I'm an amatuer photographer and I'm looking into buying a new camera. Right now I have a Kodak EasyShare (I can hear you all laughing from here) and it's just not cutting it for me. It's great for candid shots for scrapbooks, but not much else. I started researching digital SLRs and came up with the Nikon D50. It looks like a good camera and from what I can tell, it's one of the cheaper ones on the market.
I guess I want to know if it's really worth it? You have to understand, even though it's apparently very cheap, it's a HUGE investment for me. It has to be something I can use. The two factors that it really needs to excel in is durability (I have 3 kids under 6) and shutter speed (Again, 3 kids under 6). Is the D50 the camera for me? If not, what camera would you suggest? I don't need the 6 MP that the Nikon comes with, but I don't want any less than 4. And I can't pay more than 1,000. Somewhere in the 500 dollar price range would be ok.
Any help would be appreciated! The D50 is the right camera for you. It's a fantastic camera for the price and a great step up from your Kodak or any other compact digital. With 6 megapixels, it can also make beautiful 8x10 inch prints.
Regarding your two main concers:
DURABILITY: Despite having a plastic body, the D50 is a rugged camera. It inspires confidence. Not like the old professional Nikons (you could use those as hammers, or tie 3 together to make a bullet proof vest) but the build quality is good enough to survive bumps, scrapes, small falls, and todlers. The nearest competitor by price and features is the Canon D350 (a.k.a. Rebel XT) and that camera feels like it will fall apart in your hands.
SHUTTER SPEED: I know what you mean, but technically the performance of compact digitals is not hampered by the shutter speed but by the following factors (which drove me nuts on my compact camera too):
* Compact digitals have electronic viewfinders. These transmit the picture to the viewfinder/ screen with a tiny delay. Just a fraction of a second, but as a consequence you're always pressing the shutter button a fraction of a second too late! The D50 has an optical viewfinder, so no delay, and no more missing the right moment.
* Compact digitals have a slower auotofucus than the D50, but with both it pays to prefocus (half press the shutter), and then take the shot when the right moment arises.
* Older compact digitals have a noticable shutter delay. This means that even when you're focussed, when you press the shutter button it takes a fraction of a second before the camera takes the shot. Newer compacts, and the D50 are instantaneous.
* Compact digitals usually have terrible low light performance. The maximum ISO is usually 400, with horrible image quality over ISO 200. With the D50, you can crank the ISO up to 800 with good quality, and up to 1600 in a pinch. This makes the D50 four times faster than compacts! (ISO 200 requires half the shutter time of ISO 100)
* If you want to, you can get a special low light lense for your D50. Something like a 50mm F1.8 lens. You don't have this option with compact digitals. I splurged with my digital SLR and got the more expensive 50mm F1.4 lens. With a lens like that, and the ISO cranked up, I can leave the flash turned off and take shots by candle light. Try that with a compact!
All of these factors add up to put the performance of the D50 in a different league. And there are other benefits, too. With kids, you'll appreciate that the D50 can take 2.5 pictures per second for up to 12 pictures in a row. And when you pick the D50 up and turn it on, you can start focussing before you even have the camera up to eye level. Flick the on-switch, and it's on. I must have lost dozens of shots with my Coolpix, waiting for the camera to start up!
So, yeah, get the D50 and don't look back. It's a serious camera. I've done free lance photography and my camera is just one step up from the D50. I highly recommend the D50 for both amateur and serious, gorgeous! Report It
I wasn't looking to buy a new digital camera, but you sold me. Report It
amazing read my friend; I have a D70 and many of those things you said are so true to beginners. Soon enough she will become a serious hobbyist Report It
The 50D or the Rebel is fine. I have the 20D and it is AMAZING...but it's about $1500! If you can get a few photog. jobs, advance yourself the money and invest in something good. It'll be worth it and pay for itself in the long run. I've recently tried the D50, and I was impressed at how good it was for the money. The shutter responded quickly, with no appreciable delay. As for durability, it appeared to be reasonably well-made, but not heavy-duty. Here is the rule of thumb for all cameras and consumer electronics: If you treat it nice, it will treat you nice. I saw it yesterday at Staples, with the standard Nikon zoom lens (18-55mm?) for $599.00. I've been using Nikons for 25 years. I've always preferred them for their overall quality, system versatility, as well as easy availability of lenses and accessories in the used market. Of the digital SLR's currently available, I'd say the D50 represents an excellent value. I have been into photography for quite some time just as a hobby and I recently started doing wedding and family photography. I shoot a Nikon D70s which is VERY similar to the D50. It was a huge investment for me as well, as I am not a professional, but I love it have been VERY pleased with the results. You won't be disappointed. Go for it! |
