New D50 owner and some test shots

[informer]

Hi there,

Well after some lengthy talk on what camera I should get, I ended up getting the D50 kit set (18-55 lenses) instead of the D70 kit set which were selling at the same price or sometimes cheaper for 2nd hand.

Why did I get the D50? To pass it onto my siblings in case my skills improve enough to know how to use cameras such as the D70 and among others.

Out of the box, the D50 is a great camera for anybody using a dSLR for the first time.
You know there are great photographers, but with crappy cameras, and there are not so good photographers with great cameras.
Playing with a D70 for the first time was like climbing into the cockpit of a Formula One car, I'm a great driver but what the hell do these buttons do?


The D50 is very much a simplified version of the D70, a camera that tries to bridge the gap between dSLR and current trend digital cameras, or more accurately - to be as user friendly as possible.

Well, I took many many shots today and despite my effort to use manual controls, the Auto comes out better looking!

The focus of my picture taking today was mainly of my car, and I guess most if not all digital cameras do well here. My car is a Nissan Skyline GTR in Gunmetal.
The colour is so important here, its not gray, metallic gray or dark silver, its gunmetal. Quite often when I took photos of it with other cameras, the car would look silverish, or bland gray. With the D50 on Auto, the car came out the colour I've always wanted.

Anyway, here are some test shots that I thought was worthy of posting. Now I know I'm a noobie but please bear with me ok?




Here's a reduced image of a Japanese flower (sunflower?). It was near my car and I wanted to add some variety to my album. I think I was lucky that there was a bee, even luckier that there was another insect within the petals. In its reduced state, its not bad though do you think it looks a tiny bit dark?



Here's a cropped version of the original and as you can see, its even more impressive. My god I've never come close to a bee before and looking at it scares me. But you know what, I reckon that fly was hiding under the petal otherwise it would have been lunchtime for the seemingly huge bee. I was quite happy with this shot, though if there are some improvements that I could have done do mention them!



This is the view of what most drivers get when I'm on the road, the rear view of my GTR. Japan's most famous sports car, it has aged a bit and this example has more chips and cuts than Rocky Balboa. The car is fitted with 255/17 tyres, which makes it look mean, it has been lowered as well. I wanted to take a picture of the rear because it really does look menancing. I couldn't achieve it with the other digital cameras, but I guess with the dSLR I could. Now if I could highlight those tyres a bit more then it would look a little more impressive I think.




Well, I guess you can tell that I washed the car before taking these pictures. This is what Japan looks like, nothing but a concrete jungle with power lines and telephone poles all over the place. Some houses still manage to maintain its 1960s looks, while others simple towers over them with their modern architects. One thing that I really noticed when I got this camera, was how colourless Japan really was. My room, my house, my neighbours houses, the streets etc etc. I actually bought this camera because I'm going on a roadtrip of a lifetime (free minivan, free petrol, free accomodation, free beer but no food). So hopefully we'll be seeing a lot more of nature and not the dull concrete life of the cities.

Please comment on these photos, I'm excited about joining the dSLR bandwagon and am more excited about using the D50 on my road trip. I have the 18-55 lenses and they are really better than one would expect them to be.
I remember someone pointing out the fact that if a camera has a f/3.5 - 5.6 speed lenses then it would be considered cheap in quality and performance. Well it is, but the fact that Nikon bundled these with the D50 as new lenses probably means that they are very capable as general lenses for the average but picky users (Japanese people are demanding sometimes!).

I'm not sure if the lenses will hold up for landscapes and such, but the camera has been awesome and I would definitely recommend it to anyone starting out for the first time.

[birddog114]

informer,
At last you've achieved what you want and done what you think you're right
Years ahead, you'll find DSLR is more challenges for you than P&S and I'm sure you're on your right track.
The D50 will bring to you lot of memories wherever you go and will be your good friends. Give it a name if you could.


That car if it's in Australia, perhaps it's gone to the dump long time now.


I think the new model of Nissan GTR is looked lot better than this.

[rokkstar]

Hi informer,

Some very nice shots there. Looks like a very capable camera, and it looks like you are going to have a lot of fun with it. Beware, you will be hampering after new lenses in no time at all.

By the way, I love your descriptions and general way of writing, it made me smile.

Have a good road trip.

[Bruno]

I'm sure you will love the camera and as the others have said be buying other gear in no time.

Nice ride too, any other mods apart from the lowering?
I was lucky enough to go for a ride in a r34 gtr not long ago and the thing blew me away!

cheers

[spada]

Hi
I am a newbie , but I like the car pic very much, is that a GTR 2.6L inline twin ceramic turbo AWD with computer traction control, my memory remember it flyed at Barthust together with V8 supercars.Simply too many horses at that time.The front number plate has covered part of the intercooler..nice car.

Regards
Spada

[informer]

That car if it's in Australia, perhaps it's gone to the dump long time now.


I think the new model of Nissan GTR is looked lot better than this.

Excuse me? My car is hawt!

There are ricers' cars, and there are men's cars.

Mine is the latter (hence the lack of 35hp stickers and odd coloured panels).

[informer]

Nice ride too, any other mods apart from the lowering?

Thanks! There are no other mods except for SSR wheels, suspension and being lowered. The previous owner wanted to keep the stock power, but increase the handling a tad bit. But I think what he really wanted to do was to lower it and make it look a gangster ride yo.

[informer]

Hi
I am a newbie , but I like the car pic very much, is that a GTR 2.6L inline twin ceramic turbo AWD with computer traction control, my memory remember it flyed at Barthust together with V8 supercars.Simply too many horses at that time.The front number plate has covered part of the intercooler..nice car.

Regards
Spada

That's right. It tore the opposition at Mount Panorama and was banned because it was just too fast (was almost banned in Japan but they capped it enough to make it fair with the other Japanese cars).

My car is pretty much stock and I prefer it that way (there is no place to let it fly when the roads in Japan are so narrow and shockingly slow traffic).

[informer]

Hi informer,

Some very nice shots there. Looks like a very capable camera, and it looks like you are going to have a lot of fun with it. Beware, you will be hampering after new lenses in no time at all.

By the way, I love your descriptions and general way of writing, it made me smile.

Have a good road trip.

Hi thanks a lot! I will enjoy every minute of my trip, and I think I will pretty much work out what sort of lenses I will upgrade after it.

I'm involved in a Japanese festival this weekend, will try the child-mode on the kids that I'll be working with.

[informer]

No comments about the photo qualities? Or am I just a brilliant photographer?

[MCWB]

No comments about the photo qualities? Or am I just a brilliant photographer?

Hehe, your car is just too hawt. Lovely R32 GTR, one of my favourites. The bee shot is great too!

[atencati]

Actually, I like your car. Since we will never get the Skylines over here any shot is more than welcome. And the bee is cool to, good work with your new toy.


Andy

[dooda]

I'm not a huge car person but I can tell you this, my next car will be in gunmetal, because the name is so badass.

As far as your pics go, looks like they're exposed and focused well. Perhaps the bee picture could be a little more interesting though, the tension between the bee and the fly needs to be exaggerated, like some kind of political debate or something:[)

[birddog114]

That car if it's in Australia, perhaps it's gone to the dump long time now.


I think the new model of Nissan GTR is looked lot better than this.

Excuse me? My car is hawt!

There are ricers' cars, and there are men's cars.

Mine is the latter (hence the lack of 35hp stickers and odd coloured panels).

informer,
You know by now! I'm the only one to dispose that car cos I knew everones seen your car they will praise for it
You enjoyed! and bring back lot of photos from your D50.

[bicpan]

Hey Informer....that location looks familiar.
It is Honmoku??..I lived in Yokohmama for 6 years and just came back.
Bought myself heaps of Nikon & misc gear (F5, all the 2.8 zooms, leica M6, CLE, Pentax 67 & ofcourse D70 just before I left).
My favourite store for new kit was BIC, but loved venturing around the 2nd hand shops arounf Tokyo (MAP, Lemon etc...)...boy, really miss Japan.

Bicpan

[JED]

Congrats on the purchase. Now its time to have fun.

Looking forward to seeing images from your coming road trip. It sounds great.

Posted pics look good, keep them coming. I haven't played with manual mode as yet, things have been chaotic the last week so haven't had time to play.

Like your Skyline, they're lovely cars. I owned a Prince Skyline GT many years ago. Great fun.

Cheers, John D

[informer]

Thanks JED, you know you hold the honour of being the first D50 owner here

I've been playing around with the manual settings and I'm getting the hang of it. Auto really does make things a lot easier, I guess it makes sense to use it when you have the kit lenses but switch to manual when you have other lenses.
I found my hands shaking a little bit upon taking pictures, not sure if it is the weight of the dSLR camera or I'm taking way too long to take a picture. Maybe I'm still treating it like a consumer digital camera than a dSLR. BTW, I love the SD card input!!!

[informer]

Hey Informer....that location looks familiar.
It is Honmoku??..I lived in Yokohmama for 6 years and just came back.
Bought myself heaps of Nikon & misc gear (F5, all the 2.8 zooms, leica M6, CLE, Pentax 67 & ofcourse D70 just before I left).
My favourite store for new kit was BIC, but loved venturing around the 2nd hand shops arounf Tokyo (MAP, Lemon etc...)...boy, really miss Japan.

Bicpan

No I'm nowhere near Yokohama, I'm in the Chiba area which is the east side of Tokyo.

[genji]

hi informer

the bee and flower image looks like it came from a macro lens, i'm surprise how close the 18-55 focus'.

Japan was the first trip my fiancee and I traveled togather, brings back memories....

look forward to seeing more photos...

edit: BTW is that john farnham on your avatar..arghh!!

[MattC]

Shakey hands? Look here for one tip on HH technique:

http://www.d70users.com/viewtopic.php?t ... sc&start=0

Cheers

[Aussie Dave]

Hi Informer
hope you enjoy your new toy ! Remember, whether it's a D50, D70, D1Hs or a D2X, it's the person behind the viewfinder that makes a photo great. I don't see any reason why the D50 won't serve you for quite some time. By the time you need to upgrade, the D2X will probably be old news.

Look forward to seeing more pics from Japan....

[Catcha]

Nice shots informer. Love the GTR i'm car freak myself. Must get sick of all those modified cars running around in Japan NOT hehehhe.....

Hope to see more car piccys from ya..

[informer]

Shakey hands? Look here for one tip on HH technique:

http://www.d70users.com/viewtopic.php?t ... sc&start=0

Cheers

I didn't want to laugh but those poses are something else!

You know the hand that presses the button? Well that's my shakey hand.

[birddog114]

Shakey hands? Look here for one tip on HH technique:

http://www.d70users.com/viewtopic.php?t ... sc&start=0

Cheers

I didn't want to laugh but those poses are something else!

You know the hand that presses the button? Well that's my shakey hand.

Does the warm sake help in this case?

[gstark]

You know the hand that presses the button? Well that's my shakey hand.

Don't press the button. Squeeze it.

[Andoru]

No I'm nowhere near Yokohama, I'm in the Chiba area which is the east side of Tokyo.

Are you near katsuura?

[informer]

I'm not sure where is Katsuura I'm afraid. Why do you ask?

[informer]

Shakey hands? Look here for one tip on HH technique:

http://www.d70users.com/viewtopic.php?t ... sc&start=0

Cheers

I didn't want to laugh but those poses are something else!

You know the hand that presses the button? Well that's my shakey hand.

Does the warm sake help in this case?

Give me a cold one anyday.