OT... Digital SLR cameras

[TFPace]

I am looking to update my camera.... I have had 3 Panasonic point-n-shoot type cameras and they are great.

But I have 2 little girls that are requiring something with a little more speed. I am missing out on too many shots!

I understand that the digital SLR is the way to go.

I am looking at the Nikon D3000.

The net is full of this model with all types of "kits"....

Looks like Cannon, Sony and Olympus have great cameras too.

What experience do any PM members have in dealing with the camera shops in New York?

Thanks!

Tom

[Ferrous Antiquos]

My g/f, a photography teacher and Canon SLR enthusiast, generally likes these guys:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/

Price are good, stuff is in stock.

[PixMan]

B & H Photo is a good dealer. To determine what camera might best suit your needs, there's some good reading at http://www.kenrockwell.com.

Also look at http://www.dpreview.com for side-byside comparisons.

[Larry on Lake Superior]

One advantage that the Sony line has over most of the competition is that the image stabilization takes place in the camera as opposed to the lens. Consequently, the sony lenses are considerably cheaper than the others. Also, many of the older Minolta lenses will work with Sony SLRs.

[rons]

Jersey Shore Digital 1-866-470-3969

Beware of Nikon USA and non-USA models. The USA models have a warranty
and allow free firmware upgrades, thus more expensive. My opinion is that the
D90 is the best price for performance. It has a plastic body like all the others in
the line below it. The D90 can take HD movies with sound. A D90 body is only
$575.

The newer lenses have dc motors inside the lenses for autofocus.

Wonder what people think of the D300S. Has a magnesium body and is
the next one up from the D90.

[paul39]

You might get a little quicker response form your Panasonic cameras by turning off the anti red eye pre flash and if the kid is mostly staying in one place, do the half click to get focus, then push the rest of the way when the expression is right.

I agree with Pix Man above. Adorama in NYC and KEH camera in Atlanta are also honest dealers.

Ken Rockwell is not thrilled with the D3000. I would agree with buying a D40, especially if you could get a better deal. The 18 - 55 kit lens is a good one.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d3000.htm

I had the same problem as you with a very active grand daughter, so I assembled a system with an ebay used D70, an Adorama rehabbed 18 - 55, and ebay used flash. The 6MP camera makes razor sharp 8 X 10 prints.

I have been using film Nikon equipment since 1961 so I have lots of stuff that fits on the D70.

I have been lucky with used digital cameras, but it is best to buy from a reputable dealer. KEH has a LN- D70 for $339. The D70 is a big camera. I have big hands so it is a good fit.

It would be best to get the feel of whatever camera you buy. Best Buy, Wal Mart, Sams, have the entry DSLRs on display. Some cameras have a better feel than others.

I would check on frequency of repair in Consumers Reports.

Paul

[Toolznthings]

Hello,
Call B+H Photo and they will help you out. Great place to deal with. I have a Sony Alpha 700 and love it. Sony just came out with some new DSLR models.

Brian

[gotchips]

Back in the days when film was very popular I had a Minolta(now Sony I believe) X-700 with every possible option. After many years I bought a simple Kodak digital which still works but I got tired of buying 1 1/2 volt batteries for it so I bought a Digital SLR Nikon. You know what? I hardly use ir because it is a pain to lug around. It isn't easy to grab that hunker and take it with you in your Kayak or down to your favorite fishiong hole so I just bought a new Samsung digital that goes in my pocket. My Nikon sits in a drawer. I will probably never use it again.Want to buy it?

Cheers
Dale

[chriskat]

I wish somebody would have offered the Nikon two months ago.

I just bought a Nikon D40, it has virtually no shutter lag at all. I bought it for the very same reason you noted in the original post and am very happy with it.

I got a package with the 18-55 mm lense and a 55-200 mm for $557 from Ritz camera. That was the total charge including shipping.

Since I was just looking for less shutter lag I couldn't justify in my mind the extra cost for the higher end models. My 3 Megapixel Fuji has plenty of resolution but I miss lots of shots when the subjects are moving.

I kind of like a larger camera, I get better results I think.

Jeff

[GregSY]

You really need to look at the forums on dpreview.com. There is a wealth of information there. DP stands for 'digital photography' not the other DP you are probably thinking of.

[kenh]

The Canon Rebel(s) are a major player.

[smdubovsky]

Nikon or Canon only. They are EASILY the dSLR leaders. You'll still be using the lenses 10-20yrs from now (well, the low end rebels do use an odd non-compatible lens but the rest of the line is pretty std.) I like the fit/feel of nikon bodies better but you can't go wrong w/ either.

[Empireweld]

I have a Nikon D40 and a D70 my wife shoots the seventy and I shoot the forty. I've
shot about 20,000 pics between the two. You can't go wrong the D40.

[rons]

If you ever get a deal on a older used auto-focus Nikon lens the only models
that it can work on are the D90 or higher.

[hesstool]

I bought a Nikon D40 two years ago. I love it! Only regret is not buying a 55-200mm lens...

[Newman109]

I have a Nikon Coolpix 990. It took great pictures until the flash quit working. I wanted to get it repaired. The local Nikon repair station wanted $200 just to look at it. It's out of warranty, of course so there it lies in my office desk drawer.

I just buy regular digitals now, Panasonic, Canon, Kodak, all are good. The only problem with the DSLR's is the weight and bulk.

[wippin' boy]

http://qceagles.com

i just love an excuse to post somethin' like this
done with a Canon 20D
if you have any intent of ever shooting sports or other fast paced stuff
step up to the units that do in excess of 6 frames a second
huge difference in what you can catch on "film/file"


Canon or Nikon only or your wasting your money
all others have virtually no resale value
big and bulky is good
i don't know how you can look through those little dip sht digitals

(sorry about the damaged home page, go daddy bastrds lost some files in a server update and I'm too lazy to find them)

[Zebu]

Originally Posted by rons

If you ever get a deal on a older used auto-focus Nikon lens the only models
that it can work on are the D90 or higher.

In the current generation of camera's yes, but the older AF lenses (without lens motors) also work with the D80, D70, D70s, etc.

I believe the only models they will not focus on are the D40, D40x, D60, D3000, and D5000.

[Greywolf36]

I love my D90

Keith

Originally Posted by rons

Jersey Shore Digital 1-866-470-3969

Beware of Nikon USA and non-USA models. The USA models have a warranty
and allow free firmware upgrades, thus more expensive. My opinion is that the
D90 is the best price for performance. It has a plastic body like all the others in
the line below it. The D90 can take HD movies with sound. A D90 body is only
$575.

The newer lenses have dc motors inside the lenses for autofocus.

Wonder what people think of the D300S. Has a magnesium body and is
the next one up from the D90.

[PixMan]

With the Nikon stuff, the D40/D50/D60 cameras do need to have lenses with the "AF-S" designation. That's Nikon's version of the fast ultrasonic motors built into the lenses. They call it Silent Wave. Canon's version is "USM".

You certainly don't need frame rates faster then 6 frames per second for family photos. It is nice to have it though, so you can have more frames from which to choose the best "peak action" when the kiddies are doing some sports or other fast-action activity.

I haven't put my old D200 in "continuous" for some time though. When I was doing motorsport photography, my 5fps ancient D1 was sufficient.