hoss4131

so i just bought a Nikon D40, my entry into the world of DSLR's , and i dont understand the shutter speed display at all... how do i know what my shutter speed is, if it doesnt have a quotation mark behind it (") im guessing then just put a 1/xxx and thats my shutter speed?

also, i cant remember exactly, isnt the rule of thumb that you can generally hand hold to about 1/64th of a second?

so far im already really digging the camera . i had one really cool shot that i accidentally deleted . i set the camera on the table, with a shutter speed of what i think was 6 seconds, opened the shutter, then put a beer bottle in front of it. it resulted in a ghost image of the beer bottle that i thought was pretty cool

MR_X

iTrader: (5)

without the " it is 1/xxx.

hoss4131

that was what i thought, but i wasnt sure. and they sure as hell dont tell you that anywhere

thanks for the reply

you dont happen to remember the rule of thumb about lowest possible shutter speed with hand helds do you?

MR_X

iTrader: (5)

My rule is (since I don't like using a flash) if I'm shooting indoors and/or dark area I use a tripod. I never heard of that "rule" it all depends how steady can you hold the camera. My wife take pics at 1/200 and still come out blurry.

TriX

1/200 and they come out blurry? does she have the shakes or something? i will post some pics from the autoshow i was taking pics at 1/30 and no movement blur.

hoss4131

i guess ill have to play around and see how steady i can be

i got to looking around today and now im torn between lenses... the 55-200mm VR lens for about $200, or the 70-300mm VR lens for about $400 . is the extra 100mm worth of zoom really worth it? could i take good lunar shots with the 200?

MR_X

iTrader: (5)

Nah, she just presses the release bottom to damn hard.

To the op, I will assumed that your D40 came with the 18-55mm right? I would get the 50-200mm so you would have any gap betweens lenses.

This is just my opinion, may because I haven't been in a situation were it is actually needed. I think getting a VR lens is really more of a luxury item than a needed item. If you are using this lens, more than likely you will use a tripod or a monopod. I have a 70-300mm, not the VR version, and I have no problem with movement, but that is just me.

hoss4131

yeah, i got the 18-55mm with it (actually got the body, lense, carrying case, all original box and papers, and a 2 gig card for $400 )

im planning on getting the 50m F/1.8 lens as well (will probably buy this one before the zoom lens. is catching that overlap really that important? or can i not make that up within the location that i take the picture from? i was thinking that the extra 100mm range would be nice in a sort of extreme zoom situation (i do travel occasionally and could use it, and i dont live too far from the mountains, where it could come in handy). i also believe that the 70-300mm has a larger aperture opening IIRC.

im still on the fence between the 50-200mm and the 70-300mm, and ive probably got a little while before i purchase. i do want the VR though, as i have seen first hand how it can help in a low light situation, and to be straight up, neither one of those lenses is particularly fast . plus, its really not that much more expensive than the regular

MR_X

iTrader: (5)

Oh yeah I forgot that the d40 can't use the film lenses. The one thing I don't like about the 70-300 lens is that it is slow. I wish it was faster so it is getting replace by a Sigma 50-500mm for x-mas .

hoss4131

dats alotta zoom!

wanna sell me your nikon lense when you get the new lens?

MR_X

iTrader: (5)

well I would but it would not work on your D40.

hoss4131

doh! let me guess, everything works except the autofocus?

MR_X

iTrader: (5)

yeap, the AF will not work but if you really want it I would let it go for a good price. I got it so i could use it on my wife film slr but she gave the camera to her parents so I have the lens and to be honest, I hardly ever use it.

hoss4131

ehh, i would, but with a zoom like that i would almost need something to be AF. i can only imagine how rarely i would be shooting something that far away that would be stationary

MR_X

iTrader: (5)

That's what I figured. I actually use it to get close to object that my 18-70mm wouldn't let me focus on.

hoss4131

cool pic . i didnt really think aobut using it in that manner, but that 50mm lens has a REALLY close focal range, i guess maybe i should go to wolf camera and snap a few pics with both of the zoom lenses im considering and see what seems better suited for me.

personally, i dont think either will be that bad of a lense, i just dont know if the extra zoom is worth the price.

MR_X

iTrader: (5)

You shout try to see if you can rent them. That way you can really test them out. I also thing there is a big price gap, $230ish to $490ish for 100mm more. If you can find one that does macro it would be nice too. Along with the Sigma up there, I'm planning on getting a Tokina 10-17mm lens with macro. I was almost set on a Sigma 10-20mm but this one having macro capability got my attention.

hoss4131

the 50mm has (iirc) a minimum focal length of about 6", which is about enough of a macro to get me started

so im guessing that you do alot of photography?

MR_X

iTrader: (5)

as much as I can. The weather here kind has been keeping me indoors lately, cold and windy, I hate it. But usually I'm out and about, never leave home without the camera.

hoss4131

cool deal

i did a photog class in college, and have wanted a DSLR ever since, and i finally got serious about it . i like to do black and whites mostly, but with the new camera and the ease of everything im getting into color shots as well.

i went out yesterday and did a little photoshoot with the Z with a sort of industrial back drop, had a few come out pretty nice i thought . and i just did some black and whites of my dog (he is hard to shoot though, hes still a pup and he squirms lol). even though he is hard to get a good shot, the way the light dances off his fur makes for some neat pics i think.

i want those lenses so bad . especially that fast little 50mm.