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UER Forum > Archived UE Photography > The Official "What camera to buy?" Thread (Viewed 599687 times)
nd31 






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The Official "What camera to buy?" Thread
< on 5/4/2005 4:26 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
What the hell is this?
Since this comes up about once every 3 days, from now on new threads about camera recommendations will be merged into here. Hopefully this will encourage people to read through the existing recommendations instead of posting a brand new shiny thread.

Eventually I'd like to turn this into a FAQ, and if you'd like to help write one please let me know. And if you don't think your particular requirements have been covered by the posts in this thread already, post here instead of making an entirely new thread.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled discussion...

- Servo





Canon 350D (Digital Rebel XT) Vs. Nikon D70

Discuss please, as I'm considering going digital. People who have tried both cameras would be greatly appreciated.

Also, has the D50 been released? I liked the fact that it was slightly less complicated looking than the D70. I want a smooth transition into digital if I do in fact decide to purchase a DSLR.

Though I'm still considering learning to develop and purchasing developing/printing stuff, or a dedicated film scanner. My main concern is cost from processing at my Pro Lab. The film cost is a factor too, but lesser.
[last edit 5/19/2005 6:40 PM by Servo - edited 2 times]

Servo 






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Re: Canon 350D (Digital Rebel XT) Vs. Nikon D70
<Reply # 1 on 5/4/2005 4:50 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
I haven't tried the 350D, but here's some info you probably already know:

- The D50 is basically the D70 with less features. Same MP count. So I don't really see what the point is there unless it's significantly cheaper.
- The D50 will use SD cards for some dumb reason.
- The 350D will be 8MP vs. the D70's 6.0MP, so directly comparing picture quality is a bit tough. Canon's CMOS tends to be lower noise than Nikon's CCD, but other than that they're extremely similar in picture quality.
- Nikon and Canon lenses are pretty close in quality, but IMO Canon has a more versatile lens line. You also pay more for Nikon lenses, usually. The other side of this is you get to use older Nikon lenses, although there's some gotchas there.


DPReview has a full review of the 350D here:
http://www.dprevie...iews/canoneos350d/


If you don't get a DSLR, I'd say a dedicated film scanner is the better route than a traditional darkroom. There's tons of hidden costs in a darkroom, and most pro printing shops are all-digital printing now anyway. I have the equipment for a darkroom but only because I enjoy doing traditional processing sometimes.

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Re: Canon 350D (Digital Rebel XT) Vs. Nikon D70
<Reply # 2 on 5/4/2005 7:50 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
When I held 350D in my hands I felt like I'd break it because the grip was so small and thin. D70 is bigger and feels more sturdy and stable.

All information and details given in good faith but not guaranteed!
Louie 






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Re: Canon 350D (Digital Rebel XT) Vs. Nikon D70
<Reply # 3 on 5/4/2005 8:43 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Feel and use both.

I did, and now I know I want a D70.


(Don't even consider the D50, it'll be the same price as a regular D70 when the D70s replaces the D70 and it will have less features, as well as a lower quality kit lense.)
[last edit 5/4/2005 8:45 PM by Louie - edited 1 times]

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Re: Canon 350D (Digital Rebel XT) Vs. Nikon D70
<Reply # 4 on 5/4/2005 9:01 PM >
Posted on Forum:
 
I own a D100 with a stack of Nikon Lenses and 2 Nikon flashes and I'm in love. Awsome setup and extremely solid camera. Whatever you end up with, you can't go wrong. Both are nice cameras.

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Re: Canon 350D (Digital Rebel XT) Vs. Nikon D70
<Reply # 5 on 5/5/2005 4:43 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
I was sssooo excited to get a D70. then they released the D50 and D70s and discontinued the D70. I do not want the D50 and cannot afford the D70s.

So i'm seriously considering the 350xt now. although it's so small!


I keep getting screwed with this whole DSLR transition.

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ofberenonehand 


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Re: Canon 350D (Digital Rebel XT) Vs. Nikon D70
<Reply # 6 on 5/5/2005 4:57 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by punkboy_jerm
I was sssooo excited to get a D70. then they released the D50 and D70s and discontinued the D70. I do not want the D50 and cannot afford the D70s.

So i'm seriously considering the 350xt now. although it's so small!


I keep getting screwed with this whole DSLR transition.




I'm sure you can still get them over-stock. Otherwise used.

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Re: Canon 350D (Digital Rebel XT) Vs. Nikon D70
<Reply # 7 on 5/5/2005 3:51 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
I've been using a D70 since last December and am happy with it. My film bodies are all 25+ year old manual cameras (F3, F2, FM...) which are tank-like and simple to use. The D70 is easy to use and I've never really had to look at the manual much. It is no match for the construction of an F3 but still very solid. It doesn't creak in my hand unlike some other plastic autofocus cameras I've held.

I don't have the kit lens. I use the 12-24mm and my pre-existing collection of Nikkors. I can use most of my lenses on all of my Nikons, which is nice. The battery last forever, only needed the one. No cable release but the wireless remote works just as good. The Sb-600 flash is very nice.

I still use my film cameras often but the D70 has been a very welcome addition. Its allowed me to take pictures I otherwise wouldn't have gotten and does it very well. I wish the viewfinder was larger but I've probably been spoiled by the F3's huge viewfinder.

Anyho, I would recommend the D70. I imagine the Canons are good cameras too. A dslr and a film body (or two) is a good combo!

"every time i come to this forum, i feel as if i'm swimming the seas of incompetence. it's like a zero ring circus."
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Servo 






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Re: Canon 350D (Digital Rebel XT) Vs. Nikon D70
<Reply # 8 on 5/5/2005 4:17 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Also, I've posted it 1000 times before, so I won't go into again how much ass the 300D kicks. Just search for some of my old posts about it. With the hack installed it's IMO a much better value than the D70, and I've banged it against everything from concrete to metal ladders and never had any problems with it.

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Re: Canon 350D (Digital Rebel XT) Vs. Nikon D70
<Reply # 9 on 5/5/2005 7:02 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
I'm with Servo on this one. The 300D is an awesome camera and the 350D even more so. To me it all comes down to image quality and as good as the D70 is, the 300D is better and 350D improves on it even more. ISO 100 and better noise performance across the board make a big difference. Plus the 350D fixed almost all the shortcomings of the 300D, it's overall a much better camera than the D70.

Given that the 350D has better image quality, higher resolution and is feature competitive, the only reasons to pick the D70 would be:
- You already have Nikon lenses
- You really need extreme battery life
- You really don't like the size of the 350D (which can be fixed with the vertical grip, not an option on the D70)

Even as a Canon user, I was surprized and disappointed when I found out the D70s was such a tiny improvement over the D70. Nikon needs to step up with their own 8MP camera.


ofberenonehand 


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Re: Canon 350D (Digital Rebel XT) Vs. Nikon D70
<Reply # 10 on 5/5/2005 7:29 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by Washu

- You really need extreme battery life
- You really don't like the size of the 350D (which can be fixed with the vertical grip, not an option on the D70)




2 birds with one stone. Battery life is greatly extended with the add on grip. And it still ends up being cheaper than the D70...

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Re: Canon 350D (Digital Rebel XT) Vs. Nikon D70
<Reply # 11 on 5/8/2005 3:04 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Also, a life without a vertical grip is a very sad life. Once you grow accustomed to them it's hard to switch back (unless you get a REAL camera that simply has a rotating back).

"The large print giveth and the small print taketh away."
-Tom Waits
ngamer007 


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Should I spend an extra $100 for basically the same digital camera but with manual focus?
<Reply # 12 on 5/12/2005 3:55 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
As far as I can tell, from looking at the features, the DMC-FZ5 is the same thing as the DMC-FZ20. The only differences is that the DMC-FZ5 has a plastic body, it is isn't as massively huge. Also, it doesn't have a manual focus.

I would like a camera with a manual focus, but this other one is smaller and much cheaper and does everything its big brother does except for that manual focus.

Ahh, can't decide.
[last edit 5/12/2005 3:55 AM by ngamer007 - edited 1 times]

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Re: Should I spend an extra $100 for basically the same digital camera but with manual focus?
<Reply # 13 on 5/12/2005 4:14 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
get your hands on the two models and play with them a bit. Manual focus is difficult to impossible on many digicams due to poor screen/viewer resolution, so it may not even be an issue... To me, the plastic/metal body would probably be more of an issue.

Caput_58

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Re: Should I spend an extra $100 for basically the same digital camera but with manual focus?
<Reply # 14 on 5/12/2005 4:35 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
There's more than just manual focus and body differences between the two.

The FZ20 has the following over the FZ5:
- Constant f2.8
- Stronger flash
- Hotshoe
- Bigger LCD
- Option of converter lenses

To me at least those features are worth the $100 difference. But as Caput_58 said, doing any meaningful manual focus on such a camera will likely be very difficult if not impossible, so I wouldn't use that as a deciding factor.



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Re: Should I spend an extra $100 for basically the same digital camera but with manual focus?
<Reply # 15 on 5/12/2005 5:07 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
I also have to throw the Konica Minolta DiMage Z5 into the picture. It's around the same price as the DMC-FZ5, but has the same features as the DMC-FZ20. According to reviews, the only area the KMDZ5 falls is that it has a noticable amount of noise in low light photos.

But it is also not a lumbering giant like the DMC-FZ20, and costs considerbly less.

I'm seriously considering the KMDZ5.

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Re: Should I spend an extra $100 for basically the same digital camera but with manual focus?
<Reply # 16 on 5/13/2005 1:39 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
no! for the same price buy an old manual all metal 35mm camera

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ngamer007 


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Re: Should I spend an extra $100 for basically the same digital camera but with manual focus?
<Reply # 17 on 5/13/2005 7:05 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
No thanks, I'm not into using film... For one I take tons of pictures, and I do a lot of photoshop work on them. I also like taking pictures at my house if I need to capture something quickly. Add to that I am not a patient person, photo labs are places I don't like going to. Especially since you have to go there twice.

I honestly never use prints of film either. If I did use a 35mm camera, I would have the photo lab put them right on a disc for me, I wouldn't want any prints. I have no use for prints...

I'm a big fan of having everything in my life on my computer, or somehow hooked up to my computer. I don't keep physical records of anything really.
[last edit 5/13/2005 7:13 AM by ngamer007 - edited 2 times]

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Re: Should I spend an extra $100 for basically the same digital camera but with manual focus?
<Reply # 18 on 5/13/2005 7:20 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
manual focus is important, but it depends on whether or not you're looking for the artistic side of taking photos while Ue-ing or not

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Caput_58 


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Re: Should I spend an extra $100 for basically the same digital camera but with manual focus?
<Reply # 19 on 5/14/2005 5:05 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by DjMalign
manual focus is important, but it depends on whether or not you're looking for the artistic side of taking photos while Ue-ing or not


Since I've had enough beer to be slightly argumentative, lemme say that imho, you can still be interested in the artistic side of taking photos without manual focus. As a matter of fact, I would say its very rare you take a picture without at least one part of it being in focus... most autofocus cameras can be coaxed into locking focus on the desired object, then recomposing as desired.

Caput_58

UER Forum > Archived UE Photography > The Official "What camera to buy?" Thread (Viewed 599687 times)
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