[raghu.t.k]

Originally Posted by pillainp

Welcome to the 70D club. You will absolutely love your camera.

I was really looking forward to getting the 18-135 STM kit, since it would have been the perfect video lens to complement my EF-S 15-85 am Tamron 70-300 VC, but living in the a** end of the country (Trivandrum), the only dealer had no idea when that kit would be available. So I had to settle for the 18-55 STM kit (not a bad lens in itself - just not long enough).

Thanks for the information sent across. Initially thought of taking the body and buying the EF-S 18-200. But on various forums the feedback wasnt the best, hence decided to go midway and opted for the 18-135 Kit.

Its unfortunate that the dealer did not know, nor wanted to check before informing!!

[pillainp]

That 18-135 STM lens is by all accounts a very good lens. The STM drive makes it an exceptional fit for video work, where it zooms and focuses absolutely silently, and the focal range is just right fro most video work.

I can hear the zoom/focus on my EF-S 15-85 in the video, but the EF 40mm STM and the EF-S 18-55 STM (kit lens) are absolutely noiseless in the video.

[ani_meher]

I have a D5200 bought from Amazon. I received it in perfect sealed pack condition with all the freebies.

I wish to upgrade to a prime lens, and am confused between 35mm and 50mm. I read that 50mm can be bit tight in indoor situations where one may not have sufficient space to back up. But I am looking for prime more for the bokeh on outdoors. As per the Dof calculator at http://www.dofmaster.com/dofjs.html, it shows that the DOF of 50 is much narrower at 10 feet distance than 35mm.

Any real life review of both the lens? Which should I stick to? As per the online reviews, 50mm bokeh seems better than 35mm. Also, at higher f/stops, the bokeh would disappear and image would look sharp in both the lenses, right? Or is there a difference in sharpness as well?

[Sawyer]

Originally Posted by ani_meher

I have a D5200 bought from Amazon. I received it in perfect sealed pack condition with all the freebies.

I wish to upgrade to a prime lens, and am confused between 35mm and 50mm. I read that 50mm can be bit tight in indoor situations where one may not have sufficient space to back up. But I am looking for prime more for the bokeh on outdoors. As per the Dof calculator at http://www.dofmaster.com/dofjs.html, it shows that the DOF of 50 is much narrower at 10 feet distance than 35mm.

Any real life review of both the lens? Which should I stick to? As per the online reviews, 50mm bokeh seems better than 35mm. Also, at higher f/stops, the bokeh would disappear and image would look sharp in both the lenses, right? Or is there a difference in sharpness as well?

As a first prime, get the 35mm. Very good all around lens to learn the art. Once you do, and if bokeh and photography remains your thing, add on the 85mm, skipping the 50.

[rameshnanda]

I am on a lookout for an used DSLR for my friend. We are more inclined towards Nikon D40. Is there a source where we can find decent used cameras? We checked in OLX and it didn't work. What price would be a good price for an used D40?

[honeybee]

I bought a used D40 with 18-55 lens a few years back for about 15k. I doubt if anyone even uses it now, going by the technological advances.

[nilanjanray]

The wait for Tamron 150-600mm Nikon mount continues. I was hoping that I would be able to get it before the next wildlife shooting roadtrip, but now I hear that stock will be available only around mid June. Sigh.

[gr8guzzler]

Originally Posted by rameshnanda

Is there a source where we can find decent used cameras?

JJMPF is a good place for used camera equipment in India.

[DerAlte]

Originally Posted by honeybee

... I doubt if anyone even uses it now, going by the technological advances.

I still do, and not in a hurry to change. Taking pictures is not about 'technological advances'. That serves only to talk about high tech, and not about capturing moments. Ever thought about how many cameras Ansel Adams, for example, changed to 'leverage technological advances'? One reckons with, and compensates for, the shortcomings *before* one composes and clicks.

[NetfreakBombay]

Originally Posted by DerAlte

how many cameras Ansel Adams, for example, changed to 'leverage technological advances'?

Looks like he kept upgrading with technological advances. E.g: from Wet plates to dry plates to film to film roles.

Well, people have asked me what kind of cameras I used. It's hard to remember all of them. Oh I had a box Brownie #1 in 1915, 16. I had the Pocket Kodak, and a 4 x 5 view, all batted down. I had a Zeiss Milliflex. A great number of different cameras.

guess we all did the best as we could. If we had very heavy cameras we simply didn't go so far or take so many pictures.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/ansel/s...f_packing.html

[DerAlte]

Originally Posted by NetfreakBombay

Looks like he kept upgrading with technological advances. E.g: from Wet plates to dry plates to film to film roles. ...

Correct, but weren't they completely different cameras intrinsically? Different film technology, different sighting and focusing methods? 'Technological advances' with respect to @honeybee's comment were about incremental increases in intelligence and sensor resolution with basically the same base camera.

Let us not lose the sight of the forest from the trees just to semantically disprove a point.

[NetfreakBombay]

Originally Posted by DerAlte

Correct, but weren't they completely different cameras intrinsically? Different film technology, different sighting and focusing methods?

Even within same "Kind" of camera, he went through mutiple upgrades of Hasselblad and Polaroid (He beta-tested cameras as a consultant).

A book that talk lenses, processing and cameras used by him : http://www.amazon.com/Ansel-Adams-Ma...dp/0805041168/

Originally Posted by DerAlte

incremental increases in intelligence and sensor resolution

Incremental???

Current entry level Nikon is D3300, as compared to D40:

Resolution:

1. Has 8X light sensitivity (1600 vs 12800)
2. Has 4X resolution (6 MP vs 24 MP, 61.1 um^2 vs 15.2 um^2 of pixel size)

Intelligence:
1. Current generation Nikons have more than enough power (CPU + RAM) to run latest Android. 5200/3300/5300 etc have 4 GB RAM + ARM Cortex
2. Generation of D40.... 100 - 400 MHz CPU (RAM in 100 - 400 MB range)



Innards of 2013 Camera (2014 ones are even better ):

http://www.chipworks.com/blog/recent...-toshiba-found


2006 Camera (Nikon EXPEED 1, based on Fuji Milbeaut M-3):

http://www.fujitsu.com/downloads/EDG...nd/24-1e/3.pdf

[DerAlte]

Originally Posted by NetfreakBombay

Even within same "Kind" of camera, ...

And your point is ...?

Are you seriously offended by someone not being appreciative of "Technological Advancements"? Or was it to prove your knowledge of a subject? I don't see any other reason otherwise, and don't wish to contribute to your missing the forest for the trees.

[rameshnanda]

Originally Posted by DerAlte

I still do, and not in a hurry to change. Taking pictures is not about 'technological advances'. That serves only to talk about high tech, and not about capturing moments. Ever thought about how many cameras Ansel Adams, for example, changed to 'leverage technological advances'? One reckons with, and compensates for, the shortcomings *before* one composes and clicks.

Can't agree more. You are spot on with your comment.

My friend asked for some suggestions to start with his learning in Photography and he has no high budget. I did some research and only then shortlisted D40 for him. We have started our search.

[Sawyer]

Originally Posted by NetfreakBombay

Incremental???

Current entry level Nikon is D3300, as compared to D40:

Resolution:

1. Has 8X light sensitivity (1600 vs 12800)
2. Has 4X resolution (6 MP vs 24 MP, 61.1 um^2 vs 15.2 um^2 of pixel size)

Incremental or not depends on a point of view, nature of use and user capability.
Someone that does not need the extra speed, does not want to print mural size prints, and does not need to crop his work may well not want to change. 6MP is plenty if you know what you are doing.

If I was buying to get into the hobby today, I would buy a used one, one or two generations older, to be able to start with better lenses for the same budget. If I wanted to replace, I would ask myself the above questions.