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The "Digital SLR that isn't Canon or Nikon" Thread - Page 4

post #46 of 102
6/12/10 at 8:37am

Get a UV filter, they're pretty cheap.  As for lenses, you should browse around and read reviews of lenses and pick something new out to use.  You don't like the 18-55 (I'm assuming that's what it came with)?

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post #47 of 102
6/12/10 at 8:54am
Thread Starter 

I've been looking for prime lenses myself, and for portrait work/low light work it seems that the 50mm f/1.4 is one of the best lenses money can buy, albeit at a price.The Sigma f/2.8 50mm macro is about $60 cheaper and also an all-around good lens.

 

I also wasn't terribly happy with the 18-55, even though reviewers raved about it.

 

If thats too much money still, I'll see what I can find under that.

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post #48 of 102
6/12/10 at 3:53pm

I just used my giflriends 50mm lens from her old pentax manual camera, and i don't really know what im doing or if that lens is even compatible with the k-x, but i somehow screwed it on there, and it works!  but... on the info screen, everything is blinking, i can't chang the aperture or anything it's just all blinking.  Does anyone have any advice?  Is this lens even supposed to work with a dslr?

 

Also, how do I know which lens will fully integrate with the k-x.  i don't like the 18-55 that came with it, but will any other lens have that autofocus feature? (where you press halfway and it autofocuses?)

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post #49 of 102
6/12/10 at 8:50pm

Hey bastogne,

 

Try this link.

 

If you don't have the time to read through all that, then jump to about the middle of the page and it explains the blinking F- -.

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post #50 of 102
6/13/10 at 2:34am

hmm i got a sony a330 with the default lens ........   My first DSLR but it does take good enough photos for a amateur i guess.

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post #51 of 102
6/13/10 at 7:59pm

I had a question.  My mom's set a budget of a max of $600, but she needs a new camera within the next two weeks (she said she'll buy more lenses later).  She's quite experienced with SLR's, but hasn't really ever tried out a DSLR.  She was looking at the Olympus E-PL1 and I recommended the Nikon D3000 or Pentax K-x.  My little bro has a D40, so I thought if she also had a Nikon, she could swap lenses with him and that'd be a good selling point (even if the E-PL1 seems to look better photo-wise to her).  What would be others' opinions on this?

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post #52 of 102
6/14/10 at 9:02pm

Well, I guess I'll have to join the leagues of non-Canon/Nikon users.

 

Just received shipment of a Samsung GX-20. I threw a screwmount adapter on it and started clicking away, with a 50/1.4 Tak:

 

2ecg552.jpg

 

then, I decided to put on a 200/4 Tak of similar vintage:

 

i3ih49.jpg

 

I'm already in love.

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post #53 of 102
6/16/10 at 4:51pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by LordofDoom View Post

I had a question.  My mom's set a budget of a max of $600, but she needs a new camera within the next two weeks (she said she'll buy more lenses later).  She's quite experienced with SLR's, but hasn't really ever tried out a DSLR.  She was looking at the Olympus E-PL1 and I recommended the Nikon D3000 or Pentax K-x.  My little bro has a D40, so I thought if she also had a Nikon, she could swap lenses with him and that'd be a good selling point (even if the E-PL1 seems to look better photo-wise to her).  What would be others' opinions on this?

 

 

I've used the D5000 and it is a great camera, so I would assume that the D3000 would be similarly good. The use of other lenses is definitely a plus - provided they are good lenses. The glass really makes the camera, and an entry level DSLR with a good lens is better than a higher end DSLR with a bad lens, IMHO. That said, the kit lens that comes with the K-x is pretty darn good quality. I recommend you check out the dpreview reviews of both - they have excellent reviews.

 

 

 

 

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond3000/

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/pentaxkx/

 

 

And that looks great planarhead! I like the focus and bokeh on the flower. And it uses K Mount, so you can use the spectacular array of Pentax lenses. I have a Pentax 50mm f/1.4 coming soon
 


Edited by revolink24 - 6/16/10 at 4:55pm
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post #54 of 102
6/16/10 at 4:56pm

I have a canon 400D...I know it's a Canon and doesn't belong here, but I also use my Practica camera, which is a 20-year old 35mm film!+ carl zeiss 500mm F2.5

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post #55 of 102
7/15/10 at 3:07am

Hey revolink, how's the nifty fifty treating you?

 

Is it an autofocus or a manual focus lens?

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post #56 of 102
7/15/10 at 10:08am
Thread Starter 

It's really a great lens, and can be fully automatic. It uses screw drive from the camera body for autofocus, and produces some great low-light pictures. I haven't used the aperture ring on it yet, because the camera is really made to adjust the aperture through the software only. If you're interested dpreview has a good review of it here. It really seems to be a great successor to the older takumar 50mm lenses.

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post #57 of 102
7/16/10 at 3:53pm

Very nice!

 

And it has autofocus; focusing fast lenses without a split prism or autofocus is difficult. If I get any more manual focus lenses I'll have to get a split prism.

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post #58 of 102
7/20/10 at 1:10pm

Not many Sony shooters here, it seems. a700 here, trying to go full frame with the a850... while also trying to build a decent sound system

 

 

Macro is my thing.

 

DSC07586-fr.jpg

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post #59 of 102
7/20/10 at 2:49pm

If I wasn't invested in the Nikon system, I would seriously consider a K-7. Very good camera for the money, and every feature under the sun.

 

As for accessories, get a nice bag that's doesn't look like a camera bag. Manhattan Portage makes some bags that can be easily outfitted for camera use with some Domke inserts. I have a Manhattan Portage West Side bag (~$70) and love it. It's tiny, but I can manage to fit a netbook, an SLR with attached prime, a zoom, a travel book, a flash, a bottle of water, and some small accessories. Can probably squeeze a third lens in there if I needed. (~$90)

 

I would also get UV filters for you lenses and get rid of the lens cap, but that's a personal preference. You can get cheap/good UV filters from B+W on ebay. (~$20)

 

A tripod would also come in really handy depending on how/what you want to shoot. For a very cheap and compact monopod, get some string and tie to your tipod screw mount thing. ($1-$100)

 

Other than that, I'd pick up some photography books/magazines. Let me know if you want some suggestions there. ($50)

 

That's how I think I'd spend my first $150-$200...

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post #60 of 102
7/20/10 at 3:47pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmk1 View Post

Not many Sony shooters here, it seems. a700 here, trying to go full frame with the a850... while also trying to build a decent sound system.

 


I still have my Konica/Minolta 7D. While I lust after the full-frame Sony's (the 850 is a great value), the K/M is already too big to carry everywhere. Consequently it gets very little (read: barely) any use. But when I do, man the pics are so very nice!

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