any digital SLR photographers here ?

[lordsmurf]

Anybody else here a photographer... specifically somebody using a digital SLR camera ?

Wanted to bounce some ideas around...

I'm using a Nikon D1.

[The village idiot]

Not yet. Still wating for a good solution for me. I have several Maxxum AF lenses and film bodies, and wanted to keep those, but so far Minolta has been too stupid to make a digital SLR with removeable lenses. Hell you can get a stupid Rebel digital now at Best Buy. Minolta really dropped the ball so far

Would like to go with a medium format digital, but not enough money to even pursue that method. Something like a Mamiya 645 AFD with someone's digital back would be very nice. But I might get a 645 pro or pro TL to start, and then look for a back down the road. I already have a little 645 equipment, just a 1000s and some lenses, but I like it a lot. Just need the removeable backs to make a place for the digital back, so I have to move up a little.

Probably going to have to move to one of the Nikon based systems, maybe the Fuji cameras that use a Nikon base, I just hate to have to buy all new gear, including a new film camera to go with those lenses, since digital doesn't really cover every single need yet. It's also good to always have a backup!

For now I simplly get by with a Kodak 290 for my digital use. It's a nice snapshot camera, not good for too much more. I have found that most pictures can be printed up to about 12x18 with very good results, considering that it is a 2.1MP camera.edit I should also add that those are mostly from uncompressed files, though I have done a couple good jpgs that big too. 250 to 300 % is normally a good result, unless the picture is poor quality to begin with.

[lordsmurf]

I learned that Minolta sucks years ago. They are in the same company-class as Sega as far as I'm concerned. No follow-through and while their cameras often have nifty features, the cameras as a whole have never been as good as a Nikon or Canon, and at twice the price to boot!

The Fuji Finepix are nice. You can probably pick up a used D1 for about $2K to $3K these days, and those are still better than the Fuji and others (D30, D60, D-Rebel Canons -and- Nikon D100).

The biggest advantage of a top-end SLR is ZERO shutter lag, and this is pretty much only on the D1, D1H, D1X and EOS 1D. I hate the D30/60/Rebel for their shutter lag. By the time it fires, your shot is gone. The D100 is much better, but not perfect either.

The digital back on the 645 is nice. If I ever went medium, I'd grab that camera.

As far as digital-only, most photographers, at least in news and casual, are moving that way. I only use my F5 when I shoot models with slide. In fact, I either shoot all digital or all slide. I have no more use for color film, and I can easily grayscale digital images. The digital B&W is a lot more balanced than film.

I'm looking at getting a new lens and trying out some different things... was looking for another digital SLR photographer.

[spiderman2k1]

I was apro prographer about five years' ago doing wedding. I shot 2 1/2 by 2 /1/2 square format media format film. But I was also shotting Nikon's N90's and 8008's. I learned on Minolta I still have the Minolta 7000 but i sold everthing when I got sick of wedding's.

[Verx]

LORDY!

Took me the better part of three days just to be able to respond to your post (had to create an account, it didn't send me email for activation, then had to create ANOTHER account, then had to wait a full day before posting!)

Finally, here is what I wanted to say:

I bought my DVD burner SPECIFICALLY because I have a DSLR. I shoot a Canon 10d and although I don't shoot every day, I do shoot most every weekend, and I would say I am averaging around 2 - 5GB of images per week. I wasn't backing them up and I have been growing increasingly fearful I would lose some of them somehow.

Now that I have the DVD burner, all is grand. :)

So, what was it you wanted to discuss with another DSLR owner?

-Verxion

[lordsmurf]

For starters... I'm looking at getting another lens, possibly the Tamron 19-35 f/3.5-4.5 -- it's new, and made for Digital SLR photographers for the most part. Wanted to see if anybody had any good or bad reviews on it. What I've seen so far is great. I'm going to sell off my extra Nikkor 80-200 f/2.8 to pay for it (use the rest for bills).

Couple other things... forgot what I had originally wanted to ask...

[Verx]

From what I have read, the Tokina 19-35 is a better value for the dollar (it can be had for roughly $150). I normally purchase Canon lenses so I am not familiar with Tamron or Tokina personally, but I have read good reviews of the Tokina from MANY well respected people.

I have an 80-200 f/2.8 Canon lens that I wouldn't sell if my life depended on it. That is just about my favourite lens (followed closely by my 28-70 f/2.8, followed by my 50mm f/1.8).

Let me know what you decide! :)

-Verxion