Wife's birthday present

[Cholst7200]

Picked up a Samsumg Memoir phone/camera for her birthday plus a couple must haves (car charger, docking station for the car) for my wife's birthday. I also bought her a Wii Fit. She's the one that wanted the Wii Fit so if I end up sleeping in the guest bedroom this weekend I refuse to feel guilty. :eek:

My wife's old phone was 5+ years old. I chose the Samsung Memoir because my wife keeps bugging me about not having a nice digital camera. The Samsung Memoir has a 8mp camera. I heard that Nokia is coming out with a 12mp camera by the end of the year.

Cholst7200

[Suhail]

I also bought her a Wii Fit.


I also hear that you like playing Russian roulette ( With an Automatic pistol ;) )

[Stryke]

MP means nothing for quality. Quality in a camera comes from a good sensor and good lens. All a high MP does is give you larger photos if you are going to print. I have yet to see a cell phone that comes anywhere close to a decent camera in quality of pictures. Nonetheless, enjoy. :)

[ChrisEdu]

Most people never really require anything more than 6MP from a camera. Sensor, software and lens are king.

[geoff malter]

Most people never really require anything more than 6MP from a camera. Sensor, software and lens are king.

I agree. Lindsay wants to get into photography as a serious hobby when she returns from Japan. After much research I'm getting her a Nikon D-40 (6.1 MP), with a Nikon 35mm f/1.8 to start. It's a great starter SLR camera. :)

[ChrisEdu]

I agree. Lindsay wants to get into photography as a serious hobby when she returns from Japan. After much research I'm getting her a Nikon D-40 (6.1 MP), with a Nikon 35mm f/1.8 to start. It's a great starter SLR camera. :)

I swapped over to Nikon about 18 months ago, after using Contax and Bronica equipment, and have been really pleased with the results. I've got the D300 and a couple of zoom lenes. I'd like to get the D700 when back at work, although, I'm intrigued by the D90 with it's video mode. Something else I'd always recommend is a good quality filter to protect the front lens element.

[raptor]

if you look at the SE K700 and its pictures in still mode thats as good as it gets if you ask me relating to phone cameras 3.2mp and its enough for a casual pic

[raptor]

look at the d70
best camera for the bucks

[Stryke]

No, no, no. I have a D70 and also a D90. Geoff, please do NOT get her a D40. Please spend a few extra bucks and get her a D90. It is cheap and WELL worth it. The sensor on it is amazing. She will not be able to shoot in low light and it will be very frustrating for her to get grainy shots indoors. If she is going to shoot any moving object like people indoors she will need a fast shutter speed and a high ISO setting. The sensor on the 90 can shoot amazing shots at 3200 ISO. This is so important that I am considering getting a D3 which is expensive only because it can shoot at MUCH higher ISO settings and still have clear shots. My D70 which was a great camera for it's time gets noticeably grainy above ISO 640. The D40 will be even worse. Also, all of the good lenses that are out now will not auto focus with a D40. The body is very important and is relatively cheap. Do NOT settle for a 40, please.

[ChrisEdu]

Stryke, save yourself some money and go for a D700 rather than a D3. I think, from memory of a Nikon event I went to, that they use the same sensor. For most people not working as a pro photographer, and even for a lot of pro's, the D3 has far more features than you'd ever need, plus it's a big and heavy beast.

I would agree about trying to steer clear of the D40, it's far too limited and has too many 'issues' as has already been mentioned.

[geoff malter]

Gil, Chris, I appreciate your comments, and Gil, I agree that the D90 is a fantastic camera, very highly rated in reviews by experts and consumers alike. I also realize that your camera decisions are primarily based on the fact that they are first a business tool.

But I have reasons for selecting the D40, other than cost: despite its limitations, these same experts and consumers agree that the D40 is still one of the best "starter" DSLR cameras, despite it being three-year-old technology. Its image sensor is the same as the D60, but with fewer MPs crowding the sensor's footprint. The noise at higher ISOs is a concern, but that's why I will get her the 35mm f/1.8 fixed lens, rather than the "Kit" lens (18-55 f/3.5). As she wants to focus on outdoor nature and scenery, the 35mm lens will allow her to use the lower ISOs for most of her manual or auto shots. As far as indoor, if she uses the camera for that, the flash is rated at 1/500 and has a measured effective range of 57 feet (and she can always get a SB-400 or 600 for bounce). And the f/1.8's speed will preclude the need for flash in many situations.

Lindsay is coming into the DSLR arena from a Canon P&S, which she has used somewhat effectively in Japan. Another issue is weight and footprint. Knowing Lindsay as I do, the size and weight of the D40 is a logical transition from her P&S, so she will actually carry it on photo trips. And her interest in developing (no pun intended) her photographic skills and going DSLR is a direct result of her understanding her Canon's limitations. If she is indeed serious about getting better, I want her to learn the fundamentals, like composition (at the suggestion of one pro's review/comments, I'm recommending to her that she take an art course through adult ed), and not always rely on a host of automatic features to insure pics she'll be proud of (there's only a small chance at her current stage that she'll actually print anything. I foresee everything being transferred solely to the computer/internet for now).

If or when she reaches the point of being frustrated with the D40's limitations, she can move up to something like the D90 (or whatever model comes out next year). As she can use whatever lenses she has for the D40 with any of the D series, she can keep the D40 as a backup or sell/trade it and maybe take a hit of only a couple of hundred dollars.

Anyway, that's my $.02 (used to be $.05 before the meltdown) :)

[ChrisEdu]

If you want her to focus on composition, the best thing you can do is get her a decent tripod, which will also allow the use of a lower ISO. I'd recommend something like a nice Manfrotto, Benbo or Gitzo as a solid, well made tripod. Personally, I use a Manfrotto 055XPROB with a 808RC4 head. For the work I do with it, ranging from nature and landscapes to weddings and portraits, it's ideal, allowing me to get down really low or up high with good stability throughout the height range. Yes, it is big and a bit heavy, but, put in a carry bag and slung over the shoulder it's no big issue in most circumstances.

I'd always put a good quality tripod right at the top of an extras list when buying a camera - it provides support for slow speeds and slows down the picture taking process, meaning that you tend to focus on composition.

Another thought that just popped into my head, if she is keen on nature photography, take a look at one the the Nikon macro lenses, possibly the 60mm micro as it gives 1:1 reproduction ratio and a focal length that's very good for things like portraits. A ring flash would also be nice! :)

p.s. The D40 is also now a discontinued model.

[Cholst7200]

I purchased the phone first and the camera function second. It is kind of a two in one deal. We will probably have to buy a separate phone in the future. This is a great camera phone where you don't have haul a camera along to take picuture.

I'll look in to the cameras you suggested Gil. Any suggestions on a good digitial camera for under $1000?

Thanks,

Cholst7200

[Stryke]

The D90 is right around that mark. The various lenses is where the expense comes in. Are you looking for SLR or point and shoot?

[geoff malter]

If you want her to focus on composition, the best thing you can do is get her a decent tripod, which will also allow the use of a lower ISO. I'd recommend something like a nice Manfrotto, Benbo or Gitzo as a solid, well made tripod. Personally, I use a Manfrotto 055XPROB with a 808RC4 head. For the work I do with it, ranging from nature and landscapes to weddings and portraits, it's ideal, allowing me to get down really low or up high with good stability throughout the height range. Yes, it is big and a bit heavy, but, put in a carry bag and slung over the shoulder it's no big issue in most circumstances.

I'd always put a good quality tripod right at the top of an extras list when buying a camera - it provides support for slow speeds and slows down the picture taking process, meaning that you tend to focus on composition.

Another thought that just popped into my head, if she is keen on nature photography, take a look at one the the Nikon macro lenses, possibly the 60mm micro as it gives 1:1 reproduction ratio and a focal length that's very good for things like portraits. A ring flash would also be nice! :)

p.s. The D40 is also now a discontinued model.

Thanks for your comments, Chris (and apologies, Corey, for us hijacking your thread :)). Re the tripod: true, it can assist in low-light circumstances, but as pointed out to me by a pro's (www.kenrockwell.com) article on perspective, outdoor hand-held shots by novices is better training than a tripod. I like his approach to the art and agree with his point-of-view. As to the D-60, I know that it's three-year-old technology, but the same will be true around 2011 for today's introductions, and it's a great beginner's camera. The Nikon lenses will be usable for decades. I know 35mm film buffs that still shoot with Leicas from the 70s. Macro is intriguing. Lindsay is just starting out, and hasn't entered that arena yet. Assuming she stays with the art, it will be up to her to add to her equipment. God forbid she starts showing an interest in Rolexes. :)

[ChrisEdu]

I'd have to say, I disagree with his article's comment about tripod users shooting from one height, and I know plenty of other pro's that would also take issue with his comment. I'd say the opposite is true. A good tripod allows you to get a camera into positions that you couldn't comfortably hand hold a camera, such as low to the ground. Again, also, because it slows the picture taking process it makes the photographer more of an active participant in the picture taking process, rather than being something that simply points and shoots.

I also know plenty of photographers that have never done an art degree or anything like one. Rather, there are other ways of learning about what makes a good photo. The easiest is to simply use your eyes and look at what get published and analyse what makes it good. Books, too, can provide an excellent guide and act as a reference source, as can magazines. However, that said, I'd acknowledge that there is no harm in doing some formal training. Nikon do run some very good workshops.

As for film cameras, I've still got mine. They really make you learn your art, as can't just blast several hundred shots as you can with a digital camera, well, not without it getting expensive!