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What DSLRs I saw today in Colonial Williamsburg

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fjbyrne

fjbyrne

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Just spent the day a Colonial Williamsburg. Here is my unoffical statistics for DSLRs:

Nikon - at lest 50, mostly D40, D60 level.
Canon - around 15, mostly Rebels but 2-3 20/30/40D.
Sony - 1 other than mine, either an A200 or A300/A350.
Pentax - 1, not sure which model.
Minolta - 1 Maxxum film camera

I was really surprised how much Nikon dominated the numbers. It was easily 3-1 Nikon to Canon. I had hoped to see more Sony cameras but I only saw the 1 :(.

Of course there were mostly P&S and a surprising number of video cameras and cell phone cameras being used.
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Rick
 
Last week-end I was shooting at a rodeo, my pictures are used in the next years program, and there was one other photographer there shooting professionally. And no surprise, he was using a A700 just like me. Actually, we have both been shooting at the same rodeo for a couple of years, so I expected this. The only difference was that I was using a Sigma 70-200 DG and he was using a 80-200 Minolta. Lots of point and shoot cameras in the crowd, but I didn't see any other DSLRs while I had time to look. After the days show on Saturday I went to the beer garden and got the surprise of the day . . . someone had been using an old X-500! With the power grip no less. Quite a sight. We talked for a while about minolta film bodies (I have 2 X-700 bodies) and the digital advantages the autofocus systems have.

Mike
 
Just got back from Costa Rica today and saw mostly Canons down there.

4 or 5 Rebels and 1 -20D, 1 - 40D.

1 Nikon D60.

Only saw 2 lens hoods between all of them. Kind of odd but just one wide angle and the rest all small aperture zooms.

Was in a surfing area not in the jungle tourist zone though thus the small amount of cameras I guess.

Did run into a guy on the plane down with his Nikon 400-2.8 and 2X extender though. Man that was a monster to haul around but good for surfing shots. For some odd reason he carried that one on instead of checking it with his baggage. :-)
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tom power
 
Haha, almost all the sony DSLR users using the 18-70 kit lens had their hoods reversed as it came in the box. I wonder if they even know that it comes off?
 
Have to say most of the users of the entry level cameras really have not the slightest clue and not real interested in spending a lot of time to figure it out either. Can be quite intimidating if you only have the camera manual and not a member of a forum like this so very easy to get frustrated.

Many (maybe most) new buyers are just wandering around in the dark bumping into things.
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tom power
 
When I was on a super popular island in Greece a few years ago for 3 days, I saw more Sony A100s than any other SLR. All on women. Mostly off cruise ships.
Most of the rest were Nikon D40 to D80 range.
Since then it has been lots of Nikons, anywhere.

Could it be that Nikon is a kind of travelers brand since it is used so much by photojournalism in exotic places? It was seen this way 20 years ago when I and my pals went off on our first youthful forays overseas. FMII + 50 mm + lead bag stuffed with Kodachrome 200 & 64. Minolta was not Nikon but well regarded as a good brand and also a travel brand.
 
JMCO said:
When I was on a super popular island in Greece a few years ago for 3 days, I saw more Sony A100s than any other SLR. All on women. Mostly off cruise ships.
Click to expand...
Did you notice which models? Any of the new ones (A230,etc)?
JMCO said:
Most of the rest were Nikon D40 to D80 range.
Since then it has been lots of Nikons, anywhere.
Click to expand...
I was shocked at how many more Nikons I saw than Canons.
JMCO said:
Could it be that Nikon is a kind of travelers brand since it is used so much by photojournalism in exotic places? It was seen this way 20 years ago when I and my pals went off on our first youthful forays overseas. FMII + 50 mm + lead bag stuffed with Kodachrome 200 & 64. Minolta was not Nikon but well regarded as a good brand and also a travel brand.
Click to expand...
Not sure. I think they have a pedigree and I also think they did things right - a low cost, small, lightweight camera that handles like a more expensive camera. I still think people value this - especially if they do a handling comparison which any decent salesperson would suggest. I really couldn't recommend the A230/A330/A380 series without a huge caveat that the person handle the other brands too.

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Rick
 
i'm not a Sony DSLR user but i have the N D200 D80 and D1X ....my daughter is a D40 shooter and i like the feel even its smallish for my feelings compared to my camera's.

the GUI is simple and user friendly.

i had the 2XX Sony series in my hand ( all models ) they would not work for me either.

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  • living in harmony with nature and other beings...will create an better world for all * marti58 -2006
http://www.flickr.com/photos/marti58/
http://www.flickr.com/groups/worldwidefriendship/
 
I'd imagine, and this is just my opinion on the subject, that if you exclude professionals and legacy shooters where Canon has long had dominance, when an average Joe buyer goes out to look at cameras, the process is likely something like this:
  • Instantly eliminate any other brand but Canon and Nikon, because that's what everyone on the street and all the salesmen tell them to do.
  • Handle the Canon and Nikon entry-levels. With few exceptions, most should find the Nikon more comfortable and feeling a bit better put together.
  • Buy the Nikon.
There will be exceptions of course - but I would think this happens with a fair number of buyers. Canon fans will still buy Canon, and the oddballs who shoot Sony, Pentax, Olympus, etc will still like their brands. But Average Joe has had it pounded into their brain that only Canon and Nikon make real, serious camera gear, and between the two, Nikon's designs tend to have better ergonomics and look a bit more solid.

Beeble fuddle dribble prad foisty crug grackle pood fisty kug

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Justin
galleries: http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg
 
I've been throwing in nonsense lines in any of my reply posts to help or discussion threads on this board for quite a while now - can't even remember when I started, but it's been weeks if not months.

I was attempting to verify if any of my contributions were even being read - it seemed like they weren't, because they never were replied to, and posts made well after mine with similar comments or advice were met with a thank you or long discussion.

It didn't offend me, actually I found it kind of funny. That's when I decided to start throwing in the silly nonsense lines...just to see how long before somebody said 'what in the world is that?'

My answer is...very very long, and many many posts. And so far, you're the only prize winner! :)

Having come over from the lowly P&S boards, it takes quite a while to break in over here on the big boy's board. So I just keep slogging away for the past year and a half, until I sort of blend in anonymously with the regulars.

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Justin
galleries: http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg
 
Really? I didn't know you've tried the nonsense language too! How did it work out for you? Us old Sony H-series STF guys take a long time to get noticed on the other boards. ;)

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Justin
galleries: http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg
 
I get regular emails from Mifsuds, having tried to buy a Minolta 400mm from them some time back. So what special offers do they send? Lenses for Canon and Nikon. And silly thing is that they do sometimes have some good used Alpha mount lenses.

So Beeble fuddle dribble prad foisty crug grackle pood fisty kug to them too.

dhaslam
http://www.pbase.com/dhaslam/galleries
 
zackiedawg said:
I've been throwing in nonsense lines in any of my reply posts to help or discussion threads on this board for quite a while now - can't even remember when I started, but it's been weeks if not months.

I was attempting to verify if any of my contributions were even being read - it seemed like they weren't, because they never were replied to, and posts made well after mine with similar comments or advice were met with a thank you or long discussion.

Justin
Click to expand...
Just randomly insert "jpeg" or "MTF" or "noise" or "HD video" or "850" in one of your "nonsense lines" and I'm sure someone will take exception and reply.

Andy
 
Marti58 said:
i'm not a Sony DSLR user but i have the N D200 D80 and D1X ....my daughter is a D40 shooter and i like the feel even its smallish for my feelings compared to my camera's.
Click to expand...
It is small but comfortable IMO. I shoot an A700 primarily so I would have a tough time downsizing to a D40-type camera myself.
Member said:
the GUI is simple and user friendly.
Click to expand...
Agreed. My friend has one and I think it was a great idea. So good Sony did something similar with their new cameras.
Member said:
i had the 2XX Sony series in my hand ( all models ) they would not work for me either.
Click to expand...
Definitely not the new ones. I could get by with an A200 in a pinch. There is no way I could use an A230 since the grip is so poor.
Member said:
--
  • living in harmony with nature and other beings...will create an better world for all * marti58 -2006
http://www.flickr.com/photos/marti58/
http://www.flickr.com/groups/worldwidefriendship/
Click to expand...
--
Rick
 
We went to Bush Gardens amusement part today. There weren't nearly as many DSLRs as I would expect.

Here is the data:

12 Nikon - all entry level
5 Canons - 4 entry level Rebels, 1 5D
0 Sony (aside from my A100)
0 other brands

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Rick
 
It tends to vary a lot depending on where you are visiting. But my visit to Disneyland CA, and San Diego Zoo surprised me the most.

About 26 Sony's !! (mostly with 18-250 and a couple with 18-70 300/350 live view and a couple of A700)
About 18 Nikons (mostly D40/D40X/ 1 D3 and 1 D300)
About 7 Canons (Old rebels and 1 40D, and 1 1Ds3)

San Diego Zoo was similar ratio!

While Sony might be a chance, Canon/Nikon 1/3 is pretty stable.

N
 
BackToSlr said:
It tends to vary a lot depending on where you are visiting. But my visit to Disneyland CA, and San Diego Zoo surprised me the most.

About 26 Sony's !! (mostly with 18-250 and a couple with 18-70 300/350 live view and a couple of A700)
About 18 Nikons (mostly D40/D40X/ 1 D3 and 1 D300)
About 7 Canons (Old rebels and 1 40D, and 1 1Ds3)

San Diego Zoo was similar ratio!

While Sony might be a chance, Canon/Nikon 1/3 is pretty stable.

N
Click to expand...
The only time I have seen another Alpha shooter was in New York city. Even then they were easily outnumbered by the Nikon and Canon shooters.

I wonder if it is an East vs West coast thing.

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Rick
 
I spent a month and a half with my birth family in Spain last June and July. Whenever I saw anybody with a dslr camera, I made an effort to make out its maker. Of course most were C and N but, I have to say, I was surprised to spot close to a dozen people shooting with Alphas. I was never close enough to see which model though.

I know, a dozen people is not many, but other years I hardly saw anybody with Alphas. So, to me at least, it is clear Sony is getting more and more users into its Alpha system.

How many C and N did I happen to see? I did not keep a tab on how many, but I would say maybe thirty of forty.

Hope next year I will count many more than a dozen Alphas!
 
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