Nikon D50

[johnruss]

I need some help in choosing a digital SLR camera. I have been looking at the Nikon D50 as some of the reviews I have read seem to say this camera outshines the D70. If someone out there has some opinion on this would you please share. I have a very nice digiscope and am loving it. But there are times when it is just to slow to get the shot. I see that there are lots of packages on the D50. What size lens should I go for. I saw one good deal on the body and a Nikon lens that went up to 300mm. I forgot how small it got but I would venture a guess at 70mm or so. Also the f stop was 4.5 . I really work hard for my money don't mind spending but hate to get the wrong item.

[Highway Man]

I need some help in choosing a digital SLR camera. I have been looking at the Nikon D50 as some of the reviews I have read seem to say this camera outshines the D70. If someone out there has some opinion on this would you please share. I have a very nice digiscope and am loving it. But there are times when it is just to slow to get the shot. I see that there are lots of packages on the D50. What size lens should I go for. I saw one good deal on the body and a Nikon lens that went up to 300mm. I forgot how small it got but I would venture a guess at 70mm or so. Also the f stop was 4.5 . I really work hard for my money don't mind spending but hate to get the wrong item.

Hi John

I bought a D50 about a month ago. I paid £459 for the camera and a 18-55 lens. However a couple of days later the same dealer (Jessops) advertised the same + an additional 70-300mm Tamron. I went back to the shop and they refunded me my money and sold it to me again so I could get the free lens (worth £100) as soon as it arrived I stuck it on Ebay and got £85 + postage - bargain. I haven't had much chance to play with it in the last month due to the rubbish British weather. A friend of mine has lent/sold me his Sigma 50 -500mm and I have been using that (hence why I sold the Tamron). So far I have been extremely impressed with the quality of the pictures particularly the lack of noise even at 1600 ISO.
Infact my friend commented that he couldn't believe one picture I had taken had been shot at 800 ISO as it was far better than his D2X could manage.
I suppose there are several good lenses to choose from Sigma's, Tamron's Nikon's, Ichose the Sigma because my friend only wants £400 for it, It is rather heavy though! I think that this camera is a great introduction to DSLR's, perhaps one day I might move up to a D200 (though they appear to have noise issues) and a prime lens, but until I win the lottery I'll stick with this set up.

Mark

[BenBirding]

Sigma 70-300 APO DG is the way to go for the smaller inexpensive lenses. I have one and I'm very pleased with it.
I have attached a picture I took with it. Little editing was involved(a little lightening of the shadows). I took it at ISO 200 f/7.1 and I can't rememeber what shutter speed I had, and if you think it turned out well because I'm experienced with it, I'm not. When I took that shot, I had the lens for two days.
I had hoped it would survive the resize better, but it looks kinda odd in 800px wide.

[gloygum]

Hi,

I have both a D50 & a D70. The D50 outshines the D70 because it is 99% the same camera as the D70 but quite a bit cheaper.

D70 is better because
i) White Balance fine adjustment
ii) view-finder gridlines
iii) LCD cover (my D50 has already picked up some annoying scratches)
iv) D50 a bit small for my hands.

None of these things are so important for bird photography, I find. Thus the D50 stays stuck to my Tamron 200-500 for bird-photos, whereas the D70 gets used for everything else.

So, I would go for the D50 if I were you & spend the money saved over a D70 on getting a good lens. That's gonna have a much bigger effect on your photos than the D50/D70 choice.

[johnruss]

I wish to thank all of you for your imput. Someone at work told me that maybe I should look at the Canon EOS Rebel. I will look carefully. He mentioned that the lenses have some stability thing. Anyone know about this and if you had the choice which way to go????

[Highway Man]

I wish to thank all of you for your imput. Someone at work told me that maybe I should look at the Canon EOS Rebel. I will look carefully. He mentioned that the lenses have some stability thing. Anyone know about this and if you had the choice which way to go????

I considered this camera, but didn't like its small size and plastic feel. It is true the big lenses are IS, but if you are on a budget they are very expensive c.£1000 in the UK. Sigma produce a 100-400 IS lens for c.£800.

Mark

[gloygum]

Canon is your other option. I, like Deja-vu, was put off the Rebel by the fact that it is tiny. Simply couldn't hold it properly. And I don't have particularly big hands.

So, given this, it is important that you go to a store & handle the cameras for a bit. Both Nikons & Canons take good pics.

Canons have IS (image stabilization) and Nikon has VR (vibration reduction). These are expensive lenses & prob not what you will want to start with.

[johnruss]

Well folks I really listened to you all. Then I went out and put my hands on both the canon and the nikon D50. If I thought I would ever be able to afford the IS and VR lens I maybe would have gone with the canon although I think it was about 100 dollars over priced. So I went with my gut and bought the Nikon D50 and Nikon AF-S DX-Nikkor 55-200 f/4~5.6 ED lens. I will probably be looking for more lens but for now this will have to do. I also got a 1G memory card. Comments please..also would like suggestion on what brand makes the best lens of course for the Nikon.

[johnruss]

Sigma 70-300 APO DG is the way to go for the smaller inexpensive lenses. I have one and I'm very pleased with it.
I have attached a picture I took with it. Little editing was involved(a little lightening of the shadows). I took it at ISO 200 f/7.1 and I can't rememeber what shutter speed I had, and if you think it turned out well because I'm experienced with it, I'm not. When I took that shot, I had the lens for two days.
I had hoped it would survive the resize better, but it looks kinda odd in 800px wide.
my battery is on the charger will try to get some shots with mine soon. I almost bought a 300mm lens but opted for the 200 because it was an ED lens and I needed to save a little for lunch..just kidding.

[johnruss]

Canon is your other option. I, like Deja-vu, was put off the Rebel by the fact that it is tiny. Simply couldn't hold it properly. And I don't have particularly big hands.

So, given this, it is important that you go to a store & handle the cameras for a bit. Both Nikons & Canons take good pics.

Canons have IS (image stabilization) and Nikon has VR (vibration reduction). These are expensive lenses & prob not what you will want to start with.
The canon was a bit heavier but size wise next to each other I didn't see much difference. I will have to start saving for one of the bigger VR lens. Thank you for your comments

[johnruss]

I also want folks to remember that I have one fine digiscope for the long shots or the bird that will be nice enough to sit for a spell. It is the little guys who won't sit still and I want their souls for posterity. My house wrens will be arriving soon I just love them.

[johnruss]

Sigma 70-300 APO DG is the way to go for the smaller inexpensive lenses. I have one and I'm very pleased with it.
I have attached a picture I took with it. Little editing was involved(a little lightening of the shadows). I took it at ISO 200 f/7.1 and I can't rememeber what shutter speed I had, and if you think it turned out well because I'm experienced with it, I'm not. When I took that shot, I had the lens for two days.
I had hoped it would survive the resize better, but it looks kinda odd in 800px wide.
Just found a Nikkor lens for 137$ US 70-300 I am buying it as I did save a bit by going Nikon.

[The Devil Bird]

I highly recommend the D50 it is easy to use and takes great pictures. I also recommend you get a Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300 lens. You might also find that a 2x teleconverter would be useful. I use all this and I have beeen really pleased with my results. :king:

I need some help in choosing a digital SLR camera. I have been looking at the Nikon D50 as some of the reviews I have read seem to say this camera outshines the D70. If someone out there has some opinion on this would you please share. I have a very nice digiscope and am loving it. But there are times when it is just to slow to get the shot. I see that there are lots of packages on the D50. What size lens should I go for. I saw one good deal on the body and a Nikon lens that went up to 300mm. I forgot how small it got but I would venture a guess at 70mm or so. Also the f stop was 4.5 . I really work hard for my money don't mind spending but hate to get the wrong item.