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View Full Version : First time using a (D)SLR


tibu
Mar-22-2005, 02:12 AM
Hi all

I just wanted to share my impressions with the first time for me using a DSLR (or any SLR otherwise)

Before I've used my Coolpix 4500 and I was very satisfied with it. I don't take that many shots, just some here and there for special ocassions and trips. I usually edit them a bit and post them to smumgmug. Anyway I wanted to go to the next level and I bought myself a Nikon D-70 Kit.

After I got it was a bit unsure if it was the right decision in particular because of the size of it and I also wasn't sure if I was good enough at this to make use of it.

But after using it this weekend I was really impressed. First of all by the speed, it is so nice that you can get a photo right there when you want it. NO waiting whatsoever.

I also learned a bit the controls and it is so much nicer to modify the settings using the controls in the camera than using the menus in the LCD screen. Same goes about using the top LCD to see the settings rather thanthe colour LCD on the back.

So beyond the pictures' quality, the usage of a DSLR is what it makes it also very valuable in my opinion. With the old one it took some effort to change the settings so I'd stay in P mode 90% of the time. Now I can change settings so easliy that I feel I can get better results

Also the quality of the picture is great, better that anything I've done before. Below are some examples taken at the local Zoo last weekend. Note that this ones had almost no editing on Photoshop, just perhaps some cropping

I'm so happy with this new camera that I wanted to share with you. Now I get why people are willing to put up with the extra size and bulk of a DSLR: you get not only very good pictures, you can use it a lot more efficiently

Regards
Carlos

http://tibu.smugmug.com/photos/17869753-M.jpg

http://tibu.smugmug.com/photos/17871519-M.jpg

http://tibu.smugmug.com/photos/17873441-M.jpg

http://tibu.smugmug.com/photos/17874133-M.jpg

Harryb
Mar-22-2005, 07:45 AM
Hi Carlos,

Thanks for sharing your experience with us. Those pics look pretty good. Are you shooting in RAW or JPEG?

JohnR
Mar-22-2005, 08:57 AM
Oh boy....now you did it! You are going to get sucked into this, you know that? First it's a 50mm lens...then you will want some reach..hmmm...the 70-200mm looks nice.. :wink

Congrats on the purchase! What lens do you have? Those are some nice shots.

BridgeCity
Mar-22-2005, 09:03 AM
Oh boy....now you did it! You are going to get sucked into this, you know that? First it's a 50mm lens...then you will want some reach..hmmm...the 70-200mm looks nice.. :wink

Congrats on the purchase! What lens do you have? Those are some nice shots.
:huh Wow that is scary... I got my DSLR for xmas and the first lens i bought was the 50 1.4.. followed by 100mm Macro. Next up is the 70-200mm 2.8

Are we all that predictable? :dunno

Glad you are enjoying your new camera! Hope to see more of your work in the future!

JohnR
Mar-22-2005, 09:04 AM
:huh Wow that is scary... I got my DSLR for xmas and the first lens i bought was the 50 1.4.. followed by 100mm Macro. Next up is the 70-200mm 2.8

Are we all that predictable? :dunno

Glad you are enjoying your new camera! Hope to see more of your work in the future!

Hehe..must be!

Nee7x7
Mar-22-2005, 10:01 AM
Congrats on your new purchase! Your photos are quite nice (it's really neat to see what a dslr newbie can do with the D70, and what you've done is very impressive!). I'm also considering a dslr purchase in the near future, so hearing about your experience with the D70 has been very, very valuable!

Darn, now I'm swinging back toward the D70... (I'm having trouble deciding what to buy between the D70, the Canon Rebel XT and the Canon 20D) I feel a little like Goldilocks...the 20D would really push my budget to the limits and it's a bit bigger than what I'd rather lug around, the XT seems a bit too small and kinda Mickey Mouse to me, so maybe the D70 is just right, LOL!

Thanks for sharing your photos and your experience...I'll be looking forward to hearing (and seeing) more from you and your new D70!

Cheers,
~Nee :)

JohnR
Mar-22-2005, 10:03 AM
Nee,
I have the D70 too and I can attest that it's a VERY nice camera!

tibu
Mar-22-2005, 11:25 PM
Hi

Hi Carlos,

Thanks for sharing your experience with us. Those pics look pretty good. Are you shooting in RAW or JPEG? They were shot in RAW + JPEG mode but the ones you see were taken from RAW. I wanted to test how to handle RAW files especially since there was lots of snow around.

After the experience I think I'll keep shooting RAW since I could adjust much better the white balance

Regards
Carlos

tibu
Mar-22-2005, 11:30 PM
Hi

Oh boy....now you did it! You are going to get sucked into this, you know that? First it's a 50mm lens...then you will want some reach..hmmm...the 70-200mm looks nice.. :wink

Congrats on the purchase! What lens do you have? Those are some nice shots. I'm already starting to feel the heat on buying more and more :-)
Currently I have the 18-70mm/f3.5-4.5G that came with the D-70 Kit and also a 70-210mm/f4.5-5.6D a friend gave me which is also very nice.

Now I'd like to get a macro and also a wide angle. But for the next year those two should do :-)

Carlos

tibu
Mar-22-2005, 11:33 PM
Hi

Congrats on your new purchase! Your photos are quite nice (it's really neat to see what a dslr newbie can do with the D70, and what you've done is very impressive!). I'm also considering a dslr purchase in the near future, so hearing about your experience with the D70 has been very, very valuable!

Darn, now I'm swinging back toward the D70... (I'm having trouble deciding what to buy between the D70, the Canon Rebel XT and the Canon 20D) I feel a little like Goldilocks...the 20D would really push my budget to the limits and it's a bit bigger than what I'd rather lug around, the XT seems a bit too small and kinda Mickey Mouse to me, so maybe the D70 is just right, LOL!

Thanks for sharing your photos and your experience...I'll be looking forward to hearing (and seeing) more from you and your new D70!

Cheers,
~Nee :) I also had some hesitation on whether to get the D70 instead of the Canon Rebel XT. One thing that swang the balance was that a friend of mine offered me his 70-210 lens.

I have read some reviews and so far I don't regret. As I mentioned one of the high points of the DSLR is how easy is to take photos and change settings on the fly. After reading some usability issues of the Rebel XT I think I made a good decision.

OTOH If I had waited I couldn't be taking photos now :-)

Carlos