What kind of digital camera do you have?

“Well, my ultimate goal is videography. I want the new Sony high-def camcorder. Buck Forester Productions® is coming to a Banff Film Festival near you.”

“Let's see...

epson Photo PC (gone) >HP200 (gone)>Olympus C2100uz (gone to relative) > Oly E-20 (have this one).

Also tried and gave back:

Minolta 7HI
Nikon 5700
Panasonic FZ20

Have occasionally lusted after Nikon 8800 but did not bite.

Am curious about Samsung Digimax pro 815 w/reportedly 15x OPTICAL zoom but no image stabilization. It seems to be a vapor dig cam...there are photos of it yet no one currently stocks it!”

“Hikin' Mike, to take the Rebel out of timer just push the same silver button you pushed to get it into timer, no need to wait it out. I do that all the time also, it can be frustrating, but easily remedied with the above.
I love my Rebel, it's a great backpacking camera, a bit large, but sturdy, I carry it around my neck while hiking. It has survived a huge tumble in the Grand Canyon with hardly a scratch, a fall that would have probably broken one of my bones.
I stand by Canon, used to be a Nikon film SLR owner, had a Minolta Digital, broke two days after the warranty expired. I'm Canon all the way now, especially since their glass is arguably the best on the market, if only I could afford it.”

“P.S. Helluva pic, Mike!”

“Lisz,

Re: The Oly e20

Pluses: takes 2AA batts! Compatible with DPS-9000 external battery pack also.
Tack sharp closeups otta da box.
Good glass.
Rugged.
the SLR of its time (now 3 years old).
Long battery life.
It does take great pics!

Minuses:
Slow to power up. 5 secs.
4x optical fixed lens which accepts a variety of lenses. Tried a few accessory lenses but sent them back or sold them.
No image stabilization.”

“I have a Nikon D100 and I love it! (Taken over 13,000 pictures since I got it, if that isn't love, I don't know what is... :-) )

I understand that the D70 is comparable to the D100, some functions are better, some are not as good.

The D100 is slightly heavier than the Nikon N80 and similar in functions in terms of location, etc. The photos are excellent, I've taken photos and had them enlarged to 17x20" with out any noticable loss of detail. (In fact, to the average person, the images look like photos from film.)

THe added plus is that the lenses are interchangable with regular Nikon SLR cameras...”

“High - there's a new panasonic I looked at

http://www.digitalcamera-hq.com/panasonic-lumix-dmcfz30-reviews.html

A nikon d50 or d70/s is a possibility also - basically I seem to be looking at everything out there.

Anyone know what a Canon D20 is going to offer me over the Rebel XT. Seems to be the same sensor.”

“Canon G6 Digital & Olympus (weather resistant) Stylus 400 Digital.

Multiple 35mm Minolta, Canon & OLympus film”

“Been looking seriously at the Nikon D100 myself. I'm so stuck on film that I've been dragging my heels in regards to making the leap to digital. Seriously, the D100 is the first one that I can afford that looks like it might replace my F5.

Buck, tell me about your aspirations in regards to video; what type of work do you do/hope to do? My wife has been in the business (Firefly Productions) for 20+ years. I doubt she'll ever make us rich, but she is having a ball.”

“Hobbit,
If you have a Nikon SLR already, you'll love the D100 because of the interchangability of the lenses...

One thing to note-- It takes a little while to get used to the difference in lighting when using a digital (you have to boost your flash or everything has a tendency to look underexposed...) have about 10 compact flash cards and use primarily RAW mode (unless just doing "snap shot" photos.) Another photographer suggested NOT using 1 gig cards because if you lose it, you will lose a lot more photos. With the 256 I can get about 25 RAW images and with the 1/2 gig, I can get about 50 images... :-) Triple the numbers if you are using Jpeg fine mode. (hence the problem if you lose a larger digital card.)

I bring it with me on my hiking trips. YES, it is heavier, but the quality of the photos is well worth the weight to me. (I also sometimes pack my 70-200 mm lens--again, another heavy lens--but I let Thinkbubelz carry the food, so we're even... ;-)”

“Highcountry, why did you "gave" back the Panasonic FZ20? My brother just bought one, with a 1G memory chip....anything we should know about?

I'm planning to trade in my Nikon N2000 for a digital....something in the FZ20 level...i.e. 12X zoom, 5.1MP. I'm planning to get a Sony CyberShot DSC H1 with a 1G or 2G memory chip.

Anything not perfect with a Sony CyberShot DSC-H1?”

“Paige, Thanks for the tip!

Highcountry, Thanks!”

“Oh yes, I forgot to mention: I ALWAYS carry 2 batteries with me at all times. I think you can get about 300-400 shot off with one battery...Good practice to have an extra anyways, just in case on battery fails. ;-) (the D100 uses ones that re-charge vs. the disposable ones used in the Nikon N80).

The cool thing is the display that shows you the ranges of light for your photos--you can also set it to show you the areas that are "blown out" and too over exposed.... This is helpful, especially when you are not sure of the lighting...

At first I used the program mode to learn about the camera, but shortly thereafter went to manual (can't really stand the middle range of lighting it gives me when I set it on "P"...) What is important, however, is to have your computer monitor and printer properly calibrated when you drop your photos into Photoshop at home... (or whatever you are using--Nikon provides a software with the camera, but I prefer photoshop's other tools.) Otherwise the colors may not look quite right when you print them out to computer (due to the translation from light (RGB) to inks (CMYK)..... (I have learned this the hard way-- I haven't had the chance to get a proper calibrator for my computer, so I've had to manually adjust a lot of things...)”

“I've been visiting some of the camera forums - and i thought we were gear freaks!”

“Y2, I've been looking at a Canon S2 IS. 5MP and 12x optical zoom. Not ideal for a trail, but good all around”

“Y2, don't forget to shop ebay. I just bought a new extra battery for my Digital Rebel for 16.00 (includes shipping), camera store price 69.00. Talk about a markedup price”

“hikin mike could give Ansel Adams a run for the money!

Anyone interested in a lightly used Olympus C-5050?”

“I will Ewker, I'll certainly be hitting that up for the extras.”

“Olympus c7000-don't have a clue of how to use it.”

“Well, my ultimate goal is videography. I want the new Sony high-def camcorder. Buck Forester Productions® is coming to a Banff Film Festival near you.
Buck

Oh great. I can see it now. Buck Forester, the Timothy Treadwell of the Sierras. Of course, there are no grizzlies in the Sierras, so instead, he just lives with the marmots until they come to accept him....”

“One sign of weakness and they'll tear him apart.”

“They can smell fear, you know....”

“Hey Y2, Try Froogle.com as well to locate the camera and accessories you want. However, cross reference the Better Business Bureau, because sometime an offer is too good to be true.”

“Oh great. I can see it now. Buck Forester, the Timothy Treadwell of the Sierras. Of course, there are no grizzlies in the Sierras, so instead, he just lives with the marmots until they come to accept him....”

Pffft. Ya right. One thing I've learned in my High Sierra travels is to NEVER underestimate a marmot. I'd rather be amongst the wild grizzlies draped in bacon than to try to be accepted by a marmot community. For pete's sake I have a child on the way. That's more dangerous than Michael Moore at a Republican Party convention, for cryin' out loud. He just got lucky the first time.”

“Y2,
Have you checked out OutdoorEyes? Windwalker and I post over there.”

“Buck, tell me about your aspirations in regards to video; what type of work do you do/hope to do? My wife has been in the business (Firefly Productions) for 20+ years. I doubt she'll ever make us rich, but she is having a ball.”

Hey hobbit, I checked out the link, really cool site! My aspirations are to make amazing wilderness videos, both scenery and adventure related. HD in a small handheld camcorder is suh-weetness on a stick!”

“Oh, come on! You think that this wittle fewwa would huht you?

”

“DAM*, BOWLDERMAN! You made me go fetal. Don't do that again.
last edited: 8/23/05 3:20:55 PM”

“Great site Mike.”

“ok, so what about some good lightweight tripods out there?

I'll be froogling and such very soon Ox.”

“Not exactly lightweight, but I'm using a Manfrotto 3011 tripod and 488 head. Tripod weighs about 8lbs.”

“Buck, you know better than that! Always stand your ground when they charge! I know it's tough, but never play dead when a marmot attacks....”

“I'm with Buck on this one I would hold out for that full frame sensor.

There sure is a lot of talk about the 5D...when it's supposed to just be "rumored". ;)

I'm sure Nikon is busy working on their next big thing too Hobit!

Nice pic Mike!


Buck is in the fetal position again?”

“P.S.
Spend the big $$$ on the glass!!!
Lenses first... mega SLR body later.

That's my plan anyway ”

“P.S.
Spend the big $$$ on the glass!!!
Lenses first... mega SLR body later.

That's my plan anyway

Yep. My new lens should be here tomorrow! :-)”

“I took the Nikon D70 with 3 batteries, 2 X 1GB cards, and a 20 GB portable hard drive with me down the Colorado thru the Grand Canyon a couple months ago. Used mostly the kit lens. Worked great for over 1000 images.

The main concern was that my PHD would run out of power before the end and I would have to shoot JPEG instead of RAW to save space on my CF cards. Never came to that.

Will be taking the same set-up, plus a tripod with me for a 3-week backpacking trip thru Patagonia this December/January. Extra weight will be worth the better quality images.”

“yep...I want one!”

“I have a Minolta D5... great OUTDOOR camera. has an excellent built in 10x telephoto lens and there is a 3x lens adaptor availible for it. While great in bright light it turns to ash when it gets dark.

I run a 1 gig card but keep it empty. the d5 can shoot movies limited by the card size. Im guessing about a half hour or so at 1 gig.

I found a 5 foot 2 1/2 pound tripod at ritz camera... havent figured out how to pack it yet tho as it is a touch long when folded.”

“http://www.dpreview.com/articles/canoneos5d/page4.asp

D5 preview.....ooooooooohhhhhhh”

“I have the Cool Pix. But of course!”

“LOL!

It's funny, that was a miserable trip. So dusty and buggy. The worst I've ever encountered. Even that wine can't cheer me up. What a sour puss I look! : )”

“Even your buddy Coolio couldn't cheer up you up!”

“I know it. *shaking head*”

“I've got two digicams now, a Canon PS A40, great camera, and a Kodak DX3500, okay camera. The Canon is our main family camera, the Kodak I got for trips and such where I don't want to risk the Canon.”

“Nikon D70, Nikon Cool Pix 5400, Sony Cybershot thin job.”

“I bought a Nikon Coolpix 3100, oh, about a year or so ago, maybe more. I believe in going to the library and checking out the consumer reviews on things. My husband picked out the camera, so I don't know what the reviews were on it or other cameras at that time. It's 3.2 megapixels which I know is already outdated, but it does short videos too which is nice and has a 3x zoom.

All I know is the more megapixels, the sharper the picture which can be more relevent if you plan to enlarge some prints.”

“Also, the more megapixels the more bucks, if that is a consideration.”