PDA

View Full Version : Here's a reason NOT to waste your money...



CRUZTAKER
04-13-2008, 09:19 PM
Many of us once looked at digital cameras as "unable to compare with film".
Most digital cameras produced acceptable noise levels at 50-200 at best, while film was flawless in these sensitivites.

Over the years, digital has progressed from better to film at ISO 400 to completely blowing it out of the water.

Film just cannot capture 'noisless' images over ISO 800...PEROID.

Now, in 2008, we have cameras available to us that capture near flawless images at ISO 3200, and extremely low grain at 6400.

Look at some of the pics hosted on Nikon's website taken with a D3 series at 6400 and you will be awestruck.

The following pics were taken with my former, and now somewhat outdated D7O with an aftermarket lens, obviously no flash, handheld, 1/125, at ISO 6400 at 200mm.

You can see the amount of noise (grain) in the image. Not too shabby for an entry level Nikon. I have since moved up to a D80. But I highly feel it would not be too much better.

I took these in 2005 in a very dark auditorium from about 160 feet away. A whole hell of a lot of technology has changed since then.

The D300 I feel would have yielded a far superior image.

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/6/2/6/Monstertruck074.jpg

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/6/2/6/Monstertruck069.jpg

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/6/2/6/Monstertruck027.jpg

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/6/2/6/Monstertruck019.jpg

dreydin
04-14-2008, 08:59 AM
whoa, nice pics! i know we had a recent cam thread.. but do you have any suggestions on a camera if i had 100 bucks? lol =/

Haggis
04-14-2008, 09:20 AM
whoa, nice pics! i know we had a recent cam thread.. but do you have any suggestions on a camera if i had 100 bucks? lol =/

I have a Kodak 110 I'll sell you.

dreydin
04-14-2008, 01:24 PM
I have a Kodak 110 I'll sell you.
thing is, its a gift card for $100 at Circuit City or Office Depot, i forget. but if you want, i can find it and tell you what its for, exactly.

CRUZTAKER
04-14-2008, 03:15 PM
Use it towards a down payment and go 12 months same as cash on a purchase.:D

Of course being a Nikon user I will suggest the entry level D40 or D40X.
There are indeed issues with this camera, but nothing that will effect a new DSLR user.

Perhaps the Cannon users will chime in on their entry level DSLR's?

KillJoy
04-14-2008, 03:20 PM
Of course being a Nikon user I will suggest the entry level D40 or D40X.

Why in the world would you recommend a D40 OVER a D40X???

:dunno:

KillJoy

MM2004
04-14-2008, 03:22 PM
Thanks Bear!

I have always been partial to the Canon brand cameras.

Having the EOS Rebel XT, I am very inpressed with the rapid focus and smooth quiet operation.

I will admit Nikon has the edge, and a bit more pricey. But you cannot go wrong with either. IMO.

Not having the skills as Barry, nor the eye that he does. The Canon is still a great DSLR at an affordable price.

The Compact Flash cards are very inexpensive to purchase and are always on sale.

The battery for this camera lasts a helluva long time as well.

Mike.

MM2004
04-14-2008, 03:23 PM
Why in the world would you recommend a D40 OVER a D40X???

:dunno:

KillJoy

He recommended both.

Mike.

KillJoy
04-14-2008, 03:36 PM
He recommended both.

Mike.

Correct. He DID. And I want to know why he says EITHER, and not the D40x OVER the D40......

KillJoy

MM03MOK
04-14-2008, 03:53 PM
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2007_reviews/nikon_d40.html
The D40 camera and the new 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor lens will be packaged together and are available now for an estimated price of US$599.95**.

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2007_reviews/nikon_d40x.html
The D40x Camera Kit includes the 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor lens and is available now for an estimated price of US$699.

The Nikon D40x digital SLR maintains the same compact size, portability and ease-of-use as its already successful sister camera, the D40 (http://www.steves-digicams.com/2007_reviews/nikon_d40.html), but adds features like higher 10.2-megapixel resolution, faster continuous shooting capability (3fps vs. 2.5fps on the D40) and wider ISO sensitivity (100 - 1600).

Good discounts available on the D40 (under $500) now that the D40X is out....

CRUZTAKER
04-14-2008, 04:03 PM
Why in the world would you recommend a D40 OVER a D40X???

:dunno:

KillJoy


I am not partial to the lens' offered on the D40(X) and the fact that these are unique glass to THAT camera.

(Cannon offers Image Stabilization in nearly every camera body they sell giving lower cost and flexibility in lens choices. Nikon does NOT. They only offer VR optional on lenses at painfull prices.)

(Sony Alpha model DSLR's are compatible with a MASSIVE amount of other lenses, particularly Minolta Lenses.)

Many new DSLR's offer LIVE VIEW just as the cheapie point and shoots have. Not in every mode, and sometimes slower as the result of using fixed lenses, but very similar.
(I personally feel that LIVE VIEW is useless and was only offered so that point and shoot users would feel comfortable quicker with their new DSLR.)

I swear I will kick (the balls of) the first person I see holding their high end DSLR at arms length to take a picture like the point and shooter do.



It seems most buyers end up with a 18-300 with that unit.
The appeal is skin deep.

The lens' are slow. I realize it is entry level, and most user would never realize that their 18-300mm lens is "super zoom" but horrible slow with a maximum f-stop upwards of f6.x

I assume ALL entry level lens choices regardless of manufacture are the same...a 200mm zoom with a f4.5 stop like mine run $6-700. But that is still too slow (requiring more light, longer shutter speeds, and the ability to blur the backgroung on a subject at full zoom is severely limited).

In a perfect world, we would ALL own "marauder fast" 200mm or better lens at speed of f1.8 booya!

Go ahead and search your product for a new 18-200 at f2.8 or lower and prepare to shat yourself.:P

jdando
04-14-2008, 07:44 PM
I will chime in from the Canon camp.

The current Canon line-up is full of good cameras. A lot depends on what you want to shot and how big is your wallet.

Entry level, go with a Rebel XTi, 18-55 and a 75-300. About $850 including a big CF card. I get all my stuff from Amazon or B&H Video (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=search&A=search&Q=&sb=bs%2Cupper%28ds%29&sq=asc&ac=&bsi=&bhs=t&ci=6222&shs=&at=Brand_Canon&basicSubmit=Submit+Query). This is a nice entry level set up with good features. Two zoom lenses to cover a wide range, portrait to moderate telephoto. Where it will fall down is in low-light shots. This is where you need to open the wallet and dig deep.

Feel free to ask any specific questions!

PS get a black camera body, it is faster :cool:

LCSO34
04-14-2008, 08:14 PM
I too shoot with a D80 and I like it very much, Also invested in a 2.8 80-200 and I love that lens. Also have a 1.4 50mm thats great for close low light shots. Cameras are nice, but spend money on large aperature (2.8 and below) lenses and you can't go wrong. As the technology changes daily upgrade the camera body but keep the lenses, they will last forever.

CRUZTAKER
04-14-2008, 08:19 PM
Cameras are nice, but spend money on large aperature (2.8 and below) lenses and you can't go wrong. As the technology changes daily upgrade the camera body but keep the lenses, they will last forever.

Well put, and right on.;)

LCSO34
04-14-2008, 08:42 PM
Thanks Barry, nice pics by the way, very difficult lighting conditions and fast motion.