Camera & Lense Recommendation
 

I want to save up for a good digital SLR camera.

I want to take macro shots of my tank, and have good zoom for outdoors.

I am looking at the nikon 50 or 70, anybody have experience with these taking macro shots, what lense(s) do you like?

I just bought the Nikon d50 for my wife's birthday. We're still learning how to use it, but we'll be posting some aquatic shots soon. It came with the 18-55 dx lens. We don't have any other Nikon lenses yet.

So far, an impressive camera.

Matt

I have been reading up on that camera and lense.

Where did you get it from? How much?

I have been considering ordering from this website:

http://www.adorama.com/INKD50K.html

I was a bit more impulsive, and had a delivery deadline. I got it from McBain, where they're on sale right now. Still a bit more than you'll pay with careful online shopping, but they'll honour the warranty locally and they're a good outfit to deal with.

HTH,
Matt

I just found this:

http://cgi.ebay.ca/Nikon-D70S-D70-S-...QQcmdZViewItem

Amazing deal! Now I know how much I have to save up. That package comes with the two lenses I want too.

Just remember you are going to get dinged with duty, GST and brokerage fees. I know when I bought my Canon last year I looked on e-bay quit a bit and by the time I figured their shipping fees, exchange, brokerage etc. it was cheaper to buy it in Canada. I have that same zoom lens and actually prefer the quality of my pictures with the 70-200mm lens but that's just me.

I will calculate it out, I need a shipping quote, and if they ship USPS brokerage is $5, and GST is always charged. There shouldn't be any duty on a camera made in the US coming into Canada.

I have researched the lenses all day today, and the 18-55 gives the closest focal distance for macro shots, and the 55-200 vs. 70-300 lenses for nikon are very similar, but the extra zoom of the 300 would be nice, and it is cheaper too.

Any places to recommend looking in Canada? The prices I have seen are so much higher.

Isn't Nikon a japanese company?

I am still learning how to use my camera. I bought it from a place in Vancouver and I'll try to find the name. For a macro lens I use the 100mm 1:2 - you can get super close and still have great shots. What I like about the 70-200 is the quality of the pictures over my 70-300 - there is really no comparison but like you say it is quite a bit more expensive. I use that lens for taking action shots at ropings and such. I really have to get one of those camera boats built so I can take some pictures of my tanks because I just have no luck taking them through the glass - they turn out aweful.

I think they are - I know when I researched the Canon there was duty because it was a Japanese camera and I'm pretty sure Nikon is as well.

I have heard good things about these guys in Ontario.

http://www.henrys.com/webapp/wcs/sto...&storeId=10001

The camera is made in Thailand.
Matt

McBain's is cheaper right now, and they're local... I don't want to shill for them, but even if you save a hundred bucks, these are delicate and expensive. I like having a local dealer.
Matt

lol, ok I know that Nikon is made in Japan. What I meant to type was that when it lands in the US first, and then comes to Canada it shouldn't have any duty. I will check the duty lists though.

For about $1300 all in, the e-bay package comes with a crapload of extras:
D70s camera
4 gig card
USB card reader
2 Nikon lenses
1 wide angle lense
3 different filters
Tripod
Aluminum carrying case
Soft carrying case


For $1900 at McBain I get everything the same, but no wide angle lense, no filter, tripod, or carrying cases.
I definately like buying Canadian, but not for $600 more for less equipment.

McBain does have the best Canadian pricing I have seen though, good link. I will probably buy their 35mm slide adaptor!

Ruth which Canon did you get? I assume you are using Canon lenses then?

I'll write to McBain and see how close they can come prise-wise to the e-bay store, if they can come closer then i'll consider them.

I have a Canon 20D. Most of my lenses are Canon but I have a couple of Tameron as well.
When I inquired about duty on cameras I was told that if the camera was made in another country without a free trade agreement with Canada then duty was payable regardless of where it is shipped or bought from.

I just checked the tarriff schedule, from what I can see digital cameras are duty free.

I phoned them and that is what I was told by the agent I spoke to.

That appears to be the case. I was bored (and interested) and went to a US site that has a shopping calculator (ecost.com) in a partnership with Canada Post's Borderfree.com service. No duty on a d50.

Matt

the new sony slr is coming out in july,i was gonna upgrade but i like my sony dscr1 too much

Hmmm, will have to research it then!

Ugg, don't get a camera with a 4gb microdrive. It's a small hard drive with tiny moving parts. They have horrible reliability. I've seen so many dead ones. You can get flash cards upto 4gb now, but the 1 and 2gb models are the best priced.

Here is some info on the upcoming Sony Alpha Digital SLR
http://www.letsgodigital.org/en/news...tory_8382.html

I will have to read up on the microdrives, I definately want somethine reliable, maybe a 4gig microdrive and a 1gig backup would be best.

Even better info on the Sony Alpha

http://www.livingroom.org.au/photolo...a_dslra100.php

I was looking at SLR's but decided that the delicacy of the camera wasn't for me. So i started looking at cameras that are noe preformign just as good or better than SLR's, you dont get the flexibilty of changing lenses, but lenses can run up to 300$ Im buying the fujifilm s9000 28mm-300mm zoom 9.2 megapixels and alot mor rugged than an SLR. Also all those cheap prices from the states are decieving. Alot of them dont ship into canada or use any type of P.O box system and alot won't accept credit cards from here and then you have no warrenty either. It's a big hassle for mabye 200$ off at the most. Look at www.camera-warehouse.ca they have some awesome prices and from alberta too.

tb

If it was only $200, but it is more like $600 difference.

And the e-bay link I posted

http://www.livingroom.org.au/photolo...a_dslra100.php

Ships to Canada, and takes Canadian credit cards.

Also camera-warehouse doesn't seem to have microdrives, large soft cases, or hard cases or tripods.

But their prices on cameras are not too bad.

I really want the ability to change lenses. I want to eventually have a nice 105mm macro lense for aquarium and other close up shots, and a nice telephoto zoom lense, at least 10x optical zoom. Can't really get that without SLR.

I will check out the fujifilm s9000 though, looks interesting, if it has decent macro capability.

Shadowboy, thanks for the fujifilm S9000 tip, it definately warrants a closer look at, I didn't know this class of camer existed.

This might be a good option for me, and if I desire SLR down the road I could upgrade, but this would be a good way to get more into photography for now.

reef geek if you like the look of the s9000 look at the sony dscr1, this would be my first choice buts its more than i can afford, only thing about it it doesnt have 10x optical zoom, the canon s3 is also nice

tb

i sold my sony dsc-r1 to stinky and pre ordered my sony alpha with the telephoto lense and caring bag for $1750.00 so i shoud get it between the 6th and the 10th of july

It will be interesting to see how their first DSLR performs.

Pretty cool specs with 10 megapixel, built-in anti-shake, anti-dust vibration.

Only thing is it was developed so quickly, just one year after acquiring konika minolta.

Comparison review of Sony A100, Nikon D70s, and Canon RebelXT here:

http://www.digitalreview.ca/cams/A100vsD70svsXT.shtml

don't go with the fuji s9000, or the sony. Get a real DSLR. The fuji's "super ccd" is not really that super, and the "SLR" sony has a HORRIBLY small CCD.

And if you want to do macro photography, you can look into getting an extension tube. Much cheaper than a macro lense, and great to start off with. Maybe $100 canadian, compared to a good $1000 macro capable lense. Remember when buying your camera, too. It's only as good as the lense. For every $500 you spend on your camera, spend $250 on your lense. May sound expensive, but remember. That lense will still be worth $500 five years from now, while your camera won't ;)

And yeah, I agree: go solid state rather than a microdrive. Microdrives are slow and have huge fail ratios.

here's a good site. http://www.dpreview.com

Thanks Kwirky, I have decided to get an actual DSLR, I am now torn between the D70s, and waiting for the Sony Alpha, because the Sony has anti-shake build into the camera body, and although it isn't a huge deal, the bump from 6 to 10 megapixel would be nice. And the anti-dusty technology in it will be cool.

After going to the store and testing out the s9000 and the sony, i found them to be uncomfortable to handle and the EVFS a pain to look through. I have decided in the end to gt and SLR probaly going to pick the olympus e-500 tommorow, still torn between it and the nikon d50. SLRs are probaly better in the long run because you can grown into your camera instead of growing out of it (in the case of the s9000) Always more lenses to buy, flashes etc.
Also does anyone have a D50 of E-500? IF you do,give me soem dirt on it. I've read every review to be written on them, and am still undecided, which camera is better?

hope ypu find a camera for yourself
tb

You really have to choose which lenses you are going to buy along with the camera body in order to compare them.


Some interesting reading here:

http://www.stevesforums.com/forums/v...57&forum_id=36

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-...id=00EfX1&tag=

I own the Olympus E-300 which is the predecessor of the 500. While it is a great camera and takes super pics with very little if any post stuff, I would recommend you think of lens's first. You will find that fast quality len's are expensive regardless of maker. Camera body's will change but the glass will be transferable. Olympus glass is as good as it gets but the cheaper kit len's is slow and will hunt to focus alot in lower light. Not able to macro either. The 50mm Macro len's is $630+tax.

Nikon has a greater assortment of glass but I suspect you will need to buy additional lens asap with the D50. Kit len's usually won't cut it. Also expensive but you can get other makers such as sigma for cheaper fast lens's.

Figure out your photo needs. Find out what lens works best for you to achieve your needs and go from there.

Great thanks for those sites, they have gave me a pretty clear answer, so Im gonna get the olympus and Will get back to you on it.
tb

My concern for the e-500 is the lack of high-end ISO capability. High iso with low noise is one of the major defining characteristics of digital vs film SLRs.

That and the lack of anti-shake in either the body, or the lenses.

But you do get a better anti-dust seal with the e-500.

Like the reviews said, buy the lenses carefully and you will be happy with any of them.

yeah, I bought a DSLR before a film SLR, then learned the basics of aperature, shutter speed, iso, etc. Then I moved on to a film SLR. went with canon because I had already bought a couple basic lenses for my digital rebel. Now, the guys at the camera store gave me an AWESOME deal on my film camera. I got the camera below cost, and a kick ass lense at cost. They were clearing out the last of their 35mm's. I slapped that new lense on my DSLR and wow. Big difference :)

the funny thing is, my film camera, which I only paid $300 for, has features $10,000 DSLR's don't have. It tracks my eyeball to figure out where to focus. I look where I want to focus. Actually, it's more like I just think where I want to focus, it works so well. Canon Elan 7NE. Nice film camera.

yeah, dust inside a DSLR sucks. I've had to clean my rebel's CCD twice now. It's not hard, but it makes me nervous every time I have to do it. And high-iso grain sucks in digital, too. film grain looks good. digital grain looks like crap.

I've used 4x5 view cameras, where grain = non-existant :D.oO(call me spoiled)

One thing I'm leary about still with sony is lense availability. You can get some VERY good lenses used if you shop around, but only with major brands like Canon, Minolta, or Nikon. I'd choose a brand where the lense market is already flooded so you can reap the pre-owned savings.

Or get a REAL camera http://www.thecamerastore.com/Produc...roductID=25457 lol
this is my next camera I'm buying, along with a whackload of pre-owned darkroom equipment so I can do stuff at home instead of at school.