patently Posted February 4, 2016 Report Share Posted February 4, 2016 OK, I need to get hold of at least one Nikon DSLR - and quickly. I'm not familiar with their current range (last time I looked in was a few years ago) so I'd be grateful for guidance or pointers. The reason why is that Master P is doing a photography course at the moment. He started off by borrowing my precious D700 from me from time to time, that arrangement has slowly mutated into me borrowing it from him from time to time. Anyway, he brought it to me today because it won't read the CF card and says the card is broken. Closer inspection reveals that one of the camera's interface pins is bent over So the D700 will have to go away to be fixed. Trouble is, in a week and a half he's flying out to Spain with his college for a week of intensive photography work. For that he needs a DSLR... and with the best will in the world I can't see Nikon repairing it and getting it back to me in time. Leaving without it will be catastrophic. So it will have to be replaced. I'd appreciate some suggestions please... I'll consider secondhand but we obviously won't have time to test it thoroughly and feck about if it's not 100% so it would have to be from someone who was absolutely reliable. Also, yes I know Canon make great cameras, but they don't make any that fit the array of Nikon lenses we have Ta Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tipex Posted February 4, 2016 Report Share Posted February 4, 2016 Not sure if any use, but you can get lense mount adapters to use Nikon lenses on Canon cameras, just in case you really wanted a Canon but that was all that was stopping you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patently Posted February 4, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 4, 2016 I think Nikon may have photoshopped some of the sample images on their website? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patently Posted February 4, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 4, 2016 OK, Nikon D610 ordered. Narrow it down to what I can afford and what will arrive in time and the choices get a lot narrower Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted February 5, 2016 Report Share Posted February 5, 2016 A good choice. I've always been a Nikon owner and even though Canon are on par nowadays (and some might argue some in the range are better), the Nikon interface is something I much prefer. I also think that prime Nikkor lenses are some of the best you'll ever see unless you're a Leica user. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mac Posted February 5, 2016 Report Share Posted February 5, 2016 Oh my, the Nikon/Canon war is about as personal as it gets - I find it quite comical! I wonder how good a photographer you'd need to be for it to actually make a difference? It's the same issue you get with swapping mobile platforms isn't it? It doesn't really matter which is the better platform, it matters which you're invested in. I've a 7D mk II and a Canon G7X - biggest problem I have is that the handheld G7X is so damm good, makes me wonder why I invested so much in the 7D*. *Wine+Amazon. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mac Posted February 5, 2016 Report Share Posted February 5, 2016 The 610 is a full frame unit isn't it? Now, here's something I just cannot get my head around - I find full frame units really hard Framing, sizing, just general use. I'm also fully aware this makes zero sense. Most of the photography I do tends to be landscape/travel stuff, with a bent toward the technical (night, movement, sport/underwater), so I've wondered whether that's why I find them so clumsy? It's why I've ended up with the 7D - best unit on a 1.6 crop sensor. This makes zero sense to me. Tried a 5D/6D and just didn't get on with them even though effectively the same damm camera but with a full frame sensor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarMad Posted February 5, 2016 Report Share Posted February 5, 2016 See I've ended up with a good hybrid of all of those. I use my Canon 5D a lot with the kids mostly with primes, 50 and 85 and occasionally put the 24-105 on the front. The FF allows me to get lovely dreamy portrait pictures with the lenses I've got when they are shot wide open. I'm considering selling all of the gear but I can't quite make that jump yet, for weddings its excellent and I wouldn't be without it. But then again I'm not doing any really anymore I don't have the time with the kids. For everything else I'm using a Fuji X-E2 with an 18-55 that starts at f2.8. It can take shots easily as good as the 5D and sometimes better it really is that good and the lens is amazing. I took it to Rome and instead of needing to carry around loads of heavy gear it all fitted in a nice small bag. People look at the camera with their huge Canons and Nikons thinking oh what rubbish is he using and they are totally missing the point which is probably what MAC is finding with his smaller Canon. It never got heavy or tedious when being out and about for the day and the best camera is the one you have with you after all. Finally I've got a waterproof Sony that we also take away. Its grabbed some great pictures of the kids on the beach, in the sea and a pool and its never missed a beat. One camera is never enough!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patently Posted February 5, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2016 Totally agree re Canon vs Nikon, I don't care in the slightest. I'm buying a Nikon because I have a lot of amino bits to fit to it. Same reason I stay with a iPhone. 610 is full frame. We swap the lenses with some older film Nikons, so a 50mm prime lens on one camera is also a 50mm prime on the other camera. Simple as that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tipex Posted February 5, 2016 Report Share Posted February 5, 2016 (edited) I'd really like a 'proper' DSLR and I'm quite sure that one day, sooner or later, Beer plus Internet shopping will result in one arriving at my door. But in all honesty, it'll be wasted on me, I currently have a Panasonic DMC-FZ50 which is getting on a bit now, it's a bridge camera with a large optical zoom. I chose it because it had the best reviews at the time and lots of controls which were going to help me 'learn' photography. The only thing I've learnt is that the camera is better at taking photos than I am, leaving it in Auto produces far better results and occasionally it takes a picture that I look at and think 'wow, did I really take that' which of course, while I might have pressed the shutter, the camera did all the work. If I do get a DSLR, it'll most likely be left in Auto too. Edited February 5, 2016 by Tipex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted February 5, 2016 Report Share Posted February 5, 2016 In years gone by (20 or so), Canon were way behind Nikon. Then Nikon forgot to watch as Canon got better and better and better. I honestly don't think you can split them now. Buy either above a certain level and you're getting a superb DSLR. They're not far apart on a compact level either, although the Coolpix range are stunningly good and the reviews seem to favour them slightly. I still want a Leica. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted February 5, 2016 Report Share Posted February 5, 2016 If I do get a DSLR, it'll most likely be left in Auto too. Don't buy one then. Utterly pointless. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tipex Posted February 5, 2016 Report Share Posted February 5, 2016 Don't buy one then. Utterly pointless. Yup, couldn't agree more, bit like buying an M3/AMG/etc and never taking it on track, doesn't mean it won't happen! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mac Posted February 5, 2016 Report Share Posted February 5, 2016 Hmmm, even basic non-auto on an SLR is a lot better than non-auto on a bridge. Effective depth of field on a decent lens is ace. Must admit though, I'd not buy an expensive body - got a consumer body but get a better/faster lens. I have an f2.8 zoom lens (as in f2.8 through the zoom range), and while it was pricey it's awesome. So, aperture priority, keep your eye on the shutter speed = awesome. Can't get the same results on a bridge for the most part. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patently Posted February 5, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2016 Effective depth of field on a decent lens is ace. Must admit though, I'd not buy an expensive body - got a consumer body but get a better/faster lens. Good point, lens choice is as important if not more. As they say, the best camera is the one you have with you. So long as it has an f1.4 5mm attached. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarMad Posted February 5, 2016 Report Share Posted February 5, 2016 Hmmm, even basic non-auto on an SLR is a lot better than non-auto on a bridge. Effective depth of field on a decent lens is ace. Must admit though, I'd not buy an expensive body - got a consumer body but get a better/faster lens. I have an f2.8 zoom lens (as in f2.8 through the zoom range), and while it was pricey it's awesome. So, aperture priority, keep your eye on the shutter speed = awesome. Can't get the same results on a bridge for the most part. FF camera with an F1.8 or less and that is just a totally different picture. You can take a picture of someones face with the 85m f1.8 and the back of their ears and anything forward of their nose is out of focus only the key parts of their face. The f1.2 is even finer, get yourself an 85 Prime Mac its a stunning lens or a nifty 50 f1.8. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mac Posted February 5, 2016 Report Share Posted February 5, 2016 Have a 50mm prime f1.4, don't use it much tbh much prefer my f2.8 zoom, way more flexible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobK Posted March 21, 2016 Report Share Posted March 21, 2016 I wish I knew what I was doing with cameras. I've got a Nikon D3200 and a Sony RX100 II which is meant to have decent manual features, but most of the time I leave them in auto mode. I sometimes use the scene modes but find they often give strange looking results. I know it's a waste but I still think you get much better results from auto mode than just using a phone camera, for example. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mac Posted March 21, 2016 Report Share Posted March 21, 2016 Forget about the fancy process modes, they're generally terrible. All you need to learn really is the relationship of your aperture to the depth of field, and the relative affect on shutter speed. Get those nailed, your photos will start to look a ton better. What lens do you have the D3200? For the most part I just use aperture priority and keep an eye on the shutter speeds. I'm hardly a pro photographer, but it's made my travel photography better anyways. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobK Posted March 21, 2016 Report Share Posted March 21, 2016 It's the 18-55mm kit lens I got with my previous D5000, which died on me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarMad Posted March 21, 2016 Report Share Posted March 21, 2016 Give these a read http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2013/06/25/first-camera-crash-course-simple-solutions-for-mastering-your-new-dslr/ http://canonoutsideofauto.ca/learn/ http://digital-photography-school.com/aperture-priority-and-shutter-priority-exposure-lesson-1/ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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