When you walk around with a 40-pound camera bag and two very large cameras slung around your shoulders enough people will stop you with questions like – “My camera doesn't advance the film roll anymore, what should I do?” A fair question for a guy with a lot of camera power, but my response is always a bit ambiguous. That's because there is no one universal answer to these types of questions.
You can have the camera checked for about $100 an hour. Or, you could go out and replace the batteries and restart the machine. Or, you can chuck it and buy another cheapo camera. It comes down to what your budget is.
Speaking of budget, I am in the mix now to buy a professional level digital camera. My freelance clients are demanding digital files and the conversion from film to digital on a regular basis is wearing me down a bit.
I am a huge fan of David Pogue, a technology writer at the New York Times. This morning's edition carries his article about two professional level cameras in the $1,000 range. I am eyeing the Nikon D-70 as I have been married to that company for quite some time now; lenses, flashes, gizmos galore – all Nikon. So, Canon won't do. If only the D-70 came with a vertical grip [for portraits]. Gripes and laments aside, it appears to be a wonderful camera. Thousand bucks, chump change right? It's still quite a bit of money but it will save me from dealing with film processing labs again.
photosuperstar says
We have just had a Nikon rep in our office and she brought the D70 with her. It is an unbelievable camera. Nikon, according to the rep, is offering a package deal with a new lense Nikon is developing for digital cameras, due to the fact you have to buy a 14mm wide to achieve a standard 20mm, all for around $1400. The new lenses account for the difference in the “film plane”, so you can buy a 14mm for your digi, and it is a true 14mm, 80-200, etc. Very cool stuff.
photosuperstar says
We have just had a Nikon rep in our office and she brought the D70 with her. It is an unbelievable camera. Nikon, according to the rep, is offering a package deal with a new lense Nikon is developing for digital cameras, due to the fact you have to buy a 14mm wide to achieve a standard 20mm, all for around $1400. The new lenses account for the difference in the “film plane”, so you can buy a 14mm for your digi, and it is a true 14mm, 80-200, etc. Very cool stuff.
Seshu says
That’s really interesting news. New lenses – yum! Wish they could simply make the old lenses that I already have work with the new systems without the 1.5x magnification. That’s tricky business, I hear, in terms of pure physics. I’ll leave it up to the geniuses at Nikon to figure that one out. Any idea how much these new lenses are likely to be? My wallet is looking bleak as it is! Thanks for posting your comment.
Seshu says
That’s really interesting news. New lenses – yum! Wish they could simply make the old lenses that I already have work with the new systems without the 1.5x magnification. That’s tricky business, I hear, in terms of pure physics. I’ll leave it up to the geniuses at Nikon to figure that one out. Any idea how much these new lenses are likely to be? My wallet is looking bleak as it is! Thanks for posting your comment.
photosuperstar says
I haven’t been able to find any pricing info on the yet. Nikon is calling them ‘DX’ lenses. If you do a search for “Nikon DX lenses” there is some info about them on a few forums and such. I’m sure they won’t be cheap.
photosuperstar says
I haven’t been able to find any pricing info on the yet. Nikon is calling them ‘DX’ lenses. If you do a search for “Nikon DX lenses” there is some info about them on a few forums and such. I’m sure they won’t be cheap.
Seshu says
Thanks again about the info. I’ll wait with bated breath to see if the D-70 gets revamped quickly into something else. I am also eyeing the Fujifilm S3 (Nikon mount, 12 megapixel camera, great skin tone rendition). If you see any specific links, do send it along. Thanks for chiming in!
Seshu says
Thanks again about the info. I’ll wait with bated breath to see if the D-70 gets revamped quickly into something else. I am also eyeing the Fujifilm S3 (Nikon mount, 12 megapixel camera, great skin tone rendition). If you see any specific links, do send it along. Thanks for chiming in!