first D-SLR
Posted by: Phil Sparks on 12 April 2006
Got a few OM bodies (4, 4ti, couple of 1s) and a bag full of olympus primes that I still love for their quality, intuitiveness (sp??), small size etc. however I've found myself using the wife's small digi compact more often recently. I love the way you can try things out and see the result immediately, also it's great for grabbing lots of snaps of the kids then just seeing which ones works. However the shutter delay is infuriating, the lack of control bugs me and the quality is really pretty average.
Therefore I've been thinking of getting an entry level digi SLR. This won't really be a replacement for the OM stuff but will be good for kids parties, family days out etc, where I'd like to get better results than the P&S but would like the ability to shoot 100 shots and just keep the best 4 or 5 rather than burn £30 on 3 rolls of film and processing.
Handled the Eos 350 D and thought it felt cheap. The D50 and Oly E500 felt better. The E500 looks a good deal at £600 for a kit with 2 lenses but I get the sense that buying into the 4/3 system could be limiting in the future. The D50 gets great reviews and with the 18-70 lens is only £500 or so. One recommendation I had was to go for the 17-200VR lens which will cover all eventualities and is great optically too - can be had for c.£800 with the D50. I've never really used long lenses much (my Oly 200m has bee used a handful of times whereas the 21mm and 24mm get a much more regular outing) - however maybe I don't use often simply because I can't be bothered to carry round - and if it was always on the camera it would get used more often.
I'm not too price sensitive but I think spending more on the lens and less on the body is the right way to go at the moment.
Any thoughts?
Phil
Posted on: 23 May 2006 by arf005
Steve,
I'm assuming that shot of the Bass Rock was taken from a boat...???
200mm doesn't get you that close does it.....
...but maybe....???
Cheers,
Ali
Posted on: 23 May 2006 by garyi
Trouble with the D50 is that it won't meter on non AF lenses, AI lenses for instance work in manual but you can kiss goodbye to TLL flash. It looks like that pensicl had some flash on it, that would not happen on a D50.
I just ordered a 80-200mm ED lens from Nikon. I had been looking at a D1x, but there are just too much money for what they are now.
Posted on: 23 May 2006 by arf005
I remember seeing that pencil shot before - nice pics Steve!
Posted on: 23 May 2006 by Steve G
quote:
Originally posted by arf005:
Steve,
I'm assuming that shot of the Bass Rock was taken from a boat...???
It was taken from land. I was using the 80-200 at it's long end with a 2x convertor fitted. That plus the cropping factor makes it an effective 600mm.
Posted on: 23 May 2006 by Steve G
quote:
Originally posted by garyi:
Trouble with the D50 is that it won't meter on non AF lenses, AI lenses for instance work in manual but you can kiss goodbye to TLL flash. It looks like that pensicl had some flash on it, that would not happen on a D50.
All the macro shots were taken using a dedicated hotshoe flash unit off-camera which does allow TTL with the Pentax system. TTL isn't essential though (especially with the instant review of a DSLR) as you can just move the flash unit to give the correct exposure. Adjusting the aperture would also work but usually you want all the DOF you can get so it's preferably to shoot at the smallest available aperture.
The Pentax DSLR systems seems to be a lot better for backwards compatability when compared to other manufacturers. All of my K-mount lenses are useable, no matter how old, and the majority of them will operate with all functions available - TTL flash, all metering modes and patterns etc. The earliest ones (with no "A" setting on the aperture ring) are a little more limited but TTL flash and centre and spot metering still work.
Posted on: 23 May 2006 by arf005
quote:
Originally posted by Steve G:
It was taken from land. I was using the 80-200 at it's long end with a 2x convertor fitted. That plus the cropping factor makes it an effective 600mm.
Cool......
Posted on: 23 May 2006 by Rasher
A couple of weeks ago I pulled out my case of OM1N & OM2N bodies and lenses, gave them a clean and new cells (had to buy a voltage adapter for the OM1N). After using compact digitals for the past 5-6 years and getting fed up with them breaking, I am amazed that I ever put this stuff in the loft. I'm hooked all over again. The Zuiko lenses are beautiful pieces of engineering and just feel tough but silky. The OM's just feel "right" and solid and mechanical. I can drop them and treat them roughly like I used to (I had to bend out a filter thread last week where I had dented it in). I took a 36 roll of film to Asda just to get an idea of how the bodies were holding up and they printed them and put them on CD for £3.00!!!! Maybe one day I'll go for a digital SLR, but at the moment I'm just happy to have my proper cameras back and working again. I don't know what I was thinking. Maybe one day I could find a digital back for the OM's.
Posted on: 23 May 2006 by Steve G
Rasher - the nice thing about the Pentax system is that you don't have to make the choice between a DSLR and your lovely old lenses.
With my film cameras my very favourite lens was an 85mm F1.4 and I was very pleased to find that it's just as wonderful on my *istDS as it was with my Z1p. Here's a shot I took of my son using studio flash not long after I got my DSLR and using the 85mm lens.
Posted on: 29 May 2006 by Rico
quote:
It looks like that pensicl had some flash on it, that would not happen on a D50.
surely you could use manual flash also - just tie in with your exposure setup. You'd need a flash capable of running manual, and preferably off-camera. Control the light intensity via the manual controls and judicious diffuser use... Sorry, not sure what you'd need to do that with the D50 - might need one of those funny flash cable thingy's from nikon that takes hotshoe and has a synch cable for the input to your flash at other end of cable. You'd need to take about the same number of test shots to make it happen.
I've just started messing around with an old nikon extension tube, and am trying to figure an off-camera flash solution. Not sure if the SB600 will give me what I want here...
Posted on: 29 May 2006 by garyi
Yea Rico you could do all these things.
The D50 can go into manual flash down to about 1/16 strength, but I fancy at that kind of distance macro it would still blow it out.
Its no matter I would not use a flash at macro level any way, you can always pull information out of a dark image, but if its bright its gone.
Posted on: 30 May 2006 by Steve G
quote:
Originally posted by garyi:
The D50 can go into manual flash down to about 1/16 strength, but I fancy at that kind of distance macro it would still blow it out.
With macro you're usually shooting at the smallest aperture and that, plus the effect of such close focusing, means that you pretty much need all the power you can get.
My off camera flash works in TTL mode however it was firing close to full power much of the time.
I actually find flash preferable for macro as it means I can work hand-held and move the camera to achieve focus - this is particularily useful when using extension tubes.
Posted on: 30 May 2006 by garyi
I suppose it depends what you want to achieve, when out and about shooting bugs and plants etc I find flash pretty much ruins the ambience.
If you need to macro for cataloging or what ever then flash is a good idea I suppose.
Posted on: 30 May 2006 by Nigel Cavendish
quote:
Originally posted by garyi:
I suppose it depends what you want to achieve, when out and about shooting bugs and plants etc I find flash pretty much ruins the ambience.
If you need to macro for cataloging or what ever then flash is a good idea I suppose.
If what you want to achieve is a good photograph, then flash, used well, can often give you that.
What I find hard to understand is the antipathy that some people have towards flash. It is a source of light - nothing more nor less.
Posted on: 30 May 2006 by Steve G
quote:
Originally posted by Nigel Cavendish:
What I find hard to understand is the antipathy that some people have towards flash.
Perhaps it's because they're more used to on-camera flash? Most of my SLR's have built in flash units but I rarely if ever use them because of problems with red-eye (an I particularily hate red-eye reduction pre-flashes) and because the direct light they produce isn't very pleasant.
Posted on: 30 May 2006 by garyi
I wasn't meaning to be snooty.
I am just saying that when I have done macro I always preferred it without flash.
However there have been plenty of other instances where its been good and i do have my eye on an SB50 for the nikon, although they are not produced anymore they do Tll on D50 and are not to expensive.
Cheers
Posted on: 06 June 2006 by Rico
you should be able to pick up the CB50DX with ease, they come up pretty regularly over here for not much.
I've been playing with PK13 extension tube, and also acquired a 50mmAF. Last night I decided to lash up my old 50mm 1.8 zuiko lens in a reversed config, got some reasonable results. Wanting to pursue this further, I've scored a couple of old Cokin rings (49 and 52), have joined them with JB Weld (we don't have shops so well-stocked as the online stores in the US, and I'd prefer to shop local - so buying parts and making my own sat better with me), and am looking forward to exploring this more on the end of the 35-80. Certainly a cheap intro to macro. After all, one can scoop a reasonable 50mm lens for 30-odd of whatever your local currency is, and a reverse-macro adaptor costs peanuts. it'll keep me occupied until maybe a micro nikkor blows this way, one day.
Posted on: 06 June 2006 by Roy T
quote:
Last night I decided to lash up my old 50mm 1.8 zuiko lens in a reversed config, got some reasonable results.
Works quite well and a lot cheaper than a set of Olympus extention tubes.
Posted on: 06 June 2006 by Rico
my brother has a full set of OM extension tubes languishing with his OM1. much as I love mine, it's time for us to part.
Posted on: 08 June 2006 by arf005
Can you believe it!!!
Here's some pics I shot with my birthday pressie - Nikon D70s with Kit 18-70 f/3.5-4.5 DX ED lens. I've been playing with it for the last week (was only home for a week but made the most of it) and I am enjoying the learning curve!!
Obviously it's not a macro lens but I thought I'd see what the results were like anyway....
It was a scorcher of a day, mid-morning, unfortunately the lily's haven't opened up yet, I used a tripod and self-timer, white balance was set to sunshine (there wasn't a cloud in the sky), camera set to manual, focused manually and (as you can see) I was playing about with depth of field.....going from one aperture extreme to the other.....
What did catch my eye though was this.......
I've since taken the camera apart, rather nervously locked the mirror up to check the low pass filter.....and found the spec of whatever it is, which didn't want to budge!!
I'm rather annoyed at this and it was one of my main fears.....
I was very careful when I assembled lens and body and I didn't expect to find anything in there.....especially not after a few days of use!!!
I have a blower/brush but am not sure if I should use it.....
And am thinking of taking it into Jessops where I bought it to see if they can clean it for free, seeing as this has happened so soon..... The last thing I want to do is damage the filter or sensor!!
I have read about the problems with digital SLR's, static build up etc and dust/dirt on the sensor....is this just a part of ownership and how do you clean yours......???
Cheers,
Ali
Posted on: 08 June 2006 by Steve G
I change lenses a lot and so far I've just had to use a blower to clear the sensor occasionally.
Posted on: 08 June 2006 by Derek Wright
My DSLR automatcally cleans the sensor every time I switch it on - but then I use and unfashionable make of camera <g>
Posted on: 09 June 2006 by Rockingdoc
quote:
Originally posted by arf005:
I have a blower/brush but am not sure if I should use it.....
And am thinking of taking it into Jessops where I bought it to see if they can clean it for free, seeing as this has happened so soon..... Ali
Don't take it to Jessops. I guarantee you'll take more care than them.
Dust on the sensor is unavoidable, so you might as well get used to cleaning it yourself. You can minimise the problem by switching off the camera well before lens changes to allow the static on the sensor to discharge, but it is still going to happen.
The instructions in the D70 manual are quite clear. Lock up the mirror and give the senosr a good blow with the rubber-bulb type of blower. I haven't needed to actually touch the sensor yet.
I use this; (sorry URL won't work) Rocket Air
Our new rocket-shaped air-blowing ball series developed in 2002 are made from a silica gel, they are very powerful and refill quickly. They are made of a nontoxic, environmentally friendly material, resistant to both high and low temperatures, tear-proof. It has an air valve to prevent it from breathing in dust and blows out a powerful stream of air to blow dust away, to make cleaning lenses, cameras, filters a breeze. Unique rocket-shaped design can stand upright, and its removable nozzle can be removed and stowed.
GAA1900
Rocket Air (large) £7.00
Posted on: 09 June 2006 by Rockingdoc
Posted on: 09 June 2006 by garyi
Under no circumstances touch that sensor with your paws no matter how tempting, and don't blow with your mouth, otherwise you'll be fine.
I really is no hardship having the occasional bit of dust on the sensor for all the choices of lens you can have.
Posted on: 09 June 2006 by GML
I have a Nikon D70s and have only recently noticed a particle of something on the low pass filter. This appears to be quite a common problem. I only have one lens which is left on the camera at all times so how it got there is a mystery.
I've just ordered a
'speck grabber' which should hopefully remove it. Rocket Air looks good, thanks Rockingdoc. The odd bits of dust don't seem to worry some people but it bothers me. The 'clone tool' found in photo editing software can be very useful.
Plenty of advice can be found on
CleaningDigitalCameras.comGeorge.
