Except for the top one, the other two were straight from the camera JPEG, shot using
The top one was shot in NEF and subsequently converted into JPEF using GIMP with UFRaw plugin just for the fun of it. Normally I only shoot in JPEG. For me ISO 1600 under fluorescent isn't great but hey I will take it. It's just that after sharpening (most often you should do USM, but I am too lazy to fuss with my pictures, I got to get on with my hobby ...) the noise got worse. But since I am not submitting my images to Getty, I guess they are OKAY.
All shots using AF Nikkor 80~200 f2.8D. I have been using my D70 for over a year or two, and overall I am pretty happy with the results. And the kit lens 18~70 really exceeds my expectation.
Nikon is doing pretty well in the amateur DSLR market with models like D80 and below. But for the pro market, I believe Canon takes the lead. 2008 Olympics is about a year from now. Hopefully Nikon will have the next pro models ready for the big game.
I checked and wow, it's impressive. There's so much to know about digital photography.
ReplyDeleteIs this AF Nikkor 80~200 f2.8D a new addition to your collection of lenses or not? That's cool, man.
I've been wanting to buy the Canon EOS 400D for quite some time. I hope I'm able to get it pretty soon.
Swimming is a good sport and an important survival skill. All kids should learn how to swim.
yes.
ReplyDeleteyes. after agonizing over many years, i finally bought one end of last year. I am still learning how to shoot it. The thing weighs a ton, definitely heavier than the D70 body, so you have to hold it right. plus focal length 200, you almost always want to shoot at 1/250 s or above to avoid visible camera shake. I have steady hands but if you open up the picture 100%, you see the blur sometimes...
You can't go wrong buying Canon EOS. It's the market leader. From what I read, Canon performs exceptionally well in low light situation, or in another word shooting in high ISO. Just make sure you get yourself a decent lens. Don't get cheap on the lens, its the lens that take the pictures. The camera becomes obsolete in a year or two, the lens shouldn't.
yes.
I won't get cheap lenses. I've had a Tamron zoom lens and that's enough. I'm saving up and working my arse off to get the money.
ReplyDeleteBefore I buy my first and probably last DSLR, I'll consult you again because I'm still a bit undecided whether I should go for the EOS 400D or Nikon's D80.
At 45.9 oz. your Nikkor zoom lens is real heavy. If you can afford it comfortably, then go for it. You're THE photographer, man.
Yes, I'm very satisfied with the performance of my Canon IXUS 65. It takes great pictures over all, and yes, especially under low-light conditions.
Sid suddenly become a rich man, D80 or EOS400D, I still plan to buy my first DSLR D40, that's only one that I can afford, the D40 kit costs HK$4980, I still think it's too "expensive". Robert, the pics are beautiful, next time try to shoot some pics under the water, say 2 to 5 meters, I think you D70 can make it.
ReplyDeleteA quick comparison between D80 and Canon's 400D can be found at dpreview.com. One of the few things I like about my D70 are spot metering and long lasting battery. I didn't use spot metering much before but now I can see its merits more and more. At the very least, it gives you one more option to meter. Can your Tamron's zoom lens work on the EOS? You better check it out.
ReplyDeleteNo, my D70 is not waterproof, unless I buy a casing for underwater shooting. There is no way I will shoot it underwater.
Robert,
ReplyDeleteAre my expensive standard lens that goes with my fm2 obsolete now?
I know I am obolete. That's part of the plan. But how about the equipment?
Vincent
I remember your standard lens is a AIS MF Nikkor 50mm f1.2, I think it's a good lens.
ReplyDeleteIf you were to buy a Nikon D200 or above, you can still use it, sans autofocus, but you can still use light metering with some restrictions. If you buy anything D80 or below, you "can" still use it, but the camera can't meter with it. If that's what you mean by obsolete.
If you still shoot film using your FM2, then you lens is just perfect.
Or you can switch to Canon, buy the top of the line camera and their top of the line lenses, start from scratch.
I have my MF AIS 50mm f1.4. It went through a lot. One time I had a car accident on Garden State Parkway when I was still an undergraduate student. A friend of mine was behind the wheel. It was raining at night. And he totaled the car by crashing it. I was knocked off unconscious, for a minute of two I woke up without remembering a thing. Good thing I wore my seatbelt. My 50mm f1.4 was crashed out of alignment but the lens was still good and I sent it back to my brother in Hong Kong to have it fixed. Now I still use it, one of my favorite lens.
I think I can use my Tamron zoom lens on an EOS DSLR, with a different mount and sans autofocus. But I don't know anything about metering.
ReplyDeleteWill, I didn't become suddenly rich. I'm always rich [depending how you define being rich], but I refrain from buying stuff I don't need.
For instance I can afford a BMW 318i or 320i right away [by monthly instalments of course] but I'm perfectly happy with my OPEL, notwithstanding the troublesome air-con. I think a decent DSLR is going to be my next target.
Robert, I still remember that crash. Your chest was hurting for quite a while. It's vivid in my brain. You were being lucky, man. A classmate of mine got killed in a car crash in the US and another one, who's a very close friend of Hong's and mine, committed suicide while pursuing his study in Hawaii.
I used to own a Tamron lens long time ago, it's lost in Hong Kong somewhere. Back then, you bought the lens and a separate mount for whatever camera model you have, may that be Nikon or Canon.
ReplyDeleteNowadays, I don't know if Tamron works that way or not. Canon changes its mount over the years, unlike Nikon. So I don't know if you can buy a Canon mount for your old Tamron lens to work on your latest sweet Canon 400D. Assuming you can actually screw in the lens with the right mount, I don't think it's that easy to focus. I mean it's doable. My experience is I can screw in all my MF lens to my D70, but manual focusing is not pleasant, the view finder doesn't have the good old split focusing screen and it's generally darker than your old film 35mm FM2. Like I mention before, the lens probably not meter with your camera, that's light metering, it won't tell you what f-stop is given a shutter speed or vice versa. You have to guess based on looking at the preview of the LCD screen which isn't that great to judge picture sharpness or focusing accuracy....
OKAY, I will stop.
I also remembered the accident that you guys mentioned about, Sid, if you can afford a BMW, go for it. You buy it not necessarily means that you need it. You can own it for your pleasure, yesterday I bought a cheap China made James Bond pistol, Walter PPK at HK$60, for my cheap hobby only
ReplyDeleteI'll buy a standard Canon AF lens, perhaps the one that comes with the EOS 400D kit.
ReplyDeleteAnd then, after familiarising myself with it and working my ass off for some time to get the cash, I'll consider buying a decent Canon zoom lens.
I'll consult you again before committing myself to any one lens. I think I've got a faint idea of what f-stop is. Increasing f-numbers mean decreasing apertures, and each stop represents halving the light-gathering area of the previous one. It also affects the depth of field of a picture, right? There's so much to learn from you about photography and computer technology.
I always consider that there's a certain extent of similarity between the interaction of aperture/shutter speed of a camera and the clutch/gas pedal of a car with manual transmission. Interesting, right?
I own a Nikkon AF35-70 Len in my last F60, now stored in my cabinet, if you guys want to buy, I can sell to you
ReplyDeleteI wonder what version of Nikkor 35~70 you have? If it's constant f2.8, it's a very good one. Otherwise it's a paper weight. Knowing your spending pattern, I am pretty sure you have the paper weight Nikkor 35~70 f3.5~4.5.
ReplyDelete