Club Arnage

Now having virtually sorted out the beer thing for Sebring...........I am thinking of treating myself to a new  camereand wondered what should I purchase for the event.

Having tried Jason's Nikon at Donnington....I was quite impressed.

Not being a pro.....I just point and shoot then delete.

So who recommends what?

Wishy

How wide is the ocean, how deep is the sea.

Wishy, what's your budget / expectations?

Do you want a point and shoot, a midrange compact with a good optical zoom, a 'bridge' all in one, or are you going the DSLR route and a bag full of lenses?

I was told by an American camera man once - this was also known as a PHD camera   - "Press here D*ckhead"   ;D

Hi Wishy

As a photographers OH I see both sides of the debate! 

I have what I guess is a PHD camera (I like that!), it works really well outside and in daylight but takes very poor low light pictures.  I'm a crap photographer but even I'm starting to see the restrictions in what I've got (mine's a Nikon Coolpixs). 

If we ever become solvent I'm probably going to buy a second hand Nikon DSLR body and play with that.  From what (as a photography idiot) I can see this would give me the ability to shoot in an automatic mode but would also give me some ability to shoot in manual if I could ever work it out.

If you want to shoot race cars you really need a DSLR - the compacts have too much shutter delay and your chances of actually getting a car in the frame are pretty slim (been there....got the tshirt!). 

Keith's buddy Andy runs the Chiswick Camera Centre, he often has second hand stuff for sale, google him and give him a call and he'll let you know what he's got in.  He'll also talk you through  what he's got in the way of new models. 

I love my Nikon D70, it's pretty idiot proof if you stick it on auto.  However, you might like to handle a D40 - amazingly tiny and has had good reviews.  It depends if you prefer something light which you'll be happy to carry around with you or if - like my OH, you find small cameras problematical to handle and rather insubstantial.
All the pics on here
http://www.flickr.com/photos/97986095@N00/
which don't have "Ian" in the title, were taken on my D70. Take a look at some of the "set" of motor racing pics.
A non-SLR is a bit of nightmare for car pics as they scratch their heads and think about it for a while before actually taking the picture - by which time a fast-moving subject is gone!!

Hi Piglet and Termie

Firstly you are quite right about compacts.I currently use a Fuji Finepix.....and have managed to take some sensible pictures by holding the shutter half open ....but it takes practise.

I have been looking at both the Nikon D50 and the D70s  which both seem to fill my criteria.

If I should go for either do I go for a 18-55 lens and 55-200, or would a 25-200 be adequate for all jobs?

And I assume it is best to use Nikkor lenses rater than tamron or Sigma?

Wishy

Hi Steve,

I have an old Canon FX slr which is gatering dust in the loft.....and like a proper camera rather than my compact with built in telephoto,which is adequate but the telephoto is limited in focal length,hence I am looking at a DSLR instead.

my budget is somewhere in the £400 - £600 bracket.

Wishy

Well now you are asking.  The speed of the lens is the most critical bit with sports photography and the greater the range of focal lengths the slower the lens tends to become.  If you want serious racing shots, you are going to do better with faster, fixed focal length lenses.  However, if you buy a modern Nikkor lens they have VR (vibration reduction) which gives you a good couple more F stops in hand (ie, what would look cr*p at say 1/60th with a normal lens will be about say 1/200th with the VR which is a real bonus.  But having said that, you can always alter the film speed with a digital which will give you a grainer-looking image but a sharper picture!  I could go on.. and on.. and on.... As no doubt can Piglet, Keith and others.
Bring your new body ( ;)) to Sebring and Mr Termite and I will let you try out a few different lenses and you can see what you think.

Termie

You are a star!!!!!

Going shopping now

Wishy

Good man! ;D  However, beware, Mr T will talk you to death on this subject..... (see you at Gatwick!)

oh no.......

How long is the flight?            ;D

It <might> be an idea to give dixons etc. at the airport a ring to see if they've got any offers on, alternatively buy one in the states.

Nikliv

I have already been browsing US sites and if I am mistaken....and I am open to suggestions.The sites I have looked at seem to be more expensive than here.

Like many corporate companies....Nikon appear to be price fixing worldwide....unless you can point me in the right direction stateside.

Wishy

Nope not me Termie - you're speaking a foreign language!   ;D

Something to aspire to possibly, while not motorsport you can appreciate the work that has gone into this guys work and it is not Photoshop work.

He is a friend, who I sold his first B&W developer, all pics are DSLR but not manipulated. Most of guernsey.

I was given two mounted prints today FOR MY BIRTHDAY.

Site -  http://www.mikebonsallphotography.com/

>Martini...

Dixons Tax Free     Gatwick South Terminal
After Security
Telephone number:
+44 (0)1293 569 509
Opening hours:
05:00 - 21:00
Digital cameras, i-PODS, computer equipment and some great accessories

If it's the north terminal you're going from then try

    Dixons Tax Free     Gatwick North Terminal
After Security
Telephone number:
+44 (0)1293 569 737
Opening hours:
05:00 - 20:30
Digital cameras, i-PODS, computer equipment and some great accessories

Might be worth giving them a ring. As for them being the same price in the US, that's not fair. They're not playing by the rules.

Here's what they have on their website, IIRC you can order / reserve and collect it at tax free prices.

http://tinyurl.com/yrqtwl

Thought so, here are their T&Cs

http://tinyurl.com/ys4s29

Well Happy Birthday then Martini! Will raise a glass for you!

Personally I never use VR lenses, I don’t often used film or digital above 200 ASA. Yes a ”fast”  lens does make simpler but it gives you the flexibility to create the images you want rather than the images the lens and camera can give you.
 
Get yourself either  the D50 or 70 there cheap enough now decide what you want to do with it!
Do you want to store images on Cflash cards or Sdigital cards?

Practice you picture technique ie panning or just holding the camera steady many of my night shots are taken at less than a 1/50 sec with the camera hand held http://www.gtphotosport.com/lm24moto/kpk_0039.html
I don’t use a tripod for anything less than 5-8 second exposures! http://www.gtphotosport.com/water/KPK_8960.html

Well, you obviously have steadier hands than me!!  Also,bare in mind the distances we amateurs often have to shoot from.  As an amateur I really notice the difference in the quality of my shots when I lose light and my slow lenses struggle. The only solution is to knock off the autofocus which often can't cope in those circumstances, but this can defeat the whole object of "point and shoot" if that is what you are after.  Also, having a lightweight body on a hefty lens makes balance more problematical.  The D2H is much easier to hold steady.
But there is no doubt that one of the great pleasures of digital is that you can practice, practice and practice and have a really good look at the results before you go to the once in a lifetime situation and miss the good shots because you're not familiar enough with your equipment ( ;)).  I've found the VR lenses really great and worth a couple of F stops, especially in windy conditions at long focal lengths in low light.

Low light no VR hand held about 1/80 with a 500 on auto focus ..... ;D from the top of the tv platform....

http://www.gtphotosport.com/lm2005/KPK_5853.html

I shoot a lot of film and dont review many of my images when using dig, and yes being on the inside helps....

Keith,

Perhaps.........you should run a camera workshop on Fdiday night  to teach us basic and advanced skills............the one of the Aston in focus and background is brilliant!!!
Wishy

Wishy, I have a D50 - a very affordable easy to use camera.  The new D40 is somewhat smaller (like a Canon 350 / 400) and I felt it was a bit tiddly in my hands (as the actress said etc).

The 18-55 standard lens with the D50 is fine for general stuff.  However, to get decent shots of cars on the track you need to go longer.  Having reviewed the photos I had previously taken at Sebring (and Le Mans) on my old Fuji S5000, I calculated that I was generally shooting at an equivalent focal length greater than 200mm.
Bearing in mind the 1.5 x field of view factor on a DSLR CCD, my dilemma was -
1. Spend a sh*t load of money on a 'fast' 70-200 f2.8 lens - more than £1000! or
2. Try the cheap 55-200 and maybe look for something else over 200mm.

Well, option 2 suited me (surprised!) and having read about the new 70-300 f4.5 VR lens, I went and tried one of those - and bought that.

So, my current 'general purpose' lens is the 18-70 and I will use the 70-300 VR for track shots.

Whilst I would like faster f-stop lenses (who wouldn't) I can't justify the cost and don't fancy the extra weight.

All the above lenses are Nikon by the way.

I'm sure that, between all of us Nikon users, you can get a feel for the variety of lenses available.

Hi Steve,

Although over the years I have mansged reasonable pictures  with SLR's

Digital is totally different....having brought a Fuji Finepix2100 3 years ago ,with  going through the leaning curve,managed reasonable piccy's but not brilliant.

I have just purchased a Nikon D70s on E***y and KeithK after the event has given me a personal contact of his to find lenses and bits!!!

It would be great to buy a f2.8 lens.....but my budget at the mo won't stretch to £750 for a Nikon 200 lens.....so I will probably downgrade and up the stops to compensate.......and hpoefully Sebring will give me a real learning curve in the use of a DSLR

Wishy

If you're limited by f-stop, one bonus of a DSLR is that you can push the ISO beyond 400 (up to 1600) to boost shutter speed for a given aperture and still end up with a decent image with respect to grain / digital noise.

Good purchase with the D70s - welcome to the CA Nikon club.

Oooooh......I love it when people talk dirty.

 Nudge Nudge  - Wishy - got a new camera

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/09/Nudge_nudge.PNG/350px-Nudge_nudge.PNG)

Canon Club Rules....as well as being a camera, it can also be a frikkin great gun that fires big metal (?) balls..... :)

Actually having used my 100-400 L Series, I now understand where the name "canon" came from.....

Good luck wishy!

That'll be cannon with three 'n's then  ::)

(http://www.discoveret.org/kcwrt/events/Cannon.jpg)

I got my daughter a new D40 with both the above lenses for under £500 for xmas. I've only used it a couple of times but I was impressed with the results and quality. it can be point and shoot or you can spend days twiddling the settings.

 ::) Stu will you be my Dad or at least have a word with mine.  I didn't even get a card!!!   ;D ;D

Oh, I had to get her a card as well. A 1GB SD card from the rip-off PC world as i left it to late to source one else where. The one and only thing I've ever bought there. DT(Dick Turpin) World more like it.

Try this lot
http://www.play.com/Electronics/Electronics/6-/Search.html?searchstring=compact+flash+cards&searchtype=ELEC&searchsource=0
if you're stuck.  Very quick and efficient (and cheap!)

I use these people for memory cards - delivered from Jersey.

Good service and cheap.

http://www.mymemory.co.uk/SD-Card (http://www.mymemory.co.uk/SD-Card)

Go Jersey ;D (both my memory.. who i use, and play.com.... main office next building to me... are over here ;)

Not as cheap as me (Go Guernsey) but I suppose they want to make a profit...

http://www.clubarnage.com/forum/index.php?topic=6680.0

>Martini...

Not a Aston but shows what you can do at night if you take the time
http://www.gtphotosport.com/2cv2006/kpk_8039.html