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Post by beagle on May 3, 2011 20:08:52 GMT 12
I went to use my camera today and found it on the floor of the study. It must have fallen off the bookcase shelf after the 5.3 aftershock we had in the weekend.
The lens which extends out when you turn it on is at an odd angle and wont budge and the lcd screen goes blank after a few seconds.
Anyone know if this is trash material or could be fixed.
It is a HP945, got 7 years ago, 5.3mp,
If trash material, anyone ideas on a new one. one with a better lens for aviation shots at a not so extravagant price.
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Post by fwx on May 3, 2011 21:20:09 GMT 12
Hi Beags, this guy is a good place to start: www.kenrockwell.comHe is a bit excitable, and prices are in $US, but I think his recommended cameras section is pretty good, and you can find most of the models that he recommends in the stores here. Cheers, Chris |
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Post by beagle on May 3, 2011 22:22:25 GMT 12
yes just lokking at his site. some good info. just checked prices (NZ) for the D3100, mrs might bawk at that.
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Post by fwx on May 4, 2011 11:09:55 GMT 12
Well worth getting a basic Nikon DSLR such as the D3100 I reckon, so you can bolt on one those beautiful Nikkor lenses.
Even their "cheap", "plastic" zooms (eg., 70-300mm, perfect for 'planes) are bloody good performance-wise, or you can go second-hand Nikon and find all sorts of bargains (probably without autofocus though).
PS. We also used to have an HP digital camera of about the same age (free with scanner from memory!), also got dropped and bent the lens!
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Post by ErrolC on May 4, 2011 11:32:00 GMT 12
Well worth getting a basic Nikon DSLR such as the D3100 I reckon, so you can bolt on one those beautiful Nikkor lenses. Even their "cheap", "plastic" zooms (eg., 70-300mm, perfect for 'planes) are bloody good performance-wise, or you can go second-hand Nikon and find all sorts of bargains (probably without autofocus though). Cheap is relative (to pro lenses). The 70-300 VR (which I use) is noticably bettter quality than the old 70-300 non-VR, and the new 28(??)-300 DX VR. Colin Hunter uses a 2nd-hand 200-400mm. Edit: Brain fart, I meant to say 80-400mm as Colin corrects down-thread, sorry. |
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Post by fwx on May 4, 2011 12:35:38 GMT 12
Hi Errol, I agree, having had both VR and non-VR versions of the 70-300mm, however the VR is around NZ $1k new, and I would hazard a guess that the non-VR ($200 new?) would still knock your eyeballs out if you were used to an HP point-and-shoot!! ;D
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Post by ErrolC on May 4, 2011 12:49:38 GMT 12
Hi Errol, I agree, having had both VR and non-VR versions of the 70-300mm, however the VR is around NZ $1k new, and I would hazard a guess that the non-VR ($200 new?) would still knock your eyeballs out if you were used to an HP point-and-shoot!! ;D They still sell them? Wow. My mate got one 2nd-hand, it's fine for what he wants a long lens for. The couple of times I used it on a D80 the auto-focus tended to hunt quite a bit, the D3100 may well be an improvement in this regard. |
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Post by fwx on May 4, 2011 14:02:25 GMT 12
The non-VR 70-300 was still being sold about 6 months ago but I see its not on the Camera & Camera site any longer, so maybe you're right, and it's disappeared. Likewise I found the AF had a problem with moving objects (ie., most of the things I want to photograph!). I don't think its AF works with the newer AF-S mechanism though??
Sold mine a few months back on TradeMe, after it having sat in the cupboard for a couple of years. Sorry beagle, you would have been welcome to it!
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Post by Kereru on May 4, 2011 14:47:58 GMT 12
Well worth getting a basic Nikon DSLR such as the D3100 I reckon, so you can bolt on one those beautiful Nikkor lenses. Colin Hunter uses a 2nd-hand 200-400mm. Wow first I heard of that! I can only wish!! ;D I actually bought a new 80-400 VR AF lens several years ago from B&H in New York and have used it most of the time ever since. I did have a 70-200 2.8 VR but seldom used it after getting the 80-400 so sold it on Trademe last year. Great lens but not enough reach. Be careful what you buy as some Nikon cameras will not have the motor in the camera body so can't auto focus the older AF lenses. Check out some second hand Pro cameras as they are reasonable cheap and still have a lot of life left in them. I got a Nikon D2Xs for $1600 last year and they were $7000+ when they first came out. Very good auto focusing as it has twice the sensitivity of a D200. I have built my collection of gear up over several years so my advice is don't try and get everything at once but buy good stuff as lenses in particular last for many years whereas the bodies change every couple of years. Look for a good lens then marry a suitable body to it that won't break your budget. I have seen 80-400 lenses on Trademe for very good prices and they are challenging to use but do return very sharp pics when everything comes together just right. 80-400 VR lens on D7000. 1/15 second shutter speed and track with subject.  You might even want to hire something if you have enough in your budget just to get the feel. www.topicrentals.co.nz/Cheers |
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Post by beagle on May 4, 2011 16:22:38 GMT 12
cheers for the comments guys.
went around a few places in riccarton mall today
some guy reckoned to leave the nikon 3100 as fps was too slow. said to look for something 6fps or more. somebody else showed me a sony a580 twin lens deal down form $2200 to $1600, basic lens plus a 55-200. 7fps
comments ?
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Post by beagle on May 4, 2011 16:25:27 GMT 12
went to sony store and they were pathetic. told her what i was looking for and she showed me this $5000 job that was only 2.3 fps etc etc. walked out.
got new top dentures to buy as well but most camera shop don't throw them in as an extra.
so budget might be limited to just on 1k, see how far I can extent the few toothy pegs left
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Post by ErrolC on May 4, 2011 17:28:14 GMT 12
cheers for the comments guys. went around a few places in riccarton mall today some guy reckoned to leave the nikon 3100 as fps was too slow. said to look for something 6fps or more. somebody else showed me a sony a580 twin lens deal down form $2200 to $1600, basic lens plus a 55-200. 7fps comments ? The D7000 has two multi-stop settings, 6fps and one that you specify (up to 6fps). I have mine at 3fps (which my D80 is limited to), and use it most of the time. I have no trouble taking a single shot at this 'speed', but often take 2 or 3 on purpose, even on static shots (holding the button down for a second) If you take 6fps as an aircraft does a pass, you will have a large number of photos to sort through, and will likely slow down anyway as the camera struggles to get the data onto the card. I limit 6fps to situations where it is really useful (e.g. jousters meeting, spagetti break.) I assume higher burst speeds are really handy if your kid is kicking a soccer ball or whatever, and sales staff translate this to 'high burst is really important for action shots e.g. photos at airshows'). It sounds like you are fairly cost-constrained at the moment, so something has to give. I'm sure others have different approaches. I'd think that you would quickly get frustrated with the 55-200 for airshow photography, really being too 'short' for even the 'close-in' NZ shows. One option is to just get a single lens for now (18-55mm or so) and learn how to make use of the camera before getting a better 'long' lens in a few months (early Xmas pressie?). |
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Post by fwx on May 4, 2011 20:45:07 GMT 12
I agree with Errol, that on a budget you shouldn't worry about fps - for what it's worth I never use them. Also wouldn't go Sony, in my experience.
If you can afford the D3100, as Errol says, you can then look around for a good deal on a longer lens, or zoom, preferably something that gets you out to 300mm+
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Post by beagle on May 4, 2011 21:18:32 GMT 12
just found a d3100 with both 18-55 and 50-200 lens's for $1200 new
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Post by thebrads on May 4, 2011 21:33:10 GMT 12
Was about to say check out the new(ish) Sony SLT series. I have the a33 and love it. 7fps. Paid $1300 for it with twin lens kit. a55 does 10fps. They refocuse between the shots. It does some real cool stuff besides, and is based on Minolta hardware, so Minolta lenses fit too.
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Post by beagle on May 4, 2011 21:37:47 GMT 12
some have said no to Sony, any reasons.
my first SLR was a zenit, (russian) then HP, (won in a competition)
when you start spending in the thousands, is there really that much difference between them.
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Post by fwx on May 5, 2011 9:07:20 GMT 12
Yes! Have a look at what SLR's the professionals use, it will be either either Canon or Nikon, not brand snobbery, just that they make the best cameras, and have for many years. Whether talking about durability, reliability, ergonomics, software, tech. support, optics, whatever you want to compare ... I used Canon for 20 years, and then Nikon for the next 20 - both systems are very good. You won't regret buying either, whereas Sony is only a very recent arrival on the DSLR scene, not a specialist camera or optics manufacturer, and not offering a pathway into a recognised lens and accessory system. OK, not knocking Minolta either, but return to the fact that the pro's use Nikon or Canon, for good reasons.
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Post by Kereru on May 5, 2011 9:29:42 GMT 12
Nikon do have there sensors made by Sony whereas Canon manufacture their own. Nikon and Canon have a huge range of lenses and accessories to chose from hence there popularity. Minolta glass is very good although I have no personal experience with that brand.
Cheers
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Post by beagle on May 5, 2011 10:34:40 GMT 12
cheers. Looks like some stores only deal with canon and some just nikon and some mixed with everything. will continue to shop before I buy, plus take in your comments.
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Post by Deleted on May 5, 2011 19:39:50 GMT 12
I use Nikon and the only reason for that is back in the days of film I used Nikon SLR's and when I moved to digital I stayed with Nikon because of I knew my way round the controls
I use 2 Nikon DSLR bodies, a D300 and a D40, I use the D40 with a 18-200 VR lens as a walk around camera and for static ground shots of aircraft, the D40 has a battery pack.
The D300 is used for ground to air shots and has a battery pack and a Sigma 50 - 500mm lens, this is the older model lens with out optical stabilisation, I have found VR or OS adds nothing to assisting in moving aircraft photography, its sole purpose it to eliminate camera shake, I had a Sigma 80 - 400mm with OS and found the OS a hindrance and ditched in favour of a lens with a longer focal length, the battery pack when loaded with 8 x AA batteries cranks the frames/sec up to 8 which sure helps with ground to air shots, sure you get a few duds but also plenty of keepers
As others have said before me stay with the two mainstream brands, there are heaps of lens available on trade me as well as camera bodies, I got the D40 with a 1500 shutter actuation count for $350.00 on trademe
Check out Ken Rockwells site he reviews both Nikon and Canon
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