Vaughn McMillan
08-18-2006, 3:52 AM
OK, so technically it's not only for woodworking, but it be used in conjunction with it, and it'll also help feed one of my other hobbies.
I found someone selling a new, unused Nikon D50 digital SLR with two Nikkor lenses for a good price. (He received it as a gift, but already had a better DSLR, and needed the cash.) It’s Nikon’s entry-level DSLR, but at 6MP, it’s got all the resolution I figure I’ll need for a long time. It came with the stock 18-55mm auto focus zoom (roughly the same as a 28-80mm lens on a 35mm SLR), as well as a 70-300mm (roughly 105-450mm equivalent) version. I added a 1GB high-speed memory card, and it uses the Secure Digital memory format – the same as my other still camera and the “still camera” function of my digital camcorder. Although it’s Nikon’s least-expensive DSLR, it’s very highly regarded in the reviews I’ve read, with better performance than many more expensive cameras, including the Nikon D70, it’s bigger brother. To see the full specs and a very thorough review, this site (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Nikon/nikon_d50.asp) covers it all.
Here are a couple quick shots (with my old camera) to show it off:
45090 45091
And here’s a shot I took from across the back yard a little before sundown, with the long telephoto. I was trying for good depth of field. I think I nailed it. This is with no tweaking of the camera controls – heck, I hadn’t even opened the Quick Start Guide yet – just letting it run in Auto mode:
45092
I think I’m going to be very happy with this camera. Even though I know my way around a manual 35mm SLR pretty well, I still have a lot to learn about getting the most out of this newfangled technology stuff.
In the process of camera shopping I also learned first-hand about the web sites that offer photo equipment at prices that are considerably lower than the better-known stores. I initially ordered a similar D50 setup from Genuis Cameras, at a price that seemed very good (roughly what I paid for the rig I got today). After placing the order, I got an e-mail telling me I needed to call their toll-free number to confirm the order. Turns out, this place is a sleazy bait and switch outfit. First, the guy on the other end of the phone tried to sell me lens filters (at very inflated prices). When I said no, he then tried very hard to convince me to upgrade to the high-speed memory...again at about 3 times the market price. No to that, too. Next he asks if I want the battery and charger, "or do you have on already?" he asks sarcastically. Huh? That's not part of the factory kit? I reviewed the list of "included items", and sure enough the battery and charger were not listed. Of course, they wanted about $200 for the charger and $180 for the battery. (A quick check on eBay says I could get the equivalent for about 1/10 that price. On a bad day.) At that point I told the guy to cancel the order. He hemmed and hawed a bit, so I made it CLEAR that the order was cancelled. (Had the conversation been in person, I'd have been inches from his face. I have a real short temper with slimebags.) The puke. :mad: I followed up the conversation with an e-mail message stating the same...and that I'd seek any legal recourse necessary should any charges appear on my credit card as the result of this cancelled order.
Afterward, I did a bit more research and discovered Genius Cameras (as well as several other names they operate under) has extremely low satisfaction ratings on sites such as Froogle.com, and customer reviews showed my experience was the norm, not the exception. (Some folks even reported that when they sent their camera in to Nikon for service, Nikon informed them the camera was stolen, and confiscated the camera.) These guys are bad news, and I would recommend avoiding them at all costs. (I'm going to be keeping a daily watch on my credit card for unauthorized charges. Some folks reported that, too.) As they say, if the price is too good to be true, it probably is.
Now you'll all have to put up with more pics from the blonde guy.
- Vaughn
I found someone selling a new, unused Nikon D50 digital SLR with two Nikkor lenses for a good price. (He received it as a gift, but already had a better DSLR, and needed the cash.) It’s Nikon’s entry-level DSLR, but at 6MP, it’s got all the resolution I figure I’ll need for a long time. It came with the stock 18-55mm auto focus zoom (roughly the same as a 28-80mm lens on a 35mm SLR), as well as a 70-300mm (roughly 105-450mm equivalent) version. I added a 1GB high-speed memory card, and it uses the Secure Digital memory format – the same as my other still camera and the “still camera” function of my digital camcorder. Although it’s Nikon’s least-expensive DSLR, it’s very highly regarded in the reviews I’ve read, with better performance than many more expensive cameras, including the Nikon D70, it’s bigger brother. To see the full specs and a very thorough review, this site (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Nikon/nikon_d50.asp) covers it all.
Here are a couple quick shots (with my old camera) to show it off:
45090 45091
And here’s a shot I took from across the back yard a little before sundown, with the long telephoto. I was trying for good depth of field. I think I nailed it. This is with no tweaking of the camera controls – heck, I hadn’t even opened the Quick Start Guide yet – just letting it run in Auto mode:
45092
I think I’m going to be very happy with this camera. Even though I know my way around a manual 35mm SLR pretty well, I still have a lot to learn about getting the most out of this newfangled technology stuff.
In the process of camera shopping I also learned first-hand about the web sites that offer photo equipment at prices that are considerably lower than the better-known stores. I initially ordered a similar D50 setup from Genuis Cameras, at a price that seemed very good (roughly what I paid for the rig I got today). After placing the order, I got an e-mail telling me I needed to call their toll-free number to confirm the order. Turns out, this place is a sleazy bait and switch outfit. First, the guy on the other end of the phone tried to sell me lens filters (at very inflated prices). When I said no, he then tried very hard to convince me to upgrade to the high-speed memory...again at about 3 times the market price. No to that, too. Next he asks if I want the battery and charger, "or do you have on already?" he asks sarcastically. Huh? That's not part of the factory kit? I reviewed the list of "included items", and sure enough the battery and charger were not listed. Of course, they wanted about $200 for the charger and $180 for the battery. (A quick check on eBay says I could get the equivalent for about 1/10 that price. On a bad day.) At that point I told the guy to cancel the order. He hemmed and hawed a bit, so I made it CLEAR that the order was cancelled. (Had the conversation been in person, I'd have been inches from his face. I have a real short temper with slimebags.) The puke. :mad: I followed up the conversation with an e-mail message stating the same...and that I'd seek any legal recourse necessary should any charges appear on my credit card as the result of this cancelled order.
Afterward, I did a bit more research and discovered Genius Cameras (as well as several other names they operate under) has extremely low satisfaction ratings on sites such as Froogle.com, and customer reviews showed my experience was the norm, not the exception. (Some folks even reported that when they sent their camera in to Nikon for service, Nikon informed them the camera was stolen, and confiscated the camera.) These guys are bad news, and I would recommend avoiding them at all costs. (I'm going to be keeping a daily watch on my credit card for unauthorized charges. Some folks reported that, too.) As they say, if the price is too good to be true, it probably is.
Now you'll all have to put up with more pics from the blonde guy.
- Vaughn