My lust list continues to grow, mostly because I’m better at list making than actually breaking down and purchasing anything on them. However, since the time that Management and I first broached the topic of having a kid I always tacked on a DSLR as a required contingency. Honestly, how could I call myself a good parent if I were not documenting my child’s formative years with the best digital photography equipment that I could afford.
To torture myself I’ve begun researching cameras and think that I have settled on the Nikon D50, the D70s is too rich for my blood and the Canon EOS Rebel XT feels a might bit janky. Ritz seems to have a good price on it with a bundled Quantaray 28-90mm F/3.3-5.6 Lens for $549.99. Now, I’m not a photography professional–I occasionally play one on the Internet but only when trolling–and it is possible that a DSLR is overkill but I want features, customizability, and the flexibility that one offers. Plus they look damn cool.
Anyone out there among my meager readership have any suggestions on DSLR cameras? Is the D50 the best in its group?
I was talking to a professional photographer recently who was excited to be on the waiting list for some ridiculously overpriced nikon dslr…sorry I can’t remember what model but I understand nikons are general top shelf…
My brother-in-law did wedding photography for a while with a Nikon D70 and he loved it, the only draw back he said was the need for bi-annual service. I loved the weight and feel of his camera so hopefully the D50 will feel about the same.
I ran into the aforementioned photog at work today and asked him what he bought…it was a D200. He got some fancy lens with…total cost: about 3 grand canadian. I mentioned the D50/70 to him and he said that the D70 was much better…he thought the D50 was too dumbed down. Hopefully my friend Drew will post something here…his dad was a well known photo journalist and Drew has a pretty good sense of consumer cameras I think…
….That’s what I was afraid of. The D70 is double the price and I know Management won’t fly with a $1,200 camera set up. She’d tell me to buy a laptop and a point and shoot…. all the same I’m pretty dumb with cameras so maybe the D50 would be DSLR with training wheels for me.
The D50 is a great camera. Unless you plan on doing a pro photoshoot anytime soon, it should be more that enough for taking pics of the kid. The D70 is a better camera but not for what you would probably use it for. DP review likes it, and I think they really know what they are talking about.
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond50/
Well, if by pro photo shoot you mean plenty of shots with heads cropped off and blurry abstractions of feet than I’m your man! Actually this review, one hell of an in depth review at that, pretty much has me settled on the D50. It has just enough geeky features to keep me busy for a couple of years without being to overwhelming to pick up and use. Thanks for the link!