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Digital SLR / DSLR Camera Question / DSLR Thread 2

VeloceMoto said:
Cool!

My only reservation is, well... that it's just not going to be enough. I'm going to want good glass. My mind is already racing... Do I make do with a cheap 55-200mm VR? Get a cheap wide angle? A 28mm 2.8D? A 35mm 1.8? Something more expensive but with really shallow DoF like an 85mm 1.8? Break the bank and get a Sigma 70-200mm 2.8... and on and on I go...


Compromises. Sigh.
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I continue to be VERY happy with my 35/1.8. It's pretty much the lens that sits on my D200 at all times, I use it more than any other. Get one of those, and a flash or two. Get back to learning about light, and build from there.

Shot with my 35 just yesterday. :)

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cycle61 said:
I continue to be VERY happy with my 35/1.8. It's pretty much the lens that sits on my D200 at all times, I use it more than any other. Get one of those, and a flash or two. Get back to learning about light, and build from there.

Shot with my 35 just yesterday. :)
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Yo, Cycle61!

Cute picture, great, soft lighting!

I like the 35/1.8, 85/1.8 combo idea.

By the way, I can probably scroll way back in this thread for the answer but... what was your criteria for choosing the D200 over the D90? Was it the build? The autofocus? Can't recall...

It looks like I can get a D200 kit on CL for less than the price of a D90 Body.
 
Yep, new babies are all about soft lighting.

Build and autofocus. This thing is a tank, and I've put it through some stuff that I wouldn't trust any of the consumer bodies with.

The D90 is gonna have better low light capability though. I don't even like cranking up the ISO any higher than 800 though, and even that isn't really up to my standards. I'd really like to get back to a D700 or D3, but can't afford it at the moment.

Also, the 35/1.8 is actually pretty functional on a FF body under the right conditions. I dropped and broke a 24-70 earlier this year at a wedding, and shot the entire reception with the 35 on a D700. Keep the aperture fairly wide open, and it delivers good images all across the frame, with a nice artistic vignette at the corners. :thumbup

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cycle61 said:
Yep, new babies are all about soft lighting.

Build and autofocus. This thing is a tank, and I've put it through some stuff that I wouldn't trust any of the consumer bodies with.

The D90 is gonna have better low light capability though. I don't even like cranking up the ISO any higher than 800 though, and even that isn't really up to my standards. I'd really like to get back to a D700 or D3, but can't afford it at the moment.

Also, the 35/1.8 is actually pretty functional on a FF body under the right conditions. I dropped and broke a 24-70 earlier this year at a wedding, and shot the entire reception with the 35 on a D700. Keep the aperture fairly wide open, and it delivers good images all across the frame, with a nice artistic vignette at the corners. :thumbup
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Wow, ok! 35mm/1.8, I'm impressed.

To be sure, I don't need the magnesium body and the AF on the D70 was reasonable enough. I do want the extra several stops of high-ISO capability, which is why I've been gunning for the D90 for so long.

While I'm thinking of it, what cheap lenses have the sweetest bokeh? I guess I'm getting a little snobbish -- the nifty-fifty bokeh is just "ok". I can spot it a mile away.

I just saw some examples of a Tamron 90mm 1.8 on Flickr. Spectacular, absolutely spectacular. To me, it's indistinguishable from super L glass made from unobtainum. Let me see if I can find/save/post what I'm talking about...
 
VeloceMoto said:
Wow, ok! 35mm/1.8, I'm impressed.

To be sure, I don't need the magnesium body and the AF on the D70 was reasonable enough. I do want the extra several stops of high-ISO capability, which is why I've been gunning for the D90 for so long.

While I'm thinking of it, what cheap lenses have the sweetest bokeh? I guess I'm getting a little snobbish -- the nifty-fifty bokeh is just "ok". I can spot it a mile away.

I just saw some examples of a Tamron 90mm 1.8 on Flickr. Spectacular, absolutely spectacular. To me, it's indistinguishable from super L glass made from unobtainum. Let me see if I can find/save/post what I'm talking about...
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FYI, it's a Tamron 90mm 2.8, not 1.8 as I stated.

Here are some examples I found. Check out that bokeh!!! :love
 

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I'm generally pretty skeptical of third-party lenses, but have heard very good things about the Tamron 90. :thumbup

Oh, regarding bokeh, here's one from about an hour ago with the 35/1.8. Natural light, at absolute minimum focus distance, wide open aperture, ISO 800 or so.
 

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OK, another noob in the DSLR thread :D

I bought a D70 with just the kit lens about a year ago for a good deal on CL. Since then, Ive pretty much used it as a glorified point and shoot, but Id really love to dive into it more.

First off, is the D70 still a halfway decent camera? And 2, any good websites or tutorials where I could read about and learn what does what and when I should do what, etc for the D70?

Also looking for a lens with some more zoom for it,what would you recommend?

Thanks guys and Merry Christmas!
 
VeloceMoto said:
Now you sound like Ken Rockwell. :twofinger
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FFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!! :laughing

SikDMAX: The D70 is still a decent camera, and will give you better image quality than any point and shoot. Don't be fooled by "only" 6mp, I've made 20"x30" prints of landscapes that I shot with mine a few years ago. Assuming the kit lens you have is the 18-70, that's actually a very good piece of glass, better generally than the plastic kit lenses offered today. I would keep it, and decide if you want to go wider angle or for longer telephoto.

Wider, I'd suggest the Nikon 10-24 lens, or the older 12-24. Either one will give you an amazing perspective if you get close enough to things. Ever seen Frank's picture threads? He shoots with an ultrawide lens most of the time. For a telephoto, the 55-200 is a small but competent player, if you're trying to keep your budget in check. The 70-300 is a great piece as well, but will probably cost you a bit more. Google any of the lenses I've listed above, and you can find out a lot more information. :thumbup

Edit: picture with a D70 and 12-24

p93227005-5.jpg
 
The $150 one is a really inferior design, unfortunately. The higher priced one has far better optics, more solid build, faster autofocus, and VR (vibration reduction) which is a mechanism that actually shifts some of the lens elements based on input from built in accelerometers.
 
sigma can be hit or miss... i'd probably just stick with getting a replacement 18-55. on the rebel, i'd rather have the wider lens than the slightly longer and aftermarket lens.
 
Anyone in here use, or have either or both the Nikon D3100, or the Canon 550D? I'm considering both.. Leaning more towards the Nikon due to the 1080p video it shoots but I thought I'd ask to see if anyone in here had anything either good or bad to say about them.

The reviews on cnet and youtube seem generally neutral between both because they both off quality pictures and a ton of options.. I just haven't been able to decide yet.
 
they both shoot 1080p. off the top of my head...

the nikon is considerably cheaper. it also has more autofocus points

the canon has more megapixels and probably more video controls, as canon seems to have video down a lil better than nikon.

really, in todays tech, digital cameras are sort of starting to plateau. any dslr from nikon or canon is going to be great
 
i ended up getting a nikon d3000 for xmas from my gf! ive got ALOT of learning to do :laughing you guys make it look so easy to get good pics
 
Rambeezi said:
Went to Fry's (Brokaw) today and found a Bowers brand LP-E6 battery for $29.99. Gonna charge it up and take it for a test tonight....never heard or used Bowers before so I'll let ya'll know how it goes. :cool
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Well after a few weeks of shooting I will report that the Bowers brand of LP-E6 works just as good as the Flashpoints from Adorama....but still not as good as Canon's. With the 5D MKII I was able to get ~1000 photos with one bar left on battery life gauge. This is all photos (no video) shooting RAW1 (about 1/2 with 580EXII flash). So I'm still seeing 2/3 performance vs. Canon's.

So I would probably not hesitate to pick up a set of Bower's batteries if I happen to need replacements.
 
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