Which digital camera do you have? - Page 5

Re: Which digital camera do you have?

Nikon D40 (wonderful camera)
SB-440 flash
Sigma 10mm-20mm F4.5

I'm also keeping a Canon G2 around.

Re: Which digital camera do you have?

What do you guy's think of your D40 cameras?
i'm debating getting one. only, i wanna get the nice VR lense with it and it costs more that the camera!
anyone compared it to the D50?

Re: Which digital camera do you have?

I haven't tried the D40 myself, but it should be quite similar in quality to the D50 -- and not really lower image quality than most other higher end Nikons unless you need the higher MP count of the D80 or D200. Haven't heard anything to say otherwise. The main diff seems to be smaller size for the D40, but at the sacrifice of AF capability when used w/ older style non-AFS lenses -- well, the D40 AF system is also only 3-point vs 5-point, but I don't think that matters much in actual practice.

The non-AFS sacrifice shouldn't matter to you if you have no intention to use any old style non-AFS lenses, which includes nearly all of the currently available Nikon fixed focal length primes and a few, good, affordable AF zooms on the used market that some folks like. I personally couldn't live w/ that sacrifice since I use primes all the time, but then, the D40 wasn't really made for my kind of uses. If you only intend to use the 18-200VR -- that's the one I assume you mean -- then that should make a very nice match for the D40. And even if you eventually decide you want to add a prime or two, Nikon may well have new AFS primes to meet your needs by then. And if not, there's still the possibility to add a split prism manual focus screen to aid manual focus, if that suits you for those older lenses.

http://www.katzeyeoptics.com/item--K...-prod_D40.html

As for lens price, well, at the low price of the D40, it's not hard for a lens to cost more. If the 18-200VR is all the lens you need, then it's really not much to spend on lenses anyway since most folks spend at least as much on lenses as on the camera body.

_Man_

Re: Which digital camera do you have?

I chose a Sigma 10mm-20mm because it lends itself to architecture and interiors, which is my main use at this time.

Overall the D40 has an excellent feel of quality, and is a joy to use. The only drawback perhaps is that some people may find it smaller to grip than other Nikon models.

Re: Which digital camera do you have?

This type of wide angle lens is also great for landscape photography. I have a Canon 10-22mm lens for my Canon 350D, and it's a really fun lens. I got some great shots last year in the Canadian Rockies with this lens -- including one of Moraine Lake that turned out so well that we had a 30x20 print made to hang in our family room.

Re: Which digital camera do you have?

Now that you guys mention it. Anyone compared these superwide zooms to the Tonica 12-24 f/4? I like the constant f/4 max aperture of the Tonica, and the narrower 12-24 range might be more versatile for me than the wider 10-20 range. With a 12-24, especially w/ f/4 capability upto 24mm, I'd probably not need my 18-70DX at all since I usually also have my trusty 35 f/2 w/ me -- and could bring along a 50 f/1.8 and/or 85 f/1.8 to round things out.

Also, do you really use the <18mm wide end *that* much for landscapes? I can see needing it for some shots, but can't really imagine the superwide end being used quite that much for landscapes. Most good landscape images I see are actually not even wide angle at all, but I don't generally shoot landscapes myself, so ...

_Man_

Re: Which digital camera do you have?

I think you mean "Tokina". For Canon mount systems, the Tokina gets very good reviews, and usually it and the Canon 10-22mm are considered about equal in image quality, with the Sigma 10-20mm coming in third (Sigma seems to have quality control problems with their Canon mount lens versions). I went with the Canon over the Tokina for a couple of reasons: (1) my "walk around zoom" goes to 17mm on the wide end, so I wanted the wider 10mm over Tokina's 12mm, and (2) when cost, IQ and functionality are close, I've decided to stick with Canon-brand lenses over 3rd party lenses, due to compatibility concerns with some 3rd party lenses and the Canon system.

While I do not use the 10-22mm for the majority of my landscape shots, I have found numerous instances where the extra width really helped with a shot, so for me the lens is worth the expense and the space it takes up in my travel kit. That kit currently includes the 10-22mm, a Canon 17-55mm f/2.8 IS, and a Canon 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS.

I'm thinking of adding a longer telephoto for a summer trip to Yellowstone this year, but have not decided if I'll get enough use out of it to justify the expense. I'm looking at the Canon 400mm f/5.6 L prime ($1,000), the Canon 100-400mm f/4-5.6 L IS ($1,400), and Tamron 200-500mm f/4.5-6.3 ($870).

The 10-22mm should also be very useful in the hot springs / geyser areas of Yellowstone for this summer trip. I've been there 3 times previously, and always wished for a wider angle lens in those areas.

BTW, I do own one Sigma lens -- a 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 semi-macro zoom. I did not have any quality issues with this copy on my Canon dSLR, but I do read about a lot of people having problems with Sigma - Canon combos -- mostly auto-focus issues. Sigma does not seem to have this issue on Nikon mounts, though -- at least, from what little I've read.

Re: Which digital camera do you have?

Oops! Yeah, I meant Tokina. "Tonica" must've somehow slipped out from that subconscious side of me that's recently been devoted to the violin/viola, LOL -- not that I actually used or even tried out any Tonica strings on my instruments.

Yeah, after some brief look-see on dpreview.com's Nikon lens forum, it does sound like the Tokina's a winner though it's not completely free of its own share of flaws, eg. CA/purple fringing. Yeah, I guess if I had a Canon 17-55 f/2.8 IS, I would probably prefer something wider too. But I don't think I'll be going for any of the 17-55-ish f/2.8 zooms for my D200 since I prefer to just stick w/ my primes in that range for the forseeable future -- I may add something like the Sigma 20 f/1.8 at some point, if nothing more compelling comes out.

_Man_

Re: Which digital camera do you have?

Okay guys, after being a previous Nikon D50 owner...I've now stepped up to the D80!

I've had very little time to put the D80 through any shoots as of yet, but am hoping to get some quality time with it this upcoming weekend.

I would like to hear your thoughts/opinions on what photo editing software to use. Shoudl I spend the $123.90 and order the Nikon Capture NX software from amazon? I do plan on shooting in RAW format, especially later on down the line once I become more familiar with the D80 and how it shoots.

So, what are your software rec's? Thanks!

And, I'll get some D80 shots up on my website here soon - as I'm in the process of re-designing my personal site...so stay tuned

Re: Which digital camera do you have?

sony

Re: Which digital camera do you have?

Mike - I still think Nikon's Capture software (4 or NX) gives the best quality output. It's also the only raw conversion software that will use the in-camera settings.

That said, they are a bit painful to use. Capture was never a fast app and NX is no better in that respect. It's OK if you've got a couple of dozen pictures to process, not so nice if you've a few hundred.

I would seriously recommend downloading the trial version of Adobe's Lightroom. It's geared up for batch raw conversion and the results I've seen so far are very positive. The speed alone makes it worthwhile for me. It's only on version 1.0 now so there's lots more to come in the development of it, but it is good.

Re: Which digital camera do you have?

Man, I've been using the Tokina for a while now and I'm pleased with it. Going w-i-d-e on landscapes isn't to everyone's tastes but I've had some good results from it and it's not a lens I'd want to be without. That said, my 17-55 f/2.8 is the workhorse.

Re: Which digital camera do you have?

Rob - breathtaking!

Re: Which digital camera do you have?

Very nice Rob.

Whatever you do, avoid making it a full time profession. You'll more than likely end up hating it. Yeah, I'm such an optimist.

OK, my confession. I look at those shots and the first thing I think is "too bad they aren't on film." Not because they don't look great, becasue they do. Just imagine what you could do with them if they were MF, or LF for that matter...

Re: Which digital camera do you have?

Wonderful photos, Rob!

Re: Which digital camera do you have?

John, too late. Plans are already afoot

Re: Which digital camera do you have?

Just one bit of advice on the difference between being an avid amateur and bring a pro.

Amateur: Look at that great scene. I think I'll take some shots of it.

Pro: I have this pile of dogshit in the middle of a dirt field. I want you to make it look like a bed of roses in the middle of a field of lillies. Oh, and by the way. Why shouldn't I just buy a digital camera and do it myself instead of paying you?

OK, maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration. Just don't say I didn't warn you.

Because, that digital pehnomena you are caught up in... So is everyone else, and they all think they are great at it.

Re: Which digital camera do you have?

I'm a virgin on the 40 (perhaps 800-1000 shots) but very pleased. Still playing with P auto settings and breaking into CS3 at the same time. Fun! I added 512 & 1G Sandisk Extreme III cards and the tiny SP-400. A sweet little set up for darn cheap IMO.

There's a new VR 55-200 that's only 250 bucks ( I think) that might serve well along with the stock lens on the 40.
I've been trying to hold off on Big Glass, but this is tempting.

Review on Ken Rockwells site - http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/55-200mm-vr.htm

You can see a very complete review of the 40 there as well. His D40 user guide is better than the Factory manual by a long shot (so to speak)

E

Re: Which digital camera do you have?

Man

Thanks, The 40 will serve me well until the next gen midrange cameras come along. I have a few pro shooter friends that all say the same thing. `Learn to use that little camera - it's better than you are'

Good Advice Beats the hell out of my old P&S

E

Re: Which digital camera do you have?

Rob - great shots! And thanks for the software advice. I actually ordered Adobe Lightroom 1.0 a few minutes ago...I got it from Aamazon for $197 (minus a $50 coupon I already had)...so, for $147~ shipped - figured I couldn't really go wrong...until I start using it anyway

Just a heads up to anyone else thinking about getting Lightroom, it's only going to be $199 until the end of this Month (Apr 30th)....starting May 1st it will be going up to it's intended price of $299. So, now might be the best time to pull the trigger on this software.

Again, thanks Rob - and those shots are beautiful!

Re: Which digital camera do you have?

Rob, excellent photos. Love the almost surreal colors/imagery. I guess the "w-i-d-e" view of the Tokina adds to that near-surrealness as well. Yeah, I'm definitely very tempted. Probably would've gotten it (or some other lens upgrade) already if I didn't have to divert funds (and time) to violins/violas and lessons over the past year or so.

_Man_

Re: Which digital camera do you have?

Thanks for the kind comments. As I said in another thread some time back I'm trying to go pro (not with landscapes, though that'd be sweet), so anything I buy will be tax deductable soon anyway. Buying £1k lenses isn't something you do lightly but the two biggies I've got (17-55 and 70-200 VR) get used a lot.

The colours are rich in the first and last aren't they? First one only has very minor contrast adjustments from the raw file but the last one was when I was trying out Lightroom and I think I used the 'Direct Postive' effect on it. It zaps up everything and so while it's a little unearthly it does get the 'wow' from people who see it (well, some of them). It's probably not an effect I'd go for often.

I've never going to make a living doing landscapes - there's a tiny clique of wow-wizards in the UK who have the market cornered - namely Joe Cornish, Charlie Waite and Colin Prior (I've met them all and they're really nice guys but like - gods!), but it'll probably remain as the hobby part of photography for me if I manage to make a go of the wedding and portraits professionally. I love doing it and I love the stupid-o-clock mornings and cold weather that go with the best shots. That last shot above was the best morning of that particular week up in the Highlands and it was just freckin' awesome to be out in the wilderness with conditions like that.

Lightroom is a really nice app but it's got some way to go yet before I'd be happy with it as my primary tool. I'm a beta tester for LR and I know what's coming up, I'm just not allowed to talk about it

Re: Which digital camera do you have?

Reminds me of my old TiVo beta testing days...

I will ask you this about LR, and if you can't answer it - no problem...

Since the current version is entitled 1.0...will purchasing 1.0 now allow me to get whatever the next release happens to be (1.1 or 2.0 or whatever) for free? Or will these be considered as brand-new releases requiring an upgrade fee or what have you?

This is the most expensive software I have ever purchased (I'm cheap like that!) so I just want to know what I'm getting into as far as upgrades on future releases go.

Thanks

Re: Which digital camera do you have?

I honestly don't know the answer to that Mike, but I'd imagine they'll probably follow normal Adobe protocol and make people pay to upgrade to 2.0.

1.0 has only just come out so any version 2.0 is a long way off I would have though.

Re: Which digital camera do you have?

BTW Rob, I take it that since I already use Photoshop extensively and never deal with bulk image processing, I really don't have any true need for Lightroom. I had never given it much of a thought, but it appears to me that there is nothing Lightroom can do that Photoshop can't, more that Lightroom can streamline batch processing. Is that right?

Re: Which digital camera do you have?

John that's essentially correct. Photoshop can do everything Lightroom can in terms of picture correction, but LR makes the process easier as it's geared towards photographers rather than trying to encompass everyone.

It's also quick - at least the 1.0 on PCs is - and you can get through a bulk set of pictures pretty quickly.

LR also does not touch the original files. It only catalogues changes to the file which it saves in it's own database. Your original files, whether raw, jpg or tif are never altered.

I'm still not decided on it yet.

Re: Which digital camera do you have?

Thanks Rob. I'll just stick with Photoshop.

Re: Which digital camera do you have?

Fuji Finepix S700, not too expensive, takes nice pics, got it this Spring.

Later, I realized I wanted a smaller camera to take with me on my bicycle rides-saw the GE A730 advertised at KMart for $109. Not bad for the price. It's a 7.1M pixel also.

Re: Which digital camera do you have?

Nikon D50