Comments on: Reader Question: Moving from Film to Digital http://www.photographybay.com/2009/08/08/reader-question-moving-from-film-to-digital/ The latest in digital photography and camera reviews, news and rumors for Canon, Nikon, Sony, Olympus and more. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 08:29:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Camilo http://www.photographybay.com/2009/08/08/reader-question-moving-from-film-to-digital/#comment-177040 Camilo Wed, 12 Aug 2009 15:06:10 +0000 http://www.photographybay.com/?p=6796#comment-177040 Thank you everyone for the comments and the suggestions. I'll def. take some into consideration. I think I will play around for film for a bit, but renting out some digital equipment to check it out and see how I feel with it sounds like a great idea! Thanks again! Thank you everyone for the comments and the suggestions. I’ll def. take some into consideration. I think I will play around for film for a bit, but renting out some digital equipment to check it out and see how I feel with it sounds like a great idea!

Thanks again!

]]> By: fransvh http://www.photographybay.com/2009/08/08/reader-question-moving-from-film-to-digital/#comment-176774 fransvh Mon, 10 Aug 2009 09:10:11 +0000 http://www.photographybay.com/?p=6796#comment-176774 Well, I would bury it, the cost of repair is simply to high for the value of the camera. You can buy a desent (as you already did) second hand for a couple of dollars. Well, I would bury it, the cost of repair is simply to high for the value of the camera. You can buy a desent (as you already did) second hand for a couple of dollars.

]]> By: pacorramos http://www.photographybay.com/2009/08/08/reader-question-moving-from-film-to-digital/#comment-176757 pacorramos Mon, 10 Aug 2009 07:35:29 +0000 http://www.photographybay.com/?p=6796#comment-176757 From my own experience, I think the D90 is a very good option to go digital for someone that has been already using a film SLR. The cropped sensor can be an inconvenient for old glass, but also give you more telephoto length. Besides that, for me the only question to take into account is greater weight and size as compared with a film SLR. From my own experience, I think the D90 is a very good option to go digital for someone that has been already using a film SLR. The cropped sensor can be an inconvenient for old glass, but also give you more telephoto length. Besides that, for me the only question to take into account is greater weight and size as compared with a film SLR.

]]> By: Micah http://www.photographybay.com/2009/08/08/reader-question-moving-from-film-to-digital/#comment-176737 Micah Mon, 10 Aug 2009 06:39:40 +0000 http://www.photographybay.com/?p=6796#comment-176737 I picked up a used n80 in cherry condition from a local shop (Portland, OR, USA) for $49 a couple days ago. That has to be cheaper than any repair. If you just want a drop in replacement, the n80 is a step up. All the digital cameras have the same or better compatability with lenses than the n55/65/75. Yes, anything under a d700 will have crop factor and that's a consideration. Buy a memory card, take some shots with some cameras and print them out. See what you think. That's the best measure. Good luck, Micah I picked up a used n80 in cherry condition from a local shop (Portland, OR, USA) for $49 a couple days ago. That has to be cheaper than any repair. If you just want a drop in replacement, the n80 is a step up.

All the digital cameras have the same or better compatability with lenses than the n55/65/75. Yes, anything under a d700 will have crop factor and that’s a consideration. Buy a memory card, take some shots with some cameras and print them out. See what you think. That’s the best measure.

Good luck,

Micah

]]> By: Fried Toast http://www.photographybay.com/2009/08/08/reader-question-moving-from-film-to-digital/#comment-176622 Fried Toast Sun, 09 Aug 2009 11:23:47 +0000 http://www.photographybay.com/?p=6796#comment-176622 If he wants AF to work on his currently AF film lenses, then he needs to go the way of a D80/90 (a used D80 might be just what the doctor ordered). If he like MF, then the D40(x)/60/3000/5000 series might be a good start into digital. Before deciding on any of them, however, he should go down to the store and hold them. There's a different range of sizes and styles. After owning my D300 and D700, I can't go back to the Dxx style anymore (I had a D80 previously). I've tried to shoot w/ friends' D40s and D60s, but it's an exercise in frustration (for me since I'm used to the Dxxx series's ergonomic layout). Something to keep in mind. Also, if he wants to use his old lenses and keep them in that aspect, then going D700/D3/D3x will be his only options for the time being. He might move to a D40(x)/60/3000/5000/80/90/300, but the problem is that they are cropped sensors. He might not be comfortable with that. Something to keep in mind. If he's active on Flickr, then going to a local meetup and getting to know local members could be helpful as he might then be able to hear first-hand stories on certain bodies and maybe use them for awhile If he's serious about studying for an upgrade, perhaps renting a couple different bodies over a weekend might be something to consider (I'm assuming he's covered for glass for the time being). As for the original question, can/should he fix it, I'm not so sure it would be worth the trouble. I'm certainly not an expert on this, but was told by an older gentleman in a Tokyo camera shop that the plastic film bodies were pretty much throw-away cameras. Was told this when I was looking to pick up an oder F-style body (Did p/u a Nikon F that day). The guy didn't have anything positive to say about the upkeep of the plastic types. Once could always contact Nikon and see, but before that, might want to check eBay/Yahoo/Craigslist to see what similar bodies are running for used. Might be cheaper to go w/ a used film body for a film replacement (either that or check out the older metal bodies- they run a pretty penny, but they're bulletproof). If he wants AF to work on his currently AF film lenses, then he needs to go the way of a D80/90 (a used D80 might be just what the doctor ordered). If he like MF, then the D40(x)/60/3000/5000 series might be a good start into digital.

Before deciding on any of them, however, he should go down to the store and hold them. There’s a different range of sizes and styles. After owning my D300 and D700, I can’t go back to the Dxx style anymore (I had a D80 previously). I’ve tried to shoot w/ friends’ D40s and D60s, but it’s an exercise in frustration (for me since I’m used to the Dxxx series’s ergonomic layout). Something to keep in mind.

Also, if he wants to use his old lenses and keep them in that aspect, then going D700/D3/D3x will be his only options for the time being. He might move to a D40(x)/60/3000/5000/80/90/300, but the problem is that they are cropped sensors. He might not be comfortable with that. Something to keep in mind.

If he’s active on Flickr, then going to a local meetup and getting to know local members could be helpful as he might then be able to hear first-hand stories on certain bodies and maybe use them for awhile

If he’s serious about studying for an upgrade, perhaps renting a couple different bodies over a weekend might be something to consider (I’m assuming he’s covered for glass for the time being).

As for the original question, can/should he fix it, I’m not so sure it would be worth the trouble. I’m certainly not an expert on this, but was told by an older gentleman in a Tokyo camera shop that the plastic film bodies were pretty much throw-away cameras. Was told this when I was looking to pick up an oder F-style body (Did p/u a Nikon F that day). The guy didn’t have anything positive to say about the upkeep of the plastic types. Once could always contact Nikon and see, but before that, might want to check eBay/Yahoo/Craigslist to see what similar bodies are running for used. Might be cheaper to go w/ a used film body for a film replacement (either that or check out the older metal bodies- they run a pretty penny, but they’re bulletproof).

]]> By: JimmyDee http://www.photographybay.com/2009/08/08/reader-question-moving-from-film-to-digital/#comment-176515 JimmyDee Sat, 08 Aug 2009 11:36:50 +0000 http://www.photographybay.com/?p=6796#comment-176515 Bury N55 and buy a cheap but very good Nikon D40 or the new Nikon D3000 with an excellent VR kit lens. If he has many film era autofocus Nikon lenses, then he has no choice but to buy a more expensive camera body with built-in autofocus motor, like Nikon D90. Bury N55 and buy a cheap but very good Nikon D40 or the new Nikon D3000 with an excellent VR kit lens. If he has many film era autofocus Nikon lenses, then he has no choice but to buy a more expensive camera body with built-in autofocus motor, like Nikon D90.

]]> By: Wally http://www.photographybay.com/2009/08/08/reader-question-moving-from-film-to-digital/#comment-176514 Wally Sat, 08 Aug 2009 11:23:46 +0000 http://www.photographybay.com/?p=6796#comment-176514 Nikon can provide authorized repair shops. If the still do repair on your specific camera is another matter. Film is very much alive specially black and white! When I shoot Digital I use a D80 and may one day trade up to a d300 or equivalent. My other cameras are 2 4x5 large format for Black and White. The 4X5 equivalent to Digital is 120 MB and provides much better resolution than any digital camera on the market! Nikon can provide authorized repair shops. If the still do repair on your specific camera is another matter. Film is very much alive specially black and white! When I shoot Digital I use a D80 and may one day trade up to a d300 or equivalent. My other cameras are 2 4×5 large format for Black and White. The 4X5 equivalent to Digital is 120 MB and provides much better resolution than any digital camera on the market!

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