HOT! - Nikon D50 SLR Digital Camera /w Lens for $534.15 Shipped

[vtohthree]

Good point! Looking outside the nitty-gritty details and on to the big picture. I give you props for that input.

 

[QueHuong]

Originally posted by: ncage

I will definitly have to disagree with some of the points you made in this post. First yes a dSLR will take longer to learn than a p&S we both agree with that but it won't take that long to learn the basic principles of photography (aperature/f-stop,shutter speed, iso, ect) and they aren't all that hard

First off, it's spelled "aperture" - it's a fundamental vocab in photography and I suggest you learn to spell it correctly, if for no other reason than to have your reply match your authoratative voice on the ease of learning photography.

Yes, understanding the relationship between aperture, shutter speed, and ISO isn't hard to understand, but APPLYING it takes a lot of practice and experience.

My original response was aimed towards those who have the money for a good camera who are intending to use it solely for for family snapshots, i.e. people who don't care about the technical aspect or aesthetic form of photography, but just want something to record memories. It is these people that a P&S is better. Because the Nikon D50 is in the price range of a good P&S, it's very easy for these customers to be taken in by the hype of DSLRs and they end up buying something they don't know how to use effectively.

For example, those coming from a P&S background are not familiar with focus points. They're also accustomed to infinite depth of field. So they bring these habits over to DSLRs and they wonder why their pictures are so blurry. They also wouldn't realize that DSLRs apply minimal in-camera processing to the pictures, so they complain that pictures from their P&S are much sharper, more contrasty, and more vivid than ones from their DSLR. They will experience these problems even if they use all automatic functions. I can go on with examples, but you should get the point by now.

Furthermore, I did begin my last post with, "if you don't want to spend time learning about photography, then don't buy a DSLR." I think we both agree that using a DSLR has a learning curve, so for those who don't want to spend time learning about photography, a DSLR simply isn't for them, regardless of how small a learning curve you believe it to be (although those with actual experience using a DSLR effectively will tell you that there's a high learning curve).

So are you saying any lens below $600 is junk?

Curious, are you familiar with the concept of the straw man fallacy? Anyway...


I stand by what I said: using a DSLR requires time and a desire to learn photography, and it requies money. I have seen people on the Rebel XT forum at DPReview complainng how their $1000 camera didn't give as good a picture as their $300 P&S. It's because they bought the hype from equally clueless people and they expected more out of the camera while not realizing it requires learning and practice.

A DSLR simply isn't right for everyone. If a person just wants to take pretty snapshots, then a $500 P&S is better suited for them, even compared to an equally priced DSLR. It's unfair for these people to not get the full story, otherwise, they'll risk ending up with a regretful purchase.

 

[mb]

Originally posted by: ncage
i end up going to dpreview.com and doing a lot of research. It appears that everyone that has been getting refurb d50 cameras from beachcamera/buydig have been getting cameras that look like they are brand new...only indication they are not is by the outside markings on the box. I have not read about one person that has been unhappy. I decide to call dell and cancel my order which i might add was a PAIN in the rear. I had this indian guy that could barely speak english and telling me i didn't have the exact correct information that i made the order. I said i could have used either of two phone numbers and he said well sir call back when you have the correct information and we will try to cancel it so i had to argue saying i did have the correct information and that i had the order number so he needed to cancel my order. So he went through and entered all my information again and was about to cancel it. I am so unhappy how hard it is to cancel something through dell..and no you can't do it through their website......you have to talk to this person that can barely speak english and who enters your information incorrect. They shouldn't have to have all that info to cancel an order anyways.

But anyways i digress i ended up buying the camera from beachcamera for 469.00 shipped. I was saving about a $100 over dells new price since they were still going to charge me tax on my order and with the luck people are having with refurbs i just decided to go that route. So i will have mine soon.

Well, I just canceled my order with Dell... could not have been any easier. I used their online chat system...
04/15/2006 05:30:16PM supafly: "I would like to cancel my order"
04/15/2006 05:30:31PM Agent (Upinder Singh): "I regret to hear that you want to cancel your order; but sure, I can help you with that."
04/15/2006 05:30:47PM Agent (Upinder Singh): "For verification purposes, may I have your phone number?"
04/15/2006 05:30:55PM supafly: "xxx-xxx-xxxx"
04/15/2006 05:31:22PM Agent (Upinder Singh): "Thank you for the information."
04/15/2006 05:31:41PM Agent (Upinder Singh): "May I please know the reason for canceling the order?"
04/15/2006 05:32:09PM supafly: "The ship time is too long"
04/15/2006 05:32:35PM Agent (Upinder Singh): "Okay!"
04/15/2006 05:32:52PM Agent (Upinder Singh): "I have canceled the order for you."
04/15/2006 05:33:02PM Agent (Upinder Singh): "The cancellation reference number is xxxxxxxxxx."
04/15/2006 05:33:03PM Agent (Upinder Singh): "Have I been able to resolve all your concerns to your satisfaction?"
04/15/2006 05:33:20PM supafly: "Yes, thank you."
04/15/2006 05:33:28PM Agent (Upinder Singh): "You are welcome!"


Lesson: chatting with them is much easier than talking to them on the phone

I still haven't placed an order for the refurb D50... ncage will you please keep us updated on how your transaction goes?

 

[ncage]

Originally posted by: supafly

Originally posted by: ncage
i end up going to dpreview.com and doing a lot of research. It appears that everyone that has been getting refurb d50 cameras from beachcamera/buydig have been getting cameras that look like they are brand new...only indication they are not is by the outside markings on the box. I have not read about one person that has been unhappy. I decide to call dell and cancel my order which i might add was a PAIN in the rear. I had this indian guy that could barely speak english and telling me i didn't have the exact correct information that i made the order. I said i could have used either of two phone numbers and he said well sir call back when you have the correct information and we will try to cancel it so i had to argue saying i did have the correct information and that i had the order number so he needed to cancel my order. So he went through and entered all my information again and was about to cancel it. I am so unhappy how hard it is to cancel something through dell..and no you can't do it through their website......you have to talk to this person that can barely speak english and who enters your information incorrect. They shouldn't have to have all that info to cancel an order anyways.

But anyways i digress i ended up buying the camera from beachcamera for 469.00 shipped. I was saving about a $100 over dells new price since they were still going to charge me tax on my order and with the luck people are having with refurbs i just decided to go that route. So i will have mine soon.

Well, I just canceled my order with Dell... could not have been any easier. I used their online chat system...
04/15/2006 05:30:16PM supafly: "I would like to cancel my order"
04/15/2006 05:30:31PM Agent (Upinder Singh): "I regret to hear that you want to cancel your order; but sure, I can help you with that."
04/15/2006 05:30:47PM Agent (Upinder Singh): "For verification purposes, may I have your phone number?"
04/15/2006 05:30:55PM supafly: "xxx-xxx-xxxx"
04/15/2006 05:31:22PM Agent (Upinder Singh): "Thank you for the information."
04/15/2006 05:31:41PM Agent (Upinder Singh): "May I please know the reason for canceling the order?"
04/15/2006 05:32:09PM supafly: "The ship time is too long"
04/15/2006 05:32:35PM Agent (Upinder Singh): "Okay!"
04/15/2006 05:32:52PM Agent (Upinder Singh): "I have canceled the order for you."
04/15/2006 05:33:02PM Agent (Upinder Singh): "The cancellation reference number is xxxxxxxxxx."
04/15/2006 05:33:03PM Agent (Upinder Singh): "Have I been able to resolve all your concerns to your satisfaction?"
04/15/2006 05:33:20PM supafly: "Yes, thank you."
04/15/2006 05:33:28PM Agent (Upinder Singh): "You are welcome!"


Lesson: chatting with them is much easier than talking to them on the phone

I still haven't placed an order for the refurb D50... ncage will you please keep us updated on how your transaction goes?

I sure will bud. They open back up tomorrow. Strange because its easter sunday and they were closed from Thursday-Saturday. You think the would be closed sunday but they are not. Anways if your worried about ordering from beachcamera i wouldn't be. I have ordered from them before and it was very smooth. I did pick 8-10 shipping because it was free but hopefully they will ship it out soon still. Hopefully they ship it monday morning.

One a side not what is kind of wierd with this camera is it doesn't come with even a small media card. I just thought that was wierd. Every camera i ordered before this came with at least a small one. Of course my first digital (canon s10) didn't come witha rechargable battery and i had to buy that along with a charge which was over $100. I also have a 2GB sd card on its way from zzf. That would suck if you got the camera and couldn't use it immediatly because you didn't have any media .

 

[ncage]

ok beachcamera already sent me a fedex tracking number already today. I was quite suprised. Now that is fast for you. Now the tracking number is not comming up yet but it said that in the email until after 10pm est. I think maybe they just sent th electronic info to fedex this morning and will ship it tomorrow because they were closed thursday-saturday for easter but so far so good guys. I will let you know when i get the camera and how it looks. I can't wait now .

 

[1reeves]

Originally posted by: ncage


ncage will you please keep us updated on how your transaction goes?

I sure will bud. They open back up tomorrow. Strange because its easter sunday and they were closed from Thursday-Saturday. You think the would be closed sunday but they are not. Anways if your worried about ordering from beachcamera i wouldn't be. I have ordered from them before and it was very smooth. I did pick 8-10 shipping because it was free but hopefully they will ship it out soon still. Hopefully they ship it monday morning.[/quote]



I don't think their being closed has anything to do with Easter.
Many if not almost all of the New York camera stores owners are of the Jewish Faith. They have always kept their hours and work days by the Jewish calender. They have not been open on the Jewish Sabbath which is on Saturday as long as I can remember. On top of that April 13th is also Passover.
For more answers check here...........Judaism 101

By the way I am a Christian but I acknowledge anyones right to practice their faith. After all who really knows the true answers.

Get a D50 you will not be disappointed!

 

[pmoa]

Yeah, I just got a D50 from Amazon for 623 shipped with free 256 mb viking sd card. I have used it all weekend and I love it!!!!

 

[ncage]

Well peoples it started tracking as of this morning. I was right it didn't really ship until Monday. I should have it really soon and i will let you know. I might not be able to have much of a write up about it till this weekend though because i won't get much time to use it until then.

ncage

 

[jmagg]

I love the D50. Takes an hour to learn the functions, and a lifetime to master them.

 

[ncage]

Originally posted by: jmagg
I love the D50. Takes an hour to learn the functions, and a lifetime to master them.

Yep agreed. To take good pictures won't really take that much time but to take as good of pictures as the professionals will take years. Good pictures take a combination of a good artist and a good techy. Exposure stuff like shutter speed, ect are scientific in nature. Composiition is more of an art. Then you should be good at things like photoshop which again are a combination of artist/techy. The D50 isn't as advanced as the d200 but its a dang good place to start out and when you decide to upgrade to the d200 then you can still use most of your investment (lenses) when you convert.

 

[ncage]

Ok guys got my camera today. All i can say is...WOW. Like the people over at dpreview said. You can not tell this camera from a new one other than it says refurb on the box. It looks like its brand new. I went to take pictures with it and i was more than impressed. The pictures turned out great and boy is this night and day from even my prosumer camera. The speed at which you can take photos is phenomial. If you need to take 3 photos really quickly. Also how quickly the lens focuses in AF mode compared ot the prosumer camera is also night and day. I definitly don't regret either buying the N50 or buying a refurb. Well im suppose to go on a fishing trip tomorrow so i will update you guys how that goes but right now im loving it . I did notice that i could not take any real close macro photos. The 18-55 is not a macro lens and just refuses to focus at really close macro distances but this is kind of expected. If the lens can't focus the camera will not shoot. Here is how the camera looked comming out of the box (be aware of left these images at full resolution as not to loose any detail).
http://brentw.no-ip.org/nikon1.jpg
http://brentw.no-ip.org/nikon2.jpg
http://brentw.no-ip.org/nikon3.jpg
http://brentw.no-ip.org/nikon4.jpg
http://brentw.no-ip.org/nikon5.jpg
http://brentw.no-ip.org/nikon6.jpg
http://brentw.no-ip.org/nikon7.jpg
http://brentw.no-ip.org/nikon8.jpg
http://brentw.no-ip.org/nikon9.jpg
http://brentw.no-ip.org/nikon10.jpg
http://brentw.no-ip.org/nikon11.jpg

 

[mb]

Thanks for the update ncage, however none of your links work

 

[ncage]

hmmm....i tried to reboot my router. Let me know if you still have a problem. I won't be home until tonight though because of the fishing trip.

 

[mb]

They still won't load... I want to seeeeeeeee!

 

[blurredvision]

http://www.joshpuckett.com/gallery.html <---- Some pics taken with my D50. The pics vary from using the 50mm/1.8 prime (you guys were talking about cheap lenses earlier, this one goes for $100 and is regarded as one of the best ever made) and my Sigma 70-300 DG (not the APO version unfortunately). I plan on selling my DG version for about $100 and picking up the APO, though, if anyone is interested. $100 shipped!

 

[xirtam]

Originally posted by: QueHuong
Originally posted by: ncage

I will definitly have to disagree with some of the points you made in this post. First yes a dSLR will take longer to learn than a p&S we both agree with that but it won't take that long to learn the basic principles of photography (aperature/f-stop,shutter speed, iso, ect) and they aren't all that hard

First off, it's spelled "aperture" - it's a fundamental vocab in photography and I suggest you learn to spell it correctly, if for no other reason than to have your reply match your authoratative voice on the ease of learning photography.

This was going so well for you until you started talking about what kind of voice he was using.

 

[ncage]

ok everyone sorry for the links not working..they should work now...i forgot i had zonealarm installed on my web server and i didn't have port 80 open on zonealarm...it should work

 

[BlackPear1]

Where are links to the artistic shots of all the fish you caught?

 

[ncage]

Originally posted by: BlackPear1
Where are links to the artistic shots of all the fish you caught?

HOw about a livewell full of crappie
http://brentw.no-ip.org/crappie1.jpg
http://brentw.no-ip.org/crappie2.jpg

 

[ncage]

Oh yes i can't forget the goose at the lake :
Focal Length 55mm
F-Stop 5.6
Shutter 1/125 sec
http://brentw.no-ip.org/goose.jpg

 

[Staples]

ncage, time to rent a server

 

[ncage]

Originally posted by: Staples
ncage, time to rent a server

I think your right bud. I will soon probably. Trying to think if i want to go with just a picture hosting service like smugmug or a full hosting service like godaddy.

 

[Ehermansen]

Did the Dell deal. Even though their estimated a May delivery it came to the door last week. Roughly a week after ordering. Sweet!

Wife is loving it so far.

 

[jmagg]

Ok, now that we have the body, lens deals are the order of business.
I read the Nikon 50mm 1.8 is the budget, must have, portrait, low light lens.
I see no huge price cuts, but the consensus is that this lens is a bargan at about 110-120 beans.

 

[dclive]

Originally posted by: jmagg
Ok, now that we have the body, lens deals are the order of business.
I read the Nikon 50mm 1.8 is the budget, must have, portrait, low light lens.
I see no huge price cuts, but the consensus is that this lens is a bargan at about 110-120 beans.

Agreed.

Now, does anyone know where to *get* (much less 'get a good deal on') the Nikon 18-200 VR lens? This is the new $700 - $800 lens nobody can keep in stock (or, if they can, they want $800 - $900 for it.)

Any deals?