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Dragon Rider · 06-01-2008, 06:52 PM

Well, its time to share the load (Ben has been very helpful in PMs on the pnwriders board), and with his input I have figured that I am looking at a system, not just an individual camera.

Background: I had a lot of fun with black and white in the 70s, yes I'm that old, deal with it. (in fact my buddy and I snuck our cameras in the star wars movie a few times, yes the original theatrical release, and he shot color, I shot B/W) he sent his color to a lab and said, I may have pushed it 8 stops, see what you can do. They sent it back with a note saying never do this again.

I just pushed and developed the b/w (b/w was all I could afford to shoot) and had the only 8 x 10 of X-wings and storm troopers in my high school. (took lots of hours in the darkroom to get the stuff to look decent)

I am looking for something more that point and shoot, so I'm thinking DSLR. I remember the fun I had composing shots and playing with the development, now I am not trying to recapture the past (I am old enough to know that futile) but I am looking to revisit a hobby that was once a lot of fun.

My budget is roughly 600-1,200 for a body and one or more lenses. Being a founding member of the CBA (cheap Ba#$erds of America) I would love something in the $600 range but I am focused on value, so if a $1,000 camera is 3x better than the $500 one, I'll spring for the bucks, but if a $500 system gets me 80% of the $1,000 system, I can't justify the extra $$.

I have read reviews and info till my head spins, (having decided on then rejected the olympus 510, nikon d40, pentax k200) and the result is I am leaning towards Nikon d80 or canon, either sale priced 30d or wait a month or so till the price drops (hopefully) on the Xsi.

I just read the new consumer reports, and their top camera is the Nikon d300 (nice picking Ben). But I can't spent 1,800. (I decided not to sell the transalp --- hello riders ----- and get a KTM 950) so I have some spare cash. (but washer just died, and the wife wants to remodel the guest bathroom) but not a lot a spare cash.

Mostly I would shoot macro (not just because it's trendy), action, and landscape.

so any info, input, comments, or cheap shots

welcomed.

TIA

Mark

06-01-2008, 06:52 PM	#1 (permalink)
Dragon Rider Member Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 47 From: PDX My Camera: Canon 40D	Oh, goodie another what camera thread Well, its time to share the load (Ben has been very helpful in PMs on the pnwriders board), and with his input I have figured that I am looking at a system, not just an individual camera. Background: I had a lot of fun with black and white in the 70s, yes I'm that old, deal with it. (in fact my buddy and I snuck our cameras in the star wars movie a few times, yes the original theatrical release, and he shot color, I shot B/W) he sent his color to a lab and said, I may have pushed it 8 stops, see what you can do. They sent it back with a note saying never do this again. I just pushed and developed the b/w (b/w was all I could afford to shoot) and had the only 8 x 10 of X-wings and storm troopers in my high school. (took lots of hours in the darkroom to get the stuff to look decent) I am looking for something more that point and shoot, so I'm thinking DSLR. I remember the fun I had composing shots and playing with the development, now I am not trying to recapture the past (I am old enough to know that futile) but I am looking to revisit a hobby that was once a lot of fun. My budget is roughly 600-1,200 for a body and one or more lenses. Being a founding member of the CBA (cheap Ba#$erds of America) I would love something in the $600 range but I am focused on value, so if a $1,000 camera is 3x better than the $500 one, I'll spring for the bucks, but if a $500 system gets me 80% of the $1,000 system, I can't justify the extra $$. I have read reviews and info till my head spins, (having decided on then rejected the olympus 510, nikon d40, pentax k200) and the result is I am leaning towards Nikon d80 or canon, either sale priced 30d or wait a month or so till the price drops (hopefully) on the Xsi. I just read the new consumer reports, and their top camera is the Nikon d300 (nice picking Ben). But I can't spent 1,800. (I decided not to sell the transalp --- hello riders ----- and get a KTM 950) so I have some spare cash. (but washer just died, and the wife wants to remodel the guest bathroom) but not a lot a spare cash. Mostly I would shoot macro (not just because it's trendy), action, and landscape. so any info, input, comments, or cheap shots welcomed. TIA Mark Last edited by Dragon Rider; 06-01-2008 at 07:18 PM..