shoshana

Two things...

Get a SB-28 flash. It will put out a red patterned focus assist light that will let the N90s focus in almost complete darkness and isn't annoying like those white focus assist lights. I know the SB 50 doesn't have it, if you can't find a SB-28 the SB-28dx or SB-80 might have the same kind of focus assist.

2. Get a faster lens... but I don't know what lens you're using now...

'shana

Enjoy your 70-300 AF-D ED :)

We have both that and the 80-200 AFD 2.8. We like both of them for different reasons and different shooting.

'shana

If you have a KM 7, there shouldn't be much of a learning curve w/ the 7D.

My best friend has a Minolta 7 and she is really looking forward to seeing a 7D in person. My husband has a N80 and really wants the D70 ... mostly for me to use instead of my N90s because he's having fits about how much film/ processing I go thru.

Me? I'm happy with my N90s and i'm just waiting till there'd a dslr that I like as much as I like my N90s.

I'd say wait a couple of weeks and go check out the new Minolta. And do a side by side compare with the D70 if you can.

The price difference is much less than you are thinking if you have to replace lenses. Or flashes.

Which Minolta do you have now?

:) You're welcome.

Keep us updated!

If it's not a G lens, make sure the aperture ring is set at it's default location and the lock is engaged.

Turn the camera off. Take the lens off and carefully wipe the contacts on the lens and the camera. Put the lens back on.

Try a different lens.

It's a lens problem almost all the time.

We have both ... I have the N90s and my husband has the N80. He wasnted a smaller lighter camera to travel with and for me to have as a backup to my camera.

I *tried* to convince him to get a F100 instead - but he's a casual snapshooter and the N80 is really more camera than he'll ever use. He was happy with my point n shoot L35 till he discovered the 'zoom' factor when I got my N90s....

OK .. comparison.. my opinion only!

Favoring the N90s - focuses faster - especially in low light. Tougher construction. Mine has survived being dropped on the driveway with just scratches and a cracked lenshood. For me, the weight of it makes it easier to hold steady. The N90s will meter with manual lenses. I think it's easier to use. This last point may be because I'm way more used to the N90s ...

Favoring the N80 - lighter, easier to carry. Onboard flash, altho I have yet to get a good pic using it - I keep forgetting to take lenshoods off! Newer and because of the multi focusing points and two wheel control, is able to utilize the VR lenses and G lenses. I'm not particularly fond of G lenses, but they seem to be the future at Nikon.

My particular gripe with the N80 is that it's taking me much longer to figure out how to use it than the N90s.

As far as lenses - The lenses that get used the most around here are the Nikon 28-105 and the 70-300 (non G). Those two are the lenses my husband likes best on his N80. We kinda argue about the 28-105 because he bought the Tamron version w/ his camera but likes the Nikon version much more!

We also have the 18-35 and the 80-200 2.8 that I mostly use.

I like all our Nikon lenses.

'shana

We have a N90s and a N80.

The N80 hunts more than the N90s when it's used with a slowish lens. I can see it with the Tamron 28-105 we have- The N80 hunts, the 90s doesn't. They're pretty close to the same speed with better lenses such as the Nikon 28-105.

I have the Nikkor, one of my friends has the Tamron. She is using it with a Minolta, but as far as I know it would work the same

The macro function on the Tamron has been useful.

The photos we've taken look similar, but not identical. The Nikkor photos have more contrast and 'pop'. I like that. She likes her photos. Could be other factors rather than just the lenses - but we've seen it with same location shooting, same film and developing. Different cameras though - different metering. And she always uses a UV filter, I rarely do.

The only only drawback I have really seen is that she's had quite a few photos that are out of focus - the lens focuses ok but shifts focus as she's taking the photo. But... it could be a problem with her camera or settings.

Overall, I am happy with my lens, she is happy with hers.

Since I have not tried them both on my camera, or my husband's N80, I can't tell you about focusing speed. You will want to check that out. Without knowing what camera you have, I know that lenses on my N90s focus faster than on my husband's N80 ... to the exyent that he's always wanting to use my Nikkor 28-105 instead of his always hunting Tamron 28-105...

I don't know anything about the G version of the 70-300 because my camera is not G friendly. (Rather, the lens is not N90s friendly!)

I sent my SB 28 in last summer because of that happening - it would flash at full power and drive me nuts. It also caused the batteries to overheat and leak.

When I sent it in, they changed out the battery compartment and board(s) inside the flash. I got it back after a few weeks - and it was still random flashing. They replaced the flash foot and all is now well.

It wasn't under warranty, but it was insured so my insurance co paid. It was cheaper for them to get it fixed than for it to be replaced (Wolf/Ritz was still trying to sell on hand SB 28's and SB 28 dx's for close to $400!)

'shana

Another vote for the SB28.

For sure not the SB50dx. That's made for the N80. Not 100 compatible w/ n90s.

When you come to Austin you need to see the bats fly out from under

the Congress Ave Bridge.<div></div>

I didn't mean to start this kind of debate. Just thought it would be

interesting to see gas price signs around the world. It wasn't meant

as any kind of springboard to pricing, efficiency or pollution

wars... So sorry.

My 2 cents - There are many places in the world that are still using

leaded gas - which was outlawed in the US back more than 20 years

ago. Leaded gas is much more polluting than unleaded. Plus, coal

fired electric plants actually put out a vast majority of US

pollution. Finally, not everyone in the US or even Texas has big gas

guzzling vehicles - my car gets 37 mpg on the highway, which I think

is pretty darn good.

So should I have TPTB delete or close this topic? Because's it's gone

totally OT

^ Nah. Don't think it's political. We don't have the 'reformulated

gas' not yet anyway. Tulsa OK prices used to be cheaper than even

Austin.<div></div>

When I travel, I tend to take photos of gas prices, usually because

the prices are so much higher than they are here at home. Now they're

crazy here too! BTW ... it's possible to find gas for US$.20 less/

gallon here - this station is higher than most.<div></div>

It was discontinued a while back ... 2001 maybe? It was replaced by the SB28dx which worked with the new system in the D1. The SB28 wasn't fully compatible w/ the new digital cameras.

Don't run out looking for a SB28dx tho- it's been discontinued and was replaced by the SB80dx. Which is now impossible to find because it's gone and the new 800 is the current flash to have. It's the only one that has i-ttl for the D70.

If after all that you still want a SB28, I have seen them at a couple of exWolf Camera (now Ritz) here in Austin... for more than the 800 is selling for.

'shana

http://www.vintagevisuals.com/nikon.htm

I did a search for hb-17. I'd say call 'em. They're in Canada.

'shana