[Fordmanchau]

Originally Posted by manim

Though my heart want a DSLR, my mind is afraid to fall into the (bottomless) money-pit!

Bottomless money pit , only if you want to keep falling deep into it, I say.

Though it's early starting days for me with my DSLR. I am refraining to buy additional lenses till I atleast master some of the features my DSLR offer with the Kit lens and only when I'll feel that lack of lenses is limiting my capabilities, then i'll buy one and that time as it will be justified to buy, in my opinion I will not classify it as "Bottomless Money Pit".

Atleast with a DSLR you can learn some more nitty gritties of the photography and enhance your skills.

If D3100 at 30k looks expenseive. Check out Canon 1100D or 1000D, both below 30k or some other comparable models.

As I said, it all depends on you. How much you want to spend is your decision.

[WindRide]

Originally Posted by manim

Though my heart want a DSLR, my mind is afraid to fall into the (bottomless) money-pit!

I feel that fear is rather over-hyped.

Only those who suffer from acute equipment-aquisition-syndrome wallow in that pit.

Those who are surer of what they want from photography don't necessarily leak money getting into this hobby.

[shajufx]

Originally Posted by pjay_in

The 35mm f1.8 G is an excellent lens. The only issue I have with it is that its bokeh isn't that great........

Originally Posted by mobike008

Wide angles are definetly not made to produce bokeh. For bokeh's it has always been telephoto.......

May be these images might change your opinion. Taken with 35mm 1.8G on a D90.

Originally Posted by manim

......Though my heart want a DSLR, my mind is afraid to fall into the (bottomless) money-pit!

Dont worry, that fear of falling will go off once you are into it

Originally Posted by Fordmanchau

Bottomless money pit , only if you want to keep falling deep into it, I say........

Yea true, I must correct it as a "hypnotized bottomless money pit", because you realize the situation only after acquiring things one by one. But its not as bad as it sounds, you get to know lot of gadgets on your path of learning

NIKON D800

Anybody has got some solid news about the Nikon D800 launch or official press conference that will announce it by 24th August (this month) ? Two of my US friends are waiting to pre-order as they have got some green signal from their dealer. Its going to be a breathless waiting for all Nikonians around the world as the new cam is rumored to be 24 MP, HD video with the highest fps till date and the highest ISO performance in history etc. (Nikon is anyway known for its high ISO capabilities). Fingers crossed, I might sell my D700 soon !!! (hoping that's the bottom of my pit..LOL)

[Gurudatta Nayak]

I anyone having AS-F 50mm f/1.8G lens? I need user review.

[R2D2]

Originally Posted by manim

Though my heart want a DSLR, my mind is afraid to fall into the (bottomless) money-pit!

I used film SLRs and 2 lenses for till the early 2000s and beyond. This is even through I went digital in 2001 with Sony P&S digital 4MP camera. I bought another Sony 10MP P&S in 2007 and went for a DSLR in 2010..when I could afford one.


The bottomless moneypit will open up only if you allow it to. You do not need top-of-the-line equipment to take great pics. Buy only what you need, take it 1 step at a time and only when you are comfortable with the financial outlay.

Originally Posted by shajufx

May be these images might change your opinion. Taken with 35mm 1.8G on a D90.

I might sell my D700 soon !!! (hoping that's the bottom of my pit..LOL)

AFAIK a 35mm leans more towards normal lens than wide angle.

As for the D800, well my next stop will be a Nikon single digit (IYKWIM).

Regards,

PS - Doesn't Bokeh have more to do with the speed of the lens and the # of aperture blades rather than the focal length?

[Suess]

Originally Posted by R2D2

...
AFAIK a 35mm leans more towards normal lens than wide angle.
....
PS - Doesn't Bokeh have more to do with the speed of the lens and the # of aperture blades rather than the focal length?

ya, it's normal for digital sensors/format (with multiplication factor of 1.5/1.6) but it will act as wide angle on full format.

yes, bokeh in size is more to do with aperture and in shape more to do with blades. but focal length plays a role too. like if you have exterem telephoto(300-400mm or more) you can bring the object forward and isolate the background like with small aperture by shooting from a great distance. like fashion photographers!(though they still have lenses with little smaller(2.8f) aperture number than usual(5.6f), super expensive lens, you can only afford if you can earn super money with them.)

[Suess]

Originally Posted by Gurudatta Nayak

I anyone having AS-F 50mm f/1.8G lens? I need user review.

for Nikon you mean i guess, i have one. it's great. light on weight, light on pocket and great in taking pictures of anything and everything. i would say a must have.

[Speed Pujari]

Originally Posted by shajufx

May be these images might change your opinion. Taken with 35mm 1.8G on a D90.

I can see the forground is soft and the frame is full of bokeh. Apologies but the amount of bokeh in the shot is making it look highly unrealistic and unnatural.

Originally Posted by shajufx

NIKON D800

Anybody has got some solid news about the Nikon D800 launch or official ..., I might sell my D700 soon !!! (hoping that's the bottom of my pit..LOL)

I think Nikon should pay you a loyalty bonus LOL ;-) .. What are the good reasons for upgrading from an already highly capable FF to more capable FF??
Have you overpowered your D700 already? Don't take me wrong but the 35mm trial shot shared by you gives me a sense that your D700 is not fully utilized.

Originally Posted by Suess

.....!(though they still have lenses with little smaller(2.8f) aperture number than usual(5.6f), super expensive lens, you can only afford if you can earn super money with them.)

R2D2 must be blushing now. @Suess, R2D2 already owns the 300mm f/2.8 LOL !..

[shajufx]

Originally Posted by R2D2

....PS - Doesn't Bokeh have more to do with the speed of the lens and the # of aperture blades rather than the focal length?

You are right, the widest aperture (1.8 > 1.4 > 1.2) the better bokeh. Tele-zooms will give a very creamy bokeh not as pleasing as a prime ! But both are different types anyway, so it depends.

Originally Posted by Speed Pujari

I can see the forground is soft and the frame is full of bokeh. Apologies but the amount of bokeh in the shot is making it look highly unrealistic and unnatural.......Have you overpowered your D700 already? Don't take me wrong but the 35mm trial shot shared by you gives me a sense that your D700 is not fully utilized....

Do you find the guy's shirt soft ? The chillies on the lemon soft ? Both are from commercial street on last Diwali night, if you visit there once, you will know the potential. About the upgrade, I was kidding anyway, my next upgrade will be to a 4/3rd, following the footsteps of my Guru HW (Veeresh) . Did not get your last line. 35mm shots are from D90 and both are DX products. I have 50mm 1.4 for D700 for such bokeh shots. If I post one here, you are definitely going to say every inch of the frame is unrealistic and 35mm will be thrown to the bin

[R2D2]

Originally Posted by Speed Pujari

R2D2 must be blushing now. @Suess, R2D2 already owns the 300mm f/2.8 LOL !..

<don't know where to look>.

Originally Posted by shajufx

About the upgrade, I was kidding anyway, my next upgrade will be to a 4/3rd

Micro 4/3rds is an upgrade?! After a FX body? Now you gotta be kidding.

Originally Posted by Suess

ya, it's normal for digital sensors/format (with multiplication factor of 1.5/1.6) but it will act as wide angle on full format

Not really Suess, a 35mm on a full frame body is more a normal rather than wide. Wides are < or =28mm focal length.

Mods - Sorry, I saw this post after I replied to Speed Pujari and Shaju. Please merge it with that reply if possible.

[shajufx]

Originally Posted by R2D2

....Micro 4/3rds is an upgrade?! After a FX body? Now you gotta be kidding...

Hey no kidding, its an upgrade for me but a downgrade for the camera ! Lately I find myself not healthy enough to carry kilos of things around, so the 'upgrade' is meant for solving all those issues once and for all. Anyway the decision needs lot of contemplation and guidance. Its not an easy transition, but meaningful as long as photography is a hobby for me. But I am sure it will be easier than my move from Fiesta to Nano

One thing I found as a major change in my routine after the D700 took over D90; many a times cam remains at home than taken out, because of its cost. Its worst when the monsoon is showing its real power these weeks. Anyway, lets see how it goes in the coming months !

[manim]

Came to know that Nikon has a "Total Number of Pictures Taken" count in its Exif-data.
Now when I buy (most probably a D3100) will the count start from zero?
I want to ensure that I get a brand new piece.
Can this count be reset by the dealer?

(My local dealer has quoted 30K for the D3100, while flipkart rates are 31,962).

[R2D2]

Originally Posted by shajufx

Hey no kidding, its an upgrade for me but a downgrade for the camera ! Lately I find myself not healthy enough to carry kilos of things around, so the 'upgrade' is meant for solving all those issues once and for all. Anyway the decision needs lot of contemplation and guidance. Its not an easy transition, but meaningful as long as photography is a hobby for me. But I am sure it will be easier than my move from Fiesta to Nano

One thing I found as a major change in my routine after the D700 took over D90; many a times cam remains at home than taken out, because of its cost. Its worst when the monsoon is showing its real power these weeks. Anyway, lets see how it goes in the coming months !

Yes you need to be aware there's quite a bit of money strung around your neck whilst walking with a DSLR. Need to safeguard it not just from the weather but from thieves.

IMHO a micro 4/3rds can be a 2nd body, something that is portable and easy on your neck and pocket. Did I say pocket? Coz that may mean investing in another set of micro 4/3rd accessories.


But isn't a P&S camera the same thing, dare I say it at a lower price/performance factor than both FX and 4/3? I carry my little Sony P&S to more places than the DSLR.

Originally Posted by manim

Came to know that Nikon has a "Total Number of Pictures Taken" count in its Exif-data.
Now when I buy (most probably a D3100) will the count start from zero?
I want to ensure that I get a brand new piece.
Can this count be reset by the dealer?

(My local dealer has quoted 30K for the D3100, while flipkart rates are 31,962).

No Manim it will not be zero but will vary depending on how many shutter actuations were done for quality and testing purposes at the factory. Just make sure you get a sealed piece/box.

BTW, Canon saves shutter actuation count as well on some DSLRs.

Cheers!

Note from the Team-BHP Support Team : Please use "Multi Quote" option for quoting Multiple posts, instead of creating another back-to-back post.

[shajufx]

Originally Posted by manim

....Now when I buy (most probably a D3100) will the count start from zero?.....Can this count be reset by the dealer?....

Anything less than 50 is reasonable as that could be assumed as the factory testing of shutter functioning, burst mode and other related stuff. Dealer can not hamper the count as far as I understand.

Originally Posted by R2D2

....But isn't a P&S camera the same thing, dare I say it at a lower price/performance factor than both FX and 4/3? ......

Size wise 4/3rds are bigger than P&S but smaller than the smallest DSLR. APS-C sensor is used on 4/3rd so cant even compare the quality to P&S. Then comes lot of other features that are connected to the sensor and lens interchanging possibility.

P&S is any day best for the ease of carrying and hardly noticed in public. Almost everyone is having one, so using a high quality cam will go unnoticed to the prying eyes. I like the Canon S95 and Sony DSC HX9V when it comes to comparison with a DSLR quality. Lot of Pros are carrying them as a frequently used cam in their moves.

[kkr2k2]

Originally Posted by mobike008

....
I never saw what you clicked till date. Any link for your recent pictures?

You hit the nail on its head!!! I have not clicked many with wide angle lens. The only pics I have shot at wide are with the kit lens, 18mm @ f3.5

BTW, I am lazy at uploading pics which you are very well aware of for the last 5 years!!!

Originally Posted by WindRide

....
Only those who suffer from acute equipment-aquisition-syndrome wallow in that pit. .....

There is a funny name to it called as GAS (gear acquisition syndrome).