I have always been a firm believer in point and shoot technology. I always used to say that I would NEVER get a digital SLR camera. They were too big, too bulky, but most of all to SCARY. Well, after much reading and searching and agonizing I have decided on what camera I am going to get. A Nikon D40! That's right, you heard me, I am buying a DSLR, Lord help me. I am going to take the plunge into the SLR world. I am terrified yet excited.
I came to realize that maybe the kind of photos I want to take have gone beyond what a regular point and click camera can provide.Even the super zooms like the Canon S5, nice as they are, don't have the versatility I need. The photos I have been taking are pretty good, considering that they were taken on a little HP photosmart stick in your pocket special. I have just gotten lucky. I think I could do better though, but I have found that means I need to turn in a different direction. It's time to stop being stubborn. It's time to stop being a whiny wuss. It's time I take the plunge into the DSLR world. It should be an adventure......a very expensive adventure, but and adventure none the less.
So, that being decided, I have also decided that I am going to start selling some of my prints. There are some craft fairs here in Kotzebue around Christmas time. I am going to get some 8x10 and 5x7 prints made and mat them. If they sell they sell...if they don't they don't. I figure if they do sell maybe it can support my potential lens habit. That way I don't have to sell one of my kidneys.
3 comments:
Congratulations on your upcoming camera. I used the Nikon D80. Nikon makes excellent cameras and lens. I have had mine for a little over a year.
I meant to add more but was tending to my four year old daughter.
I moved back to the DSLR for similar reasons as yourself. I took great pictures on my point and shoot but wanted to see how far I could go beyond on an expensive camera.
Next on my list is a macro lens. I love taking pictures of insects and cannot wait to get a closer view of them with a macro lens. I've taken some great pictures but I know with a good macro I'll be able to get closer however, for now, I'm content to play around with the different f settings and become acquainted with my DSLR.
For over a year I treated it mainly like a point & shoot. I know! I know! Stupid. I started out on a SLR as a child.
There are a lot of great books out there Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson is a good book. I researched it and it received a lot of good reviews on photography forums. I learned a few tricks and was able to use them the same day.
Ken Rockwell, You already know about him has an excellent website. I do differ from him and shoot everything in RAW. I have a Epson Stylus Photo R2400 at home and I can tell the difference If I want a large picture. Oh by the way if the Nikon D40 user manual is anything like the one that came with my Nikon D80 you are better off looking for another one. Ken's manual for the Nikon D80 was very informative. I'm so happy I found it.
Anyway I wish I had bought a good photography book at the time I purchased my Nikon D80. I purchased Understanding Exposure about a week ago. I started a photoblog about two weeks ago and will be using it to document my progress. Some of your photos remind me of Moose Peterson's work. His work is stunning. http://www.moosegallery.com/
As I read this post I thought I was its author. I've been using a high end point and shoot - Panasonic Lumix FZ50. It has most all the bells and whistles of a DSLR, and a Leica lens. But it does have a smaller sensor and I wonder if I'm not getting the most out of my shoots because of that. For now, I'm holding off - cost. But I keep thinking about it! Nikon over Canon? You've done the research, I'm sure. Would be interested in knowing what tipped you in Nikon's direction.
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