The Camera Thread

[Dual]

There's the D5100 but it doesn't have an auto focus motor in the body.

[Harry Bizzle]

I think the D7000 is the D90 refresh.

Good video review here, although obviously you'll want to do a lot more reading before getting your card out.

[Dual]

Yes you're quite right but I won't get a D7000 for the same price as a D90 - obviously

(the d5100 and the d90 are priced about the same)

[Harry Bizzle]

I think the sensors in the new lineup have moved on quite a lot, which is where the main advantage of the D5100 is.

And while at first I was a bit annoyed at the idea of having to pay more for AF-S lenses, it seems that the extra cost is for more than just the motor.

The 50mm AF-S f/1.8 costs about £80 more than the non AF-S equivalent, but for your extra money, you get quieter focusing, better build quality and an aspherical element, which makes the hit on lenses a lot easier to take.

[Harry Bizzle]

Are there any decent UK second hand camera shops online?

I want one of these:



50mm Nikon AI-S f/1.8.


I want the 40mm AF-S Nikon Macro, but won't have the cash for a while (and it's not out for a month), so thought I might as well chuck £30-£40 on one of these until I can afford that. The optics and build quality are meant to be great.

Was using the rangefinder on my D3100 today and the manual focus doesn't phase me at all, but eBay seems to be the only place that has them.

[Dual]

http://www.mpbphotographic.co.uk/

I was considering using them for a D90; but as I write this reply I'm currently 2 hours away from winning one off eBay :3

[Harry Bizzle]

Site doesn't seem to load.


The one I wanted on eBay was chipped so you'd get metering off it but some git beat me to it (was Buy It Now).

[Outrunner]

I'm thinking of getting a bridge camera as a supplement for my compact and with a view to taking up photography as a hobby.
I've been offered one at £65 but my camera buying skills tend to fail me (it took me three attempts to finally buy a compact I'm happy with

http://fujifilm.co.uk/consumer/digital/ ... epix-s1730

Any good?

[Dual]

Just taken delivery of my (second hand) D90 \o/

Need to get a lens for it now - think I'll start with that 50mm Prime. Seems like a good lens to have in the camera bag.

Oh gooseberry fool I need a memory card too.

[Exxy]

I used a 50mm and it felt awkward, much prefer the 35mm Prime. Is that weird? You guys seem to prefer the 50mm.

[Harry Bizzle]

Well, considering we're all using Crop Sensored cameras, your 35mm is essentially a 50ish mm and a 50mm is about a 75mm.


It's all about personal preference, I suppose.

When I shoot landscapes 35mm is not wide enough and the kit lens' 18mm comes in handy, and when I'm shooting people, etc, 35mm is far too short - especially if you're out and about in town or whatever. If you want to fill your frame with your subject, you've practically got to be in their face.

50mm is good for me. Wouldn't say no to an 85mm, though, and the 40mm macro Nikon are releasing is interesting (although as many have pointed out, if you're taking photos of insects at that focal length, you'll probably just scare them off), so I'll wait for the reviews on that one.

I'm quite interested in a telephoto lens next, though.



I managed to get a 50mm AIS (the one I posted about above), which I should have by the end of the week, which I'm interested in trying out.


Got a tripod today, which I'm quite happy with. Can finally get into some long exposure stuff.

[Exxy]

Ahh I see. I've not read into sensors and what not too much. Fear it may go straight over my head.

Thinking of getting myself a tripod, but doubt I'll be in the mood to carry it very often and a decent one costs too much to risk it. I have access to a Gorilla Pod if I fancy it though, which is pretty neat and fits in my bag no problems.

[Harry Bizzle]

So I got my 50mm f/1.8 yesterday night and I've been playing with it quite a bit today. It's a really nice lens. The rangefinder isn't actually that good on the D3100 but for the most part it does the job. What's more reliable though is using the Live View for super accurate focusing.


It absolutely annihilates the background at 1.8 and is quite sharp and stopped down to 2.8 it's unbelievably sharp.


I'm very happy with it, for £40. I actually like manually focusing with it. It would be nice if it did metering, but so far my guesses for the settings haven't been far off.

[Harry Bizzle]

You really have to shop around. There's a few price comparison sites, but they tend to be not all that reliable.


Personally, I'm after the Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8.

Costs about £600 though, so that's not gonna happen any time soon, but the idea of buying £160 telephoto that's got a maximum aperture of f/5.6 at it's max zoom length isn't exactly enticing.

[Oh Teh Noes]

I have the Samsung PL100.

It's pretty nice. Was about £70 when I bought it in May.

[Outrunner]

I'm wanting to take up photography as a hobby. I have a 12MP camer and I'm thinking of getting a bridge camera (can't afford a DSLR).

Are bridge cameras any better than compacts (picture quality wise). I'm looking at a 12MP model but not sure if it's worth it if I'm not getting better pictures

[Dual]

If you're taking up photography as a hobby get a DSLR - you'll have way more creative freedom with the lenses you can buy.

Have a look at a Nikon D3100 or the Canon EOS 1100D for two good entry level cameras. Or maybe a Nikon D5100 if you feel you're a bit more capable.

[Exxy]

Always considered bridge cameras a bit of a cop out really. From what I've seen, you may as well spend the little more to get a DSLR.

[Outrunner]

The main reason I'm looking at bridge cameras is a cost issue. Even entry level DSLR seem quite expensive for what I can afford. Bridge cameras, while not perfect and a compromise are more in my price budget.

[Harry Bizzle]

What's your budget?

Also, watch this:




A Panasonic GF-2 (old version of the white one in the vid) can be had relatively cheaply.

Then again, you might want to think hard and go for a cheap DSLR and some nice (but inexpensive) glass. Depends what kind of photography you're thinking of getting into.



Oh and also, if anyone is after a good photo post processing suite, you can buy an Adobe Lightroom key for £49.99 on eBay. Just got mine today and works perfectly.

It really is a fantastic piece of software. I've realised some of my edits in the past were a bit rubbish and the way you can go back and totally redo them without having to mess around with your own backups is just wonderful.

At £49.99 I'm happy to pay for it. The £40 cashback I got with my D3100 helps.