Had a debate with my friend just now...

[mikej]

Well, don't let the friendship be ruined over it. Friendship is very important.

And if he ends up buying a Nikon, he's going to need a friend real bad. Someone he can complain to, whine to, even a shoulder to cry on. Yes, he could need a friend real bad pretty soon.




Mike

[cyclohexane]

Wow, there really is no love for Nikon here... LOL =)

Should I start wrapping my lenses in white tape?

Now, on a serious note... the guy mentioned in the original post probably needs to recheck his priorities when starting out with a camera.

[mikej]

Michael, Nikons are great cameras.

psst... you can find the white tape in the back room behind the stack of old Popular Photography magazines. There is also the black tape with the red stripe.



Mike

[ellette]

I would suggest you tell him to make a list of what he feels he absolutely must have in a camera and what he can't have. If he doesn't even know enough to be able to make a list with good realistic expectations on it, maybe he'll start to come to his senses. I'd also have him write down what it is he hopes to do and achieve with his camera. Some cameras really are better suited for different situations and maybe if he won't believe just you he'd believe a bunch of people. A camera won't turn someone into a photographer, no matter what kind of camera it is.

Sara

[scoundrel1728]

Originally Posted by cyclohexane

Now, on a serious note... the guy mentioned in the original post probably needs to recheck his priorities when starting out with a camera.

I think we're pretty much all agreed on that; but how is Mikael to convince his friend to stop wasting his time looking for the "best" camera and instead look for the best camera for him? I am of the opinion that it won't be found among the dSLRs.

[Paul Shields]

Originally Posted by scoundrel1728

I think we're pretty much all agreed on that; but how is Mikael to convince his friend to stop wasting his time looking for the "best" camera and instead look for the best camera for him? I am of the opinion that it won't be found among the dSLRs.

I think you're right - though most entry level DSLRs can be (and probably often are) used as simple point and shoot jobbies. They are also pretty cheap now and a decent two lens kit can be bought for less than something like a Sony R1. At least with a DSLR he has something to expand into if he chooses.

[dougjgreen]

Might I be so bold as to suggest either a Canon Powershot A620, or an Olympus C-7000

These are excellent 7 Megapixel cameras, that will cost them under $400, they will take great pictures in automatic exposure mode, and they will provide enough manual control options to grow with, as they learn something real about photography.

They are also about 1/3 the size of a DSLR with basic lens, and weigh 1/3 as much.

In my experience, they can handle about 75% of the situations that a DSLR can handle, but, because of their small size and weight, they will be carried around at least twice as often. Of course, your friend, almost certainly, does not want to hear any of this. So let them do what they want, and don't get into a fight with them over it.

[mikaelwardhana]

Just an update for this problem...

I have asked him to read these two pages and he is sort of waken up abit...
Your posts have dragged him back into perspective.
hehehehe...thanks for that guys.

I took him today to a camera store and we tried to have a feel of all the cameras he has in mind.

350D , D50 , and D70s.

And he end up buying a Nikon D50 with a 18-70mm DX lens. A good combination for a starter dont you think?
I told him to stay away from the kit lens 18-55 and chose the 18-70 instead.
(he is going to need a shoulder to cry on soo, eh Mike?...hahahahahha.....)

[Paul Shields]

Originally Posted by mikaelwardhana

And he end up buying a Nikon D50 with a 18-70mm DX lens. A good combination for a starter dont you think?

Yes, good choice. One less Canon user brought into the world :P.

Only kidding chaps!

[miranda]

Hi, I'm a newby to photography and have avoided digital since seeing poor quality prints from cheaper cameras. That is, until reading about digital SLR's! I go to Scotland each year and would like a camera that can catch the beauty of landscapes there. Cheap as poss, but good for landscapes, with SD memory. What do you suggest?

Miranda

[cyclohexane]

Nikon D50- uses SD memory and the default color space is optimized for landscapes.

[miranda]

Cool thanks, fantastic photos in gallery by the way
Miranda

[Sidebyte]

Originally Posted by mikaelwardhana

Agree...agree with all of you.
Especially to knock him out with my canon...ha ha ha ha ha ha ha...
DPreview is a two sided blade...it can be useful but it can make people lost in all its complicated tests.
But hey...tell you what...those forums wont be so alive if it wasn't because of those silly debates...* :P

First you must realize that there are only 3 photographers on DP Reviews, 99% of the posters are
psycho-babble techies who have no knowledge of photography but excel in electronics, modern technology and pre-occupation with megapixels and specs. Most have never even printed a large digital print and simply rely upon what they have read.

[mikej]

Hi Miranda, welcome to the group and to the Cample. Anybody that goes to Scotland sounds ok to me. Although I've never made it over there, I have a lot of heritage from that country... all the way back to the 1400's or so.

Again, welcome.

Mike

[scoundrel1728]

Originally Posted by Sidebyte

First you must realize that there are only 3 photographers on DP Reviews, 99% of the posters are
psycho-babble techies who have no knowledge of photography...

I wonder who those three might be? I know of at least that many contributors who also post here on Photocamel... :P

[JKSeidel]

Originally Posted by Sidebyte

First you must realize that there are only 3 photographers on DP Reviews

I think you are being overly generous with that estimate.
I tend to view the DPR forums as a comedy site.

[Sidebyte]

Well, maybe a slight exageration....of course, I was including you in the three.

[JKSeidel]

Hehe, I think I've posted maybe three times total on there. I regretted it each time. Now I wander by once a week to observe the public floggings and get a few laughs. I much prefer more sedate surroundings like here and Luminous Landscape.