NZ plans in turmoil!
Discussion
Just when I was wondering whether a gadget bag full of Nikon D70 and lenses was going to be a pain to haul round NZ...
Dropped in to see a friend today who's recently come back from China. He showed me his photos - taken with a 5Mp Panasonic Lumix - and I was more than impressed. The shots look brilliant, it handles exposure latitude extremely well (I'd say better than the Nikon), detail is execellent and the anti-shake allowed him to get some superb evening shots around the city: nicely illuminated sharp buildings with blurry traffic and people.
I reckon I could get the same with the Nikon, but it would take a lot longer, changing lenses or carting a tripod about.
So... should I take the Nikon gear (and use up a chunk of my luggage allowance) or upgrade my compact?
Of course the Lumix does have limitations and is certainly no replacement for a DSLR, but as a single compact unit it's hard to beat for convenience and results. Just one thing - if I do upgrade the Olympus, I want a much slimmer camera than the Lumix - 4-5Mp but easily pocketable.
If I do take a compact instead of the D70 - I'm actually struggling to think what I may want to do that I won't be able to...
Dropped in to see a friend today who's recently come back from China. He showed me his photos - taken with a 5Mp Panasonic Lumix - and I was more than impressed. The shots look brilliant, it handles exposure latitude extremely well (I'd say better than the Nikon), detail is execellent and the anti-shake allowed him to get some superb evening shots around the city: nicely illuminated sharp buildings with blurry traffic and people.
I reckon I could get the same with the Nikon, but it would take a lot longer, changing lenses or carting a tripod about.
So... should I take the Nikon gear (and use up a chunk of my luggage allowance) or upgrade my compact?
Of course the Lumix does have limitations and is certainly no replacement for a DSLR, but as a single compact unit it's hard to beat for convenience and results. Just one thing - if I do upgrade the Olympus, I want a much slimmer camera than the Lumix - 4-5Mp but easily pocketable.
If I do take a compact instead of the D70 - I'm actually struggling to think what I may want to do that I won't be able to...
Don't get nervous now, stick to what you know well so that you don't miss opportunities. What can't the zoom/megazoom compacts do ?
Proper wide angle - equivalent of 24mm or more - without adding on supplementary lenses which means you'll still be carrying bulk around with you. It'll be lighter bulk, but still bulk.
Moderate to high ISO without a lot of noise due to their small size sensors.
Compacts don't like focussing on small fine objects, you'll do that much faster and reliably using an SLR.
You'll get more control over depth of field with an SLR. Oh, and don't forget you have the advantage of being able to shoot rapidly in succession so that you can show us the look on your face as you do a bungee jump !
Proper wide angle - equivalent of 24mm or more - without adding on supplementary lenses which means you'll still be carrying bulk around with you. It'll be lighter bulk, but still bulk.
Moderate to high ISO without a lot of noise due to their small size sensors.
Compacts don't like focussing on small fine objects, you'll do that much faster and reliably using an SLR.
You'll get more control over depth of field with an SLR. Oh, and don't forget you have the advantage of being able to shoot rapidly in succession so that you can show us the look on your face as you do a bungee jump !
OK I've decided. If only for the wide angle, it has to be the D70. The FX range is very competent for its size but there's just no control over any parameters.
However, I'll thin out the bag a bit and leave behind the macro lens and instruction manuals. And maybe I'll get the FX9 to replace the suddenly-ageing Olympus and act as emergency back-up. After all the corporate shoot I did today will cover it
Which is more than I can say of Rude Girls's suggestion...
However, I'll thin out the bag a bit and leave behind the macro lens and instruction manuals. And maybe I'll get the FX9 to replace the suddenly-ageing Olympus and act as emergency back-up. After all the corporate shoot I did today will cover it
Which is more than I can say of Rude Girls's suggestion...
I'd take the camera you're most familiar with (Nikon). There's nothing like being familiar with a camera when it's time to grab a shot. Struggling with a new camera can result in losing unrepeatable opportunities.
As for carrying gear it may be a pain at the time but you can't beat an SLR. I've just returned from Malaysia carrying a compact (Sony V3) and SLR (Nikon D2X). The compact was great for candid shots and carrying about in the evening but you can't beat the "SLR experience", not to mention the quality.
Nikon's SLRs are so intuitive too: easy to change aperture, shutter speed, ISO (we're all spoilt with these digital cameras now, no chance of loading the wrong film anymore...) I'd have cried if I hadn't taken my SLR...
I'll post some pics when I get the chance...
As for carrying gear it may be a pain at the time but you can't beat an SLR. I've just returned from Malaysia carrying a compact (Sony V3) and SLR (Nikon D2X). The compact was great for candid shots and carrying about in the evening but you can't beat the "SLR experience", not to mention the quality.
Nikon's SLRs are so intuitive too: easy to change aperture, shutter speed, ISO (we're all spoilt with these digital cameras now, no chance of loading the wrong film anymore...) I'd have cried if I hadn't taken my SLR...
I'll post some pics when I get the chance...
rude girl said:
Don't pack any clothes, we don't care what you look/smell like, but we do care how good the pictures are.
Good thinking WG - in fact the answer may in fact be here. I'm thinking bottom left myself...
Can't see how a bit of silver is going to prevent skid marks, though...
GetCarter said:
You were going to take instruction manuals?
They normally live in the bag. However, after due consideration, for I'm a considering sort of bear, I'm sure there's nothing I'll need to know that I don't already.
406 said:
I have the D70 manual as a PDF if you would like a copy of it.
Thanks Dave but this is going to be a computer-free holiday if I can manage it - by the time that PDF is printed onto A4 it'll be a bit bulky
!simpo two said:
You were going to take instruction manuals?
They normally live in the bag.
I got a D70 cheat sheet from www.Photobert.com Cost a few quid and has all the important stuff on an A4 sheet. I also got the SB800 and D100 ones. Very usefull.
Dave
cirks said:
simpo two said:
Thanks Dave but this is going to be a computer-free holiday if I can manage it - by the time that PDF is
printed onto A4 it'll be a bit bulky
I can always host it as HTML for you to access if you need to get to it from a cyber-cafe...
Cirks
Do you want me to send you a copy? It's a 20 meg PDF so I will need to send it to you by snail mail and I will need your home / work address
Dave
>> Edited by 406 on Wednesday 19th October 11:24
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