Is it wrong to..

[gokenin]

I have a canon s3 but I have to admit that the night quality has frustrated me I have gotten better at taking pics with it at night but , I find myself still thinking about an SLR. I went looking this weekend and tried the D80 a great camera but man is it heavy dont think i want to lug it around all the time so was thinking of stepping down to its baby brother the D40. I know that many dislike it because of lense issues but I was wondering is it wrong to simply buy the D40 as well as keep the S3 it seems overkill but I do like the S3 for the zoom,weight and majority of pics just that dreaded night shots thing that keeps nagging at me to up it to a DSLR. OK rambling at this point but does anyone think its crazy to own an SLR and keep the S3 at the same time?

[tinksdad]

Why not?

You don't have to justify your actions here!! ;) I think both make some good sense, because there will be times that each have their own merits and advantages!

[Master Mason]

what tinksdad said

[SharonLowe]

Ditto - I have more cameras than you can imagine, almost. Some film, some toy (holgas and pinholes), a p&s, my DD's p&s, my DH's p&s...

Can never have enough toys in my opinion. And, yes, sometimes I leave the dSLR home/in the hotel room and only use one of the others.

[YEKCIM]

JMHO, but once you shoot with a dSLR, you'll find the S3 collecting dust in the closet, unless you have another family member you can pass it off to.

~YEKCIM

[Steve's Girl]

No! Not wrong at all. I have the D80 and a small P&S that I carry in my purse. If you are buying the DSLR primarily for night photos, you may want to consider if you will miss the auto focus capability of some prime lenses. I'm sure you are already aware of this limitation with the D40. At WDW, I do use my 50mm 1.8 for most of my night photos. Other than that issue, the D40 is a great camera. I have considered it for my DH who is starting to take a greater interest in my camera. If you are considering prime lenses, I believe Sigma makes some that will auto focus on the D40.

[handicap18]

Nope not wrong at all. I think that many many amerture dSLR users also have a digital PnS camera. I have a Canon S30 3.2MP that I still use occassionally. Especially when I go out and find that the dSLR might not be to safe to bring along. For instance we went to the Jimmy Buffett concert yesturday and there was no way in heck I was going to bring my Nikon D50. With 60,000 wandering around you never know what can happen. Plus I couldn't bring into the show and I wasn't going to just leave it in the car. The S30 fit nicely in a little belt pouch. Takes decent pics and I could take into the show. didn't really get any good shots as we were way to far back and its only a 3x zoom, but it was nice to get a few candids of us hanging out.

There is always room for more than 1 camera.

[AndrewWG]

Yeah, what they all said!

I have the S2 IS and I love it still, but I went and bought a Canon 30D and love it more! However, I actually still use the S2 for macro shots and for video. I take it with me along with the 30D most days. I don't lug them both around, but they are both in the car at least. The 30D still goes with me into work though as I don't trust leaving it in the car.

I see no problem with what you are deciding to do. However, the only thing I would say is that if you really want a Nikon, it is a great camera but you would be more familiar with the controls of a Canon XTi, in my opinion. It will make the learning curve that less painful. It will be painful no matter what, but it is worth it. I'm still learning and will be still learning for a LONG time. For example, I bought the 50mm f1.8 lens that everyone raves about on here because I figured the f1.8 would be supreme in low light. Yeah, right. I'm sure it is but I haven't figured out the focus on that little baby yet so I get nicely lighted out of focus shots. I'll figure it out though and I will be taking nice shots of WDW at night in November, I'm sure. Either way, Canon, Nikon or Pentax are great cameras. I've also seen some great shots from other brands as well. Once you make the jump to DSLR it really does show that it is not so much the camera as it is the photographer that makes a good photo. Take the time to really learn how it is supposed to be used and when you are stumped and can't get that great shot, put it on AUTO and shoot away. Even shooting in AUTO on a DSLR will still be MUCH better in low light than the S3IS.

Ok, I've rambled enough now so my advice would be for you to:

Go for it!

Andy

[gokenin]

Ok that makes me feel a little better still thinking about getting the camera I probably will pick it up with just the kit lense which is the 18-55 mm but may get the two kit the 18-55 & 55-200 (not the vr version:sad1: ) but was also thinking about getting the Nikon 50 mm f/1.8D Nikkor AF Lens but the only question is will this one work with the d40?

[kimluvswdw]

I have a canon s3 but I have to admit that the night quality has frustrated me I have gotten better at taking pics with it at night but , I find myself still thinking about an SLR. I went looking this weekend and tried the D80 a great camera but man is it heavy dont think i want to lug it around all the time so was thinking of stepping down to its baby brother the D40. I know that many dislike it because of lense issues but I was wondering is it wrong to simply buy the D40 as well as keep the S3 it seems overkill but I do like the S3 for the zoom,weight and majority of pics just that dreaded night shots thing that keeps nagging at me to up it to a DSLR. OK rambling at this point but does anyone think its crazy to own an SLR and keep the S3 at the same time?

This concerns me, because I just came back from the store and was looking at the Canon S3. I was looking because my current camera takes lousy, blurry night pictures. The Spectro Magic parade always comes out blurry. So do the fireworks. Is this the problem you are having with the Canon S3? The last thing I need is to buy a camera and still have the same problem.

[gokenin]

the s3 does take good night pictures i have had sucess with fireworks and with other night shots but i have to admit it is not the clearest pictures that you can get. That is why i am still toying with the idea of getting another camera to supplement the night shots for the s3 but if you go to the forum there are plenty of night shots that are very good. I am just looking for a platform that will make them better is all the S3 is still a very good camera

[gokenin]

Yeah, what they all said!

However, the only thing I would say is that if you really want a Nikon, it is a great camera but you would be more familiar with the controls of a Canon XTi, in my opinion. It will make the learning curve that less painful. It will be painful no matter what, but it is worth it. I'm still learning and will be still learning for a LONG time.

Andy

I probably would but I dont really want to go out and have to buy all new memory cards I dont know why canon would have an SD card in the S3 then not have any except their most expensive SLRs take an SD card:confused3 I have to admit that is one of the factors that stears me towards nikon or pentax I know its cheap but when you have (6) 2g cards you dont want to just throw them away if you can carry them to the SLR

[AndrewWG]

I probably would but I dont really want to go out and have to buy all new memory cards I dont know why canon would have an SD card in the S3 then not have any except their most expensive SLRs take an SD card:confused3 I have to admit that is one of the factors that stears me towards nikon or pentax I know its cheap but when you have (6) 2g cards you dont want to just throw them away if you can carry them to the SLR

That's cool. I had the same dilemma, but I never thought about Nikon or Pentax really. I've always owned Canon so I stuck with them and now I have a bunch of SD memory cards that are essentially useless fo rthe amount of use they will be getting.

I don't know if that would be enough to get me to buy the D40 though. I think I would look more towards the D80 or a used D50. It might be heavy now (heck I said the same thing about the 30d about 3 months ago) but you get used to it real quickly. The S2IS feels cheap and flimsy now in comparison. If you are going to invest in a DSLR it may as well do everything you want it to do and not have to worry about which lens you buy.

Andy

[ericamcl]

Yeah, what they all said!

I have the S2 IS and I love it still, but I went and bought a Canon 30D and love it more! However, I actually still use the S2 for macro shots and for video. I take it with me along with the 30D most days. I don't lug them both around, but they are both in the car at least. The 30D still goes with me into work though as I don't trust leaving it in the car.

I see no problem with what you are deciding to do. However, the only thing I would say is that if you really want a Nikon, it is a great camera but you would be more familiar with the controls of a Canon XTi, in my opinion. It will make the learning curve that less painful. It will be painful no matter what, but it is worth it. I'm still learning and will be still learning for a LONG time. For example, I bought the 50mm f1.8 lens that everyone raves about on here because I figured the f1.8 would be supreme in low light. Yeah, right. I'm sure it is but I haven't figured out the focus on that little baby yet so I get nicely lighted out of focus shots. I'll figure it out though and I will be taking nice shots of WDW at night in November, I'm sure. Either way, Canon, Nikon or Pentax are great cameras. I've also seen some great shots from other brands as well. Once you make the jump to DSLR it really does show that it is not so much the camera as it is the photographer that makes a good photo. Take the time to really learn how it is supposed to be used and when you are stumped and can't get that great shot, put it on AUTO and shoot away. Even shooting in AUTO on a DSLR will still be MUCH better in low light than the S3IS.

Ok, I've rambled enough now so my advice would be for you to:

Go for it!

Andy

I agree with Andy...I'm upgrading from an S2 IS to an Xti in a few weeks...
I'm really excited about getting the Xti but I'm sure there will be times when the S2 is more practical :goodvibes

[Nikel]

I own 2 dslrs, the canon 20d and 40d, and I still have my s3. I admit it doesn't get used often, but for stuff like taking the kids to the beach or somewhere I'm worried about sand/water/etc, I still use the s3. It has mostly become my husband's though.

[ukcatfan]

Ok that makes me feel a little better still thinking about getting the camera I probably will pick it up with just the kit lense which is the 18-55 mm but may get the two kit the 18-55 & 55-200 (not the vr version:sad1: ) but was also thinking about getting the Nikon 50 mm f/1.8D Nikkor AF Lens but the only question is will this one work with the d40?

No, it will not AF on the D40 or D40x. That alone would keep me from the D40. I used my MF 50mm prime last month at WDW, and it was really tough to get the shot right. Keep in mind that your DOF is really small at f/1.8, so your margin of error for focus is extremely small unless your subject is really far away.

Not just a shameless plug, but have you considered the K100D with the kit and 50mm f/1.4? I got the 50mm f/1.4 last week for ~$180 with a $25 rebate. The body has a rebate also. It uses SD and AAs, which you already have.

Kevin

[YEKCIM]

...also thinking about getting the Nikon 50 mm f/1.8D Nikkor AF Lens but the only question is will this one work with the d40?

Technically, yes, the 50/1.8D will work with the D40; however, it will NOT autofocus. You will have to focus it manually, like we did back in the Dark Ages, before AF came about.

Also, fwiw, I'd wait on the 55-200 until you can spring for the VR model. Samples I've seen look much better to my eye than the non-VR model. Just my $0.02.

~YEKCIM

[ukcatfan]

This concerns me, because I just came back from the store and was looking at the Canon S3. I was looking because my current camera takes lousy, blurry night pictures. The Spectro Magic parade always comes out blurry. So do the fireworks. Is this the problem you are having with the Canon S3? The last thing I need is to buy a camera and still have the same problem.

Don't expect too much out of any p&s. I would not upgrade to a S3 for better night shots, because you will likely not be very happy. I say save your money towards a future DSLR.

Kevin

[handicap18]

This concerns me, because I just came back from the store and was looking at the Canon S3. I was looking because my current camera takes lousy, blurry night pictures. The Spectro Magic parade always comes out blurry. So do the fireworks. Is this the problem you are having with the Canon S3? The last thing I need is to buy a camera and still have the same problem.

Its been said many times here on this board... SpectroMagic Parade is one of, if not THE hardest subject/event to photograph at Disney. Even with a dSLR you still need the right lens. This parade incorporates both low light AND a moving subject. A dSLR with a kit lens will do better than a PnS, but you really need a lens with a very wide aperture. Thus MANY of us here on the photo board recommend on of the 50mm f/1.8 lenses. They are inexpensive AND have the wide aperture. They don't have the best focal length, but that can be compensated for with the right location.

Its all a matter of having the right tool for the job.

The S3 is a great camera. I've seen many great fireworks pictures from Disney taken with it. Any camera can take great fireworks shots. Its all a matter of what kind of fireworks shots you want and if you want to bring some sort of tripod. You can get very good shots with any camera handheld, especially with a camera that has some sort of Image Stabilization (IS). Though IS wont help with Spectro because for that you need a fast shutter speed to stop the action.

[gokenin]

No, it will not AF on the D40 or D40x. That alone would keep me from the D40. I used my MF 50mm prime last month at WDW, and it was really tough to get the shot right. Keep in mind that your DOF is really small at f/1.8, so your margin of error for focus is extremely small unless your subject is really far away.

Not just a shameless plug, but have you considered the K100D with the kit and 50mm f/1.4? I got the 50mm f/1.4 last week for ~$180 with a $25 rebate. The body has a rebate also. It uses SD and AAs, which you already have.

Kevin

I have looked into pentax but it is difficult to find the k100 i can find the k110 but if i go pentax i take it you want the shake reduction and the dust removal of the k100 or k10 but have looked into them and still trying to find somewhere that has either locally, but yes I am looking at pentax as well

[ukcatfan]

I have looked into pentax but it is difficult to find the k100 i can find the k110 but if i go pentax i take it you want the shake reduction and the dust removal of the k100 or k10 but have looked into them and still trying to find somewhere that has either locally, but yes I am looking at pentax as well

Buydig has the K100D for $445 with a $50 rebate. That is less than $400 for a DSLR with IS in the body! Throw in the 50mm F/1.4 for $184 with a $25 rebate and you have a total of $629 and $75 in rebates.

If you are having a hard time handling one, but can find the K110D, keep in mind that they are the exact same frame, so the feel is the same. If you have not handled either, look for a camera shop like Ritz/Wolf or a local independent shop. They are more likely to have a Pentax in stock.

Kevin

[Groucho]

There's no dust removal in the K100D, though many seem to feel that no dust removal system is really worth it. I fall somewhere in the middle - I suspect they help more than nothing, but they certainly don't work as well as some blasts with a Rocket Blower.

If you're after low-light ability, the D40 is not great just because of no AF with the 50mm F1.8. The K100D is going to be very hard to beat, with the same sensor as the D40, and nothing against the Nikon 50mm F1.8, but the Pentax 50mm F1.4 is absolutely a superior lens (generally considered the best 50mm there is.) Around $550 for both after rebate is a pretty amazing price - plus the 50mm will be image-stabilized, unlike on the Nikon (or Canon).

Now, if the D40 had an in-body focus motor, I think you could make a stronger case for it... but ultimately, what you'd end up with the D40 and 50mm F1.8 is a package that costs about the same, but with softer kit lens with rotating front, softer and slower 50mm with worse bokeh, and no IS. No DoF preview either, if you're concerned about that, and no top LCD. Not that the D40 is a bad camera, not at all, but I think the K100D is just going to offer you more. The big weakness compared to the D40 is the buffer size, it can't take as many continuous-shooting shots in a row, but I think it wins

I would avoid the K110D just because there's no rebate, so you'll probably spend just as much (or more) than you would for the K100D.

[gokenin]

well I have entered the world of SLR :cool1: and went out and purchased the K100 this evening got it for $499 from Ritz now i cant wait to get out there and begin to play with it and learn. I only have the kit 18-55 and it may be the only one i have when i go to disney next month so we will see what happens

[Groucho]

Congrats, looks like it's probably ~$50 + tax more than online (after rebate) but you have that instant gratification which you can't put a price on. :)

If you need to do low light, especially with the kit lens, don't be afraid to manually set the ISO up to 1600, you should still be able to get very nice results. You can even go to 3200 if you really need to... my "Live from Disneyland" thread has a number of ISO 1600 and 3200 shots from the K100D (though none with the kit lens.)

If you have time, I'd recommend ordering the 50mm F1.4 online (unless you can find it for cheap locally), it really makes a world of difference for low-light photos, and it's just so sharp and colorful!

[gokenin]

Hello as you know I am now the proud owner of a Pentax K100 I was using it this morning for a few shots and have am bitten by the desire to get a lense with longer reach to it (i knew this would happen:rotfl2: ), I was looking on beach camera for lenses and came across this Tamron 18-200mm F/3.5-6.3 AF DI-II LD IF first question will it work with the k100? and is this a good walking around lense and will it give me some of the long shots that I could get with the S3?

[Groucho]

I'm not really familiar with that lens so I can't say for sure, but usually, image quality goes down the longer the range of a single lens is. 18-200mm is a lot of range. For comparing it to the S3, I think that the S3 goes out to 432mm in 35mm equivalence, and with the K100D's 1.5 crop, you're getting about 300mm in 35mm terms. However, you should be getting sharper photos that can be cropped without losing as much quality. A lens that goes to 300mm will give you 450mm equivalence, but those can get a little larger and heavier.

Any Pentax-mount lens will work on the K100D, new or old.