Photography SLR camera, websites help

[troyvcd1]

I have had a Nikon N80 SLR (non-digital) camera with a nikkor 28-105 autofocus lens for some time now and I still can't seem to understand how to work it professionally. Ya I've rtfm many times but I still don't know how all the focus options work. Does anyone know of any good books that cover this camera good. Also are there any good websites that cover photograph and this camera.

Also I think that paying over $10 per roll of film at kits camera is too much. Surely there must be a cheaper way to get my film developed that still has good quality. Ive tried the cheap bartells and the likes and I have not been impressed with the quality.

[lordsmurf]

I'm a Nikon owner (F5, D1, f/2.8, f/1.8, etc), formerly professional (and hope to be again someday soon when the job market improves). I bought my mother an N80 when it came out. What do you want to know?

Find a place that not only uses the machine, but analyzes your prints and adjusts them as well. The best places imprint the corrections on the back of the paper. I can scan some examples if you want to see what I'm talking about. It costs about $3 per roll to develop. And then prints are about 25-50 cents each. I develop film and then scan negatives, and either submit to editors (for work) and print at home on a good Canon photo printer (home). Only print what you really want.

This is not a professional camera. This is an "advanced" or "pre-pro" camera. Quite nice, but a far cry from an F5 or similar.

Which "focus" option are you confused on? Focus tracking is automatic (a feature that follows a subject in motion). To autofocus, simply GENTLY hold in the shutter. To halt focus, use the AE-LOCK on the back, and be sure it is set to lock both focal and exposure (in the custom menu on the F5, I think it's on the N80 too).

BTW, use FUJI film for outdoors. Only use KODAK for shots that are heavy on skin tones. Try to keep 200 ISO or lower, and then learn to light properly. When you get color-reverse negatives down pat, learn about slide for ultimate 35mm quality.

I'll talk cameras with you all day, especially when it's Nikon.