***DSLR/Photography MegaThread***

SmytheKing said:
Appreciate the link. I'm not a slave to any brand really. I've used Canon's all my life, but that's just because there are so many and they're the most popular. I've heard great things about the Nikon's as well.

Having said that, a couple other questions.

1. What is the better technology giving me in that camera? Or, in the alternative, where is a solid review/information page that I can read up on for myself?
2. This would be an even better deal on the same camera/lenses then yes? Looks like it's the same thing, but you get another lens with it. Fore less money even.
Click to expand...

I read the review for the D5000 in the American Photo Mag. I have a subscription to both Pop and AP. The July/August issue that I'm talking about is on the stands now. Go grab a copy. It has a "Best of the Best" review in it from P&S's to High end Pro set ups.


What lens set you buy is pretty much up to what type of photography you want to do. I prefer having a set of lenses that go from 17mm to 400mm. That requires me to have 5 lenses. Then you get into specific task lenses like Macro's, Micro's, fisheyes, and Supertelephotos. If you do mostly landscape and portrait photos, keep in the mid focal lengths like that 18-55mm. If you do mid distance shooting, like a bird 40' from you, the 55-200. Its all personal preference.

Like I mentioned, both these specific lenses listed at that auction are PHENOMINAL lenses for the price.


edit: The first few sets of pics I posted on the first couple of pages of this thread are with that same 18-55mm.
 
Last edited:
Looks like the auction I posted about the D5000 just upped his price back to $1,300. It was $9XX something a few hours ago.
 
santiclaws said:
I know very little about Nikon, but I would guess that while two of the lenses are OK, the rest of the stuff is utter crap and/or crap you don't need. As someone new to DSLR's, keep this in mind: lenses are a FAR more important part of the photography equation than the camera body. There's no point in getting a good body without good lenses, you might as well stay with a point and shoot. The body may last you a couple of years, good glass may last a couple of decades - or more.

Food for thought...
Click to expand...

I could have mentioned that but its been said a million times in a million different ways .....so I didn't.

SK posted a "kit" setup so, for the sake of continuity and not sounding like a lecturer, I posted a kit setup also. Yes, the rest of the stuff may be crap but its a start....and that is what he's looking for.

BTW, the 2 lenses are more than "OK". They're killer.
 
Also it might not be a bad idea to actually lay your hands on the brands that you are looking at. Quite literally, absolutely everything on a Canon is the reverse on the Nikon and vise versa, aperture and shutter speed controls are in the opposite spots, zooms twist the opposite way, lenses mount with opposite twists. So holding them you might find one just feels better.

As for the "nice-ities," I think Nikon is leading the field. They have some really nice little things, such as grid lines projecting in the viewfinder on demand. They also offer a pro level auto focus in many of their non pro bodies. Currently, Canon doesn't have a full frame camera with pro auto focus for less then $8000, which is highly annoying. The flash system on Nikon is also a LOT better. Fake Chuck Westfall (the real Chuck WestFall is the Technical Information Advisory for Canon) is a humorous read on the less than stellar happenings at Canon

With that said though, the lens thing is very true. If you see lenses in one manufacturer's lineup that are absent in the others, that should be a consideration. I know many won't agree with me, and it is highly subjective so my opinion may mean nothing, but I find there are few in the Canon lineup that don't have competition (the 135mm f/2.0L, the 85mm f/1.2L II, and the ef 35mm f/1.4 are all just stunning) Not to say Nikon doesn't have very, very drool worthy lenses (Nikkor 14-24 comes to mind, Canon doesn't really have a zoom that can touch it)
 
Last edited:
nocturn said:
I could have mentioned that but its been said a million times in a million different ways .....so I didn't.
Click to expand...
Well, you and I have heard it a million times, someone who's new to SLR cameras may not have.
nocturn said:
SK posted a "kit" setup so, for the sake of continuity and not sounding like a lecturer, I posted a kit setup also. Yes, the rest of the stuff may be crap but its a start....and that is what he's looking for.
Click to expand...
It he's aware of what he's getting in that package, and that's what he's looking for, great. But as a DSLR newbie, SK may or may not know what he is actually looking for, or should be looking for. Some of what he is paying for in that kit is likely to be virtually unusable, such as those two other lenses. The kit is back down to $962, by the way.

nocturn said:
BTW, the 2 lenses are more than "OK". They're killer.
Click to expand...

Again, I know nothing about these particular lenses, but I can make a reasonable guess as to the overall quality of a zoom lens costing well under $200. I assume you mean good value for the price; I have no reason to doubt you on that.
 
santiclaws said:
Well, you and I have heard it a million times, someone who's new to SLR cameras may not have.

It he's aware of what he's getting in that package, and that's what he's looking for, great. But as a DSLR newbie, SK may or may not know what he is actually looking for, or should be looking for. Some of what he is paying for in that kit is likely to be virtually unusable, such as those two other lenses. The kit is back down to $962, by the way.



Again, I know nothing about these particular lenses, but I can make a reasonable guess as to the overall quality of a zoom lens costing well under $200. I assume you mean good value for the price; I have no reason to doubt you on that.
Click to expand...
Appreciate all the advice. As far as the lenses go, yeah. I've heard the same thing so I was taking it all with that in mind.

Basically looking for something to get my foot in the door really. One, budget doesn't permit me to go out and get half a dozen lenses for a couple grand. Two, I'm still a little unfamiliar with all the bells and whistles that a DSLR is going to provide me with.

I'd like something that will do well until I get the idea of what I'm doing (and looking to do). After I get a feel for that, I'll start looking to get more of a variety in a lens to accomplish all of that. So, a kit (even one with stuff that is useless basically) that has some lenses and a case and some accessories is a good start for me. Especially if those two "main" lenses are going to give me a little different exposure to different ways of taking photos. I'll upgrade later as I grow into it.

Having said all of that, I'm leaning towards the Nikon now after having checked them both out at a local camera store. The counter guy also suggested the Nikon. . .for what it's worth. Disclaimer: This is after I told him I'd be purchasing elsewhere.
 
You can have a whole arsenal of lenses but you can only use one at a time. You can do a hell of a lot with a good 17-55 zoom. ;)
That's my bread and butter lens.

This is my favorite lens, even better than the pro "L" glass.

[ame=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EW8074?ie=UTF8&tag=letsgokingsco-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000EW8074] Canon 17-55 [/ame]
 
So, I buckled down and got the Nikon. I ended up getting it with the three lenses below to start.

[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-50mm-Nikkor-Digital-Cameras/dp/B00005LEN4/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=photo&qid=1247960255&sr=1-4]Amazon.com: Nikon 50mm f/1.8D AF Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras: Camera & Photo[/ame]

[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-18-55mm-3-5-5-6G-AF-S-Nikkor/dp/B000LWJ1ES/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=photo&qid=1247960331&sr=1-5]Amazon.com: Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX Nikkor Zoom Lens: Camera & Photo[/ame] (came with it)

[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-55-200mm-f4-5-6G-Nikkor-Black/dp/B0009HN57Y/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&s=photo&qid=1247960331&sr=1-12]Amazon.com: Nikon 55-200mm f4-5.6G ED AF-S DX Nikkor Zoom Lens (Black): Camera & Photo[/ame]

Got a decent deal on it I guess. A little over $850 for everything.

To answer the (sorta) question about what I like to photograph, it's mostly been structures and landscapes. I'd like to get a little into portraits and sports too. Like I said earlier, I need to figure out all the stuff on the camera and go from there. Here's some stuff I've taken just on my little Canon point and shoot.

2907132747_268d7d4517.jpg
Top of the Guggenheim in NYC.

2907977568_186fa308e6.jpg
Another but with the stairs in view.

2970879586_b830721e0f.jpg
Some trees near Tom's Place.

2970861062_ff8f9a8784.jpg
Near my campground in Little Lakes Valley.
 
Congrats on (correctly ;) ) choosing a Nikon product! Which model?

Next thing I'd suggest you pick up is a copy of Adobe Lightroom. Then, shoot in RAW and have a blast!
 
I would suggest you immediately pick up a decent set of "clear protection" or "digital clear protection" filters to protect the glass on the lenses. This is probably the most important item you can buy after the main purchase. Put them on as soon as you open the lens boxes up.

Also, after shooting landscapes for a bit, pick up a Polarizing and Neutral Density filter...remember you get what you pay for with effect filters. I use Hoya or Heliopan.

Congrads and look forward to seeing your work.
 
Here are some I took at an auto show at this art school in Pasadena yesterday.

595857969_xVzAs-M.jpg


595861019_zVCQC-M.jpg


595866425_5FPKf-M.jpg


595874543_Eiwh6-M.jpg


595893111_4cror-M.jpg


595888995_MWRRw-M.jpg
 
Thanks for the compliments. For those interested, here is my work flow for these:

Canon 400D, ISO 200, RAW, EF-S 10-22 lens (shot mostly between f/3.0 - f/4.5).
Converted from RAW to JPEG using Lightroom, did some adjustment of fill lights, saturation & hue.
 
2665172646_772f724e71_o.jpg


This pic of Sun Trash gets more comments than any of my other pics on Facebook.
Something about it grabs people of a lot of different nationalities, who I'm sure have no idea WTF Sun Trash is.

This is one of the shows I set up remote lighting for, in fact it might have been the first one, which shows how easy it is to get it right.

Here's a link to the comments
Sun Trash at Alex's Bar on July 12 2008 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
 
I have no idea who they are either, but the shot is awesome. The lighting, the crispness, the pose, the expression, the guitarist's expression... It all comes together really nicely.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Now Chirping

  • No one is chatting at the moment.

Share this page

Back
Top