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Re: [Killietalk] Dfgital (sic) recommendation
Mark,
Many folks adore their Nikon P&S cameras. They all are capable of very
good pictures, under the right conditions. As an ex-lens-designer, I
won't accept the horrible amounts of lateral chromatic aberration that
Nikon has discovered most of the public will tolerate. That is purple
fringing on contrasty objects near the corners. It can be fixed in
Photoshop, but is a major PITA. I also want lenses to resolve near the
cell level (>50% MTF) and most Nikon P&S lenses don't even come close.
That is, poor lenses cheat you out of many of the precious pixels you
are paying for.
What kind of flash shoe or PC connector do your Nikons have? I consider
off-camera flash as nearly essential for GOOD fish pictures. Many, but
not me, consider manual focus as an essential. I can live without it if
the auto focus is really, really good. On most of the older Coolpixs I
have handled it was too slow and noisy, but they had no manual over
ride. Perhaps I was overwhelmed by the awfulness of the 900 series and
modern Nikon P&S cameras are much better. I don't perceive they are from
the reviews, but admit I gave up on them some years ago. Camera design
is all compromises, and Nikon just makes some I don't find acceptable,
that's all. YMMV. There is some reason they are the #2 camera maker (#1
in Japan, this year).
OTOH, the Nikon DSLRs are great, but my stock of Canon lenses
discourages me from switching. Both Canon and Nikon DSLR bodies are good
enough that it makes little sense to switch and have to buy all new
lenses. Both lens families contain a lot of junk, but each has a few
jewels.You have to know how to read the specs and expect to pay more (a
LOT more) for fresh oats than for those that have been passed through
the horse.
On dropping a camera in the tank, a tripod can be a very big help,
there. ;-)
Wright
Anubias Design wrote:
> Wright,
> Being on my second point n shoot Nikon (dropped the first one into a tank), I'd have to disagree. I get some very good pics with these and bought a third one for my wife not long ago. The low end on the new models will start at about $150 so there's a range of price points.
> Mark
>
> Wright Huntley <whuntley at verizon_net> wrote:
> Mark,
>
> Those 8 models are mostly in a different world from the cameras being
> discussed by Tony for fish pictures.
>
> Over the years, the Point and Shoot Nikons (Coolpix?) have been
> characterized by very inferior lenses, huge shutter lag (slow autofocus
> and no manual over-ride), and no provision for external flash at all.
> They are adequate for still snapshots, but don't expect them to catch
> active children, pets and fish. If you like photos of fish tails, with
> powerful purple fringing, flash glare off the glass and poor focus, they
> may be worth waiting for, but I doubt it. Newer models may address some
> of these problems, but in the Nikon line I have only seen decent fish
> cameras in the DSLRs, as Tony describes.
>
> Canon, Sony, Oly, and Panasonic make non-DSLR models that can do a
> pretty good job, but I'm skeptical about Nikon in this area. Killy guy,
> Bill Ruyle of Huntsville, moderates a forum for P&S cameras at the
> Aquatic Photography site .
> The experts there know a lot more about this subject than I do. Check it
> out before investing in a camera that will not work.
>
> Wright
>
> Anubias Design wrote:
>
>> I was at my camera shop yesterday, where I was told that they'd have 8 new Nikon models in stock in the next 2-3 weeks. They recommended waiting for the new ones.
>> Mark
>>
>> Tony Terceira wrote:
>> At 12:00 PM 9/1/2007 -0400, you wrote:
>>
>>
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>>> Message: 3
>>> Date: Fri, 31 Aug 2007 12:03:11 -0600
>>> From: "Mark R"
>>> Subject: Re: [Killietalk] Digital Camera Recommendations
>>> To: "Dick Powell" , "killifish discussion
>>> list"
>>>
>>> On 8/25/07, Dick Powell wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>> I am looking at buying a 10 megapixel digital SLR camera. Can anyone
>>>>
>>>>
>>> recommend which brand and model is the best for general use and fish pictures?
>>>
>>>
>> First let me say that I am a Nikon user, and have been for over
>> 40 years... so surely I have a little prejudice....... my first digital
>> was the D100 . For me it is was a "no brainer" ...40 years of some of
>> the finest lenses made and all of them would work on a digital
>> body........... the cost of the body was incidental.
>>
>> Today I also own a D200 ...... the color rendition is amazing and
>> exceeds the D100. Recommending at digital at 10 mp there would be two
>> considerations,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, if you are a heavy user in many conditions,
>> then the D200 because of its metal body and seals. If you are a normal
>> user then the D80 ........... the major difference is the construction
>> materials............ metal vs plastic. These are the choices if you
>> have any other Nikon lenses since all of them will work on either body, and
>> additionally it has ITTL.. wireless off the body flash use.
>>
>> If I had no other lenses, then I would recommend the D40x which
>> just received Digital Photography's best buy................. the
>> difference is that some of the older Nikon lenses will not work with the
>> newer body.
>>
>> All of the camera's are 10 mp. More pixels is always better
>> since it is easier to crop and recompose without affecting image
>> quality. You surely do not need 10mp for 4 x6 or 8x10 commercially
>> produced prints.. but I'll bet you will want to reach in quality as time
>> progresses.
>>
>> Of course the true money should be spent in lenses...............
>> It is so silly to see people pay over $1000 for a camera body and then
>> attach a $99 lens special to it. Time has not changed the fact that
>> lenses are the key to image quality and photographers are the key to
>> composition. Always buy the best lens you can afford, and stick with the
>> top of the line..................
>>
>> For fish photography, I have just about every macro lens nikon
>> makes, a 60mm,105mm, 200mm and the new 105mm VR, but I am a little over the
>> edge in photography, and I do derive some income from my images.
>>
>> Stay with Nikon or Cannon, Stay a 10mp as the standard and that
>> is where the prices are falling......... a new Nikon d40X is slightly over
>> $650 for the body................ can be bought with a 18-55mm lens for
>> around $700.
>>
>> Then invest in the specific macro you prefer, probably the 105 2.8
>> which can be bought used for about $350 in excellent condition.
>>
>> Tony
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
--
Wright Huntley - 805 Valley West Cir., Bishop CA 93514 - whuntley at verizon_net 760 872-3995.
"But there's no system so imperfect that a helping hand from Washington can't make it worse."
-- Steve Chapman in Reason Magazine
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