Nikon D50

[Favorite Auntie]

Okay, I did it! I bought it and I shoudl get it next week. I can't wait!!!!! I"m so excited.

Did you buy it at Ritz, they have the best price that I have seen so far, and you get a free printer.

 

[kldmom2000]

I've had a couple of friends who are professional photographers recommend this camera to me as well.... I am dying to get one, but DH is self-employed and Jan-April are their slow months so I don't want to go and charge it until I know we can safely do it.....

 

[christinadei]

Did you buy it at Ritz, they have the best price that I have seen so far, and you get a free printer.

No, I got it on ebay. It was large package that included the 18-55 and 55-200 lenses, a wide angle lens, a flash, filters, small and large tripods, 1 gig SD card and camera case for $998. I thought that that was a great deal. I can't wait to get it and start trying it out!

 

[Bojo]

Santa is bringing me one for Christmas; I hope he finds me at OKW! Can't wait to try it at WDW.

 

[Kelly Grannell]

I'm getting my bonus at work and want to buy a new DSLR camera with it. I want to spend under $1,000 on it. I'm leaning toward the Nikon D50. It is rated very good up to 1600 iso. The rebel is only up to 200 iso nad the minolta up to 400. Any thoughts?
Please help me decide, I"m so overwhelmed right now!

What do you mean the Rebel is only up to 200 ISO? I've been using both Rebel and Rebel XT, they are great all the way up to 1600 ISO. Better than the D50, actually (although not by much). What you say about Minolta is true, starting at ISO 400, the digital noise is horrid.

 

[handicap18]

Nikon also recently came out with the D70s so the slightly older D70 can be had (especially on Ebay) for less than what it originally sold far and only slightly more than the D50. The D50 uses SD media cards and is maxed out at 2 GB. D70 uses compact flash and those go up to 8GB. (you'll need lots of space with 6.1 mega pixels or at least want the option for the most space.)

Also the new Nikon D200 is being released soon and you will find people selling their D70 or D70s on ebay because they are getting the D200 instead.

 

[Geoff_M]

Also the new Nikon D200 is being released soon and you will find people selling their D70 or D70s on ebay because they are getting the D200 instead.

The D200's started shipping on Dec 16th. Early reports seem to indicate that it'll be a long time before Nikon can make enough D200's to meet demand.

 

[christinadei]

What do you mean the Rebel is only up to 200 ISO? I've been using both Rebel and Rebel XT, they are great all the way up to 1600 ISO. Better than the D50, actually (although not by much). What you say about Minolta is true, starting at ISO 400, the digital noise is horrid.

That is what I read in a photography magazine. They tested it and rated it.

 

[Kelly Grannell]

They are absolutely wrong. Which magazine did you read that from? Must be a typo.

Here's a 100% crop comparison between the Nikon D50, D70s and Canon dRebel (300D) and Rebel XT (350D) at ISO 1600.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond50/page24.asp

here's the quoted text:
"The cleanest image with the most retained detail is from the Nikon D50 closely followed by the Canon EOS 350D and the Nikon D70s."

 

[WebmasterAlex]

I LOVE my D50

But that Canon info is wrong

 

[WillCAD]

Best Buy has a Nikon D50 kit for $799, and the weekly ad for the sale starting tomorrow (12/18) says there is a $50 rebate, bringing the final price of the kit down to $749. That's a great price for a great camera.

http://bestbuy.dailyshopper.com/bes...storeid=2412887&rapid=0&listingid=-2096280948

 

[ramkam]

I had an interesting experience in an attempt to purchase a D50. An internet ad on Google advertised the D50 for $450.00. On the web page the price was $499.00 with the lens. I looked over all the information carefully and could not find anything indicating that this was not a new D50. So I order it despite the feeling this is too good to be true. Well it was. The next day I get a call from this company and they say I have to buy a battery and charger for over $200.00. I asked them about the battery and charger that comes with the D50 from the factory and they denied that there was such a thing and even if there was it was only good for 20 minutes. I told them that the web page said nothing about the camera not having a battery or charger. They did not care. I cancelled the order because the sales tactics did not strike me as appropriate. Moral, if it seems too good to be true it must be so.

 

[Kelly Grannell]

What you mentioned is a common trick of the trade on the internet. Just use logic and good judgement. A (say) $750 camera can't be sold for $500 unless there is something 'missing' (be it the battery/charger, used/refurb but sold as new, etc).

A couple of my friends were tricked into buying those 'cheap' things that ended up being much more expensive than MSRP.

 

[Geoff_M]

ramkam,

For more info on these types of outfits, see this thread: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=974351

 

[Jhuff8181]

Well I did it. I bought a Nikon D50. I am very nervous about taking pictures at my upcoming January vacation. Can anyone give me tips on taking night pictures with bright lights behind the subject and taking pictures of fireworks? Thanks for the help.

 

[Ratpack]

Congrats on your purchase, I have a D50 as well and I love it. Can't wait until our trip this summer to try it out at WDW. Can't help much with the part about subjects with lights behind them, haven't had that situation yet but would like to know as well. As for fireworks, the easiest I have heard is focus on the castle or other object, then put the camera in manual focus. Then snap the picture. A tripod with a long shutter speed will give the best results.

 

[Geoff_M]

Congrats on the camera... you'll love it. As for the fireworks, do a search on this forum for the word "fireworks" and I think you'll find several threads on the "how to" topic.

 

[christinadei]

Is there not a way to set it up so that you see the picture on the display before you take it? Do you have to look through the veiwfinder? I've just never seen a digital camera like that and can't for the life of me figure out how to change the setting. I'm thinking it's not possible because I couldn't find how do turn it on in the manual.

 

[Geoff_M]

Is there not a way to set it up so that you see the picture on the display before you take it? Do you have to look through the veiwfinder?

No, there isn't. The primary reason is simple: battery life. The #1 energy sucker on a digital camera is the LCD. Additional reasons are: the viewfinders on SLRs are a lot better (and more usable) than those on point-n-shoots, real-time critical information (shutter speed, frames left, flash ready light, etc.) isn't displayed on the LCD. This isn't unique to the D50. One may exist, but I don't know of a dSLR that allows you to use the LCD as a replacement for the viewfinder.

 

[christinadei]

Thanks. I figured as much and know they drain the battery. I don't mind using it like that, the pictures seem awesome (I havent' developed any yet) and the battery life is AWESOME. I charged it a few days before christmas and it's still full. I love this camera.