edroper

I stepped into digital, but I also stepped back. I didnt like the D70's feel, so i got a mint D1 ... I've been shooting more in the last 2 weeks than I have in months..... The last time I tried to get 4 rolls printed and it cost me around 60 bucks, I knew I had to go digital...

Hi, I have a used D1 on the way ( found a deal that was too good to

pass up ), and was wondering what the expected life time is of the

D1's shutter mechanism. The seller told me he's put around 11,000 on

it so far ( bought new 2 years ago ). He's not a pro and its in very

good condition. How many shutter cycles can I expect to get out of a

late model D1 in near mint condition?

Another thing to consider is the viewfinder for the D70 is small, and manually focusing will be a pain....if you dont wear glasses it might be a bit better for you...

And then, there are the shadey stores run by bitter old men, who try to tell you that a 80-200 f2.8 AF-D is "easily $3000.00", then try to pitch you a cheap Tamron 75-300 f3-56 or whatever at $300. Maybe I just live in an area where all the camera shops are run by crappy old guys, but i've only found one place around here that isnt. Everybody else has WAY inflated prices and trys to either pass off crap, or treats you like you're an idiot because you're younger than a Nikon F

i pretty much keep my quick release plate permanently affixed to my 80-200...since its really the only lense i have that warrants tripod use....but it works good with my bogen tripod head..

 

go for it

why does anybody wanna buy a new camera body immediately after they are released anyway? Majority of the time, the first generation of a particular model has a weird flaw or programming issue that requires service.....n90, f100, n80, etc etc ....

Michael, that lens is f6.3 @ 300mm. That is horrid.

 

In an earlier post you said you had around $600 to work with. Hunt down a used 180mm f2.8 AF & get a 50mm f1.8. They are far,far, faaaaaar better quality than a 28-300mm zoom.

 

Designing lenses is an art. Lenses inherrently cannot go from something as wide as 28mm up to 300mm and have good quality. Companies who claim they can ( i.e. Tamron ) prey on amatuers such as yourself. Prime lenses, or good quality zooms ( i.e 80-200 f2.8 ) will be a whole lot better in the long run.

 

I had a 28-80G come with my N80 4 years ago. I use it to look at slides. Instead of using it, i invested in a 50mm f1.8 , 28mm f2.8, and the 80-200 f2.8 and have been blown away by the results. The 50mm is even used AND has fungus in it...and still is way better than the cheap zoom.

 

Since you have the cash now, make the investment and though you may not notice it now, in the long run you will appreciate it.

 

You dont want that $300 to go to waste by sitting in your camera bag once you realize that you need better lenses

This is why things like the internet and photo.net are of such great service these days. Customers can research things on their own withou any sales BS.

 

Perfect example, a local camera store here once tried to convince me that the Nikon AF-D ( not AF-S) 80-200 f2.8 was "easily $3,000 " ... and then went on to try to sell me the cheap sigma 70-300... this was also the same store that tries to sell me a used 24mm af nikkor for $350. Obviously the owner doesnt know about the net, and probably thought i believed every word he was saying. I just stood there and went along for the ride ("oh, this is a nice lens..." bla bla )...

I've had this happen a couple times myself.... I researched it thoroughly and it seems to be a pretty common problem. Albeit annoying, it is not a "critical" problem...

 

I changed the batteries and cleaned the pc contacs on the lens mount with a pencil eraser. I havent had the problem appear since ( keeping my fingers crossed....)... If you can deal with it, i wouldnt pay to have it repaired... but if it really bugs you, it apparently was a semi-easy fix..dont know what it costs though

...I wouldnt spend the money....for the price of that lens new, i'ld get a 50 1.8 and 24 2.8 new.... primes with a fixed aperture will benefit you alot more in the long run....i avoided the variable aperture zoom temptation and have been happy beyond belief...

Why a zoom in such a short focal length span? Nikon 24mm f2.8 $300 USD, 50mm f1.8 $50 used, then if you still feel like spending money, 80-200 f2.8 $600-700 used.

Keri, you're pretty much on your way already judging by that shot... I recommend spending any free time you have reading everything in the LEARN section here on photo.net.... then go to the library and read anything you can find on photography....just build up a base of knowledge...you may not need it all, but when the time comes you will be prepared

 

....but most importantly...just shoot.... but dont try to take snapshots....really spend time thinking about a scene. try different angles.... experiment. look at things you may pass by on a day to day basis. I drive through a very 'bad' part of a neighborhood on the way to work every day, after i got into photography i started to stop and look around when driving...and there is lots of good shots to be had in a place you wouldnt normally look at..

 

also, stick with your camera and just a 50mm f1.8 lens for now. dont be tempted by a cheap zoom. Im selling off useless stuff around my house to get a 80-200 2.8..... but in the mean time i just use my 50mm 1.8 and am learning what a quality photgraph is supposed to look like... if you use a superb lens from the get go, you wont be frustrated by a cheap zoom and think your technique sucks....

 

good luck and drop me an email if you need any help....

 

ed