Digital SLR heliphotos

apiaguy · December 9, 2007

After reviewing the other camera post I decided to ask for myself...

I want to get a DSLR to do some aerial photos and general all around photography...

My specs: I have 2 years of high school photography experience as well as a college class so I've had a few SLR's in my time but none digital. My wife has finally come up to speed with photography and is more motivated than me currently (so it's mostly for her).

I want to get the most bang for the buck (of course). So I don't need to hear about a $2000+ camera.

My wife says she wants the Nikon D80.

So all you phototypes can tell me if that sounds good!!

ps. I would ask this on some photography message forum... but this is one of the very few forums I ever visit. Thanks for the help!

me shakes fist · December 9, 2007

You can't go wrong with a Nikon or Cannon DSLR. It comes down to personal preference with those two.

I have a Minolta Maxxum 5D. I don't use it nearly enough but it can take some nice pictures. I chose that over the Nikon or Cannon for the image stabilization it has built into the body (rather than having to get a special lens). The sensor itself moves around to compensate for shaky hands and supposedly allows a picture to be taken in focus 3 stops slower than without it. Sony bought out Konica Minolta so they don't make my camera anymore, however, Sony's DSLR has the same image stabilization now, but I don't know anything good or bad about that camera.

I took these at an airshow here with a 70mm-300mm Tamron lens. Unfortunately it was very hazy. By the way, if you zoom in on those pictures (magnifying glass - top right) it will load the full size picture after a few seconds.

I quickly googled the D-80 and came up with what looks like a good comparison between the different Nikons with the focus on the D-80.

D-80

Browsing through that quickly, it might suit you better to look at the D-40 for the best bang for the buck, although that article is about a year old.

Edited December 9, 2007 by me shakes fist

PhotoFlyer · December 9, 2007

I haven't used a Nikon DSLR, so I don't have any direct experience, but their point and shoot cameras are good IMHO. My suggestion would be the Cannon Digital Rebel. They are tough as nails, and take great photo's even with bottom of the line aftermarket lenses. My wife's rebel has survived several 5ft+ drops, fallen down the stairs, and gone swimming 3 times. Sent it in after the third swim for cleaning even though it was still working fine. They repaired it under warranty even though it was 2 years out of warranty. Since I'm just a poor flight instructor I haven't been keeping up with all the new cameras, but anything nikon, canon, or even olympus would be fine.

Just out of curiosity, what features do you want that leads you to a SLR.

For what it's worth, my mothers business (they take evidence photography) swears by Nikon SLRs. I get nasty looks when I walk into the office with my canon.

apiaguy · December 10, 2007

The features I want in a SLR:

Good quality photos.... gee what does that mean? Our current point and shoot digital is 5megpix. (canon A95)

Rapid fire.... right now our digital point and shoot takes at least 5 seconds.... on rapid fire setting it shoots every 1/2 second or so.... The real problem with it is when you hit the button it can take anywhere from 1 to 5 seconds for the picture to take depending on the settings, focus etc..

Manual focus option.... sometimes that auto focus point and shoot just can't figure out what I want.

Better flash options

More lens options... wide angle shots.... longer telephoto etc.

C.R.O. · December 10, 2007

I think there are almost no bad choices these days when it comes to digital bodies.

I made a significant portion of my living using a D-1H and a D-100 for years, and still use the same cameras today (although both have seen better days).

If I was in the market for new camera, for the stated purpose, my criteria would be the following:

1. AF Speed

2. Shutter Lag Speed (How fast the shutter fires after you press the shutter button)

3. Buffer size (How many images before you have to wait)

4. Frame Rate (How many frames per second)

5. Battery Life

And down on the list would be image resolution.

Reason being is that I have rarely felt limited by image resolution in a digital body. I still use a 2.7 MP camera on occasion and usually use my old back up D-100 (6MP). The only times I have wished for higher resolution than that has been when doing detailed landscapes for large enlargements. What I have wished for was better AF Speed, faster shutter response, larger buffer (it only can handle 4 RAW images).

With that said, I think the D-80, D-40x, or even the D-40 would make an excellent choice. I would think any of those would do a fine job of capturing most subjects. A higher frame rate would be real nice for serious sports work, but these would do fine for pretty much anything else.

Of equal, or probably even greater importance, is lens choice. A 6mp camera with an outstanding quality lens beats a 10mp camera with a cheap lens.

One last thing, with digital, watch your exposure, treat it like you would transparency film; Watch the highlights, don't let them blow. I like to bump the brightest spot up to the edge of what the sensor can handle, or slightly past it, then let the shadows fall where they are. That will give you the greatest leeway when you get it into photoshop to adjust the contrast.

Since no photo thread is complete without some images, here's some shots from my ancient digital bodies:

D-1H (purchased in 2002)

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m215/Co...viation/F14.jpg

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m215/Co...viation/013.jpg

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m215/Co...viation/011.jpg

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m215/Co...viation/010.jpg

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m215/Co.../Airshow011.jpg

D-100 (purchased in 2003)

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m215/Co...H-102807A-s.jpg

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m215/Co...kyCrane-002.jpg

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m215/Co.../Airshow007.jpg

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m215/Co...tion/N2548S.jpg

Even a couple from the old film days (now I feel old)

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m215/Co...viation/009.jpg

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m215/Co...viation/024.jpg

If I mixed up the images, I doubt anyone would be able to tell which was which (except for the film images, those have a different 'feel' to them). Even if I printed 8x10s, I doubt most people would be able to tell the differences between these two digital bodies. Same can be said when looking at newer cameras.

Conor

Edited December 10, 2007 by C.R.O.

PhotoFlyer · December 10, 2007

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/5182...LR_Digital.html

I think that camera would fit the bill...

klmmarine · December 10, 2007

I have used Nikon and Canon SLR cameras, and am very partial to the Nikons. Nikon has been doing the digital thing longer than Canon (DCS cameras anyone....) and Nikon cameras tended to be built a little beefier when I was shooting professionally.

Focus was actually a little faster on Canon Lenses in my experience but they were basically plastic tubes with glass in them, light weight. Nikon was always a little beefier and the glass a little better.

Of course I will always be partial to my Nikons... I beat down a mugger in Hong Kong with my Nikon SLR camera (F4s with an 80-200 f2.8), and then shot his picture as he ran away.

C.R.O. · December 10, 2007

Of course I will always be partial to my Nikons... I beat down a mugger in Hong Kong with my Nikon SLR camera (F4s with an 80-200 f2.8), and then shot his picture as he ran away.

I love it! Not surprised that the camera still worked, but I am surprised the guy wasn't knocked out....the F4s is a tank!

I use Nikon simply because I got screaming deals on gear way back when....a F-100 for free, and a 600 f4.0 for $900.

sags · December 10, 2007

Hey I'm new here, but as a semi-pro photographer I'll give you some advice. I won't tell you what camera to buy, but here ate some tips:

First:

Remember that the camera & lens is not nearly as important as the photographer behind it. One of my biggest annoyances is people who say, "Your camera takes great pictures." or that a -fill in the blank- camera takes better pictures than another. It's the photographer that makes the photo, not the tool that they use. I equate it to someone telling Da Vinci, "Your paintbrushes make really great paintings" You can have a $5000 Nikon D3, with a $5000 600mm f4 VR lens. And it won't help you take any better photos, if you don't know how to use it.

I would get a cheaper body with some nice lenses, (because lenses usually have more to do with image quality than the body) and then when you have learned enough that you start getting slowed down by lack of some features (AF speed, ISO range, Frame rate, Dynamic range, etc.) Then upgrade to a nicer body. In short, do not get gear envy!

Second:

DO NOT GET CAUGHT UP IN THE MEGAPIXEL RACE!! The marketing gurus as camera makers figured out people like to have a single number or feature to judge a products quality by. (like horsepower in cars) In cameras it is MP. The truth is that there are to many other variables in a camera to judge it from one number. The MP number should definitely be near the bottom of your important features list. My favorite example is some cheap point and shoot cameras with a 6mp sensor, then they put a cheap plastic lens in front of it. Not to mention that cramming 6 million photosites onto such a small sensor creates horrible noise problems.

All of the DSLRs out there today have enough MPs. So as your looking at bodies don't worry if one is 8mp and one has 10mp. Focus on other features first. What features are most important depend on what type of photography you do. Example sports photographers need fast AF, high frames per second, and good high ISO settings. Landscape photographers usually want bigger sensor size, lower ISO setting, low noise on long exposures, and very high dynamic range. I still use 6x7 film for landscapes.

For your price range I would recommend cameras like the Nikon D40, Canon Rebel, Sony A100, Pentax 10D.

just go play with them and see which one you like, any of them is capable of fantastic photos, it mostly preference. For example many pros use Canon, but I can't stand the interface that Canon uses. Others like it, I like to have more buttons.

My last bit of advice is if you buy your camera as a kit with lens. First thing is to sell the kit lens buy a decent lens. The kit lenses are usually crap.

Me shakes first,

I'm a Minolta man too. For what it's worth I just upgraded to the Sony A700 from a film 7. So far I am very impressed with the camera. Though I do miss the dedicated exposure comp. and drive mode dials.

joker · December 11, 2007

Agree with Sags,

For all the reasons he mentioned, I now have a Canon 350D 8MP (Rebel?). Dumped the kit lens and have an 18-200 Sigma with stabilisation.

18-200 to be an 'all-round' holiday lens, so I only need to take that away with me. I think I lose a couple of stops (light), but most of my holidays are in the sun!

Only thing is for parties its a bit bulky. Now I need to buy a good 'happy snappy' for those party pics.

MegaPixels - I agree. Its a poorly understood concept. I bet most people with their 8-10mp cameras have never had to enlarge a picture beyond A4 (Letter) size. In fact, I bet most people don't even print out their pictures at all anymore!

While we are on the subject - hands up if you hate it when people send you a picture throught the post which is megabytes big?!!! I hate that.

So can I reccomend this FREE windows software? It runs in the background, identifies when you are sending a picture through an internet connection and shrinks it for you. 1.4MB down to 50k. When not using it, turn it off.

Shrink Pic - Free Image File Reduction Software by OnTheGo Software

Cheers,

Joker