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View Full Version : Need camera advise! Wife driving me crazy.



Stitch King
07-08-2007, 10:13 AM
Turning over the keyboard to my wife. She won't listen to me anyhow.

Please help her so I can concentrate on my boat instead. Ken :D

I'm looking for a digital that is capable of 3 frames per second continuous shooting. Is SLR the only way?

Also want "live view" on the LCD for easier point and shoot because I deal with glasses.

The primary use will be to capture a fast moving 2 year old, family pics, wakeboarders and boats.

I'm not a professional photographer and don't want to carry around a camera bag so versatility is also important.

It also has to be somewhat durable....All this at a cost that's less than $1500.00

Any advise is appreciated.

Thanks,

Laura

Stoker1
07-08-2007, 10:41 AM
Laura,

Check out the Camera forum here. Greg will most likely chime in.

http://forums.screamandfly.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=30&f=55

As for my nickle, I love the Nikon D50 SLR. I believe its been discontinued and replaced with the D40. Still a super nice camera for the money.

Some might argue with the Cannon Rebel, as both are wonderful cameras.

Chat later,
Jamie

pyro
07-08-2007, 11:25 AM
Real cameras aren't held out in front of you like a zombie when you shoot. :D

Nikon D80: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/449066-REG/Nikon_9405_D80_SLR_Digital_Camera.html
No real regrets with mine so far.

The D40 has all kinds of limitations, especially when it comes to lenses and some advanced features.

INXS
07-08-2007, 12:36 PM
If you want to save a lot get a refurbished deal. They still give the same warranty.

pyro
07-08-2007, 10:01 PM
Just remember, your autofocus lens choices will be very limited with the D40, vs stepping up to the 10.8MP D80. Worth every penny and then some, I swear.

Stitch King
07-08-2007, 10:29 PM
Thanks so much for your comments! Anyone have an opinion about the Olympus e-510?

Laura Wolkens

Maureen M
07-08-2007, 10:38 PM
I wouldn't worry too much about the glasses issue if you go w/ a DSLR. Most have an adjustment that compensates for your vision - I wouldn't get very far without it b/c I have bad eyes myself. :eek: :D

And we all know my .02 is for Canon :p

pyro
07-08-2007, 10:39 PM
There must be a reason why most pros are using Nikons and Canons.
There's naturally going to be a bit of Nikon bias around here, between Greg, me, and the number of others here with Nikon dSLRs...

They can all take good point and shoot pictures, but when you start to learn what a powerful tool a good dSLR camera is,
you'll start to wish you had those advanced features and settings.

Look at lens choices, and see all of the models that won't work in autofocus mode on the D40. If you're going to spend
this kind of money, might as well get the best you can afford within reason, strike a balance of budget and functionality.
Leave some room to grow, you'll be glad you did.

Scream And Fly
07-09-2007, 03:39 AM
In addition to what others have said:

If you want live preview, the Olympus DSLR cameras are really the only way to go now. I believe some of their latest bodies shoot at 3 FPS. I have no experience with those cameras or their lens system, but for your needs it will work fine.

Myself, I think live preview is not important, and I would choose either Nikon or Canon instead. :)

Greg

hsbob
07-09-2007, 10:42 AM
i also wear glasses and have no problem with any of my SLRs. get her a d80 with a good zoom lens and go for it. it'll do everything you'll need.

Stitch King
07-11-2007, 09:33 AM
I think Pyro is right. I do want a camera & lens that I will be able to grow with. I have been shooting digital, yes mostly point & shoot cameras for 10 years now. I have over 30,000 digital photos and love to use photoshop! I also have won a few photo contests. Nothing big but it is way fun! So I think it is time to take my hobby to the next level. I have never been a big fan of Canon. I have had 1 Canon camera and we just did not get along. The Nikon D40 is a 6.1mp camera and shoots 2.5 fps. I just do not think it is going to be enough for me. I also like to enlarge photos to 20 by 30 so I would like to stay with a 10.0 mp camera. I shoot with an 8.0mp now. The D40X jumps to 10.0 but I think the D80 has more options for me! The more research I do on the Olympus E-510 the more I become concerned. It is 3 fps but the limit depends on file size. So it looks like a D80 is in my future and the lens kit that Pyro talks about. Unless, Ken wants to step it up to the D200 at 5 fps so I can catch him flying across the lake at all times! It has a pretty heafty price tag on it though. I guess I could always sell one of his props. lol Just kidding guys.
Thanks again to every for all your comments and advice!
With Appreciation,
Laura Wolkens

pyro
07-11-2007, 10:17 AM
The D80 is also the newest of the Nikon dSLR's, and has the best ergonomic and functional controls available on a dSLR in this price range, in my opinion. Very well-designed, with very few functional limitations.

We discussed the D80 and D200 in another thread. The D200 has some pro tricks, like being able to pre-lock the mirror for slow cable trigger night shots, has more rubber and titanium and less plastic in the housing, weather seals, etc.

The image processing and noise reduction software is newer and more advanced too, right?

hsbob
07-11-2007, 12:17 PM
but dont forget i paid 1800 for the d200 wo lens. but a far cry less then the 5500 for the d1x.

also get a circular porliod filter for taking picture the windows of train, plane.......

Stitch King
07-17-2007, 10:21 AM
Thanks to all who gave input!

I stopped on Friday and picked up a D80 kit with the 18-135 lens. Laura took a ton of pictures at the Wakeboard event on our lake this weekend and loves it.

Already bugging me for more ZOOM.

Any recommendations on longer lenses?

She shot this of me flying by the house but says that she needs a bigger lens to get closer or I have to get closer to shore. Please let us know your opinions.

Thanks, Ken & Laura Wolkens

hsbob
07-17-2007, 10:57 AM
what's your budget. cheapest is a 2x extender. goes between the camera and lens about 200 or less. you 135 will be a 270. i use a 50-500 segma but it 8-900. there are 300-400 zooms in the under $450 area.

Scream And Fly
07-17-2007, 12:58 PM
Ken, the new Nikon 70-300 AF-S VR (http://www.nikonusa.com/template.php?cat=1&grp=5&productNr=2161) runs about $550 and its users report great results with it.

transomstand
07-17-2007, 02:07 PM
This talk about cost and budget just doesn't make any sense, isn't this a discussion about what a woman wants?:D

Pete

Stitch King
07-17-2007, 03:40 PM
Yep.

That's why I just got it over with and bought the D80. The cost of the setup bought my sanity back. A small price to pay.

Casey
07-17-2007, 04:43 PM
Like Greg said the Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED (http://www.nikonusa.com/template.php?cat=1&grp=5&productNr=2161) is a nice lens, but it's not near as good as the Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8D ED (http://www.nikonusa.com/template.php?cat=1&grp=5&productNr=1986). I had both and sold the 70-300mm. I feel for the price the 80-200mm is the best lens out there.

Scream And Fly
07-17-2007, 09:18 PM
I agree - if you can swing it, the 80-200 is the best deal there is in pro lenses.

pyro
07-17-2007, 09:20 PM
Agreed 100 percent.

If you're serious about doing stop-action sports type stuff, don't even bother with the lenses that are f/5.6 or higher (slower) at maximum zoom.
The 80-200 (and 70-200 VR) can be kept at f/2.8 throughout its range. That's a LOT of good light to play with. Add a teleconverter for more reach, or just get closer! (adding a converter requires more light, the lens effectively becomes slower.) A fat aperture also allows for shorter depth of field, makes your subject really "pop out" of the picture.

Good stuff:

18-200 f/3.5-5.6 VR
Good all-around consumer-grade lens, for anything except fast stop-action sports, back-ordered and impossible to get right now except for in a D200 kit, or the occasional LIST + $200 "in stock" gouge price. I will likely replace my 18-135 with this lens if it ever becomes available at a normal price.

70-200 f/2.8 VR
Action and indoor sports, low-light, etc. Perfect background bokeh, Heavy and expensive, but well-worth it.

80-200 2.8
Similar lens to above, but no VR. Best value for a top-notch fast zoom.

Was that a typo up above? Which lens did you get in your D80 kit? The 18-55? Or 18-135?

Fish
07-17-2007, 10:38 PM
Like Greg said the Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED (http://www.nikonusa.com/template.php?cat=1&grp=5&productNr=2161)is a nice lens, but it's not near as good as the Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8D ED (http://www.nikonusa.com/template.php?cat=1&grp=5&productNr=1986). I had both and sold the 70-300mm. I feel for the price the 80-200mm is the best lens out there.


that is my next lens for my d80

Scream And Fly
07-17-2007, 10:40 PM
Jody, which one - the 70-300 or 80-200?

Fish
07-17-2007, 11:41 PM
Jody, which one - the 70-300 or 80-200?

sorry, 80-200 f/2.8

Scream And Fly
07-18-2007, 02:09 AM
sorry, 80-200 f/2.8

That lens is really the way to go :)

Stitch King
07-18-2007, 05:51 AM
Chad,

Yes, I keyed in the lens incorrectly. It is the 18-135. I corrected the mistake for future readers.

How can I attach photo's like Bruster did on page one of this thread? Someone please drop the link with directions.

Thanks, Ken

pyro
07-18-2007, 06:45 AM
Go to www.imageshack.us

Click "browse" and select a photo from your hard drive. You can also click a button to choose to resize the picture to 800x600 (so it will fit on most screens and not take bloody ages to load) Or resize first before uploading, it will be faster.

Then click "host it!"
On the next screen, it will display several text boxes with code. Go to the text box marked "hotlink for forums" (the box below the ads), simply copy-and-paste the code into a forum reply. The image will display in your reply.

To recap in two steps:
1. choose an image, and upload it
2. copy/paste the image code into the forum.

End result looks like this:
http://img239.imageshack.us/img239/6389/dsc1087byx5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
By hydro_pyro (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/hydro_pyro)

(Nikkor 12-24 at f/8 1/250 ISO-400 EV -0.7)