nuno_campos1

<p>Thanks for all the answers. For now, the D7000 is out of my budget. And a new D90 also.</p>

<p>If I was talking about film, a used semi-pro body would be the answer. With digital I really do not know if used is good route. I guess I could buy a used D200 or D90 but in digital I prefer new, because of the warranty. And from what I have read (I can be wrong) a current low end DSLR can outperform a mid-range body some generations back.</p>

<p>And I really do not know if my lenses justify buying a new body just for use them (I have a 28-80mm f/3.5 - 5.6 AF-D; a 70-300mm f/4-5.6G AF; and 3 E-series [28mm f/2.8; 50mm f/1.8 and 100mm f/2.8]), instead of starting a new DX AF-S system. <br>

If so, with the price of a new D7000 (money that I do not have right now...) I can buy a D3100 with the DX AF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-4.6G VR and after that maybe 2 more lenses (DX AF-S 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED VR + DX AF-S 35mm f/1.8G come to my mind) during next months or years. </p>

<p>Hi,<br>

I am looking for an entry level DSLR, my first one, and I am quite hesitating about the one that would be a best choice for me.</p>

<p>I am not new to photography. In fact, a few years ago, I used to shoot regularly and print some B&W photos. Mainly family photos but also some street and landscape.</p>

<p>I still have a Nikon F90x, a Nikon F65 and some D, G and E series lenses (nothing very expensive, but the 100mm series E is an excellent performer). I had to put photography away because I didn’t have enough time but this year things have changed. And now I have time again. And I am for a new camera but within a budget (less than 600€) and with video mode.</p>

<p>My first look was at the new Nikon D3100 (~550€ with 18-55 VR). I. I know that I can’t use my lenses on it. Well, I can but I would lose AF with the D and G lenses, and that I would have no meter with the E lenses.</p>

<p>I could buy a Canon 1100D (~520€ with 18-55 EF-S) and with an adapter use my Nikon lenses the same way the D3100, but I would have meter with E series.</p>

<p>Or I could look for a camera within that budget, like a Pentax K-x (it’s 2 years older, I know), with a 2 lenses kit (DA-L 18-55mm & DA-L 50-200mm = ~560€) and I would have, at least, a starting kit. Sony a390 and Olympus E-620 are out because they offer no video.</p>

<p>What should I pick (or what would you pick)?:</p>

<p>- a Nikon D3100 (or Canon 1100D) with a kit lens and the possibility to use with restrictions some lenses that I already have</p>

<p>or</p>

<p>- an older camera model, in this case a Pentax K-x with 2 kit lenses for the same price</p>

<p>Best regards and thanks in advance,</p>

<p>Nuno Campos</p>

Hi,

Excuse me to exceed the chronological limit, but I would really appreciate a help.

I bought an Olympus XA2 a few months ago and I have a problem with it. The

photos are well exposed and crisp, it is an excellent P&S, but sometimes the

shutter simply does not fire.

I thought it could be a bad contact on the shutter button, but I only have that

problem if the camera is loaded. With no film I arm the shutter and fire and it

works fine all the times.

Do you have any idea of what could be? Can you help me with this?

Best regards,

Nuno Campos.

�They make good cameras and their zooms are usually very good.�

Well, I have read some nice reviews about Olympus kit zooms.

�Go ahead without doubts!�

That is what I need to ear. :)

Hi,

This is maybe a strange question.

I bought a Konica C35 automatic and it is in great condition, but the battery

chamber door is cracked.

Could you tell me if there is any shop were we can buy one or if I will have to buy

a broken C35 and use the parts?

Best regards and thanks in advance,

Nuno Campos.

If I had money to buy a D200... :)

I have the Nikkor 28mm AIS, the 50mm E and the 100mm E and some AF zooms.

The option is between the D60 and their equivalents, and I am slightly bent towards the Olympus option.

Hi,

I have a few Nikkor lenses (manual and auto focus) and I was thinking on buying

an Olympus DSLR to use them because I was told that I could drive them and

have metering with the MF lenses. A thing that, strangely, I cannot do with an

entry level Nikon DSLR. Is that wright?

Do I need a special adapter with glass or any of the many we can see selling on

ebay is just ok? Can I adapt other lenses like the OM?

And will I have image stabilization with them on a E510, for instance?

Thanks in advance.

Best regards,

Nuno Campos.

Hi,

I know that I am off the chronological limits, but I began to be very interested in

older P&S cameras after using a Nikon L35AF (that I bought after I acquired a Mju

II).

Despite some vignetting, the image quality is very good. And it cost me 12 euros

including postage!

I often ask myself if these cameras will reach the classic status.

I mean: they are nor really pretty, there are millions out there, and they seem very

similar. They do not seem to offer a distinct quality. Well, but the L35AF sure is

fun.

I would like to try some other cameras like that, and I really would appreciate

some suggestions about other P&S cameras comparable to the L35AF. I have my

eyes on a Canon AF35ML and a Yashica Auto Focus Motor right now. :)

Best regards and thanks in advance.

Nuno Campos.

Thanks for all the answers.

It seems that the EE Matic deluxe is out of the race...

And it seems that the Minister is on the lead. The size is not important to me, I have some experience using cameras without a meter (I did not have a wrong exposure with the Fed 5B during 2 years of frequent utilization) and if the Yashinon is better than the Hexanon...

I am goin to see wich one has the best viewfinder. That is important.

Hi,

I have the opportunity to get my hands on an old rangefinder from this list:

Konica C35; Konica EE Matic Deluxe; Yashica Minister III.

They are from my uncle collection, in good working condition, and I can pick

one. I will be my second experience with a rangefinder, after a Fed 5B that I

do not have anymore (I did not like the viewfinder).

The C35 seems very nice, it has a better look, there are a lot of good reviews

about it, but the lack of control makes me bend towards the Yashica (the EE

Matic has no manual control, right?).

I have an XA2 and the C35 looks quite similar, (but it has a faster lens and

offers the rangefinder...). I also like the absence of batteries on the EE

Matic and the Yashica.

I did not find comparable information on the Minister III and the EE Matic, so

I would appreciate any information about any of them.

How do they perform, if the lenses are on the same level as the C35 (and XA2).

What would you choose?

Best regards and thanks in advance,

Nuno Campos.

Hi,

Thanks for all the answers.

Well, I am not putting digital away but I shoot normally people and street and I need to go wide. The 1.5 crop factor does not help. A plus for film.

I also like to work in the darkroom but the true is that I have less time nowadays to be there and that digital is less expensive. A plus for digital.

I could buy with that budget a D40, D40x and D60 with the kit lens and maybe a Sigma 10-20mm, but those bodies do not work in AF with non AF-S lenses and people tend to say that focus manually with DSLR viewfinders is not easy. A minus for Nikon DSLRs.

It seems that Nikon is telling the amateur photographer to tray another brand. I can buy in Europe a Canon 350D with the kit lens for the same price (or the Olympus E410, but the 2.0 crop factor?) that would cost me a D40 and the kit lens. I know that the D40 is more recent and that the Nikon kit lens has better reviews, but I can have AF with the Canon 50mm 1.8 and the Sigma I mentioned.

Maybe I am a believer and I am waiting that Nikon produces a consumer grade DSLR that can focus with non AF-S lenses. But I am not very optimist about it.

Best regards and thanks again.

Hi,

Some gifts and buys have put in my hands the following equipment:

Nikon F65 + Nikkor 28-80mm AFD f/3.5-5.6 + Nikkor AFG 70-300mm f/4-5.6

(equipment from wife, not used by her anymore);

Nikon FG + Sigma 28mm f/2.8 + Nikon 50mm f/1.8 Series E + Nikon 100mm f/2.8

Series E (my own equipment)

Nikon FE-10 + Sigma 35-70mm f/2.8-4 + Promaster 70-210mm f/4-5.6

I decided sell the cameras and all the lenses except the Nikkor 70-300mm (it

fits my needs, because I do not use a tele many times) and probably the 100mm

Series E (I really like that lens) and use the money to help me to pay better

equipment.

I was thinking on buying:

- F100 body;

- Nikkor 50mm AFD f/1.8;

- Tamron SP AF 17-35mm F2.8-4 Di (the Nikkor 18-35mm is a little more

expensive and slower) or the inexpensive and well regarded Tokina AF 19-35mm

f/3.5-4;

- and a better standard zoom, like the Nikon 24-85 F3.5-4.5 G ED IF AF-S or a

faster one from a third party brand, like the Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8, the Tamron

28-75mm F/2.8 XR or one from the Tokina ATX Pro series.

Would this be a good combo? Is there any sleeper/better option on the wide and

standard zooms that I should look for?

Best regards and thanks in advance,

Nuno Campos.

Hi,

I just bought a Vivitar 35EE and the rangefinder is out of alignment. Can you

give me some information on how to correct it? Is that a simple job?

Thanks in advance and best regards,

Nuno Campos.

Hi,

I am looking for an inexpensive (less than 400 USD) camera to shoot mainly

landscapes and i would really appreciate your suggestions. I figure that with

that budget I will not be able to buy a DSLR so I was thinking on na SLR-like.

Something with:

- a good and clear LCD;

- total exposure control;

- white balancing;

- possibility to select the ISSO manually;

- exposure compensation;

- more than 6/7 MP;

- a lens with a good range, from a real wide to a good tele (something like a

24/28-300 (ou +)mm 35mm equivalent);

- possibility to use filters.

- RAW.

After some readings and search I have restricted the options to this cameras:

- Fujifilm FinePix S8000fd;

- Olympus SP-550 UZ;

- Olympus SP-560 UZ;

- Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18;

- Sony DSC-H7;

- Sony DSC-H9.

(I am slightly bend to the Panasonic...).

What would you choose? Should I look to another model?

Thanks for all the answers in advance and sorry the English.

Best regards,

Nuno Campos.

Hi again.

Thanks for all the answers. There are some good points out there. I never thought on a 6x6 or an 6x9 camera.

Right now my main question is: will they be interested next month? I do not know, and that is why I am looking for something cheap.

Thay have used P&S cameras (Agfa Optima Sensor Electronic and Olympus XA2), but after seeing how to use an SLR (Nikon FG) they liked to see the image focusing (I was rotating the lens and hey were looking through the viewfinder); to see the LED indicator blinking in order to select another speed and then rotate the shutter speed dial according to that indication.

They seemed to have a lot of fun, and they seemed interested, more than with the P&S, that is why I was thinking on buying them SLRs.

Of course there are a lot of choices, and the big brands are always good options, but I just whant something simple and inexpensive to use gently on weekends.

Hi,

Sorry if this is an inadequate question to this forum, but there is no forum

for non-specified brands or an analogical cameras forum and I thought you

could help me with this.

I am looking for 2 manual SLRs to offer my daughter and my nephew. They are

very young (7 and 8 years old) and I could offer them digital P&S cameras but

they adore to be with me in the darkroom and see the magic of making

photographs like "many years ago". Now they want to learn how to make their

own photos.

They seem very interested and I let them look through the focus finder and

control the developing times.

I think that, despite they age, working with a manual camera, under my

supervision, with a tripod, selecting the speeds and apertures, focusing

properly, would be of great benefit to improve the their concentration. They

could learn not only photography but how to make things with calm.

I was thinking on a Ricoh or a Chinon.

The reasons: they were used mainly by amateurs and probably did not suffer

hard abuse; the K-mount offers a wide variety of lenses, even if I am only

looking for 50mm right now; they have a classical design, with the shutter

dial very visible on the top; they are easy to find, very inexpensive and

people tend to say good things about them.

Am I thinking correctly? Is an SLR to much of a camera for young kids?

What would you recommend me?

Thanks in advance and sorry the English.

Best regards,

Nuno Campos.

Thanks for all the useful answers. I will follow your indications next time.

Best regards,

Nuno Campos.

Hi,

I am using Tetenal Mirasol as a wetting agent but I do not know if I am doing

it the right way.

The recommended dilution for films is 1:400, so I put a little less than 1ml

in the tank with the final rinse of water (I use the Ilford washing method)

and I do some inversions, slowly, in the first 15 seconds. Then I leave the

film in the solution during 45 seconds.

Well, it makes a lot of foam. I pass the film between my index and medium

fingers to remove that foam and I hang it in the bath tube. I never had a

problem with marks or so, but is all that foam normal?

Am I using the wetting agent the right way?

Thanks in advance. Best regards,

Nuno Campos.

Thanks for all the swift and helpful answers.

When I am absent for a few days I almost forgot how warm the Nikon community is. That is one of the reasons why I never regret to have chosen Nikon.

Hi,

Could you recommend me a cheap (less than 150$USD, used or new) AF zoom lens

within the 28/35mm-70/105mm range? It could be a Nikon or other brand.

My wife wants a zoom for a F65 body, which I used with the 50mm 1.8 AFD lens

and that I do not use anymore since I bought a F90x.

I have read some reviews from Ken Rockwell and Bjorn Rorslett and probably the

28-80mm AFG f/3.3-5.6 or the old 28-80mm f/3.5-4.5 AFD would be ok.

I know that it would not be a great lens with that money but I do not need a

fast lens or something rugged. I would like an average lens, not a true dog.

Could you recommend me some lens or tell me what should I stay away from? (Is

there a sleeper out there?)

Thanks in advance and best regards,

Nuno Campos.

Hi,

my young brother-in-law is getting interested with photography and I was

thinking on offering him a camera next Christmas.

I do not know much about Canon EOS system and I was looking for a good body

and a 50mm lens.

The EOS 5/A2E with the 50mm 1.8 seems quite nice. I can buy them for less than

100? on ebay or even at Keh (bargain body, new lens). Other brands seem more

expensive.

Do you consider this a good combo of should I look a newer camera model?

Best regards,

Nuno Campos.

The Minolta manual focus gear, especially the SRT series. The bodies and lenses are great and very very cheap.

The Olympus XA2 is great to, and I would add the Agfa Optima Sensor series: 1535 (rangefinder) or 1035 and 535 (scale focus). They are well built, compact and have a nice lens.