard to beat amazon when you factor in shipping.

Yep. I bought my latest camera from Amazon, pre-ordered it 48 hours before release, it was overnight shipped for free, and the box was on my doorstep less than 24 hours after Nikon ok'd their dealers to start selling, and with no sales tax.

 

[Joebar4000]

Can you guys share some settings that I will find useful?

I prefer candid shots, so capturing objects/people clearly while motion is important. Also, obviously, indoor and outdoor shots of kids in various conditions.

Perhaps someone would be willing to write up a quick start guide to camera settings?

Yeah, I'm sure I could find this info elsewhere, but if I can't count on BARFers, who can I count on?

Clif Notes:

1. The wider the aperture, the shorter the depth of field (few things will be in focus.) BUT, you can use a shorter shutter speed.

2. Using a really high ASA (like 1600) will let you use short shutter speeds, AND small apertures, making focussing less crucial. But your background will be in focus too.

3. You can set your camera to be aperture priority, or shutter speed priority, full auto, or full manual. Read the manual - you can be quite creative with some automatic features (it'll automatically set the aperture for best depth of field, or fastest shutter speed.)

4. High ASA = high noise. Some of this is overcome with the noise reduction settings in the special menu's on the Canon - BUT - there's a processing time penalty. I've only ever found it an issue when shooting >10 frames at 3fps, full size.

For candid's, I'd get the 50mm F1.8 cheapie, no more than 800 ASA unless you want a lot of Photoshop filtering time to clean it up after, and it's never as good as just using a lower ASA and decent light.

Shutter speed at 1/125 to be sure, but for slow-moving candids, I can get away with 1/30th as long as I haven't had too much coffee. 1/15th if I'm feeling very relaxed and the subject is STILL.


Here's the 50mm, think the aperture was wide open (bit too far, frankly - would have been nice to see her eyes in focus), 1/60th of a second at ASA400, indoor lighting only (CFLs, not incandescents):