Greetings all...

[MindBender]

Sorry if this is miscategorized, I didn't see a general chat area. Been browsing the forum for a while and been trying to research jumping to a DSLR. Seems like a lot of great info and people here so I thought I would join.

I'm not a professional photographer, but I've worked in photo studios before. I've always loved photography and I really want to get back into doing it... hence the wish to get a decent DSLR and get shooting. The information here has been invaluable in the decision making and research process... so even though you didn't know you were helping.. thanks! ;)

Anyway. I'm generally a graphic artist... though I have lots of other interests, so hopefully I won't just be an info leech and I'll be able to contribute something useful. I participate in a few photoshop and design related forums that I've been going to for a while now, but this is my first one dedicated to digital photography.

Anyway... just wanted to introduce myself and say "hi".

Carry on. :)

[AlexMonro]

Welcome!

I look forward to seeing more posts from you. Do jump in and contribute to any thread whenever you feel you've got something to contribute.

[Gopher]

Ahhhh. A lurker in the bush doth emerge!

So, you getting a DSLR? Waddrya git'n?

[MindBender]

Lurker? Me? Yeah... you caught me... hey... wait a minute! You've only got a couple more posts than me! ;) hehe

I'm most likely getting a Nikon D70s with the single kit lens. Seems like a nice place to start and a good versitile first lens.

Just FYI... previously I've been mostly shooting a Pentax K1000 with a 28mm, 55mm, and 80-200mm zoom. I've used other cameras, but that's the one I own. Heh. I looked at the Pentax (and Samsung) digitals because I already have lenses, but I didn't like them quite as much as the D70s. The D70s just seems like a really good, solid camera, especially for the price range that it's in... I keep comparing it to other makes and models but I can't find anything comparable. I keep coming back to it. I looked at the Sony Alpha because it has some nice features, but the Nikon seems to still be the one I'm considering. OIS and dust removal doesn't make or break the deal for me.

Just waiting for the price to drop on the D70s... hehe. I was about to buy it one day for $949.00 for a package deal...eg. camera, lens, 1gb cf card, dust kit, lcd protector, card reader, etc... had decided definitely where to get it and which one. I got up in the morning... loaded the page... and it's $969.00 for JUST the camera and kit lens. I was irritated to say the least... much swearing. So I've been patiently waiting for the price to drop a little before I buy it. d'oh.

In the mean time I'm planning on getting a Fuji F30 for my P&S compact camera. I want to have something to tote in my pocket when I'm not lugging around a DSLR. Plus my GF would like to use a camera and she's not interested in fiddling with the SLR at all. heh I love to have a range of different light conditions. I shoot everything from bright sunny days at the beach to capturing lightning in storms at night... so range of light usability (ISO) and picture quality are my foremost concerns. The F30 seems to be a darn near perfect P&S. There are always compromises... but with the price drop and the $50 mail in rebate... seems like a good time to get a small one while I'm waiting for my DSLR to come back down. heh. :)

[Gopher]

I'd get the Pentax / Samsung, unless you plan to sell your Pentax lens collection or they were cheapos anyway. They're decent cameras and a good place to start. But that's me. If you're that patient for a slight price drop, you're not rolling in $$ so better to make it stretch. Are they fully compatible?

The Sony would be inticing too. Built in IS would save an awful lot of pictures - probably a D200 for 1/2 the price with IS. Yeah, I'd get that instead - if not the Pentax.

Going tried and true (your D70 choice) is a safe bet. Like the 1/500th flash sync.

Me, lurker? Nope, never could keep my mouth shut. Been on the boards, just signed up here.

[MindBender]

'd get the Pentax / Samsung, unless you plan to sell your Pentax lens collection or they were cheapos anyway. They're decent cameras and a good place to start. But that's me. If you're that patient for a slight price drop, you're not rolling in $$ so better to make it stretch. Are they fully compatible?

Yeah, that's the main reason I've considered the new samsung. It looks like a decent camera and I might be able to use the lenses. I'm not sure though. Only one of them is "automatic" enabled, the other two aren't. It's fairly old. I'm assuming that both the new samsung stuff and the k1000 use K-mount lenses, but I've never bothered to research it. I've played around with the D70s a lot and a few friends have them and like them. I really like how it feels and works, plus the images seem pretty clear. Hard to go wrong with a Nikon SLR really. Anything I get will be an investment. I really like the features on the Sony Alpha, but I'm leary of buying the first anything in a production run... and even though it's K/M camera to a degree... it's still Sony and they don't have the best track record for getting things right on the first try. Plus I hear rumors that there may be a nicer sony body coming out anyway. heh. There are only a couple minor things on the D70s that I would change... and even those are just annoyances... the USB speed, no battery grip, etc. Nothing that can't be worked around. Every other camera has more things that I haven't liked compared to what I have liked, so it seems that the Nikon is just a good solid all around camera. Hard to beat the price for all the features and functionality it has also. Love to get a D200 but it's a little more pricey than I wanted to go. The Nikon has a nice $600ish price point (body) but features that are closer to a $1000-$1200 camera in some ways. Like I said... I just keep coming back to it. heheh Thanks for the input though, I'm always interested in what people like and don't like and why. :)