NationStates Jolt Archive

Inspired by this thread: http://forums2.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=435014

I am an enthusiastic photographer. I use a Canon EOS 300v and a Phenix manual SLR camera, and sometimes cheep compact/borderline disposable cameras. My stuff is availible to view on my website (see siggy).

OK, so this thread may be considered as more than self-promotion, tell me your camera/photo related tales.

I recently acquired a Nikon D70s Digital SLR.

Also an enthusiastic photographer .. I just haven't put any pictures up yet. I'll get around to it.

I've seen your pictures before SP .. I rather like them!

i have a pretty poor Sony DSC P92 - 5mp with 3x zoom compact. its not great, and really lacks options, but the pics it takes are adequate and it does itself proud in bright sunlight.
that said, i tend to borrow my dad's Olympus E10 (5mp digital SLR) quite a lot. thats a pretty decent camera, though the colour reproduction is a bit lacking - especially with sunsets (my particular favourite shot)

we're both intending on getting new ones - his is about 5 years old at least, and mine is about 3 or more. i'm definatley going to get a mid-range, small digital SLR next. dad's thinking about one of those nifty pro Nikkon ones...

some of my favourites taken with my Sony:

http://storage.msn.com/x1p4OO6hH5ZQDHgI50bRWgJfdx0XhY2Mk7cpUxzviyvWEUgSJqys9fz2Ioi3Ynes9aKvfFM0NiAF4oEjSGf9CnOHUerVXubOKhha 0XEhGO-cgxF3Y9TvWPW9Du4p1BfkzdH2R4r7P2khC1_3wpxNRqtDg http://storage.msn.com/x1p4OO6hH5ZQDHgI50bRWgJfdx0XhY2Mk7cpUxzviyvWEUEnsF01q6_YwA3ux_IcUYVSzLrd6YaCE1FFYF5eFCa-4ekuAzRpmrXwpkaA80uGv88syfsySpMZpYD6w4ppTlOuVUZrheROu5h8eIfLOoBKw

http://storage.msn.com/x1p4OO6hH5ZQDHgI50bRWgJfdx0XhY2Mk7cpUxzviyvWEXC36YlEPtos4YzBjv0NluVMh_bINMM7In8DgPao07wlRNk8JzD9KsOV pB141FE99E2FvpVvB6jRxzaKGsikfXxowd_80nnh9juVvxx3K4M3A

http://storage.msn.com/x1p4OO6hH5ZQDHgI50bRWgJfdx0XhY2Mk7cpUxzviyvWEVPXXNF3eu9mOguIBFzRJ8sunsPhj1l3B-F6-0QOsNK78T7pwrqIhvWB1o4N_hKgHBrTfYc0gHzOdOrPxbuzdbK1U0WeT2-lw4fAmAYUEgXcg

http://storage.msn.com/x1p4OO6hH5ZQDHgI50bRWgJfdx0XhY2Mk7cpUxzviyvWEXyuVaveM-Ypvxqe4FYidqDqiE2RnPLhrwX82XLCmP29bZkMcAkV64pww7yct_PXo1uhkgTkGNXwklXrlxk4OF5wZBfXZU1eCmrOWZ_PdECuQ
(my current favourite - i love the way the horisontal and vertical lines work with the layered composition)



http://storage.msn.com/x1p4OO6hH5ZQDHgI50bRWgJfdx0XhY2Mk7cpUxzviyvWEVGwYMXWs4qDB4xzQ8J1IlQiuxt43mbRJ2ExmNgkXDY0jiVn63vTgIU0 fjm61p_th-EVEQXP68jA6RKL2fcOCRbNrCiDsdBEGz1wCh01l9Cdg



with the Olympus:

http://www.hlj.me.uk/Graphics/New%20Folder/P2104220.JPG

http://www.hlj.me.uk/Graphics/New%20Folder/P2104229.JPG

http://www.hlj.me.uk/Graphics/New%20Folder/P4256593.JPG

http://www.hlj.me.uk/pics/CG/DSC01380.jpg

err... you might want to add a pic warning to the thread title :p (or i can edit these to URL tags if you prefer)
please let me know if the first few don't show up - they're linking from my msn space and might not like it...


oh and could you provide a link to your pics, Swimmingpool, for those of us who have sigs turned off ;)

I recently acquired a Nikon D70s Digital SLR.

Nice. That's a great camera, and the Nikon lenses are outstanding; they totally own Canon's overpriced lenses.

Still, I love film too much to go digital.

could you provide a link to your pics, Swimmingpool, for those of us who have sigs turned off ;)
http://swimmingpool.deviantart.com/

Nice. That's a great camera, and the Nikon lenses are outstanding; they totally own Canon's overpriced lenses.

Still, I love film too much to go digital.


http://swimmingpool.deviantart.com/

Yeah .. I had been using my Uncles really old Film SLR camera, and although it was a blast, it's a bit of a relief with a digital SLR now.

And I agree, Nikon lenses are fantastic.

Swimmingpool's shit is good.

At the moment I use an old Canon manual and a shitty Fuji S7000 (digital). Saving up for a Canon 20D or possibly Nikon D70.

I put my best shots (after much Photoshoppin') on here:

http://hayrr.deviantart.com/

My Nikon N2000 died on me about 6 months ago, so I replaced it with a Nikon N75 full auto film camera. It takes beautiful pics, just like my old one, and about 95% of the time the autofocus is great, but there are times I really miss manual focus. I can do it with this camera apparently, but I haven't quite figured it out yet.

Don't currently have a digital, since I don't want a shitty one and can't afford a good one. Instead, I just get my film developed digitally as well as onto paper.

We're still using an old Nikomat, the quality is quite good, and a Canon EOS Rebel SLR. Overall I like film, but I'm considering moving to digital for reasons of practicality. The the price of anything good is a little rich, though.

Holy shit.

*wants a camera, and not one of those shitty digital ones. a REAL camera.*

i have a pretty poor Sony DSC P92 - 5mp with 3x zoom compact. its not great, and really lacks options, but the pics it takes are adequate and it does itself proud in bright sunlight.
that said, i tend to borrow my dad's Olympus E10 (5mp digital SLR) quite a lot. thats a pretty decent camera, though the colour reproduction is a bit lacking - especially with sunsets (my particular favourite shot)

we're both intending on getting new ones - his is about 5 years old at least, and mine is about 3 or more. i'm definatley going to get a mid-range, small digital SLR next. dad's thinking about one of those nifty pro Nikkon ones...

some of my favourites taken with my Sony:

http://storage.msn.com/x1p4OO6hH5ZQDHgI50bRWgJfdx0XhY2Mk7cpUxzviyvWEUgSJqys9fz2Ioi3Ynes9aKvfFM0NiAF4oEjSGf9CnOHUerVXubOKhha 0XEhGO-cgxF3Y9TvWPW9Du4p1BfkzdH2R4r7P2khC1_3wpxNRqtDg http://storage.msn.com/x1p4OO6hH5ZQDHgI50bRWgJfdx0XhY2Mk7cpUxzviyvWEUEnsF01q6_YwA3ux_IcUYVSzLrd6YaCE1FFYF5eFCa-4ekuAzRpmrXwpkaA80uGv88syfsySpMZpYD6w4ppTlOuVUZrheROu5h8eIfLOoBKw

http://storage.msn.com/x1p4OO6hH5ZQDHgI50bRWgJfdx0XhY2Mk7cpUxzviyvWEXC36YlEPtos4YzBjv0NluVMh_bINMM7In8DgPao07wlRNk8JzD9KsOV pB141FE99E2FvpVvB6jRxzaKGsikfXxowd_80nnh9juVvxx3K4M3A

http://storage.msn.com/x1p4OO6hH5ZQDHgI50bRWgJfdx0XhY2Mk7cpUxzviyvWEVPXXNF3eu9mOguIBFzRJ8sunsPhj1l3B-F6-0QOsNK78T7pwrqIhvWB1o4N_hKgHBrTfYc0gHzOdOrPxbuzdbK1U0WeT2-lw4fAmAYUEgXcg

http://storage.msn.com/x1p4OO6hH5ZQDHgI50bRWgJfdx0XhY2Mk7cpUxzviyvWEXyuVaveM-Ypvxqe4FYidqDqiE2RnPLhrwX82XLCmP29bZkMcAkV64pww7yct_PXo1uhkgTkGNXwklXrlxk4OF5wZBfXZU1eCmrOWZ_PdECuQ
(my current favourite - i love the way the horisontal and vertical lines work with the layered composition)



http://storage.msn.com/x1p4OO6hH5ZQDHgI50bRWgJfdx0XhY2Mk7cpUxzviyvWEVGwYMXWs4qDB4xzQ8J1IlQiuxt43mbRJ2ExmNgkXDY0jiVn63vTgIU0 fjm61p_th-EVEQXP68jA6RKL2fcOCRbNrCiDsdBEGz1wCh01l9Cdg



with the Olympus:

http://www.hlj.me.uk/Graphics/New%20Folder/P2104220.JPG

http://www.hlj.me.uk/Graphics/New%20Folder/P2104229.JPG

http://www.hlj.me.uk/Graphics/New%20Folder/P4256593.JPG

http://www.hlj.me.uk/pics/CG/DSC01380.jpg

err... you might want to add a pic warning to the thread title :p (or i can edit these to URL tags if you prefer)
please let me know if the first few don't show up - they're linking from my msn space and might not like it...


oh and could you provide a link to your pics, Swimmingpool, for those of us who have sigs turned off ;)
Dude, you where like right over the hill from me and never knew it...

I dig that close up sea gull shot. (are there other types of gulls that we're distingushing from sea gulls? Anyway...)

Anyone of you specialists remebers Leica? :) Together with Nikon and Hasselblad, one of the legends for me.

Anyone of you specialists remebers Leica? :) Together with Nikon and Hasselblad, one of the legends for me.

I do. My dad was a professional photographer and had quite a collection.

Dude, you where like right over the hill from me and never knew it...

I dig that close up sea gull shot. (are there other types of gulls that we're distingushing from sea gulls? Anyway...)
thanks its one of my favouries :)

right over the hill? you live in san francisco (or oakland)?! lucky bugger :mad:

Used to shoot for a Newspaper. Still have my K1000 kit. Recently got a Pentax *ist D 6mp SLR for the office, but I primarily shoot with my Canon 4mp Powershot S410.

Mostly Nature pickup shots anymore. I'm on 26k dialup this weekend so I'll have to abstain from uploading. Sorry.

Holy shit.

*wants a camera, and not one of those shitty digital ones. a REAL camera.*
I don't blame you--there's something sensual about film, about holding the picture in your hand or seeing it framed and on a wall that's just different from seeing it on a computer screen. I'll never give up my film camera, even though I have to wait to see how the pictures came out--there's something about that anticipation.

Since others have been posting some photos--and Swimmingpool, you might want to consider putting a 56k warning on the title now--here's one of mine. I'll post a few more when I get them uploaded to my brand spanking new photobucket account.

This is the Bay Bridge as seen from SBC Park in San Francisco.


http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b1/thenazz/503ff19e.jpg

thanks its one of my favouries :)

right over the hill? you live in san francisco (or oakland)?! lucky bugger :mad:
It gets even better-I live in Santa Cruz.

Some part of my life has to be good...

Since others have been posting some photos--and Swimmingpool, you might want to consider putting a 56k warning on the title now--here's one of mine. I'll post a few more when I get them uploaded to my brand spanking new photobucket account.

This is the Bay Bridge as seen from SBC Park in San Francisco.


http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b1/thenazz/503ff19e.jpg
You know what's nuts? I haven't seen either the new park or the new bridge. I really don't know how I managed the bridge thing-I was up and down 880 a lot until I moved to Santa Cruz...

I didn't take this one, but still. It's as close as this board will ever get to see a pic of The Nazz. I'm posing with some of the Freeway Blogger's handiwork in downtown San Francisco.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b1/thenazz/956f2ddb.jpg

And since you mentioned the new bridge, CToaN, here it is, right outside Lefty O'Doul gate down the left field line.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b1/thenazz/48c8aefb.jpg


I have a number of pics of the Willie Mays and Juan Marichal statues as well. The Marichal one is nuts.

And since you mentioned the new bridge, CToaN, here it is, right outside Lefty O'Doul gate down the left field line.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b1/thenazz/48c8aefb.jpg


I have a number of pics of the Willie Mays and Juan Marichal statues as well. The Marichal one is nuts.
There's that warf quality that I kinda miss from the bay, that the city intesects and incorperates the ocean. Here it's more beach-it is a surf town. Which is cool, and I like that the wildlife surfs, too (though it's part of what keeps me from surfing. If the seals and otters surf next to you, sharks can't tell the difference...) I don't feel like I interact with the ocean as much, which if you think about it is all backwards. But whatever. I did get to see The Family Stone Experience featuring founding members of Sly and the Family Stone (That was one big ass marque) for free, on the beach. That kicked ass.

Fuck, wait, this is about pictures and cameras and shit....and here I am takin' this thread to Cuba...

Nice. That's a great camera, and the Nikon lenses are outstanding; they totally own Canon's overpriced lenses.

Still, I love film too much to go digital.


http://swimmingpool.deviantart.com/

:-O!!! a Canon user admitting Nikon is better???? Hell must have just frozen over.

Swimmingpool's shit is good.

At the moment I use an old Canon manual and a shitty Fuji S7000 (digital). Saving up for a Canon 20D or possibly Nikon D70.
Thanks! But how is the S7000 shitty? It's quite good for its price.

Holy shit.

*wants a camera, and not one of those shitty digital ones. a REAL camera.*
Visit a camera shop that sells used manual film SLRs. You can get a good one for $120 or less.

Used to shoot for a Newspaper. Still have my K1000 kit. Recently got a Pentax *ist D 6mp SLR for the office, but I primarily shoot with my Canon 4mp Powershot S410.
The Pentax *ist Digital is a fantastic camera. It has the biggest LCD screen I've ever seen.

This is the Bay Bridge as seen from SBC Park in San Francisco.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b1/thenazz/503ff19e.jpg
Link to your images, don't post them. That shot is cluttered with too much crap at the bottom IMO. You need a higher viewpoint.

:-O!!! a Canon user admitting Nikon is better???? Hell must have just frozen over.
Yes, it sure does feel cold here. My current camera is good, but when I next buy a camera, it probably won't be Canon. At least Nikon use glass in their lenses.

does anyone know of a decent (and preferably small-ish) digital SLR that costs around £400 (US$600-ish)? i'm looking to buy a new one and can't afford much more than that...

I've got my nice olympus 35mm camera, with a Kiron telephoto lens, a Hoya lens and the original canon lens. I've also get a teleconverter from Lenmar.

I've also got my little Pentax Optio 30 digital camera, takes nice little pictures and stuff, I like.

Thanks! But how is the S7000 shitty? It's quite good for its price.


Yeah, it was good value considering I only paid £240 for mine and it has a great EVF but I spend too much time correcting barrel distortion. The lens isn't so great either. Sometimes I end up switching to macro mode when it's not needed to get a greater DoF.

I have an Olympus C5050Zoom, with a teleconverter and a wide angle lens attachment, as well as macro diopters and an FL-20 flash.

I have a Nikon N-75 with 50mm lens, 28-80mm lens, and 70-300mm lens, along with a good tripod, a red filter and a yellow filter (for B&W work).

UV filters and Circular Polarizers for both rigs.

I used to have an Olympus C3020 but it bought the farm in D.C.

Here is a link to my pics: http://www.photo.net/photodb/member-photos?user_id=537657

I have a good Nikon film camera but nowadays I use my Olympus Camedia C-750 more often since I can take as many pictures as I like without wasting film.

Here is a link to my pics: http://www.photo.net/photodb/member-photos?user_id=537657
ooh some nice pics in there :)

by the way I'm not a professional photographer (which is why I have an ordinary digital one) but I have an interest in photography.

by the way I'm not a professional photographer (which is why I have an ordinary digital one) but I have an interest in photography.
me neither, but its just great to take photos... i do it because i can't draw or paint to save my life :p

ooh some nice pics in there :)


Thanks. :)

I don't blame you--there's something sensual about film, about holding the picture in your hand or seeing it framed and on a wall that's just different from seeing it on a computer screen. I'll never give up my film camera, even though I have to wait to see how the pictures came out--there's something about that anticipation.Since I no longer have access to a lab to do my B/W "art" photography, my K1000 sits relatively quietly. Film and Processing cost too bloody much.

OTOH, with a good 4+mp camera you can do some pretty amazing things, especially if you shoot in RAW mode and watch your histograms.

This picture was taken with a first generation 2mp Canon Powershot S100 at normal resolution, standard JPG compression. (Note, this photo has been edited to remove a noxious background. The Lioness looks better in the dark anyway.)
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y180/MrMisanthrope/DesktopCat600x800.jpg

This next pic was taken using 4mp Canon S410 camera defaults. I have printed it to 24x36 with almost no pixelation. at 18x24 on Photo Stock it takes a loupe and a hard look to tell which is a pixel and which is an ink-jet dot. (too bad photobucket crunches pics to 250k...) :(

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y180/MrMisanthrope/233be846.jpg

Monday I'll have to post the one I've sold a few 24x36 posters of.

does anyone know of a decent (and preferably small-ish) digital SLR that costs around £400 (US$600-ish)? i'm looking to buy a new one and can't afford much more than that...
There isn't really any DSLR around for that price, other than Sigma's SD-9, but you really don't want to get that. It's a fine camera, but not at all small, and a nightmare for handheld photography.

here's a picture of it (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/SigmaSD9/Images/frontview-001.jpg)

The smallest digital SLR on the market is the Canon EOS 350D (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneos350d/). It's about the same size as the S7000, and a bit lighter. It is one of the cheaper DSLRs, retailing at €995 in Dublin, that's about £680. It won't go above £800.

The Pentax *ist Digital (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Pentax/pentax_istdl.asp) is also a great camera and good value too at around £650 (body only).

There isn't really any DSLR around for that price, other than Sigma's SD-9, but you really don't want to get that. It's a fine camera, but not at all small, and a nightmare for handheld photography.

here's a picture of it (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/SigmaSD9/Images/frontview-001.jpg)

The smallest digital SLR on the market is the Canon EOS 350D (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneos350d/). It's about the same size as the S7000, and a bit lighter. It is one of the cheaper DSLRs, retailing at €995 in Dublin, that's about £680. It won't go above £800.

The Pentax *ist Digital (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Pentax/pentax_istdl.asp) is also a great camera and good value too at around £650 (body only).
On a side note... I don't know about the EOS, but the Pentax *ist is backward compatable with all previous Pentax K & A mount lenses (in manual mode).

Also, a nice feature on the Pentax (why I bought it for the Office) was that it can use any of 4 different types of batteries - from the lowly AA Alkalines to AA NIMH to AA Lithium to CR-3 Lithium. With the global availability of AA cells, you can always use your camera in a pinch. (AA Alkalines get only about 50-80 snaps with flash... but when in Budapest and you can't get CR-3s... :eek: ) The lack of proprietary rechargable batteries is a HUGE advantage IMO.

Here's what I posted about the *ist D a few months ago on another Forum:

I just purchased a new camera for our office, seeing as the old Sony Mavica (Floppy Disk Camera ) is only 1mp & getting Flaky.

My Criteria: External Strobe Capable, < 20mm wide angle, standard (non-proprietary) batteries, 3+MP.

Here’s the ONLY one to comply: Pentax *ist DS… the “Digital K1000”

What it's got: Synched Hotshoe; Downward compatible with almost all Pentax lenses (my body came with an 18-55mm); uses 4-AA (or 2CRV-3) batteries; 6.1, 4 or 1.5MP jpg or RAW, SD card storage (not included - I use a 512).

Some Links:

http://www.digitalcamera-hq.com/pentax-istds-reviews.html

http://www.megapixel.net/cgi-bin/fs_loader.pl?p=http%3A//www.megapixel.net/reviews/pentax-istds/pentaxistds-review.html

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2004_reviews/istds.html

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0502/05021306pentax_istdssilver.asp

I like this one - a reviewer with a sense of history:
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/columns/sm-jan-05.shtml

I got mine with 18-55mm lens for less than $850 US from Amazon.com, taxes & shipping included.

It functions in "totally automatic" OR "totally manual" and any combination thereof. PLUS I get to use all my old K1000 lenses.

User selectable ASA settings from 200 to 3200 (darn near takes useable pictures, hand held, in moonless starlight ambient (Bulb setting on a tripod if you want)). Also allows "through lens" aperature checking and +/- manual F adjustment even in auto mode.

I get 163 6.1MP shots in “low compression” JPG out of a 512mb SD card. It also shoots in 6.1MP RAW if necessary/desired.

Smaller than the Nikon or Canon too.

As an ex-news photog, I’m in love. It’s my bulletproof K1000 all over again. All the functions are easy, easy, easy to find & reach.

About the only thing it doesn’t do is movies/sound… but that’s what my 4MP pocket Canon S410 is for.

And a Reply:

Hey -- thank you so much for posting this! It look to be an awesome camera. Here's an online store selling it with the lens for $750!!

http://www2.butterflyphoto.com/shop/product.aspx?sku=PEN-IST-DSWLENS&dp=1

Other than the odd name (Star-ist DS?), and the SD storage, this camera is a winner. It is 1/3 smaller than the Nikon D70, and smaller than the Canon Digital Rebel -- those are BIG cameras! And with four high-capacity NiMH AA batteries, it can take 550 pictures *with* 100% flash, or 750 or so without any flash. Whew.


I hope that helps.

On a side note... I don't know about the EOS, but the Pentax *ist is backward compatable with all previous Pentax K & A mount lenses (in manual mode).
That's another thing, the Canon EOS Digital cameras are not backward compatible with older EOS lenses.

Funny Canon reminds me of Microsoft. They're too comfortable in their market dominance (Canon has 64% of the D-SLR market) and the other manufacturers are regularly beating them in quality.

I use a Canon film camera, and it does me fine, but I'm moving towards the opinion that after this, I am done with Canon.

I've sold a few 24x36 prints of this. Taken with my Canon S410.

While I love to play with the *ist Ds, I always have the Canon with me. (of course, the next camera will use SD instead of CF, so it will be even smaller...)

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y180/MrMisanthrope/IMG_3397.jpg

wow, Syniks. that is one lovely pic. loving the way the colours work in the reflection of the sun, and good composition :)
i wonder if it would be better without that buoy there? hmmm... judge for yourself :D http://www.hlj.me.uk/ns/New%20Folder%20(2)/Synikspic.htm



There isn't really any DSLR around for that price, other than Sigma's SD-9, but you really don't want to get that. It's a fine camera, but not at all small, and a nightmare for handheld photography.

here's a picture of it

The smallest digital SLR on the market is the Canon EOS 350D. It's about the same size as the S7000, and a bit lighter. It is one of the cheaper DSLRs, retailing at €995 in Dublin, that's about £680. It won't go above £800.

The Pentax *ist Digital is also a great camera and good value too at around £650 (body only).
mmm after continuing my research i've found you're absolutley right - the cheapest i can find a DSLR is 500 quid-ish.
thinking of going for the Canon EOS 350D (clicky (http://www.digital-cameras.com/digital-cameras/slr/canon-eos-350d.html)) for £540. its out of my price range but i'm just gonna have to save up that little bit longer - i'd rather wait and get a decent camera than be impatient and be stuck with a camera i don't really want for the next few years...
the only problem is i'd have to spend at least another 40 quid on a lens

alternatively the Nikon D50 (http://www.digital-cameras.com/digital-cameras/slr/nikon-d50-digital-camera-kit-(18-55mm)-black.html), which comes with lens, but is only 6mp while the canon is 8.
would anybody reccomend one over the other (or, indeed, an alternative good, cheap my-first-dSLR cam)?

wow, Syniks. that is one lovely pic. loving the way the colours work in the reflection of the sun, and good composition :)
i wonder if it would be better without that buoy there? hmmm... judge for yourself :D http://www.hlj.me.uk/ns/New%20Folder%20(2)/Synikspic.htm I thought about doing that, but I tend toward purisim. If I couldn't edit it out in a Lab by burning or dodging, I really don't want to do it in Photoshop. It does look better without it, but I think it also adds a touch of realisim/"truth" in what would otherwise be a suspiciously "color-perfect" photo.

mmm after continuing my research i've found you're absolutley right - the cheapest i can find a DSLR is 500 quid-ish.
thinking of going for the Canon EOS 350D (clicky (http://www.digital-cameras.com/digital-cameras/slr/canon-eos-350d.html)) for £540. its out of my price range but i'm just gonna have to save up that little bit longer - i'd rather wait and get a decent camera than be impatient and be stuck with a camera i don't really want for the next few years...
the only problem is i'd have to spend at least another 40 quid on a lens

alternatively the Nikon D50 (http://www.digital-cameras.com/digital-cameras/slr/nikon-d50-digital-camera-kit-(18-55mm)-black.html), which comes with lens, but is only 6mp while the canon is 8.
would anybody reccomend one over the other (or, indeed, an alternative good, cheap my-first-dSLR cam)?
For the reasons I mentioned above, I prefer the *ist Ds Pentax. Even at "only" 6mp if you are really into the photoediting thing you can shoot in RAW, edit it to hell and gone, and still print poster size with no pixelation.

Besides, what I paid less than $850 US for my Pentax WITH lens. That's only ₤480.15 at today's exchange... Look at my links.

http://www.digitalcamera-hq.com/pentax-istds-reviews.html

edit: Amazon.de has it for 780 Euros. Several other continental vendors have it for less than EU 700. Don't know if that's body only though.

I thought about doing that, but I tend toward purisim. If I couldn't edit it out in a Lab by burning or dodging, I really don't want to do it in Photoshop. It does look better without it, but I think it also adds a touch of realisim/"truth" in what would otherwise be a suspiciously "color-perfect" photo.


indeed... i just wanted to see what it looked like edited. i actually like how it draws your eye away from the obvious focus of the image (the sunset)


For the reasons I mentioned above, I prefer the *ist Ds Pentax. Even at "only" 6mp if you are really into the photoediting thing you can shoot in RAW, edit it to hell and gone, and still print poster size with no pixelation.

Besides, what I paid less than $850 US for my Pentax WITH lens. That's only ₤480.15 at today's exchange... Look at my links.

http://www.digitalcamera-hq.com/pentax-istds-reviews.html

edit: Amazon.de has it for 780 Euros. Several other continental vendors have it for less than EU 700. Don't know if that's body only though.
hmm ok i'll give it a look for sure, and if its got RAW mode then it definatley becomes a serious contender (i do so love photoediting ;)). thanks for the advice :)

but its going to take me months to save up enough to afford whatever i decide on, anyway, so there's no real rush :p
besides by then there'll probably be a whole new crop of cams about

also saving up to get the new Creative Suite CS2 (inc Photoshop & illustrator) as i currently use Corel products which are just being left behind by Adobe, i'm sorry to say. thats gonna be another 800 quid :(

As far as I'm concerned, really good photography is a combination of Luck (being in exactly the right place at the right time) Skill (Eye for composition) and a having a camera with you (huge memory card/stock of film doesn't hurt...)

Of the 3 pictures below, each was culled from at least 5 "duplicates".
All of these "Lighthouse" shots (above included) were taken during the same sunset. I just like the one posted above best.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y180/MrMisanthrope/IMG_3373.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y180/MrMisanthrope/IMG_3377.jpg

Ever wanted to find the door to Middle Earth that comes out in Hobbiton? (Took this last night while on a walk with the wife...) Totally freak sunbeam on an overturned tree root.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y180/MrMisanthrope/IMG_3688.jpg

edit: it's amazing how photobucket modifies snaps. All 3 pics were taken with the same camera at the same resolution, yet photobucket compressed the forest scene. Must have to do with bit complexity...

mmm after continuing my research i've found you're absolutley right - the cheapest i can find a DSLR is 500 quid-ish.
thinking of going for the Canon EOS 350D (clicky (http://www.digital-cameras.com/digital-cameras/slr/canon-eos-350d.html)) for £540. its out of my price range but i'm just gonna have to save up that little bit longer - i'd rather wait and get a decent camera than be impatient and be stuck with a camera i don't really want for the next few years...
the only problem is i'd have to spend at least another 40 quid on a lens

alternatively the Nikon D50 (http://www.digital-cameras.com/digital-cameras/slr/nikon-d50-digital-camera-kit-(18-55mm)-black.html), which comes with lens, but is only 6mp while the canon is 8.

You're better off with the D-50. Unless you have requirements including uber-cropping or vast poster-size printing, you don't need 8MP. I would pick the D-50 if only for the Nikon lenses. Canon's lenses are mostly made of plastic, while Nikon still use glass. (just pick up a Canon lens then pick up a Nikon; feel the difference in weight.)

also saving up to get the new Creative Suite CS2 (inc Photoshop & illustrator) as i currently use Corel products which are just being left behind by Adobe, i'm sorry to say. thats gonna be another 800 quid :(
Have you tried the GIMP? Google that, download it and try it out for a while. It is free and can do most of what Photoshop can do, but with less ease of use. It serves my needs.

You're better off with the D-50. Unless you have requirements including uber-cropping or vast poster-size printing, you don't need 8MP. I would pick the D-50 if only for the Nikon lenses. Canon's lenses are mostly made of plastic, while Nikon still use glass. (just pick up a Canon lens then pick up a Nikon; feel the difference in weight.)


argh... it gets more & more complicated! :eek:
i'm gonna have to go to an actual camera store and try some of these out for real - internet reviews are useful and all but don't compare to holding the real thing in your hands. once again thanks for the advice

as for poster-size printing... its possible (am going to use this for my work as a graphic designer as well as hobby), but then my dad is going to get a 8mp camera, so we don't both need those sorts of resolutions :p


Have you tried the GIMP? Google that, download it and try it out for a while. It is free and can do most of what Photoshop can do, but with less ease of use. It serves my needs.
actually, no i haven't. i've seen it about a lot & have it right here on a PCFormat DVD - i'll load it up now and check it out :)
that said, i intend to get the Adobe suite as much for ease of use with file formats as for anything else. converting from my Corel files to AI's or EPS's is both a pain in the ass and doesn't work too well... and also makes oddly massive file sizes (i had to send one job off with each EPS file on a seperate 4.6 GB DVD a while back :headbang: ). all the printers and reprohouses i work with use photoshop & illustrator, and it would just be a lot easier if i did too. but i will definatley try the GIMP

You're better off with the D-50. Unless you have requirements including uber-cropping or vast poster-size printing, you don't need 8MP. I would pick the D-50 if only for the Nikon lenses. Canon's lenses are mostly made of plastic, while Nikon still use glass. (just pick up a Canon lens then pick up a Nikon; feel the difference in weight.)See, now we're going to have to get into an argument. You can get every bit as good of lenses for the Pentax as you can for the Nikon - and they are a hell of a lot cheaper. So, ready for the argument?

Here we go!

Syniks: PENTAX!
Swimmingpool: NIKON!
Syniks: PENTAX!
Swimmingpool: NIKON!
Syniks: PENTAX!
Swimmingpool: NIKON!
Syniks: PENTAX!
Swimmingpool: NIKON!
Syniks: PENTAX!
Swimmingpool: NIKON!
Syniks: PENTAX!
Swimmingpool: NIKON!
Syniks: PENTAX!
Swimmingpool: NIKON!
Syniks: PENTAX!
Swimmingpool: NIKON!
Syniks: PENTAX!
Swimmingpool: NIKON!
Syniks: PENTAX!
Swimmingpool: NIKON!
Syniks: PENTAX!
Swimmingpool: NIKON!
Syniks: PENTAX!
Swimmingpool: NIKON!

PTHBLTH! :p

Have you tried the GIMP? Google that, download it and try it out for a while. It is free and can do most of what Photoshop can do, but with less ease of use. It serves my needs.I may have to try it, though the RAW editor that comes with the Pentax is pretty good... :D

See, now we're going to have to get into an argument. You can get every bit as good of lenses for the Pentax as you can for the Nikon - and they are a hell of a lot cheaper. So, ready for the argument?

Here we go!

Syniks: PENTAX!
Swimmingpool: NIKON!
***
Sorry, to disappoint you, but I would agree that the Pentax would also be a fine choice. I was thinking in terms of the usual Nikon vs. Canon. Only trouble is that Nikon lenses are slightly more widely availible than Pentax fit.

Sorry, to disappoint you, but I would agree that the Pentax would also be a fine choice. I was thinking in terms of the usual Nikon vs. Canon. Only trouble is that Nikon lenses are slightly more widely availible than Pentax fit.
Oh poo. I guess it's back to Capitalisim vs. Socialisim / Big vs. Small Government arguments... :p