When I was first looking at dSLR's, I considered Nikon, Canon, and Sony. I talked to a friend for his opinion and asked why he chose Nikon over Canon or Sony, and this is what he told me -- perhaps it will help someone else as well.

Quote :

"I went with Nikon for three reasons 1) they're the only company of the three you mentioned that is a CAMERA company. That's important to me. Nikon makes Cameras. They're a camera company. Canon is a technology company who's senior executives are compensated on the number of patents filed each year, and Sony is an Electronics Marketing Company. I wanted a camera, and Nikon is a camera company. 2) Nikon cameras are forward and backward compatible forever. When you get a DSLR you are not investing in the body, you are investing in the lenses. And Nikon, as a Camera company has, I believe, the best glass in the business. I've had three DSLR Bodies in 4 years, and only one quiver of lenses. The glass is the thing, not the body. 3) I know Nikon very well. I've tried to get to know Canon. I work with Sony. Nikon is filled with Camera people - they live and breathe optics, cameras, imaging and the art of photography. Walk into Nikon and the walls are filled with amazing photographs taken with Nikon cameras over the decades. Walk into Sony and the walls are filled with modern art. Walk into Canon and the walls are covered with images of their products. Nikon is proud of the images their cameras take. Nikon makes Cameras. They're a camera company. Nikon makes a fine product. Sony isn't even in the same league. Your only decision for a DSLR is going to be Nikon or Canon. You won't go wrong with either one of those."

9/30/2008 12:28:50 AM

Quote :

"Your only decision for a DSLR is going to be Nikon or Canon. You won't go wrong with either one of those"

I say that to everyone! But honestly, with the glass market as is today, Canon and Nikon are pretty much even (cept for the lack of a 12-24 and 200-400 for the Canon side). What either lacks, third party glass makers cover.

9/30/2008 12:43:40 AM

i found the http://www.nikonians.com forums to be very helpful, fwiw. It is comforting to know that if i spend a little money on a nice lense for my lowly D40, that it'll still work w/ pretty much any Nikon i'd ever own down the road. Its a good trick, because i wouldnt buy a nice one for it otherwise. It also allows you to buy kit lenses from nicer cameras pretty darn cheap.

9/30/2008 4:29:09 AM

dammit, jbaz

i just bought a 50mm

9/30/2008 7:39:07 AM

i won't say that the only 2 choices out there for a DSLR are sony and canon. there are a lot of other companies out there that just may fit you better. and they are having LEAP and bounds in technology.

i was talking to a guy at wolf camera. been a photographer for a while. he wasn't trying to make a sale because he knew upfront i wasn't buying anything. and he gave me a REALLY good explanation as to why he thinks sony is one of the better all around cameras.

i don't totally agree with him but he had some solid points.

9/30/2008 7:50:59 AM

sony cameras make me want to vomit

9/30/2008 8:47:12 AM

Guy on ScubaBoard selling a bunch of Nikon lenses, including a 70-200 2.8 VR.
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/photography-marketplace/235943-sale-nikon-d200-aquatica-housing-etc.html

Quote :

"Hello, Below are the only items still available: * Nikon 16mm 2.8 Manual Lens - $300 * Nikon 18mm 2.8 AF Lens - $500 * Nikon 20mm 2.8 D AF Lens - $315 * Nikon 105mm 2.8 D AF Macro Lens - $525 * Nikon 70-200mm 2.8 AF-S VR Lens - $1,350 * Nikon 70-210mm 4-5.6 AF D Lens - $200 * Nikon Coolscan 4000ED Scanner - $700 * Fuji S2 Pro Camera Body - $300 * Sea&Sea YS-30 TTL Strobe - $200 * Compact Drive PD7X Portable Storage Device (no hard drive) - $75 Regards, Scott"

9/30/2008 11:30:05 AM

Quote :

"i found the http://www.nikonians.com forums to be very helpful, fwiw. It is comforting to know that if i spend a little money on a nice lense for my lowly D40, that it'll still work w/ pretty much any Nikon i'd ever own down the road. Its a good trick, because i wouldnt buy a nice one for it otherwise. It also allows you to buy kit lenses from nicer cameras pretty darn cheap."

There's also the point that a lens holds its value, but your fancy digital camera back will be obsolete sooner rather than later.

9/30/2008 2:23:54 PM

don't forget pentax
a girlfriend of mine worked for them and said that when dslrs were first made-the company didn't think that it would 'stick'
now its all the rage and they are scrambling to try and catch up a bit.

aka not bad quality, fraction of the cost (for people whom price is a MAJOR limiting factor)

9/30/2008 2:50:04 PM

3x 8GB Sandisk Extreme III CF cards for $3.62 each after rebate. Get on the deal before it ends! Other cards are sale as well, but this one is hot.

http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?t=935219

[Edited on September 30, 2008 at 4:24 PM. Reason : ]

9/30/2008 4:23:42 PM

^not seeing how it comes out to that prices....it's like $16 after rebate, each.

i ordered one anyway, cuz thats still a good deal and i need a backup card (this will become my primary!)

[Edited on September 30, 2008 at 6:21 PM. Reason : .]

9/30/2008 6:21:22 PM

nevermind, site doesnt say so, but rebate form does:

http://66.223.110.241/rebates/SandiskQ3VisaRebateExp101108.pdf

9/30/2008 7:23:08 PM

I'm having some trouble viewing RAW images with CS3. I googled and found i need to install drivers or whatever. I've tried what is recommended on adobe's site, canon's site and others to no avail. I'm getting desperate.

Can someone help me out here?

9/30/2008 10:14:51 PM

what kind of camera do you have?

9/30/2008 11:18:33 PM

http://picasaweb.google.com/dan.durusky/PicsForCritique#5251808839692852482

I took that last night. I get really mixed up and confused in postprocessing. I'm using Adobe Camera RAW into Photoshop CS3. basically if i look at any setting long enough, it looks ok to me. I'm not sure if the pic above is boring or not. I was kinda going for a lonely, cold, industrial sort of feel. thoughts?

10/1/2008 12:15:09 AM

10/1/2008 12:25:14 AM

Not mine, from the bestest's flickr, d50

10/1/2008 2:01:29 AM

post your flickrs.

10/1/2008 3:29:29 AM

Quote :

"I'm having some trouble viewing RAW images with CS3. I googled and found i need to install drivers or whatever. I've tried what is recommended on adobe's site, canon's site and others to no avail. I'm getting desperate. Can someone help me out here?"

Quote :

"what kind of camera do you have?"

Bweez,
I've got a Canon XSi (450D)

10/1/2008 7:16:50 AM

Did you try this?

http://labs.adobe.com/wiki/index.php/Camera_Raw_4.6

Also, I use Capture One for all my raw editing.

10/1/2008 7:29:38 AM

Quote :

"Did you try this? http://labs.adobe.com/wiki/index.php/Camera_Raw_4.6 Also, I use Capture One for all my raw editing."

Yeah, I've tried this same plug-in from a different location with the same process and for some reason can't seem to get it to work. I've also tried updating drivers in Photoshop automatically. I'm having no luck in Adobe Bridge either.

Capture One is a download and not part of CS, correct?

10/1/2008 7:51:08 AM

Yeah, it's a stand alone product.

10/1/2008 8:01:25 AM

10/1/2008 11:43:27 AM

Making plans now to heat up to NYC for the PhotoPlus Tradeshow at the end of this month. Should be pretty fun.

10/1/2008 1:45:58 PM

^^love it



Blinged up Pentax DSLR anyone?

10/1/2008 1:50:07 PM

^^^Awesome shot

10/1/2008 5:50:26 PM

^^^^I can't stop staring at the hot pixel.

10/1/2008 11:16:30 PM

^I KNOW! RIGHT!?!?

10/1/2008 11:19:49 PM

Hate it when that happens. I've got half a mind to edit that out.

10/1/2008 11:21:13 PM

Fuck

I never even noticed that, yall

10/1/2008 11:24:29 PM

I got that on the Kodak a lot for some reason.

Wonderful photo, nevertheless.

10/1/2008 11:25:17 PM

Quote :

"I can't stop staring at the hot pixel."

10/1/2008 11:25:26 PM

screw you guys pointing out the hot pixel...

sombitch

10/2/2008 7:40:36 AM

Quote :

"screw you guys pointing out the hot pixel"

[Edited on October 2, 2008 at 7:43 AM. Reason : DAMN IT]

10/2/2008 7:41:42 AM

do you guys have any idea where i could buy a car camera rig like this?:

10/2/2008 2:44:50 PM

any of you guys rent lenses before you buy them? i've thought of renting a few and testing them out before i commit.

though i don't anticipate sinking too much more money in lenses. maybe two more to round it out. get rid of the kit lens, add another standard and a telephoto

10/2/2008 2:51:07 PM

I've never rented, but I've heard LensRentals.com is legit.

10/2/2008 6:08:46 PM

Yeah, I've looked at a couple of those places. I was hoping I could find a local place that does this, as I don't think I could get the lens by Sat. looking so late in the week.

10/2/2008 6:10:21 PM

um, what kind of lens are you looking for?

10/2/2008 7:09:07 PM

76

10/2/2008 7:12:01 PM

hi chickenhead

10/2/2008 7:12:20 PM

^^^

I wanted to try the 70-300 f/4 IS before I knew I wanted to buy it.

10/2/2008 9:13:37 PM

Southeastern Camera on Atlantic Ave does 24hr rentals on lenses, cameras, etc.

10/2/2008 9:37:13 PM

i know they have a 70-200 f/4 constant... wasn't aware of a 70-300.

10/2/2008 11:14:56 PM

What the heck is that car camera rig thingy?

10/2/2008 11:24:55 PM

^^ FYI, http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-70-300mm-f-4-5.6-IS-USM-Lens-Review.aspx

10/3/2008 9:49:56 AM

Southeastern Camera in Raleigh has a pretty good selection on a number of lens. They have a huge list on their rental site at: http://www.secrents.com/

Quote :

"do you guys have any idea where i could buy a car camera rig like this?: "

For these kinds of shots you can get the professional rigs, which are pretty pricey, but many of them have the main mount point placed under the car. This way doesn't block the camera's view with the rig being in the way and reduce your PP time. Other rigs can get even crazier with more support structures for heavier camera's and camcorders.
http://automotiverigs.com/index.html

A cheap way of doing it is to build a homemade one out of pluming materials and industrial strength suction cups. Here's a good article about it for 1/4 the price.
http://www.ob-photo.com/2008/08/automotive-photography/helpful-article-everything-you-need-to-know-about-rigshots/

There's a pretty large group on flickr about it.



http://www.flickr.com/photos/terytky/2377208435/

Do note that you'd usually have at least 1-2 other people helping you out to setup the rig as well as to have them press the remote when you are driving. These rigs can come out really far so planning is needed. If you are doing shots on public road, best to have a chase vehicle to block unsuspecting traffic, but it's best to do it in isolated area's. One of the past students at RCC does this currently, I'll ask our instructor about getting his contact info.

10/3/2008 11:51:50 AM

^thanks a lot JBaz, i really appreciate it. I really think i'm going to build one of these then...

I've got to figure out what type of tubing would be best to use, if that RCC guy could tell me what materials he uses that would help out a ton. Right now i think i'm leaning towards aluminum.

I'll probably use two of these pump cups: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/67896-REG/Avenger_F1000_Pump_Cup_with_Baby.html

A magic arm: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/553825-REG/Bogen_Manfrotto_244_244_Variable_Friction_Magic.html

and three superclamps to fasten the cups/magic arm to the pole: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/546371-REG/Bogen_Manfrotto_035_035_Super_Clamp_without.html

10/3/2008 4:53:48 PM

finally gots me one:

http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/03/nikon-d90-unboxing-and-hands-on/

Mr. Wuf made it into the gallery too

10/3/2008 5:54:06 PM

also do note, most of the slr's used in rig shots tend to be cheap bodies and cheap glass... you can figure why... If I was doing that, I'd probably buy a cheap 20D and a 17-55 craptastic lens, although those pics have the 17-40, which is the "cheapest" L lens...

[Edited on October 3, 2008 at 6:22 PM. Reason : ]

10/3/2008 6:21:51 PM