ilya_l

3. Most lens selection questions come down to what you're going to shoot and your budget. The 50mm and 60mm lens you mention give you different kinds of creative control. If you're into portrait photography then being able to open your 50mm lens to f/1.8 or f/1.4 will be very valuable. I am also an amateur and most of my favorite pictures were taken with 50mm at apertures less than f/2.8. However, if you are more interested in macro photography then 60mm is your lens.

Eric,

 

I am an ametuer like yourself and I have the combo you're looking at (D50 + 18-200). It works great for me. I had the same idea as you -- get a DSLR that can function as an awesome P&S when photography is not the primary purpose of my activity (e.g. when I travel), but also be able to use manual controls and different lenses when I feel like learning photography and playing with the camera.

 

I am glad a got a DSLR as opposed to a P&S because there are times when I do want to use a different lens. In addition to 18-200 I have a 50mm f/1.8 which works really well when you want to limit the depth of field and the available light is scarce. For example, when I visited my sister and wanted to photograph my 1-month old niece indoors in the evening there wasn't a lot of light. I would not have been able to take the pictures that I did with a P&S or with 18-200 but being able to put 50mm f/1.8 on did the job. I also tried my hand at astrophotography taking a picture of the moon using the 18-200. I got a decent shot thanks to the long zoom and the VR (my tripod is kind of flimsy). The shot was not great but it gave me the taste for astrophotography so I also bought a used Tokina 400mm 5.6. 18-200 is such a capable lens that you could use it to try just about everything and if you find that it's not good enough you can buy a specialized lens.

 

The one feature I miss on D50 is mirror lock-up for medium-length exposures, but I don't think it's a big deal.

 

Good luck!

 

Ilya

Thanks to everyone for your thoughtful responses.

 

Ilya

I am looking for a recommendation for a tripod/head combo for night-

and astro-photography. I have a Nikon D50/Nikon 18-200 combo which

weighs 2 lb 6 oz. I have been using Velbon MAXI-343E tripod.

Although this tripod is rated at 4.5 lb, the support proved inadequate

for 30 second exposures as many of the images come out blurry. As a

result I am considering getting a new/tripod combo. The weight is not

an issue because I am not planning on hiking with it. I also do not

need a ballhead that I can track subjects with -- will be shooting

stills. I'd like to keep the the price of the combo to $200. I also

realize that there additional techniques for damping camera vibration

with weights or by holding the tripod with the hand. Any pointers to

such techniques would be appreciated as well.

 

Thanks,

 

Ilya

I am considering getting KM Maxxum 5D but I am concerned that it may

not be durable enough for the outdoors photography? I looked at the

camera in the store and the four-way control seemed a bit flimsy.

Cameras I own usually get some abise, for example I sometimes attach

my camera bag to the front strap of my backpack when hiking with a

carabin. I am not sure whether this would even work with a camera of

this size, but it's really convenient when hiking and being outdoors,

which is when I take most of my pictures.

 

Have anyone who owns/owned a Maxxum 5d/7d comment on its build quality!

 

Thanks,

 

Ilya