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Photo Forum / General Photo Topics / General Topics / May 2006Nikon D50
The Nikon D50 is the one I am now considerng buying. I liked it better than the Canon after seeing and holding both of them. Would there be an advantage of going to the D70? I am not a skilled photographer, and this my first digial camera, hmmm, I seem to have answered my own question; I'll buy the D50. What should I buy along with the D50? I want the -200 zoom, but other than that, what are your suggestions? I am planning a trip to Denmark in July, I suppose I need a power converter to charge the battery, a larger memory card, maybe two. What about getting the photos to my computer, will the camera come with the software and hardware to do this, or are these separate items? What else do I need? I know I ask dumb questions, and to those well versered in the terminology, I appear to be an idiot. Beleive it or not, I am actually skilled at my profession, I'm just not up to date on the modern cameras. Thanks to everyone who has taken time to help me through this decision. You would be happiest, particularly for travel, with one of the new 18-200mm zooms. The Nikon has garnered a good review for low distortion at the wide angle end of the zoom but I have my doubts about the truth of that review as it was in Popular Photography. Also the Nikon is very pricey (costs more than the D50) and hard to get. I would recommend you look at either the Sigma or the Tamron: I have used them both and I would assure you will be happy with either. The only lens I would strongly recommend you avoid like the plague is the Nikon 55-200 zoom-this lens got a good review in PopPhoto but I can assure you it is one of the worst lenses ever made by Nikon. The Nikon 18-70 kit lens is one of the great bargains in photography and if you can get it bundled with the camera I would do so regardless of what other lenses you want. I am very glad to read your post; I was ready to walk out the door and buy the D50 with the 55-200 zoom. Ritz photo has the 55-200 lens and quoted me a price of 250, but if it's not a good lens, then it's not worth any price. I'll ask about the Sigma or Tamron lens. Another camera store has this as a kit: Nikon D50 KIT Condition:Brand new with warranty Description:Includes Nikon 18-55mm & 70-360mm lenses,Nikon case, and ZYRS Nikon extended warranty Product Code:4143 Price: $820.00 Is the Nikon 70-360 lens good? Or am I still better off with the Sigma or Tamron lens? Thank you for your reply. Bob >You would be happiest, particularly for travel, with one of the new 18-200mm >zooms. The Nikon has garnered a good review for low distortion at the wide [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] >can get it bundled with the camera I would do so regardless of what other >lenses you want. > I am very glad to read your post; I was ready to walk out the door and > buy the D50 with the 55-200 zoom. Ritz photo has the 55-200 lens and > quoted me a price of 250, but if it's not a good lens, then it's not > worth any price. I'll ask about the Sigma or Tamron lens. I'll sell you my used 28-200. It's not bad at all, very compact for the range and similarly priced. Having only 55mm wide would be a big limitation, even the 28mm limit is kind of a bummer. > Another camera store has this as a kit: > [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] >>can get it bundled with the camera I would do so regardless of what other >>lenses you want. I just bought the Sigma zoom - with the macro option included - great lens > You would be happiest, particularly for travel, with one of the new > 18-200mm zooms. The Nikon has garnered a good review for low distortion at [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > bargains in photography and if you can get it bundled with the camera I > would do so regardless of what other lenses you want. Check out www.digitalrev.com for bargain packages for all digital cameras > You would be happiest, particularly for travel, with one of the new > 18-200mm zooms. The Nikon has garnered a good review for low distortion at [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > bargains in photography and if you can get it bundled with the camera I > would do so regardless of what other lenses you want. > What should I buy along with the D50? A tripod (get a strap). An extra battery. The $15 infrared remote. A UV filter to protect the lens from damage; a circular polarizing filter for some neat effects (most other filter effects can be done in post-processing). Lens Pen (http://www.lenspen.com/?cPath=1&products_id=LP-1&tpid=146) Consider a beltpack-style bag - easy to tote a few essentials. http://www.lowepro.com/Products/Beltpacks/classic/Sideline_Shooter.aspx Two flash cards, 1-2GB each (2GB holds 300-1000 shots, depending on mode). Higher-end flash cards like SanDisk Extreme III can significantly speed up the cycle time between shots because they write faster. This varies highly between cameras and settings, but they're worth it to me. > I suppose I need a power converter to charge the battery Probably just an adapter. The charger probably has a universal power input. Though you may need a converter for other things. > What about getting the photos to my > computer, will the camera come with the software and hardware to do > this, or are these separate items? Separate. Your PC may already have a card reader, if not you need to add one. The ones that install in a floppy drive bay in the PC chassis (and hook to the internal storage controller) are much faster to transfer than the cheap external USB ones. It makes a difference when you're transferring 500MB+. The card looks like a removable disk to the PC - just insert it and it shows up on the PC. > What else do I need? Software, if you want to edit & organize your photos (you don't have to, but it's a really powerful feature of shooting digital). There are lots of opinions here, but Adobe CS2 is highly regarded (and amazingly expensive) - I suggest Photoshop Elements 4 to get started. It's much cheaper (it's a subset of CS2, and <$100), and probably does far more than you'll need for a good while. Happy shooting! Cheers, Richard Richard: Thank you for your reply, the links are particularly helpful. I don't know if my PC has a card reader or not, I'm about as knowledgeable with my PC as I am with digial photography. To give you an idea of what this is like for me, please realize that I used a slide rule in college. I'll look around for a card reader, or do you have a link to a site? CompuUSA probably has them. Bob >> What should I buy along with the D50? > [quoted text clipped - 45 lines] >Cheers, >Richard >> What should I buy along with the D50? > > A tripod (get a strap). An extra battery. The $15 infrared remote. A UV > filter to protect the lens from damage; a circular polarizing filter for > some neat effects (most other filter effects can be done in > post-processing). yes the remote can be very handy if you want to add yourself into some pictures, the other way is to add a 2seconds on the timer to cut out shake when takeing pictures.. yes. tripod is handy if you are going to use a zoom, as they suffer shake Lens Pen (http://www.lenspen.com/?cPath=1&products_id=LP-1&tpid=146) > Consider a beltpack-style bag - easy to tote a few essentials. > http://www.lowepro.com/Products/Beltpacks/classic/Sideline_Shooter.aspx [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > the cycle time between shots because they write faster. This varies > highly between cameras and settings, but they're worth it to me. a 1GB will hold 270 to 1000 shots depending on the settings you use .. >> I suppose I need a power converter to charge the battery > Probably just an adapter. The charger probably has a universal power > input. Though you may need a converter for other things. NO ITS NOT a universal one, mine is 240v >> What about getting the photos to my >> computer, will the camera come with the software and hardware to do >> this, or are these separate items? ALL you need is a USB port on your computer as the camara comes with a cable, it makes the camera into another harddrive on your computer > Separate. Your PC may already have a card reader, if not you need to add > one. The ones that install in a floppy drive bay in the PC chassis (and > hook to the internal storage controller) are much faster to transfer than > the cheap external USB ones. It makes a difference when you're > transferring 500MB+. not needed > The card looks like a removable disk to the PC - just insert it and it > shows up on the PC. [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > cheaper (it's a subset of CS2, and <$100), and probably does far more than > you'll need for a good while. comes with some software on a disk , but yes you may want to upgrade it to give yourself lots of scope. > Happy shooting! > > Cheers, > Richard ... >>Software, if you want to edit & organize your photos (you don't have to, >>but it's a really powerful feature of shooting digital). There are lots [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >> >> Raw Shooter Essentials | 2006 - free, for for a few bucks more, the full featured version. Great, Good place to start. Trains you to shoot raw from the get-go. Free./Open Source: GIMP Similar in function to Photoshop, different enough that it needs its own books and tips... Oh, and maybe a lens keeper, I have already replaced one Nikon lens cap :-(. Tom, really liking my D50, and glad I don't (yet) know what I am missing >The Nikon D50 is the one I am now considerng buying. I liked it >better than the Canon after seeing and holding both of them. > >Would there be an advantage of going to the D70? I am not a skilled >photographer, and this my first digial camera, hmmm, I seem to have >answered my own question; I'll buy the D50. Don't just pass on the D70 because you are not /yet/ skilled. Compare the two, and then research the features that are different in an attempt to learn what the significance is to a photographer. You are probably well enough aware of yourself to know just how likely you are to soon develop the skills that may or may not make a more complex camera worth the extra money. For example, if you are a typical techie it would obviously be wise to invest in a camera with complexity that is far beyond your initial skills. Otherwise, in 6-12 months you'll be looking at another camera purchase. Whether that applies to *you*, only you can say... >What should I buy along with the D50? I want the -200 zoom, but other Apparently it normally comes with a kit lense that is not all that well regarded. The D70 normally comes with a better lense, the Nikkor AF-S 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G ED DX, which is a surprisingly nice lense. You might consider that difference in your decision on which camera to purchase, or see if it is possible to find a seller who will reconfigure the kit for a reasonable price. Then the question is which "-200 zoom" is it you are looking at? >than that, what are your suggestions? I am planning a trip to Denmark >in July, I suppose I need a power converter to charge the battery, a >larger memory card, maybe two. What about getting the photos to my >computer, will the camera come with the software and hardware to do >this, or are these separate items? What else do I need? The camera is normally sold with the required cords and one software program that will accomplish whatever you need. However, yes you will need whatever it requires to convert AC power in Denmark to whatever your camera has, or just an appropriate battery charger. (I don't know the specifics, so I cannot offer a solution. Google is your friend... research specifications for Nikon battery chargers and AC adapters.) Memory cards and management of image files will depend on how you work. For example some people shoot everything in JPEG format, which produces smaller sized files, and they can simply carry enough memory cards with them on vacations to hold a several hundred images. If you shoot RAW format or take thousands of images, perhaps that won't work! And then it becomes either a question of just how big a disk do you need on a laptop computer to carry with you; or how to find places that can burn a DVD for you. >I know I ask dumb questions, Ha! You want dumb? *Don't ask them!* Just imagine the cost in time, money, and frustration if you just miss by half on all of the above items... >and to those well versered in the >terminology, I appear to be an idiot. Beleive it or not, I am >actually skilled at my profession, I'm just not up to date on the >modern cameras. That describes the vast majority of people who read (and post) to this newsgroup. >Thanks to everyone who has taken time to help me through this >decision.  SignatureFloyd L. Davidson <http://www.apaflo.com/floyd_davidson> Ukpeagvik (Barrow, Alaska) floyd@apaflo.com Today I purchased a Nikon D50, with a Nikon 18-70 ED lens and a 70-300 ED lens, plus some filters. Know I need to read the book. >>The Nikon D50 is the one I am now considerng buying. I liked it >>better than the Canon after seeing and holding both of them. [quoted text clipped - 68 lines] >>Thanks to everyone who has taken time to help me through this >>decision. >Today I purchased a Nikon D50, with a Nikon 18-70 ED lens and a 70-300 >ED lens, plus some filters. Know I need to read the book. Wellll... that' oughta keep you out of trouble for at least a week or two, eh! Now you need to think about a good tripod, a remote shutter release cable, extra batteries, memory cards, etc. etc. Then you'll discover photomacrography, or something equally unsuited to the lenses you currently own... And that will get you back into trouble! SignatureFloyd L. Davidson <http://www.apaflo.com/floyd_davidson> Ukpeagvik (Barrow, Alaska) floyd@apaflo.com >>Today I purchased a Nikon D50, with a Nikon 18-70 ED lens and a 70-300 >>ED lens, plus some filters. Know I need to read the book. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Now you need to think about a good tripod, a remote shutter > release cable, THERE IS NO SHUTTER REALESE (ooopppss) cable but you can buy the remote for the D50 extra batteries, memory cards, etc. etc. Then > you'll discover photomacrography, or something equally unsuited > to the lenses you currently own... And that will get you back > into trouble! > Today I purchased a Nikon D50, with a Nikon 18-70 ED lens and a 70-300 > ED lens, plus some filters. Know I need to read the book. Good for you! These are my two primary lenses, and I'm quite happy with them. Read the manual, but don't let it keep you from putting the camera to use (the extra digital features can get overwhelming). When you're tired of reading, just set the camera on "A" and start clicking. You can advance from there, the film is free, and you get instant results to improve your results. :-) FYI, there was a recall a few months back on the EN-EL3 batteries - take a look here to see if you need a swap: http://www.nikonusa.com/email_images/nikonusa/service_advisory/battery.html As someone else mentioned, you'll find that your camera comes with a USB cable that can plug into the PC, basically making it work just like an SD flash card reader. (I've mentally blocked this option, as the camera makes for an expensive card reader, but it'll work just fine.) As for the battery charger, the rating plate lists universal input, though the cord will be US. I used it in Australia with no issue, but if you're concerned you can either use the 110v shaver outlet in the hotel room (if it has one for travelers from North America), or use a power converter. Cheers, Richard |
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