Digital Photography

Hey chaps,

been thinking what to do with my film camera. I've got a Nikon F80 but I don't often use it. Do I trade it in or sell it and get a Digital SLR? Or go for a compact SLR?

Use is purely for fun but I do need to capture moving objects in high speeds Previously I used the F80 to capture pics at F1 races and in races overall.

Any suggestions?

Cheers

Depends on what kit you have for the F80 really. If you go for something like a D70, which is what I have, you'll prob find that your lenses will fit and as that's 90% of the cost of the SLR world it's a big bonus.

Canon's 350D is very nice too but if you stick with something like the D70 and just buy the body of eBay you should get a bargin as it's just been superseded by the D80. Mind you if your just after a fun camera it's all a bit of overkill and you may as well stick with a compact but that means no after market bits to waste your money on and where's the fun in that!

I would keep the F80 cos regardless of what the big camera companys say, to get a digital camera to produce the same quality as say a top slide film you would end up with a file size in excess of 100 mb plus. The F80 wont even make you much money on Ebay either unfrtunately. Depends how serious you are about your photography I guess, they are a truly great piece of kit especially in black though.
good luck
stew

u're right on that - it is in black

so u reckon go for a digital compact something to fit in my pocket kinda thing?

To be honest it really depends on what you use your camera for.Most modern compacts have a pretty good range of features including super zoom, anti shake technology etc. At the end of the day an image is only as good as the person behind the lens so the choice is yours and its a huge choice. If you go for a compact you don't really need more than 5 mega pixels, that will allow you to print out at at least A4 possibly much higher but with less resolution. Also if you go for a big zoom compact make sure it is optical zoom and not electronic. Optical zoom is what is created with the internal mechanisms in the lens and electronic is created in the memory and can lead to all sorts of artifacts creeping into your image.
Hope this helps a bit.
cheers
stew
p.s. Jessops no longer trade in Analogue cameras (as they now call them)

Modern compacts are very good but if you need to shoot anything fast moving then the shutter lag will let you down. You press the button and have to wait for the shutter to click.

This is when an SLR really scores as you will get almost instant responce and better handling.

Entry level SLR cameras from Nikon, Canon and Sony are great and easy to use if you dont want to get involved with ISO, F-stops and white balance etc as they have good programme modes like sport, portrait etc.

If you already have a Nikon then the D50 slr might work with your lenses and is very good value. Don't let the mere 6 megapixal count put you off, this camera will give sharp images at A4 size plus.

quick plug
I might be selling a D50 with 18-70 lens soon.

I'd agree with Smurf and Rob. Get a D50 or D70, body only if you can, and use your existing lens(es), assuming that you've got autofocus lens(es) with the F80.

The pictures from my D50 are an order of magnitude better than my 5 megapixel compact. It's easier to get decent pics from a digital SLR than from a compact.

I was using an 8mp Panasonic Lumix bridge camera (FZ30) and the 6mp Nikon gave sharper images in most situations. I had to get an SLR as tying to take action/sport photos just was not working on th bridge camera.

There are rumours of a 10mp D60 coming soon which will mean big discounts on the D50.

think u're right - i'll keep the f80 and look for a pocket digital....any suggestions? i'm after good quality picture and if possible the ability to take pics from a very very very close distance......i'm into spying so need something that can take a pic from cms really

I've got a casio exilim EX-Z60 and the macro mode is pretty good on that. I took some lovely pics of little tiny bumble bees in the summer and they look huge in the pics Picture quality is good and they're not dead expensive.