Thinking of getting the D50---should I buy a kit w/2 lenses?

Im looking for a camera solely for taking pix of my kids....want something that will give sharp pictures, little to no lag time, a good zoom and gives good results w/out having to fiddle with some photo editing software

Should I get the kit with 2 lenses? And does anyone know the best place to buy (online)
thanks

yes. The two lens kit sounds fine for your needs. Also, if your budget allows, consider the 18-200mm VR. This lens is supposed to be Very good, and it has of the range of the other two together, so no switiching lenses (+vr). Then again, that lens is very hard to find.
--

I like the idea of not having to carry around 2 lenses (that has been what has been keeping me from purchasing a DSLR). Do you know if the 18-200 is really big? The zoom on my N70 is gigantic lol

Not really that big, and it has a lot of WOW built in. It sure solves the dust on teh sensor problem as I never need to change lenses. Dave
--
please visit my gallary at http://www.poperotzy.smugmug.com

Save 5.00 on your own at http://www.smugmug.com/?referrer=hDHC0KR4DZ7UY

I'm afraid my advice may not be too popular on this one, especially to someone who already owns a D70, but I say get a P&S.

I've had a Canon A80 4MP point and shoot camera that has been great for kids and casual shots. With 4MP I can crop a little bit and still get excellent 8x10 prints from my Epson R320. We've even done kid activities where we've printed portraits of the kids larger than life to make puzzles or masks.

While the D50 has a 'Kid' program mode, I haven't really used it yet. The Canon however gave me all the normal things you would expect to find such as Apeture and Shutter control, exposure control, etc. The flash seemed to work much better than my previous Fuji digital camera, and seemed pretty good and reducing red eye in all but really dark situations.

The two things that made it really good, for me, for kid pictures:

1. I really could slip it into a decent-size pocket, or backpack without any concern.

2. The tilt and swivel LCD meant I could take eye-level pictures of the kids without kneeling or sitting on the ground (already done many times with the D50).

I'm actually going the opposite direction: I bought a D50 because I wanted something that would give me the flexibilities I enjoyed with my FM2 for over a decade. On a recent outing in the snow, I took my FM2 out for the first time in years and loved the pictures. But I realized I couldn't wait for the local photo lab to print the pics at $15 a roll, so I finally decided to get back into my old Photography hobby with a new digital camera (the D50). It saddens me to think of selling my FM2.

I've got some sample undoctored photos from the A80 here:
http://www.openroad.org/A80/

Yes! I love my D50 with the 18-55mm kit lens but am now having to pay for the 55-200mm lens at a greater cost only a few months later because I didn't take the deal

the 55-200mm is getting some great reviews on this site (for its price) and some are even prefering its sharpness over the whole range over some other lenses.

Yes it might be a slight nuisance to have to change lenses but there are compromises with the zoom lenses that cover the full range from wide angle to zoom too.

Katy
D50
18-55mm
55-200mm (soon)!
50mm 1.8 (soon)!
--
If only I looked as bad as I did 10 years ago. . .I'd be georgeous!

ChunkyMonkey said:

Im looking for a camera solely for taking pix of my kids

Click to expand...

sports pics ? at night ?

....want

ChunkyMonkey said:

something that will give sharp pictures, little to no lag time, a
good zoom

Click to expand...

how much zoom and at night ?

and gives good results w/out having to fiddle with some

ChunkyMonkey said:

photo editing software

Click to expand...

this might be a prob

ChunkyMonkey said:

Should I get the kit with 2 lenses?

Click to expand...

it depends on your prev answers

And does anyone know the best

ChunkyMonkey said:

place to buy (online)
thanks

Click to expand...

pricegrabber.com is a good start

--
Thanks

Randy



http://randyr.smugmug.com/

No. Get the D70s. It's a little more costly but much better quality images and a better camera altogether. I know one gets what one paysfor in life but I think you will tire of the D50 soon and want something better. The D70s is that something.
Jules

--
Black holes do not destroy information.

I have the original D70 with new firmware, and a sparking new D50, and I already thought my D50 image quality is as good as my D70. D50 JPG is better. D50 only miss 2 important feature, DOF preview, and wireless control of flash. I just don't use the former, and SB 800 takes care of the latter.

Gab.

JulesJ said:

No. Get the D70s. It's a little more costly but much better quality
images and a better camera altogether. I know one gets what one
paysfor in life but I think you will tire of the D50 soon and want
something better. The D70s is that something.
Jules

--
Black holes do not destroy information.

Click to expand...

--
------------------------------
Anything worth shooting is worth shooting twice ...

I'm sorry to dissapoint you but the D50's image is not as good as the D70 or D70s's. See John Hensel's review in the Photgrapher (the official magazine of the British Institute of Professional Photogeraphers) here in the UK some months ago when he ran like for like tests between the top ten SLDCs. The D70 simages were noticeble clearer and sharper than the D50's.
What would you expect?
Jules

--
Black holes do not destroy information.

Jules your missing the point. ChunkyMonkey is after clear sharp easy to take pictures of the kids. The D-50 will meet this qualification for years to come. Yes the D-70s is a shade better than the D-50 but the D-50 is easer to use. With the 55-200 lens it is a power packed camera. IMO your over looking one of the main issues, TO HAVE FUN AND ENJOY TAKING PICTURES OF THE FAMILY. Isn't that one of the reasons we all buy cameras?

Please consider the option of the D50 and the nice 18-70 kit lens (the one that comes with the D70). Now that everyone is buying the new 18-200vr you can probably pick up a used one at a low price. So maybe buy body alone and that lens.

Later add sigma 70-300 or if you have more money a better tele for more reach - like sigma 70-200 or nikon 70-200.

Chinkapin. Fair comment. But given the specifications I think that any slr digital camera would fit the brief. They all take fairly decent pictures and they are all fun. So no answer would be very helpful to this enquiry.
Jules

--
Black holes do not destroy information.

JulesJ said:

I'm sorry to dissapoint you but the D50's image is not as good as
the D70 or D70s's. See John Hensel's review in the Photgrapher (the
official magazine of the British Institute of Professional
Photogeraphers) here in the UK some months ago when he ran like for
like tests between the top ten SLDCs. The D70 simages were
noticeble clearer and sharper than the D50's.
What would you expect?
Jules

Click to expand...

well, I already know before hand that D50 is not as sharp as D70, due to stronger AA filter, but it's only very marginal. To an amateur, it doesn't make a difference, does it ? But color is a big difference that everyone notices. D70 tone curve is just too flat. I really hate to edit all my picture to my taste. I like D50 tone curve a lot, and I think Nikon should make all consumer dslr like this to better target the general public who we assume know little about PP.

I expect D50 to make close to perfect JPG in term of color and wb. It doesn't let me down so far.

Gab.

--
------------------------------
Anything worth shooting is worth shooting twice ...

Im not planning on taking sports or night pix....but if I want to I have my 35mm film camera to do so ....so that part is covered

Basically Ive been looking for a point and shoot but everyone keeps telling me I'll still encounter some lag time and I should just go for the DSLR

thanks

Ive already elminated the D70 as more camera than I need....so basically its between the D50 or a point-and shoot

just evey now and then kid pics get the d50...otherwise get a small canon p&s, less money and less to know

I started w/ a p&s, then moved to a fixed lens, by then i knew i had the photo bug so i got the d50...my next cam will b the d200 in 1-2 yrs...i shhot pics 3-4 times per week and about 12-15k pics a year
for a part time user imo the d50 is more cam than u need
--
Thanks

Randy



http://randyr.smugmug.com/

I totally disagree! The reason I got my D50 is I also have a Canon SD550. I gave the Canon to my wife to leave in her purse. I hate the point and shoot. Every picture has red eye. If I take a shot of my kids sledding or my son's lacrosse game, the shutter lag is so bad that I miss the shot. My D50 is 6 megapixels and the SD550 is 8 megapixels (I'm pretty sure) and you can't compare the picture quality. Go for the D50!

No disrespect, but you totally disagree that a P&S is smaller and lighter than a D50, and that a P&S can have a swivel LCD? These where the two biggest points I recommended it over the D50 specifically for kid shots.

I've also experienced shutter lag on the D50 if everything is in Auto-everything mode. This can be changed in most P&Ss as well as the D50.

While the samples I posted may not be good examples of photo technique, I think they demonstrate that a 4MP P&S can be pretty useful. In my very very humble opinion, I can compare the picture quality, as when I print those sample shots at 8x10, I can't find any flaws.

Must be something wrong with your D70. The colour from mine is fine.
Jules

--
Black holes do not destroy information.