Finaly getting to grips?

[Sutton Warrior]

Finally getting to grips with the D80! Took these in Clacton yesterday, someones front garden, bucket donations to the Essex Air Ambulance, very worthy cause.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This one was taken on the boat on Sunday, we had bucket loads of cod, camera Canon A640, still my camera of choice on the boat and pure convenience.

 

 

Bucket loads like this!

 

 

SW

[Sutton Warrior]

As I say getting to grips with the D80 now. What with the product faults and all, its been a bit frustrating . . . 'onward and upward'. Reading Ken Rockwells recommendations, he has so much experience, I started with his recommendations, but have ended up using some of my own preferences on settings and compensations. For instance he advocates 'Auto ISO', great idea, but the state I got into was unbelievable, 'auto ISO' in my humble opinion, for me, is a 'no no'. He advocates a vivid colour approach, not for me, the pictures in this test are only just OK. I still think I need to try? the colour temp down another notch for my taste, personal preferences, which Ken advocates.

 

It was a starting point, and 'KR's' explanation of each menu function is so understandable compared with the 'destruction book'. I say that Kens explanations are priceless, if a numpty like me can understand, its got to be good.

 

I have a '?' over the D80, I think the D40X, note the 'X' model!!!, would do as good a job for the armature enthusiast at a considerable cost saving. I know its limited on lenses, but how many lenses does one need? Smaller, lighter, slightly detuned spec., however, the way I see it, I'd put the saving onto some extra glass, and throw my 'anorak' in the bin

 

SW

Edited February 12, 2008 by Sutton Warrior

[John S]

I don't use the 'Auto ISO' either, prefer to set the 'film' speed myself. I have set to 'more vivid' though, but change it when I feel it's necessary - all a matter of learning when to and when not to.

 

I was surprised when checking out various DSLR's that the slowest 'film' speed is usually 100 ISO (I still have a habit of calling it ASA, same scale just different letters). When I used proper film the usual one was rated at 125 ASA, but sometimes used film of just 25 ASA - the grain on that was so fine you could do huge enlargements!

[Sutton Warrior]

I don't use the 'Auto ISO' either, prefer to set the 'film' speed myself. I have set to 'more vivid' though, but change it when I feel it's necessary - all a matter of learning when to and when not to.

 

I was surprised when checking out various DSLR's that the slowest 'film' speed is usually 100 ISO (I still have a habit of calling it ASA, same scale just different letters). When I used proper film the usual one was rated at 125 ASA, but sometimes used film of just 25 ASA - the grain on that was so fine you could do huge enlargements!

 

Hay, John S,

I found that on Auto ISO, the camera program not only increased the ISO, it appeared to rack up 'vivid' and anything else it could find!!!! . . . what a mess! . . . what a f***ing mess!!! Sorry just been watching Billy Connolly . . . ****

 

However, I did discover the quality of the 400 and 800 ISO, very usable, with an aperture of f5.3 at 200mm they needs to be good. Vivid, I'm your retiring British rose type . . . . . . understated??? ??As you say it a learning curve.

 

Hay mate, ASA your showing your age, my Dad used to use 25ASA . . . then he got 50ASA . . . wow hold on to your seat!!! . . . OK I remember it to, seem to remember 'ASA' finally fading out in the early nineties? Noted the spec., on a Panosonic FZ50 bridge jobie had 80ISO, one hell of a camera that, let down slightly by its wide end at only 35mm, some of the pics Nurse Judie gets, wow!

 

Still got the trusty A640 for the rough and tumble of 'the glove compartment'. I'm a cabie, so its gets thrown about, and the Nikon could be to much temptation to the wrong eyes! I take both on the boat, but salty and fish slime hands? usually means the A640 is first gab! The wash and wipe before I will go for the DSLR??? . . . its a pain, the potential picture has got to be something special.

 

SW