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What's up Nikon?!

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pdoes

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I'm frustrated (Hmm, not a good way to start your first post)

I have been wanting to buy a digital SLR for a while. I don't just go and buy anything, that's just not my nature. I investigate what's out there and then buy what I believe is the right thing for me.
So after looking at several camera's for a while it came down to these 4:
  • Canon Rebel XT
  • Canon 20D
  • Nikon D70s
  • Nikon D50
So after holding them in my hands and reading the reviews, forums and general photography websites I came to the following order:

4. the Canon Rebel XT just wasn't for me, even picking the thing up gave me cramps in my fingers.

3. 20D. The price made it drop to 3rd place even though it felt the best in my hands
2. The low speed USB on the D70 made it 2nd place

1. The low price of the D50 made it earn it's 1st place. The low price is somewhat important as I know I need money to get me a good starting lense.

So I want to buy the D50 but I can't. It is impossible to buy the D50-body only, as it is to buy the D70. Nikon can't deliver the goods. B&H told me Nikon can't keep up with demand, which in a way is good thing for Nikon. The sales person couldn't even give me a lead time, somewhere between 4 weeks and 4 months!!!

What concerns me as well with this whole situation, what if I am able to get what I want. What happens when the camera breaks down and needs a replacement part, how long will my camera be gone for?!

SIGH

Thank you for reading my rambling.
Peter
 
I've seen maybe one post on this site from someone who's had something bust on their D50. They seem pretty well built and I don't believe they have any defects like BGLOD of the D70 or banding of the D200. Wait it out till you can get a D50, and you'll be glad you did. You could also buy the kit and sell the lens. E-Bay, keh.com, Adorama, and maybe even B&H are selling used stuff and you may be able to get rid of it that way. Good luck.
--



Wanting my work to stand out because of my Photography skills, NOT because of my Computer skills.

http://www.betterphoto.com/gallery/free/gallery.asp?memberID=162336
 
Actually Nikon is smart on this one. They realized that they cannot match the demand, so they simply push more the kits over the bodies, simply because of the profit. If they can still sell the body with a lens, why risk to sell the body only, as the customer can end up with a 3rd party lens.

I know it is frustrating for you but I'm happy that Nikon makes nice profit, this way the future of the F mount is in good hands. I'm sure sooner or later you will get what you want, so do not worry.

One more thing: the slow USB on the D70 is not a problem. You would likely want a card reader anyway to copy the pics, simply because it is better to wear out the cheap card reader than the expensive camera and it's battery.

--
Zalan Szabo
http://www.szabozalan.hu
 
I had trouble deciding between the D50 and D70s. Both are wonderful cameras. Remember that you are really buying into a system, i.e. the Nikon System of flashes, lenses, and accessories vs. that of Canon or Oly, etc. Camera bodies come and go, but you may hold onto your Nikon glass for decades.

The USB issue is not very important. Most people transfer their pics from camera to computer by removing the CF (or SD for the D50) card and inserting it into a reader. I have never once transferred pics from my D70s via the USB port.
--
Roger
Huntington Harbour, California
Surf City, USA

'I want to die peacefully, in my sleep, like my Grandfather...'
Not screaming, and in terror, like his passengers...'

 
Go to Ritz camera, they have plenty of d50's in Austin, TX.
 
If the slow USB speed is the only thig that drops the D70 to 2nd place then move it to first place because you will never directly connect your D70 to your computer unless you are uploading custom curves and that will happen so infrequently and happens almost instantly that is is never an issue. Some specs are not worth worrying about. D70 noise is not really an issue either IMHO.
 
I will second what some others have written about the USB speed not being an issue. Hooking up your camera to your computer gets old really fast. Especially because it drains the battery a lot faster to be transfering via USB cable. Card readers are WONDERFUL! They are faster and they don't drain your battery. For me, to transfer via USB, my camera would have to be on the floor (no room on my computer desk) so it's much safer to not use that method.

The D70 also has slightly better on camera controls like having 2 command dials and a button for chaging metering mode. The flash abilities are also better.
 
Ritz Camera has sales on the D50. Apparently to me it wasn't a sale since I got a steal off eBay. I got the body, desk tripod, cleaning kit, 2.0 USB plug-in, 15-80 and 70-300 Nikkor lense(s), Nikon bag, warranty service(s), and UV filters for both lenses. All this for less then a grand.
 
Thanks for all the comments so far. Glad to hear the D50 doesn't break down that easily and I'll definately will buy a card reader, no matter what camera I'll buy.

I saw Ritz camera has both Nikon's in stock, but when I mention I can buy the camera on-line from Ritz camera to people they all give me that you-don't-really-wanna-buy-from-them look. As I have only been living in the States for two years I don't really know which on-line resellers are the best. I heard B&H is the best. So going with what my co-workers and friends tell me, I'll skip on Ritz I guess.

About the D50 vs D70 issue. I don't really know.

I'm a beginning SLR'er (if that's a right word) but I have been using P&S for a couple years. The D50 is cheaper but lacks some functions in comparison to the D70, but I don't know if I'll miss them. The D70 feels better in my hands as it's a bit bigger, hence why I loved the Canon 20D in my hands.
 
pdoes said:
I'm frustrated (Hmm, not a good way to start your first post)
I have been wanting to buy a digital SLR for a while. I don't just
go and buy anything, that's just not my nature. I investigate
what's out there and then buy what I believe is the right thing for
me.
So after looking at several camera's for a while it came down to
these 4:
  • Canon Rebel XT
  • Canon 20D
  • Nikon D70s
  • Nikon D50
So after holding them in my hands and reading the reviews, forums
and general photography websites I came to the following order:
4. the Canon Rebel XT just wasn't for me, even picking the thing up
gave me cramps in my fingers.
3. 20D. The price made it drop to 3rd place even though it felt the
best in my hands
2. The low speed USB on the D70 made it 2nd place
1. The low price of the D50 made it earn it's 1st place. The low
price is somewhat important as I know I need money to get me a good
starting lense.

So I want to buy the D50 but I can't. It is impossible to buy the
D50-body only, as it is to buy the D70. Nikon can't deliver the
goods. B&H told me Nikon can't keep up with demand, which in a way
is good thing for Nikon. The sales person couldn't even give me a
lead time, somewhere between 4 weeks and 4 months!!!
What concerns me as well with this whole situation, what if I am
able to get what I want. What happens when the camera breaks down
and needs a replacement part, how long will my camera be gone for?!

SIGH

Thank you for reading my rambling.
Peter
Click to expand...
I bought my D50 and the 2 kit lenses on ebay from cometta cameras for a little over $600 love it!!!!!
 
The only reason there's a supply issue is because there's a demand issue... it's no fault of Nikon that they made such a good cam! People are soaking them up like water in never-filling sponge. (same goes for the d70s)

Nikon hit the nail on the head when they stayed a step back on the megapixel war, kept the price a little lower, and managed to help customers get some of the best pictures they've ever seen!

On my other board... at DVXuser... we are all mainly video guys but most of us also like photography a lot (they go hand in hand really)... and there's a thread for Nikon d50 owners and a seperate thread for Canon 350 owners... and the d50 thread is about 33 pages long with 4800 views (at the time of this post) and the XT (350d) thread is 4 pages long with about 800 views.

I'm not saying the Rebel XT is a bad camera by ANY means... but just LOOK at the d50 (and d70s) pics... they have a magic quality to them... I'm not trying to sound like a nut here, but I'm serious... everybody can SEE it plainly... the Nikon shots look like film and people are loving it... the 2 megapixel disadvantage isn't really seen in the end result... what's happening is that the Nikons are taking incredibly pleasing images... and at the lowest price.

What would you expect? The more people that get a d50 and post the incredible results the more people WANT them... it's just a rampaging snowball at this point and Nikon is making snow as fast as they can.
 
this is where they make all D50/70/200, plus kit lenses. Nikon does have a supply problem, but it's the sort of problem Canon wishes it had.

If you can find a kit consisting of D50/18-70DX, this would be a good way to go. The 18-70 is a very good lens for the price of a mediocre one. Or consider the D70s/18-70DX kit; if you feel you will be a bit more 'serious' as a photographer, the extra functionality will be something you will appreciate, if not actually need. And the first-impression ergonomics are a very important consideration. If the D70 'felt right', you should listen to that.
 
I hear you.

The camera that felt "right" was the Canon 20D. There wasn't a big difference between the D50 and D70, I ordered the D50+18-70 lens. As the ergonomy wasn't that big of a difference to adding about $100-$150 for the D70s wasn't worth it. The bigger difference is because I already have SD cards and no CF cards which I would have to buy.

Anyway, like everybody says, they both are very good camera's and I won't regret buying the D50.
 
I've just had the same problem. I didn't want the D50 kit lens but body only was back ordered. So I bought a kit plus a 50mm 1.8 and then sold the kit lens on ebay for £20 (UK) more than I paid for it. I have just one lens at the moment but I'll buy more later on.

Good hunting - Paul
 
I actually quite like the D50 kit lens. For low light situations I use the Nikon 50mm 1.8 (just like many others).

--
Adi

I take constructive criticism as an outright insult.
 
I also picked up the D50 with two lens kit from Cameta on E-Bay. Be aware it's a "factory demo" which is labeled reconditioned, but mine works fine. In fact, I bought it as a backup for my D70 and find myself using it all the time instead. Same with the lenses that came with it. I thought I'd turn around and sell them, but I like the D50 kit lens for the weight and the Tamron long zoom has macro which I like for close-ups from a little better working distance than my 100mm macro lens. I still use my 28-200 with a monopod most of the time though. The body and two lenses were around $630 shipped if I recall correctly.
 
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