New Camera Day.

[DrMoab]

It finally showed up.

Think I'm going to like it. Nikon D80 with a Nikkor 18-200MM VR lens
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g265/DrMoab/New%20Camera%20Pics/DSC_0004.jpg

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g265/DrMoab/New%20Camera%20Pics/DSC_0043.jpg

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g265/DrMoab/New%20Camera%20Pics/DSC_0045.jpg

[IntrepidXJ]

nice :) about time that thing showed up :D

[ECKSJAY]

nice :) about time that thing showed up :D

x2

:D

Congrats, Nikon guy. :party:

[DrMoab]

Went to the park but the light was wrong.
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g265/DrMoab/New%20Camera%20Pics/DSC_0065.jpg

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g265/DrMoab/New%20Camera%20Pics/DSC_0103.jpg

[Handlebars]

nice :) about time that thing showed up :D
OK, now it's your turn. You need a top notch camera to record and share your weekly adventures with us! :cool:

[IntrepidXJ]

OK, now it's your turn. You need a top notch camera to record and share your weekly adventures with us! :cool:

It's on my list of things to get....but it is not at the top.....so it will have to wait a while

[Brad M.]

Wow, I wish I was in a position to buy one of those right now. What sold you on the 80? From what I can see there aren't a lot of differences in specs between it and the 60. Just curious, as I know there is a Nikon in our future and the difference in cost between the two can be a few hundred bucks.

[MTNTECH]

Great pic's Doc, looks like their in HD format.

[Smittty9785]

nice pics. came out clean. Those the future MAOB king and queen?

[ECKSJAY]

Great pic's Doc, looks like their in HD format.

Are you being facetious?

[in2fords]

Those look really nice and you didnt even need to smell any nasty fumes to see if you wanted to keep them!

I really need to get into better digital cameras, Im still hauling around my F4s and N90s with all the gear that goes with them :( Atleast I've allready sold my Linholf, mamiya's and all 3 leica's. So far I've gotten 13K in old camera equiptment and I havent even touched the devolopment studio yet!

maybe one day I will fall back in love with pics, I guess I got burned out.

[DrMoab]

Wow, I wish I was in a position to buy one of those right now. What sold you on the 80? From what I can see there aren't a lot of differences in specs between it and the 60. Just curious, as I know there is a Nikon in our future and the difference in cost between the two can be a few hundred bucks.
I picked up a 60 and looked it all over. The biggest difference I could see that I didn't like about the 60 is it has no info screen on top of the camera. From what I could tell(and it was a quick look), all the info...Shutter Speed, F stop and the like you have to see through the view finder. I just didn't like that.

[xjblue]

Congrats Ryan, Looking foreward to see what you can do with it! we'll have to go shooting sometime soon, and welcome to your new addiction! I don't know to what end you have in mind for the camera or photography but the hobby was like shifting in to 4wd with the aquisition of a DSLR, now it is starting to kick in to low gear for me. Enjoy!

OK, now it's your turn. You need a top notch camera to record and share your weekly adventures with us! :cool:

Hey Alex, when is your DSLR coming in? The camera you have has served you well but I would love to see your adventures from an upgrade too! :wave1:

[DrMoab]

Congrats Ryan, Looking foreword to see what you can do with it! we'll have to go shooting sometime soon, and welcome to your new addiction! I don't know to what end you have in mind for the camera or photography but the hobby was like shifting in to 4wd with the acquisition of a DSLR, now it is starting to kick in to low gear for me. Enjoy!
Photography has been built into me.

My father has a darkroom in his house and I learned how to do B&W enlargements on my own at about age 10. Was doing color by 14 or so but as I turned 16 and got a car...that interest kind of went away.

I have been waiting for prices to fall into the affordable range on DSLR cameras in the 10mp range for a long time and they finally got to where I could afford to get what I really wanted.

Now I just have to get back into practice again.

On a side note...its really a shame that people have lost the art of photography in the dark room. It is funny how the costs have reversed them selfs. It is now prohibitively expensive to buy the chemicals and paper to do it on your own. I was searching around a little the other day and to get back into it, it would put the cost of a full version of Photoshop to shame.

My dad has one of these...
http://alps-art.ch/HomePage/Images/Pentax67II.jpg
A 6X7 format ashashi Pentax that I would love to get my hands on. One good lens for that camera now would buy you several nice DSLR cameras. My dad has several. It's just too expensive to do anything with.

[in2fords]

Thats why Im selling all my equiptment. I had enough to keep me happy for maybe a year, but then what? right now the prices are great for the sellers market, thought I would be selling to get a REALLY nice DSLR and program but instead the money got pilfered for the Jeep and the house's :(

[Handlebars]

Hey Alex, when is your DSLR coming in? The camera you have has served you well but I would love to see your adventures from an upgrade too! :wave1:
Me too, but I don't have the money. Shooting in RAW format and processing them in Photoshop has allowed me to squeeze more dynamic range out of my camera and had me happy... until I got to fool around with your images. I came to the sad realization that no matter how hard I try, I just can't get the detail of a DSLR out of the small, noisy sensor of a compact camera. Shooting RAW has the additional of burden of taking 15 seconds to write each 11.5mb file to the card, during which time the camera is locked up. I spent lots of time juggling that thing on Hole in the Rock while driving, waiting to be able to just turn it off. So using RAW for action shots is out of the question. Shooting night shots is now out of the question too. I dropped it right on the lens cap, denting the edge of the filter and the threads of the lens. I managed to get the broken UV filter off and a circular polarizer on, but that is now jammed at an angle after trying to get it back off, now it's causing vignetting in both right corners of my photos. I really should just send it to Olympus to get it fixed but I can't bear to part with it.

I really do like the photos produced be a DSLR but one thing about using a compact camera has changed my photography style comletely: I have not held a camera up to my face since about 2001. It seems like my favorite landscape pics come from holding the camera high overhead, my best candid shots from holding it in a postion like I am just fiddling with the controls while actually framing a shot. That E-3 looks like the only DSLR that comes with a tilt-n-swivel live view screen but I wish it had a bigger sensor like Canon or Nikon's competition.

I have been considering trying to get a weekend job as a wedding photographer just so I can buy a nice DSLR and get to write it off on my taxes. We went to a wedding a few weeks back and looked at the photos done by the hired photographer vs the one I took with Maria's Canon point-n-shoot. I thought my candids came out way better, I even captured the bouquet in the air with the bridesmaid that caught crouching down like a basketball center at tip-off.

[ECKSJAY]

Me too, but I don't have the money. Shooting in RAW format and processing them in Photoshop has allowed me to squeeze more dynamic range out of my camera and had me happy... until I got to fool around with your images. I came to the sad realization that no matter how hard I try, I just can't get the detail of a DSLR out of the small, noisy sensor of a compact camera. Shooting RAW has the additional of burden of taking 15 seconds to write each 11.5mb file to the card, during which time the camera is locked up. I spent lots of time juggling that thing on Hole in the Rock while driving, waiting to be able to just turn it off. So using RAW for action shots is out of the question.

RAW is really nice, but once you get the custom settings of a DSLR the way you want, you can shoot JPG exclusively if you want. There are nice bodies out there currently, but I'm still shooting with a D70 (not 's') that I bought in late 2003. I've only got about 15k shutter trips on the thing, which is rated to about 50k and I'm still producing outstanding images. The key is in the glass you get. I suggested the 18-200 VR to Ryan since it fits the bill nicely of being a very good walkaround lens. I still shoot with the 18-70 that came with the body in kit form, but would really like that VR lens. For greater depth of field (DOF) you want something with a wider aperture like a good 35mm or 50mm prime in f1.4 or f1.8 variety. I picked up a 50mm f1.8 for $109 a year and a half ago and have just been tickled by the results. The camera is a 6mp and still produces plenty for me.

:peace:

[xjblue]

I know what you mean alex, forgot you had a bunch of my shots to work with, and that is the relativley smaller Olympus sensor! I was impressed by it's percieved performance to size ratio, and the glass available for them and most importantly by it's compact size and how it fit in my hands so I bought in. The viewfinder usage came back to me like riding a bike but I do like the live view (wich canon and nikon are developing too now IIRC) for those times I want to lift the camera, A DSLR just isn't as stable to hold way up in the air as a small p&s might be but it has come in handy. I just picked up 2 4gig CF cards and currently shoot raw+jpeg simultaneasly (cuz I'm old school with windows file management and it wont thumbnail the raw images :nono: )

I read an article in the paper last fall about new filter technology - first major change in many years developed to replace the current technology used since kodak created it a long time ago, basically the light gathering ability of modern camera sensors will double or quadrouple! product with these developments are due to hit the market this year, supposedly beginning in high end cameras and cell phones.

So I've been putting off getting a new cell phone just yet :eeks1: , and plan on getting a prosumer camera body (whatever the upgrade from the E-3 will be most likely) after I build my lense collection a little bit and after the new filters are in place. I figure if I've learned enough that I can make money on the hobby by that point then it can spend it on swapping over to some high end Cannon stuff, otherwise the size and ability of what I have is great to compliment my other hobbies.

ECKSJAY, The Olympus kit lenses I have are nice though nothing like prime. First I was thinking of a new 300mm zoom wich i've wished I had with me on occasion recently. Then there is a killer high end fixed aperature macro that is second on my list but your lens advice is very sound. I may shift my priorities as I shoot with my 14-45mm quite a bit.

Ryan, my fathers camera is a pentax too, but nothing near as cool, your fathers camera can beat up my fathers camera;) Gimp 2 is free with an amazing set of tools for a free program, other than olympus software for handling raw I'm doing all my post production with it lately and have picked it up much quicker than Photoshop 6. But I'm still wanting full CS3. I've got a dozen rolls of slides to develop still, left over from my Pentax ZX5n days. I would use my fathers lenses with it to great effect. They were better than the kit zoom it came with (wich went south after I got some sand in it).

oops, typing like a :photo: addict

[Brad M.]

I picked up a 60 and looked it all over. The biggest difference I could see that I didn't like about the 60 is it has no info screen on top of the camera. From what I could tell(and it was a quick look), all the info...Shutter Speed, F stop and the like you have to see through the view finder. I just didn't like that.

Good to know. Thanks for the heads up, and enjoy your new toy. I'm jealous!

[DrMoab]

Went to a birthday party at the park tonight. Got bored so I went and found the ducks.

Ducks are very hard to get pictures of. They don't seem to move fast until you want their photograph. I wish so bad I would have had a tripod for this pic. Its a hair blurry.
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g265/DrMoab/New%20Camera%20Pics/DSC_0219.jpg

This guy at least stood still.
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g265/DrMoab/New%20Camera%20Pics/DSC_0234.jpg

[SCW]

I'm impressed Ryan. Looks like a good camera can turn even a ham-fisted clod into a pretty good photographer! :D

Do you touch any of them up in Photoshop or just take what you get from the camera?

[DrMoab]

I'm impressed Ryan. Looks like a good camera can turn even a ham-fisted clod into a pretty good photographer! :D

Do you touch any of them up in Photoshop or just take what you get from the camera?
No Photoshop. I don't have that kind of money.

[xjblue]

No Photoshop. I don't have that kind of money.


Download Gimp 2, it's freeware IIRC, it has a complete set of editing tools and filters. Not sure about RAW capabilities but I wouldn't be suprised if there are patches and downloads available. And a little more intuitive for creating frames and managing layers than photoshop IMHO. My only complaint with it so far is it doesn't calculate your image size while your choosing your compression level (neither does my Olympus Studio software, but gimp does give you a compression quality range of 1 to 100 % where as olympus studio only gives you high medium and low and photoshop 6 gave you a slider bar with 5 or 6 levels but did calculate pending image size to help with the choice)

The white one has some excellent detail in the feathers and the exposure is pretty good, "they say" to always have your focus correct on the birds eye with a narrow depth of field.

[ECKSJAY]

Download Gimp 2, it's freeware IIRC, it has a complete set of editing tools and filters. Not sure about RAW capabilities but I wouldn't be suprised if there are patches and downloads available. And a little more intuitive for creating frames and managing layers than photoshop IMHO. My only complaint with it so far is it doesn't calculate your image size while your choosing your compression level (neither does my Olympus Studio software, but gimp does give you a compression quality range of 1 to 100 % where as olympus studio only gives you high medium and low and photoshop 6 gave you a slider bar with 5 or 6 levels but did calculate pending image size to help with the choice)

The white one has some excellent detail in the feathers and the exposure is pretty good, "they say" to always have your focus correct on the birds eye with a narrow depth of field.

Have you used anything past Photoshop 6? They're light years past that nowadays. ;) I'm in CS3 with Nik filters and they blow everything away...

[xjblue]

Have you used anything past Photoshop 6? They're light years past that nowadays. ;) I'm in CS3 with Nik filters and they blow everything away...

I've been reading tutorials, thought cool you can do that! then realized it was a CS3 turorial, I want CS3 :worship: Just shaking my head about financial priorities and playing with free stuff in the mean time.

[ECKSJAY]

I've been reading tutorials, thought cool you can do that! then realized it was a CS3 turorial, I want CS3 :worship: Just shaking my head about financial priorities and playing with free stuff in the mean time.

Spot healing brush for the WIN! This image was edited for a friend using his old Sony digicam. Note the acne in the first pic. This young lady was VERY pleased with the end result. :) Thank goodness I take pics for a living...so this IS a financial priority for me. :D

Before:

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c206/PhilPic/Others/JenLarimoreBefore.jpg After: http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c206/PhilPic/Others/JenLarimoreAfter.jpg

And after some Nik Color Efex Pro filters:

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c206/PhilPic/Others/JenLarimoreAfterFilter.jpg

[Handlebars]

No Photoshop. I don't have that kind of money.
I got Photoshop Elements 6 on a coupon special at COSTCO for $55. I has RAW file development, although I had to download the (free) plug-in from the Olympus website to support my camera. Nikon should work right out of the box. :)

On a side note, what am I missing by not having the $500 CS3 version?

[ECKSJAY]

On a side note, what am I missing by not having the $500 CS3 version?

Finite control. Elements typically contains the common 'elements' of the full versions. :)

[IntrepidXJ]

OK, now it's your turn. You need a top notch camera to record and share your weekly adventures with us! :cool:

Just showed up today....Canon Rebel XSi :wave1:

:roflmao:

[Handlebars]

What you need is a nice field trip to get to know that thing. Meet me at Hite tomorrow at 10 am, we'll see plenty of inspiring landscape. :thumbup:

[IntrepidXJ]

What you need is a nice field trip to get to know that thing. Meet me at Hite tomorrow at 10 am, we'll see plenty of inspiring landscape. :thumbup:

Can't make that trip :( ...but I will be at the Colorado National Monument this weekend instead

[xjblue]

Just showed up today....Canon Rebel XSi :wave1:

:roflmao:

Congrats Randy, looking foreward to all your many future trip reports in higher res!


On a side note it came to my attention recently there are raw converters for Gimp2 and it can run most photoshop plugins. (still want CS4 now though)

[12 Volt Man]

Nice shots Ryan. You made a good choice on that camera. I've been thinking about upgrading my D70. Hopefully within the next year. That lens you have is the one I want. Lots of fun.