Looking for a Great Camera?
I've had a few people ask me what camera I shoot with, and Ron asked if I could make a post about what I use, including what the costs were. My camera's a few years old, but Adam JUST bought the latest model (so we'd have two to use at Sheepie Palooza) so I'm going to convince him to join so he can post about his as well. I'm currently using a Nikon D70. This camera is a "digital SLR"; the "SLR" stands for Single Lens Reflex. Unlike your typical "point and shoot" camera, you can buy and change your lenses, for different results and different environments. A nice feature to the D70 is, that if you want to, you can set it to varying degree's of "automatic" and never have to worry about focus or depth of field if you don't care to. My D70 is 3 or 4 years old now. There's quite alot of information on it at Wikipedia. I think another reason I get some decent results is that I am very stubborn and refuse to use a flash. GOOD flash photography requires alot of knowledge; knowledge I know I don't yet have. So instead I adjust my camera's setting to use the natural light that is present. I also invested in some pretty high end lenses. These allowed me to get good shots at a greater range of lighting situations. When I bought my camera, I think the body was about $850, and with a couple of low-end lenses, I spent a total of $1600. However, since it is now several years old, a reliable seller like B &H Camera in Manhattan (they do mail order) will charge around $350 - $450 for the body alone, and around $650 for the body with a pretty good lense. When I upgraded my lenses, Adam bought me a 70mm - 200mm zoom with Nikon glass as a Christmas present; it was around $1000. I instantly noticed the quality difference, and went out and bought a 18mm - 50mm lense for $500. Both are 2.8 aperature; which is where all the magic happens, and where all the money went. The aperture controls the amount of light that reaches a digital camera sensor. An aperture acts much like the pupil of an eye that opens wider as light decreases to let in more available light. The smaller the aperature number (like 2.8 ) the more light gets in, allowing me to not have to use a flash, resulting in more "natural lighting" shots. A fast lens is one with a large maximum aperture; the larger the aperture, the faster the lens. A lens is called fast because the larger aperture lets more light pass through during a given time span. When more light falls upon a subject, pictures can be shot with faster shutter speeds . Faster is good, for things like running sheepdogs and low lighting! some examples.... 
and, to show its good for non-action shots as well (and cuz the cute-factor kills me every time) these two WERE shot with the attached flash unit:   |
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| Great pictures.
Thank you for the info about the camera. I am working with a digital that I like only so-so. I have an older 35 mm and have been thinking about getting that up and running again. We bought it when we were young and poor and always intended to get more lenses. Now, I think we might be able to swing investing more in a good camera and it's nice to have a review. |
| I DEARLY LOVE SLR film cameras. If it were up to me, I'd shoot in black and white film, and do all my own processing and printing until the end of time. But our local dark room closed down, forcing me to go digital.
I was really hesitant to make the change, as alot of newer technology confounds me. But my camera came with a really good class, and I bought alot of "for Dummies" books, and eventually got over my fears and ignorance. I have a good deal of my non-OES photos here, and have labled the ones that were shot on film vs. the ones shot digitally. |
| Wow, those a great photos. I especially like all the architectural shots in the travel photos.
Another fan here of the D70, Nikon in general, no flash photography, and B&H Photo ... although without your kind of talent. I'd love to upgrade my glass from the 18-70 3.5+ kit lens, but the prices and fear of always having the wrong lens with me puts it off. You mentioned doing your own processing in film. Have you ever tried out workflow tools like Aperature on Mac or Lightroom on Mac/PC? I haven't used either personally, but I've poured over reviews and they offer some great solutions for working with large quantities of digital photographs. |
crustybird's husband wrote: You mentioned doing your own processing in film. Have you ever tried out workflow tools like Aperature on Mac or Lightroom on Mac/PC? I haven't used either personally, but I've poured over reviews and they offer some great solutions for working with large quantities of digital photographs. I haven't tried them yet; I can be a bit "technologically challenged". If I could find a good class in either, I'd probably jump right on board. I went to school for graphic design, so Photoshop is in my comfort zone. After buying alot of books about how best to use photoshop for photography, I ignored most of what was written and fell back on what I had learned as a designer, and what Adam could teach me. He works a great deal in digital art, and always has some cool new tip to share. I'm going to remind him in the morning to post, btw! |
| my hubby is an ammituer photographer got a few photos in a gallery.
he loves photography all sorts of cameras. in the corner of our study is a large format film camera (pain in the *** to dust lol !) his study is set up just for keeping all his paper and prints nice and our house is full of wonderful photos that he has taken. i bought him a D70 a few months before our son was born in 2005 and have never regreated spending the money on it. i have never had to take my son to the photograpers for potraits (except when i wanted cheesy christmas ones ) for christmas last year he pooled all his christmas money and bought him self a nikon D300 which he says is great and he loves it (he only needed to buy the body as all the D70 lens fit) *note from the hubby* The d300 was well worth the upgrade if you dont mind the extra cost. The end result isnt much better than any other dslr including the d70, but its a quicker camera to get the required results. the rear screen is much better than the d70s. colors are also surprsingly better. and of course you can print a bit larger (13x19 is pushing it a bit on the d70). the d70 is now in service for my dad  . *end note*
these are just a few holiday snaps edited only in lightroom very quickly. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/eddthompson/Brinttanyholiday-3038.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/eddthompson/Brinttanyholiday-3113.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/eddthompson/Brinttanyholiday-3949.jpg zoe http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/eddthompson/Brinttanyholiday-4015.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/eddthompson/Brinttanyholiday-3000.jpg |
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