Digital SLR or Film SLR

H_brown

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2 Mar 2002 - 9:06 PM

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I'm facing something of a dilemma. I'm quite new to photography, and have been following the developments of digital SLR's with great interest. I'd obviously love to own one of the new D60's or D100's but can't justify the cost as I am only an amateur. I don't want to have to put up with a consumer digital camera, like the coolpix 5000, as I know that they can't match the performance of an SLR (either film or digital).

So what I'm thinking now is to forget digital till the prices have dropped to a reasonable level, and just use a basic film slr. Anyone think I would be making a mistake and should instead just save up for a digital SLR? Perhaps with the D60 announcement D30's will reach the less than 1000 price point second hand.

If I'm shooting only two or three films a month I'm guessing the cost saving of digital won't really be a factor. Or am I missing something.

Someone please help

Stephen

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3 Mar 2002 - 5:04 PM

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You seem to be taking the stance that anything other than a Digital SLR is not up to the job. I think you are wrong. If I were you I would not hang around, but jump in now and get a digital camera that you can afford.

If you were to get a 3-4 MP camera now you will be amazed at the quality you can achieve. You say you take 3-4 films a month, you will take far more with a digicam. You are missing out if you wait for digital slr's to come down in price.

I use a Nikon D1 and a Casio 3500. I can tell you now the Casio although inferior to the Nikon in many ways will produce pictures up to A4 that are indistinguishable from those taken with 35mm film. But you have all the advantages that digital can offer, and I don't need to go into all those now.

You obviously have a PC and no doubt a decent printer. For well under 800 you could get a Canon G2 which in fact is often more versatile than an SLR, and do more. The pictures are superb and you have the satisfaction of getting the instant feedback, the ability to produce a print of better quality than one from the high street, show the photos on your PC within minutes, send them to others via email or CD... Oh look I'm telling you the benefits and I said I wouldn't

Forget the cost saving, this should not be an issue. Prices are coming down anyway and memory is cheap, just do it!!!

Stephen

Bramble

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6 Mar 2002 - 8:12 PM

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I agree with Stephen, buy a digital now, even if it is a lesser spec than your regular film camera. You have to remember that the technology is moving along, no matter how long you wait, there will always be something better available but your will lose out on the learning curve if you wait too long! There are many inexpensive digital cams that most people would be hard pressed to tell the difference between the prints from them and the non-digital prints! (for many purposes anyway) and at least if you buy digital now, you are learning and managing to come to grips with the technology as it moves ahead!
Mo