Nikon D50 Digital SLR camera?

[Craig 930 RS]

Previously asked about the Canon Rebel XT SLR:
Canon Rebel XT digital camera -

Seems that the Nikon D50 is a very worthy competitor to the Rebel XT - a bit less megapixels (about 8 versus 6), but the overall cost including a telephoto is about the same as the Rebel.

The local camera shp pros like the D50 better and thinks it represents a much better value.

Anyone own one/would care to comment?

[Rich76_911s]

I've recently been frustrated with Canon products. I've got 2 of their cameras that are not working right now. One is a digital and the other is a rebel 35mm, and I take pretty good care of my cameras both have nice camera bags they always reside in. Due to my recent experience I would go with the Nikon, but that is my Bias.

[71T Targa]

I looked at both (as well as the D70) and bought the D50. It fit my hand better that the Canon, and had everything I needed that the D70 had. It's not quite as fast as the D70 but IIRC it was on par with the Canon. I love it.

[masraum]

Most of the stuff that the Canon does will go unused by 99% of the people taking snapshots. Something simpler and cheaper will almost always be better for most people.

That said, I have the Canon and would do it all over again.

[steveo123456]

I have a D70 and absolutely love it! It takes great photos and I can use all my older Nikon lenses on it. The D50 is a smaller body but I like the D70 for it's size. It just feels right, more like my older film cameras.

[Steve Carlton]

Highly regarded by Digital Photography Review.

[jyl]

One of my friends has the D50. He mostly uses it for people shots - kids, friends, traveling, etc. In that context, he gets really nice images with relatively little effort. Crisp, well-focused, well-exposed, and it's no sweat for him to shoot 300 images during a 1 hour soccer game, then pick out the best 20. Because of the 1.5X lens crop, a relatively affordable zoom lens gives him an impressive telephoto reach - like 450mm in 35mm equivalent. After we both spent a season photographing our kids' soccer games, me with my usual manual-focus Nikon F4 and black & white film, I've conceded that he's gotten far better images. And he's lugging around less than 1/2 the weight.

There are some downsides. None of his lenses are fast (biggest f-stop is appx f4), which means he can't use selective focus well. In dim light his autofocus doesn't work well, and it's hard to manual focus due to dim viewfinder and no split-screen focusing aid. He can't get a real wide-angle, not affordably anyway. In any sort of unusual situation he spends time squinting at the LCD menu and pushing buttons. So, basically, his D50 works best for daylight snapshots and action shots, and it works very nicely indeed there.

As for choosing between the D50 and other Nikons (D70, D70S, D200, etc), I am not an expert but I believe most people wouldn't really notice or use the difference, unless they are pretty serious photogeeks. I would be inclined to buy the D50 and put the difference into better or more lenses.

As for Nikon versus Canon, to me the D50 feels markedly better built than the Digital Rebel. The higher-end Canons (20D, etc) feel very nice, though. There is no practical difference between 6MP and 8MP or between Nikon and Canon lens quality, for almost all uses. One small advantage of the Canon line is that it includes a full-frame DSLR if you like wide-angle shots and expect to ever spend $5,000 for a camera. One equally small advantage of the Nikon line is that from the D200 on up, they can use and meter with the old manual focus Nikon lenses which can be had used for far less than the autofocus lenses of equivalent quality. I don't think either of those advantages should matter to most people.

Personally, I've been so impressed with my buddy's D50 that I'm shopping for a used Nikon digital SLR body for myself. (I'm going to get a used D1X, because 5MP is plenty for what I'll use it for, and it'll meter with all my manual focus Nikon lenses.)

[tomcrse]

I was searching for camera, but now i got from here, thanks

[Craig 930 RS]

Wow. Great info.
So, John & others, what do you think of the Nikon D50 with a 17-55 lens + a 55-200 telephoto?

This is the $900 package offered locally -

TIA!

[Craig 930 RS]

BUMP -

Another 'special' is on at Kit;s Cameras - per the above specifications.
What do you guys think of this setup?

[StevoRocket]

I have a D70 and a number of lenses from wide to super telephoto - the greatest thing is the easy, fast change of ISO rating which gives photos at high shutter speeds when you need it and depth of field when you dont. The 18-70 lens which came with the camera kit is great, a really usefull anywhere for anything lens.

Dont get hung up with megapixels - 6 or 5 or 7 or 12 - there is a difference between makes on the actual size of the pixel - so what matters is the quality in the reviews - Nikon always comes out exceptionally well.

Try www.steves-digicams.com for a great review site

[deanp]

Not an SLR, but I have a Coolpix 8700. Enough features to get me into trouble, simple enough to keep me out of trouble, not so many lenses that I have too many options to pick through. Love the photos I've taken with it and the simplicity I can dial in. 8 megapixel, can run 13" x19" prints at home with no problems. Printed 30" x 40" pics for a tradeshow with incredible results.

Few examples..... no photoshop work here except to resizing for BBS.

ALMS practice at Lime Rock '05







MotoGP at Laguna Seca - taken by the footbridge by the corkscrew

[Craig 930 RS]

$789 for a Nikon D50 Digital SLR Camera Outfit w/18-55mm DX AF-S & 55-200mm -52mm- Lenses "NEW" U.S.A.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7584629264

Seems hard to beat. What do you think, Steve (s)?
In general, is it ever truly worth getting a 300 instead of 200?

[RallyJon]

I don't think many people have purchased either a Canon or Nikon and exclaimed, "this thing sucks, wish I'd bought the other."

FWIW, the last criteria you should use to make a choice is megapixels. Beyond 5 or so, you won't notice the difference in anything short of a poster-size print. As was discussed in the last thread, lens quality is everything. Everything. A 5MP DSLR with a $1000 lens will take much better pictures than a 10MP DSLR with a $200 lens.

[motion]

Here's a smoking deal on the D50:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BWE4TK/104-6122437-6451132?n=502394

[Craig 930 RS]

Bought a setup. Damn, this camera is incredible.......