Quote:
Originally posted by nostatic
confession time: I rarely worry about the techical aspects...and infact shoot mostly in auto mode. I will sometimes shoot aperature priority to alter the depth of field, but 97% of the time full auto.
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Today's auto mode isn't your father's auto mode.
While I love slinging around my big cameras and standing in the dark with wet fingers, I use a Nikon D70s at work to document our prototype and small-lot production widgits. Sometimes I do some arty shots for propaganda purposes. The ability of the "auto-matrix-super-whatzitever" metering mode blows me away even in difficult situations. I get far more "keepers" with the digital camera...
If I were starting the hobby, I'd get a cheaper but modern DSLR (like the D70s) that has full controls and a good lens or two. With digital, the sensor size is almost as important as pixel count for determining how big of an enlargement you can make. I see pretty darn good 13x19 inch prints from the D70 that couldn't be made from a 6Mp point-n-shoot. No, it's not medium-format quality (I get a meaningful 70-100 Mp from 6x7) but instead you get more than 10 pictures on a roll and don't have 8 pounds of camera and lens to carry around.
Remember not to get caught up in the DSLR pixel arms-race. Paying $600 extra for 10Mp vs 6Mp gives you roughly a 66% increase in areal pixel density which works out to only a 29% increase in in the linear "resolution". That's not worth it in my book.
Oh yeah, shoot what you like. Lots of it.
mike
'78SC