DSLR--Decision Time!!!

[Kate P]

Hi everyone, I've been hanging around the forums for a while now absorbing all the great information and opinions everyone has to offer. This seems to be a great site occupied by some great people!

I am venturing into my first DSLR purchase in the next couple of weeks, and have been going back and forth for a few months on what I should do!! I have Nikon lenses, so it comes down to the S2, D1X, or D100... and I have firmly decided on each of them at least three times already, only to change my mind and start all over. I was planning to wait for the next "round" before getting anything, but a new job requires one and thus a decision.

I've read all the posts in the Nikon and Fuji forums and after weeding through all the problems and the quirks and the biases, lo and behold I haven't really found that any of these cameras stands firmly above the others. Does anyone have any advice for me that could help me out? I will be using the camera mainly for shooting travel and interiors, I will need the pictures to be sharp and have low noise and true colors, and the body rugged enough to travel everywhere with me, although I don't abuse my gear. The price isn't too much of an issue since these are all within my affordability.

Thanks to everyone in advance for your help--I desperately need some advice here!!!

Kate

 

[baruth]

Yes D1x, Kate

Hi everyone, I've been hanging around the forums for a while now
absorbing all the great information and opinions everyone has to
offer. This seems to be a great site occupied by some great people!

I am venturing into my first DSLR purchase in the next couple of
weeks, and have been going back and forth for a few months on what
I should do!! I have Nikon lenses, so it comes down to the S2,
D1X, or D100... and I have firmly decided on each of them at least
three times already, only to change my mind and start all over. I
was planning to wait for the next "round" before getting anything,
but a new job requires one and thus a decision.

I've read all the posts in the Nikon and Fuji forums and after
weeding through all the problems and the quirks and the biases, lo
and behold I haven't really found that any of these cameras stands
firmly above the others. Does anyone have any advice for me that
could help me out? I will be using the camera mainly for shooting
travel and interiors, I will need the pictures to be sharp and have
low noise and true colors, and the body rugged enough to travel
everywhere with me, although I don't abuse my gear. The price
isn't too much of an issue since these are all within my
affordability.

Thanks to everyone in advance for your help--I desperately need
some advice here!!!

Kate

--
baruth

 

[Ron Hildebrand]

Hi everyone, I've been hanging around the forums for a while now
absorbing all the great information and opinions everyone has to
offer. This seems to be a great site occupied by some great people!

I am venturing into my first DSLR purchase in the next couple of
weeks, and have been going back and forth for a few months on what
I should do!! I have Nikon lenses, so it comes down to the S2,
D1X, or D100... and I have firmly decided on each of them at least
three times already, only to change my mind and start all over. I
was planning to wait for the next "round" before getting anything,
but a new job requires one and thus a decision.

I've read all the posts in the Nikon and Fuji forums and after
weeding through all the problems and the quirks and the biases, lo
and behold I haven't really found that any of these cameras stands
firmly above the others. Does anyone have any advice for me that
could help me out? I will be using the camera mainly for shooting
travel and interiors, I will need the pictures to be sharp and have
low noise and true colors, and the body rugged enough to travel
everywhere with me, although I don't abuse my gear. The price
isn't too much of an issue since these are all within my
affordability.

Thanks to everyone in advance for your help--I desperately need
some advice here!!!

Kate

Hi Kate,

The first level of seperation here would be D100/S2 vs. D1x. Despite what some have said, there is no "real" problem with either exposure or focus with the D100 (unless you have a problem unit, that is), and it will give you just as good, if not slightly better (by a very fine margin) imaging than the D1x. I don't know much about the differences between the S2 and D100, so I'll leave that to someone else, and talk about the D100/S2 as a "class" as opposed to the D1x.

Buffer size, frames per second rate and total number of frames per burst, AF speed and ruggedness would go to the D1x over the other two. For ruggedness, it just depends on exactly how rugged you need your camera to be. I dropped my D1x about 2 or 3 months after I got it, onto concrete. The lens (happened to be a Sigma 15-30 at the time, itself not exactly a tank of a lens) suffered more, needing major repair. However the magnesium base of the D1x got an 1/8" long hairline crack, and a nick in the thumb depression area around the vertical shutter release.

What would have happened if it were a lesser-built camera? A big thick piece of plastic can be pretty durable, so who knows? The energy that caused the hairline crack in the magnesium may have been absorbed in this particular instance.

The D1x is also about as inconspicuous as a Sherman tank. If you want to be noticed, I guess this is the camera! But sometimes, especially when travelling, you don't want to draw attention to your expensive equipment. The D100 without the MB-D100 grip would look much more like a tourist's camera, and appear much less costly, if that's a factor in some of the places you may be travelling. In such cases, having the grip as a separate piece could actually be beneficial.

Shooting interiors with or without supplemental light? The D1x will not be too good at long exposures, and I think the D100 excels (compared to the D1x, at least) in longer exposures and less noise at higher ISO ratings.

It almost seems as if the D100 (or perhaps the S2) may have an edge in what you need the camera for. Or, the ideal situation may be one of each!

I do appreciate my D1x, and while I might consider the D100 for outdoor portraits in failing light or as a backup, I wouldn't trade it just to have the miniscule improvement in image quality that the true 6MPs may provide.

Hope this is helpful...

Ron

PS: Availability of both the D100 and D1x is tight right now, although some legwork (of the "let your fingers do the walking" kind) will probably turn up something. Both Calumet and B&H are out of D1x bodies, but are indicating more shortly. The D100 has been flying out the door it would seem, and it may take more work to find one. The Fuji seems to be starting to show up.

Also consider service when choosing between Nikon and Fuji. I have no idea how quickly Fuji may be able to turn repairs around, and I heard that there were some problems with S1 repairs, because the Fuji techs didn't really know the ins and outs of the camera all that well. (I would hope Fuji has learned from that experience, though.)
--
Ron

 

[Ron Hildebrand]

I will need the pictures to be sharp and have
low noise and true colors...

If you need this right out of the camera, there may be a problem with the D100. Out of the recent complaints of focus issues, it may indeed be true that jpgs from the D1x are sharper than the D100. Some of the posts regarding this seem to hold some water, but I'd still put it down to something to look into, not something to take at face value.

While you should be able to come up with settings to help get very good images out of the box with any of the three cameras, some post-processing may be needed for optimal results.

Ron

 

[VJ]

Ron Hildebrand wrote:

Honestly, I think this is one of the best thought out advice I have read so far.

PS: Availability of both the D100 and D1x is tight right now,
although some legwork (of the "let your fingers do the walking"
kind) will probably turn up something. Both Calumet and B&H are out
of D1x bodies, but are indicating more shortly. The D100 has been
flying out the door it would seem, and it may take more work to
find one. The Fuji seems to be starting to show up.

Here in Belgium, the D100 is relatively easy to find (if you don't mind a 4 weeks waiting list). The S2 is a lot more expensive, and IMO harder to find a service area for in Belgium.

I myself am waiting for my D100 to arrive (probabely this week or the beginning of next week).

Jörg

 

[Frantz Dantzler]

Kate,

I use a D1x and earlier I had a D1 and a S1. Now that the D100 and the S2 are here I want to get a backup for the x and based on my previous experience with the S1, I'm going for the S2. No camera is trouble-free, and I'm well aware of the S1's shortcommings, but I loved the color and detail that they managed to get from a 3MP CCD. I'm hopeful that a similar result will be the case with a 6MP CCD.

That said, you can't go wrong with any on your list. I think it's a matter of what you want to spend, how durable you want it to be, and how long you intend to keep it. If I were just starting out and wanted my first DSLR, I'd go for the D100 or the S2 and spend the money you saved by not buying the D1x and buy one or more of the AFS series lenses instead. High quality lenses are often bypassed in favor of the latest, best etc. bodies. But now that the market is supporting several Nikon based cameras that all use the AFS series lenses, I'd put my money equally into lenses and a body. After all, the D100/S2 is a big deal today, but they won't be in a year or so, but a 17-35 AFS will still be a valuable and viable item 3 or more years from now.

Keep us posted, and good luck!

Hi everyone, I've been hanging around the forums for a while now
absorbing all the great information and opinions everyone has to
offer. This seems to be a great site occupied by some great people!

I am venturing into my first DSLR purchase in the next couple of
weeks, and have been going back and forth for a few months on what
I should do!! I have Nikon lenses, so it comes down to the S2,
D1X, or D100... and I have firmly decided on each of them at least
three times already, only to change my mind and start all over. I
was planning to wait for the next "round" before getting anything,
but a new job requires one and thus a decision.

I've read all the posts in the Nikon and Fuji forums and after
weeding through all the problems and the quirks and the biases, lo
and behold I haven't really found that any of these cameras stands
firmly above the others. Does anyone have any advice for me that
could help me out? I will be using the camera mainly for shooting
travel and interiors, I will need the pictures to be sharp and have
low noise and true colors, and the body rugged enough to travel
everywhere with me, although I don't abuse my gear. The price
isn't too much of an issue since these are all within my
affordability.

Thanks to everyone in advance for your help--I desperately need
some advice here!!!

Kate

--
F. Dantzler

 

[GoldenHammer]

no S2 for maximum compatibility...

GH

Hi everyone, I've been hanging around the forums for a while now
absorbing all the great information and opinions everyone has to
offer. This seems to be a great site occupied by some great people!

I am venturing into my first DSLR purchase in the next couple of
weeks, and have been going back and forth for a few months on what
I should do!! I have Nikon lenses, so it comes down to the S2,
D1X, or D100... and I have firmly decided on each of them at least
three times already, only to change my mind and start all over. I
was planning to wait for the next "round" before getting anything,
but a new job requires one and thus a decision.

I've read all the posts in the Nikon and Fuji forums and after
weeding through all the problems and the quirks and the biases, lo
and behold I haven't really found that any of these cameras stands
firmly above the others. Does anyone have any advice for me that
could help me out? I will be using the camera mainly for shooting
travel and interiors, I will need the pictures to be sharp and have
low noise and true colors, and the body rugged enough to travel
everywhere with me, although I don't abuse my gear. The price
isn't too much of an issue since these are all within my
affordability.

Thanks to everyone in advance for your help--I desperately need
some advice here!!!

Kate

--
姿彩生活新世紀 - Life Style 21
http://www.life-style-21.com/forums/
Nikon D1x, AF 28mm/f1.4D, AF 85mm/f1.4D, AFS 300mm/f4D

 

[alfred_schiele]

Hi

After all, the D100/S2 is a big deal today, but they won't be in a
year or so, but a 17-35 AFS will still be a valuable and viable
item 3 or more years from now.

Well, when I think of my lenses, some only AF, no "D" or "S" at all, about ten years old or more... outperform easy a lot I have seen from other posters using modern "S-Zoom" lenses on a D100... Not the body but the lenses define the optical quality of images. With all the digital bodies it is a bit different, but without good lenses even a D100 performs not as good as possible... The glass is the real asset (that fixes you in a system) not the bodies, and for longer than you suggest if you don't need extremes.

Unfortunately digital bodies are no real asset in long time sense but expensive and out of date after at least 2 years or so...

Regards, A. Schiele

 

[Andrew Snow]

Gets you the professionalism of the D1x without its price tag

• Andrew

 

[Kate P]

Thanks everyone, I am still completely up in the air but please keep the comments coming--I'm getting closer!!!

 

[Glenn Barber]

I had a chance to try out the S2. I found that its shutter is not as responsive as the D100. Feels boggy - more like a N80 - where the D100 feels more like a F100.

This makes a difference for me because I need to shoot fast in fluid situations.

Depends on what you are doing.

Hi everyone, I've been hanging around the forums for a while now
absorbing all the great information and opinions everyone has to
offer. This seems to be a great site occupied by some great people!

I am venturing into my first DSLR purchase in the next couple of
weeks, and have been going back and forth for a few months on what
I should do!! I have Nikon lenses, so it comes down to the S2,
D1X, or D100... and I have firmly decided on each of them at least
three times already, only to change my mind and start all over. I
was planning to wait for the next "round" before getting anything,
but a new job requires one and thus a decision.

I've read all the posts in the Nikon and Fuji forums and after
weeding through all the problems and the quirks and the biases, lo
and behold I haven't really found that any of these cameras stands
firmly above the others. Does anyone have any advice for me that
could help me out? I will be using the camera mainly for shooting
travel and interiors, I will need the pictures to be sharp and have
low noise and true colors, and the body rugged enough to travel
everywhere with me, although I don't abuse my gear. The price
isn't too much of an issue since these are all within my
affordability.

Thanks to everyone in advance for your help--I desperately need
some advice here!!!

Kate

 

[Ger Bee]

... the D1x --

That is until you mention travel.

Now me an my D1x don't see eye to eye on what a professional camera should be capable of doing in a professional arena via its endurance in that arena.

Battery, life, style and type, portability, recharging, compatibility with other fuel sources – the D1x stinks – its one great and glaring fault it is its fuel cells – so it’s not much good without an over and excessive amount of fuel cell support.

So enter stage left the D100 and the MD-D100 multi fuel cell support unit and it’s greater portability and all round excellent power supply – it will shoot for three or four days after the D1x runs out of power.

Strike D1x and to a lesser extent in the same contexts the S2 – a camera one cannot use because the battery is dead, is not much use at all.

On the D100 I have seen so far a four section battery warning – first a little wedge appears off the battery – it’s beginning to run down – days later this is approximately at half battery – and then a little wedge is all that remains – the battery then goes to a blank battery and the battery does die suddenly thereafter.

Given that power is the MOST important thing for a digital camera – the D100 has to hold the world record for endurance under fire in combat.

 

[alfred_schiele]

Hi

If you really need fine detail for landscape and interiour shots, non of the current 6MP cameras will really satisfy you. It depends on your enlarging needs if it is acceptable. My opinion here: A4 is the absolute max. with current technology If you like too see finer detail.

D100 exhibits shadow noise, especially in higer temperatures (as all other D-SLR's do as well, but the D100 is the one I tried it myself). Especially I liked the higher ISO but shadow noise is then a permanent issue. Maybe acceptable with low ISO.

D100 is a solid camera if you handle it careful but it is no weapon for close up fights either... What I really disliked was the selector for the metering mode (spot - center weighted - matrix), difficult to handle. But I liked the handling in general very much.

Regards, A. Schiele

Hi everyone, I've been hanging around the forums for a while now
absorbing all the great information and opinions everyone has to
offer. This seems to be a great site occupied by some great people!

I am venturing into my first DSLR purchase in the next couple of
weeks, and have been going back and forth for a few months on what
I should do!! I have Nikon lenses, so it comes down to the S2,
D1X, or D100... and I have firmly decided on each of them at least
three times already, only to change my mind and start all over. I
was planning to wait for the next "round" before getting anything,
but a new job requires one and thus a decision.

I've read all the posts in the Nikon and Fuji forums and after
weeding through all the problems and the quirks and the biases, lo
and behold I haven't really found that any of these cameras stands
firmly above the others. Does anyone have any advice for me that
could help me out? I will be using the camera mainly for shooting
travel and interiors, I will need the pictures to be sharp and have
low noise and true colors, and the body rugged enough to travel
everywhere with me, although I don't abuse my gear. The price
isn't too much of an issue since these are all within my
affordability.

Thanks to everyone in advance for your help--I desperately need
some advice here!!!

Kate

 

[jan viljoen]

Thanks everyone, I am still completely up in the air but please
keep the comments coming--I'm getting closer!!!

Hi Kate

I do not own a DSLR but if all the cameras you looked at performs to your expectations. Buy the one that inspires the most confidence when you handle it.

That is why I choose Nikon above the competition
Regards
Jan

 

[Fred Phillips]

Hi everyone, I've been hanging around the forums for a while now
absorbing all the great information and opinions everyone has to
offer. This seems to be a great site occupied by some great people!

I am venturing into my first DSLR purchase in the next couple of
weeks, and have been going back and forth for a few months on what
I should do!! I have Nikon lenses, so it comes down to the S2,
D1X, or D100... and I have firmly decided on each of them at least
three times already, only to change my mind and start all over. I
was planning to wait for the next "round" before getting anything,
but a new job requires one and thus a decision.

I've read all the posts in the Nikon and Fuji forums and after
weeding through all the problems and the quirks and the biases, lo
and behold I haven't really found that any of these cameras stands
firmly above the others. Does anyone have any advice for me that
could help me out? I will be using the camera mainly for shooting
travel and interiors, I will need the pictures to be sharp and have
low noise and true colors, and the body rugged enough to travel
everywhere with me, although I don't abuse my gear. The price
isn't too much of an issue since these are all within my
affordability.

Thanks to everyone in advance for your help--I desperately need
some advice here!!!

Kate

Do yourself a real big favor and get film!!! Remember that stuff that works so well, that has so many options, that you can enlarge to kingdom come, that has no colour fringing, that is really and truly sharp, that is real REAL easy on batteries, that requires no computer to use it, that requires no fancy media to store it, that can be seen by just holding it up to the light, that allows REAL wide angle useage, etc etc etc--just kidding of course........or am I?!?

Fred

 

[alfred_schiele]

Hi

Do yourself a real big favor and get film!!! Remember that stuff
that works so well, that has so many options, that you can enlarge
to kingdom come, that has no colour fringing, that is really and
truly sharp, that is real REAL easy on batteries, that requires no
computer to use it, that requires no fancy media to store it, that
can be seen by just holding it up to the light, that allows REAL
wide angle useage, etc etc etc--just kidding of course........or am
I?!?

Not really kidding as most of your arguments hit a nerve...

Just to add, noise (i.e. grain) does not increase with temperature....

Digital is great for the ease of use, lower cost and less effort once your workflow is ok...

As I still stated, I wouldn't use it with current 6MP cameras to do prints over A4...

But thinks get difficult if you ahve a need to scan film...

Regards, A. Schiele.

 

[Peter Vilardi]

Kate

I am in the same boat as you, trying to decide. My budget however has me pitting the D100 against the Canon D60.

My tactic, along with reading these posts, is to wait until this site publishes the formal review of the camera. The reviews on this site are very factual, clear and conducted in accordance with a strict scientific methodology.

Thus I know there will be accurate in-depth information contained in it, and I would rather make my decision based on fact than based on opinion, however well-intented the opinions may be.

Good luck

 

[Glenn Barber]

Hi

If you really need fine detail for landscape and interiour shots,
non of the current 6MP cameras will really satisfy you. It depends
on your enlarging needs if it is acceptable. My opinion here: A4 is
the absolute max. with current technology If you like too see finer
detail.

D100 exhibits shadow noise, especially in higer temperatures (as
all other D-SLR's do as well, but the D100 is the one I tried it
myself). Especially I liked the higher ISO but shadow noise is then
a permanent issue. Maybe acceptable with low ISO.

I was getting very visible patterned noise in the shadows at ISO 400 in conditions in the low 80's - what do you mean by "higher temperatures"?

D100 is a solid camera if you handle it careful but it is no weapon
for close up fights either... What I really disliked was the
selector for the metering mode (spot - center weighted - matrix),
difficult to handle. But I liked the handling in general very much.

Regards, A. Schiele

Hi everyone, I've been hanging around the forums for a while now
absorbing all the great information and opinions everyone has to
offer. This seems to be a great site occupied by some great people!

I am venturing into my first DSLR purchase in the next couple of
weeks, and have been going back and forth for a few months on what
I should do!! I have Nikon lenses, so it comes down to the S2,
D1X, or D100... and I have firmly decided on each of them at least
three times already, only to change my mind and start all over. I
was planning to wait for the next "round" before getting anything,
but a new job requires one and thus a decision.

I've read all the posts in the Nikon and Fuji forums and after
weeding through all the problems and the quirks and the biases, lo
and behold I haven't really found that any of these cameras stands
firmly above the others. Does anyone have any advice for me that
could help me out? I will be using the camera mainly for shooting
travel and interiors, I will need the pictures to be sharp and have
low noise and true colors, and the body rugged enough to travel
everywhere with me, although I don't abuse my gear. The price
isn't too much of an issue since these are all within my
affordability.

Thanks to everyone in advance for your help--I desperately need
some advice here!!!

Kate

 

[Kate P]

Thanks for the tip but I have quite a lot of film!! Nikon F100, as well as 6x7 M.F. and 4x5 L.F. I just got a new job which requires me to have a digital camera, and I have been wanting one anyway so now is the time to buy! Until I got the job, I had decided to wait for the next "round" of pro Nikon(s) to come out, and still will probably want that when they are released in the coming months. But now I need something immediately so here I am debating!

I just thought of a new consideration today that might affect my decision... if I get a camera now and want to upgrade in the next 6 months or so, resale value becomes a factor. Out of the D1X and S2, which will hold more value for resale? I am thinking that I will probably buy a used D1X if I go that way, and they seem to be going for around $3500-4000. Is it more reasonable to think that the resale value of a used D1X will probably stay about the same, even when the "new & improved" Nikon comes out? I have a feeling that buying an S2 now, at what will probably be it's peak price, will result in more of a loss when resale time comes around. Anyone know how Fuji vs. Nikon digitals have held value on the used market?

Thanks to everyone for the great advice, it really helps. Hopefully I'll have a decision in the next few days!

 

[jdavis37]

Depends on how one loks at things. I know a guy who swears by the resell percentage on a BMW versus that of say a Lexus 300 series. And percentage of inital investment he is right. But even if the BMW holds 70% of it's original value but originally cost $50,000 USD, he still "lost" $15,000. If the Lexus originally cost $30,000 USD and holds only 60% of it's original value, he "lost" $12,000, a difference of $3000 in favor of the Lexus plus the added advantage of not tying up an additional $20,000 USD in capital funds. On the flip side, it is a BMW versus Lexus here ( 5 series versus 300 series ). So in truth the driving pleasure or in this case picture taking pleasure is what truly sets the 2 cameras apart.

The MOST you can lose on the S2 is $2400 USD ( assuming it has $0 for resell value in 18 months ). IN 18 or so months when the next generation comes out the S2 used will probably still sell for $1000 USD give or take depending upon the price of new DSLRS at that time. Cost of ownership is then about $1400 for 18months. If the used D1x is initially $4000 USD, then it would have to sell for $2600 USD in 18 months to break even on the cost of S2 ownership. It would be twice used at that point. I'm not sure I would count on it retaining the original second hand value you paid for it as my hunch is Canon 1D and or equivalent D1X cameras will be selling new for under $4000.

I guess point I'm trying to make is regarding resell it becomes almost fruitless to worry about it. Buy the camera that best fits your needs and enjoy. Every time I buy a car I get told by the salesperson how much resell value it will have. Then 2 years and 30,000 miles later I go to trade it and can't get nothing for it and wonder where the resell went. If you have the cash and the D1X is better for your needs I'd go that way. Getting anything other than the camera you truly want more is going to result in a frustrating compromised experience! My 3 cents worth!

Thanks for the tip but I have quite a lot of film!! Nikon F100, as
well as 6x7 M.F. and 4x5 L.F. I just got a new job which requires
me to have a digital camera, and I have been wanting one anyway so
now is the time to buy! Until I got the job, I had decided to wait
for the next "round" of pro Nikon(s) to come out, and still will
probably want that when they are released in the coming months.
But now I need something immediately so here I am debating!

I just thought of a new consideration today that might affect my
decision... if I get a camera now and want to upgrade in the next 6
months or so, resale value becomes a factor. Out of the D1X and
S2, which will hold more value for resale? I am thinking that I
will probably buy a used D1X if I go that way, and they seem to be
going for around $3500-4000. Is it more reasonable to think that
the resale value of a used D1X will probably stay about the same,
even when the "new & improved" Nikon comes out? I have a feeling
that buying an S2 now, at what will probably be it's peak price,
will result in more of a loss when resale time comes around.
Anyone know how Fuji vs. Nikon digitals have held value on the used
market?

Thanks to everyone for the great advice, it really helps.
Hopefully I'll have a decision in the next few days!