[recshenoy]

D60 has only 3 AF points. But D90 has more than that. Also the AF on certain lenses so that i can use some cheap lenses.

I was trying my hands on birding last weekend. D60 was totally struggling to focus. Hence thought of upgrading to camera with multiple AF points.

In between Canon caught my attention (550D) but some how i did not feel good with 550D. Felt kind of plasticy.

i tried my friend's D90. It was good but it was made in Thailand. My D60 is made in Japan. Build quality of made in Japan D60 is superior to made in Thailand D90 though.

So i am still confused as to what to buy D90 or 550D

[arunsasi]

Originally Posted by DieselFan

I do not understand why people make such a hue and cry about autofocus. I suggest trying Manual Focus. It is way better than Autofocus and once you are confortable with manual focus you will never even attempt autofocus. Most of the time I prefer manual focus to Auto Focus.

For me real and the world situations i face, AF is an indispensable tool.

[MileCruncher]

Originally Posted by fazalaliadil

Added this to my present gear, also on my profile pic.
Attachment 469085

Congrats Fazal Saab !

Looking all set for next year's Nat Geo competition

[alpha1]

Originally Posted by recshenoy

D60 has only 3 AF points. But D90 has more than that. Also the AF on certain lenses so that i can use some cheap lenses.

I was trying my hands on birding last weekend. D60 was totally struggling to focus. Hence thought of upgrading to camera with multiple AF points.

In between Canon caught my attention (550D) but some how i did not feel good with 550D. Felt kind of plasticy.

i tried my friend's D90. It was good but it was made in Thailand. My D60 is made in Japan. Build quality of made in Japan D60 is superior to made in Thailand D90 though.

So i am still confused as to what to buy D90 or 550D

Canon's pricing in India is more reasonable than Nikons.
Compare the prices of all models to the American ones ...

[Nilesh5417]

Folks..my Canon Rebel has developed some issues and is draining battery after every 50 snaps. Keeping the battery inside the camera drains it real fast and the camera refuses to start even after a couple of hours.

Does any one know a reliable and/or authorized canon service center in pune/mumbai? If the camera needs to be left with the center, i dont want to be worrying about parts getting scavenged.

[khanak]

Originally Posted by Nilesh5417

Folks..my Canon Rebel has developed some issues and is draining battery after every 50 snaps. Keeping the battery inside the camera drains it real fast and the camera refuses to start even after a couple of hours.

Does any one know a reliable and/or authorized canon service center in pune/mumbai? If the camera needs to be left with the center, i dont want to be worrying about parts getting scavenged.

Did you try searching the Canon India website? They have all their authorized service centres listed there including one in Pune and something called a 'Master service centre' in Mumbai.

[rajatsingh78]

I already had discussed this earlier, but again sharing with more information,
Following is the series of shots taken while increasing the f-stop (reducing the aperture), lens used is Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8D

I was inside the room and this DTH dish was on the other side on a different building, the sun was right above the DTH dish (second picture with arrow shows the direction of the sun).

So it seems this patch (which is actually a heptagonal) comes in the pictures when I increase the f-stop (decrease the aperture) you can see it in the series of pics right where the DTH dish is.

I have another Nikkor 28-80mm 1:3.3-5.6G lens with which I was not able to replicate the patch in anyway (made sure that the zoom was at 50mm),

I am quite sure that there is nothing wrong with the camera, but curious on why this patch is coming, is there a possibility that there is something wrong with the lens, if not how to make sure that this doesn't come in case I am shooting in strong sun with man f-stop (min aperture)

[amitk26]

@Rajat the parabolic dish is reflecting image of sun and that is causing the flare. Try taking similar image with your kit lens set at 50mm and check if you see flare or not.

May be some other Nikkor owner can confirm if this is normal for this lens.
In this particular shot a CPL could have reduced the flare.

[shajufx]

Originally Posted by recshenoy

D60 has only 3 AF points. But D90 has more than that. Also the AF on certain lenses so that i can use some cheap lenses.
......still confused as to what to buy D90 or 550D

I moved from D60 to D90 in my journey and I can guarantee both are of different league altogether. D90 has almost everything that a PRO cam might have with bit of compromise here and there.

Does not mean D60 is a bad cam, it does everything what a D90 does, but majority of the settings have to go through a menu, where D90 has dedicated buttons for frequently used things like ISO, WB, Aperture, Shutter Speed, Bracketing, DOF check, Exposure, AF, Shoot mode (single, continuous etc.), Shutter release options (timer, remote etc.), info (very useful in many ways), Live view, Auto/Manual tab, and many more. It makes the shooting an easy, enjoyable process. And the focus motor which enables one to use all kinds of lenses.

I felt 550D to be like a toy in my hands and the ergonomics of D90 is far superior which you have to feel yourself. Even D90 with its pleasing body felt small to me, so I bought a Battery pack which completes the grip. Canon's ergonomics show only in their higher variants. Its not a 'hate-canon' suggestion but what I felt personally. Feel the cam in your hands before deciding, ignore everything else

[rajatsingh78]

+1 on this, I was on the same boat about 3 months back and then I finally picked the D90 after consulting 3 pro photographers and ofcourse by seeing D90 in person. D90 scores in many areas above 550D and more closer to a pro camera. So if you are not a Canon fan and want to be serious about photography then pick the D90

Originally Posted by shajufx

I felt 550D to be like a toy in my hands and the ergonomics of D90 is far superior which you have to feel yourself. Even D90 with its pleasing body felt small to me, so I bought a Battery pack which completes the grip. Canon's ergonomics show only in their higher variants. Its not a 'hate-canon' suggestion but what I felt personally. Feel the cam in your hands before deciding, ignore everything else

[rajatsingh78]

No the dish is not reflecting it, I know this since the glare/spot comes even if I am shooting at something flat like a wall, but I have figured that this happens when the f-stop is too high, I tried this with my older film Nikon SLR lens and nothing came up, I used the same angle, same shutter speed, same ISO, same f-stop. So its definitely something related to the f-stop and this prime lens.

Originally Posted by amitk26

@Rajat the parabolic dish is reflecting image of sun and that is causing the flare. Try taking similar image with your kit lens set at 50mm and check if you see flare or not.

May be some other Nikkor owner can confirm if this is normal for this lens.
In this particular shot a CPL could have reduced the flare.

[fazalaliadil]

Originally Posted by gd1418

So fazalbhai, FX it is. Congrats on the new toy. And that is one swell lens you have..

gd1418,
Many thanks.

Originally Posted by shajufx

Fazalji, congratulations, you look 'dressed to kill' with those weapons of mass destruction I think you are the 3rd person reported here to own the 5D M-II.
Pawan, if you are reading this, you got someone new to ask questions if you have not bought it already !

shajufx,
Thanks. As long as I own it, I am thankful.

Originally Posted by MileCruncher

Congrats Fazal Saab !
Looking all set for next year's Nat Geo competition

Anirudha,
Thank you, made a big hole in my pocket though. I continue on a suicidal run as I am planing for a bigger lens.
About the NG contest, I think I need ten more years to be there.

Originally Posted by joshguy

+ i heard 7D is a better cam for wildlife with 8fps

joshguy,
Yes it is, for this reason, 1.6 crop factor and 18mp. Hopefully, I can add it to my gear soon.

Originally Posted by kkr2k2

Congratulations fazal saab!!!
Knowing you as a wildlife photographer, I wonder why you chose 5D which is regarded as landscape photography oriented camera!!!

kkr2k2,
Long time?
Only wildlife is not my subject, love to shoot habitat too whenever I am out there, remember Srisailam travelogues?.
Will carry a 7D with a 100-400 and 5D with a prime lens for wildlife and get the best of both the worlds or continue with the kit, 24-105mm IS L for habitat on the 5D and the 100-400 IS L on the 7D.
Regards,

[Aroy]

Originally Posted by rajatsingh78

No the dish is not reflecting it, I know this since the glare/spot comes even if I am shooting at something flat like a wall, but I have figured that this happens when the f-stop is too high, I tried this with my older film Nikon SLR lens and nothing came up, I used the same angle, same shutter speed, same ISO, same f-stop. So its definitely something related to the f-stop and this prime lens.

If it is coming at higher f stops, then most probably it is diffraction. The culprit mat be dust on or in the lense, or it may be nick in the shutter blades.

It may also be a case where the multicoating has deteriorated at a spot, in that case it would always appear at the same spot.

To rule out sensor problems, try shots with a different lense(s) at high f stops.

[rajatsingh78]

dust - very low possibility
nick in shutter blade - not possible, just 3 months old camera body
multi coating deterioration - not possible, just 1 month old lens

Tried with different lens, like mentioned earlier, came only once but with the prime lens I can create it at will, and the spot looks like a heptagon

Originally Posted by Aroy

If it is coming at higher f stops, then most probably it is diffraction. The culprit mat be dust on or in the lense, or it may be nick in the shutter blades.

It may also be a case where the multicoating has deteriorated at a spot, in that case it would always appear at the same spot.

To rule out sensor problems, try shots with a different lense(s) at high f stops.

[amitk26]

Originally Posted by recshenoy

In between Canon caught my attention (550D) but some how i did not feel good with 550D. Felt kind of plasticy.

So i am still confused as to what to buy D90 or 550D

As long as plastic is robust enough to keep the innards intact that should be the last point to consider. Ergonomics is a perception and can not be quantified so if you like D90 by all means go for it but then 550D is in it's own league.

FYI 550D has something which no Nikon has or no Canon below 5D Mark II had.Magic Lantern is ported to 550D though 500D has same processor but there was not enough volunteers to do the work.

Spend some time to understand what is Magic Lantern
Talk:Magic Lantern Firmware Wiki - Magic Lantern Firmware Wiki

This unlocks many possibilities and converts your 550D to a Pro video cam and many professional agencies are switching to Canons rather then Red etc for Video.

One may say that Pro HD Video is not prime use case of DSLR but as a bigginer you do not know what all you will do with DSLR and should invest in something which provides maximum possibilities.

Apart from this on Canon bodies you can use so many MF lenses at low price.

Originally Posted by rajatsingh78

+1 on this, I was on the same boat about 3 months back and then I finally picked the D90 after consulting 3 pro photographers and ofcourse by seeing D90 in person. D90 scores in many areas above 550D and more closer to a pro camera. So if you are not a Canon fan and want to be serious about photography then pick the D90

Though it is a religious debate In what ways it is better enlighten please ?
Does it has better sensor ? Better range of lens ? Better Video ? Better 3ed party lenses ? Better custom firmware ? Can it accommodate better older MF lenses ? Better menu options ? More features ?

Better Ergonomics ... well that is most important if you are wedding photographer or need to hold Cam or 8 hours in a day for some other reason.