BIG dilemma: Nikon D100 or F5?

[Kho King]

If you don't need the D100 now (you can't get it now anywhere... ) wait for a few months for the price to stable down...and some initial bugs fixed...then get one at the "cool down" price. If I have money to buy...I will wait at least till the end of this year...when there are more stock available...and better price in the market.

Some say D2 might lauch soon...so price of D1x/h or even D1 is very lightly to drop again. You might be able to pick up a nice D1x at slightly more price than new D100.

 

[Larry]

Originally posted by Kho King
Some say D2 might lauch soon...so price of D1x/h or even D1 is very lightly to drop again. You might be able to pick up a nice D1x at slightly more price than new D100.

D2 might launch soon? where did u hear that? well considering the D1x price is dam near to $10K, i don't think it'll drop that drastically until it's close to D100 price. mabbe the D1H...

 

[Kit]

Originally posted by firefox13
mostly event photog (for local mags), some indoor decor/product shoots (simple setup one, not the elaborate studio lighting type) and the occasional wedding shoot

Well, you don't really need the F5's 8fps do you? I think the F90 would be fine for what you do and yes, I would keep that and get the D100 if I were you.

As for the D2, rumours fly all over the place. Ask yourself, are you able to keep up with latest and greatest? Do you need to keep up with the latest and greatest? I'm sure when the D2 come put, someone will tell you to wait for the D3 or D200...............it never ends.

 

[Kit]

Btw, where did you get the D1X quote from? I've went around a few shops and the prices I've got is around less than 8k, the most.

 

[Larry]

Originally posted by Kit
Btw, where did you get the D1X quote from? I've went around a few shops and the prices I've got is around less than 8k, the most.

oh i was using the RRP from the Nikon SG site as a gauge, since i was comparing the RRP of the D100... haven't been going around asking the shops.... a bit out of my league.

 

[Kho King]

Originally posted by firefox13
D2 might launch soon? where did u hear that? well considering the D1x price is dam near to $10K, i don't think it'll drop that drastically until it's close to D100 price. mabbe the D1H...

Many are eyeing at the FOTOKINA (is this spelling correct?...);p

 

[Larry]

Originally posted by Kho King
Many are eyeing at the FOTOKINA (is this spelling correct?...);p

i think it's spelt "Photokina".

 

[Mudpool]

Wow, if D2 is coming out soon, when is F6 coming out?:rbounce:

 

[Larry]

Originally posted by Mudpool
Wow, if D2 is coming out soon, when is F6 coming out?:rbounce:

considering that the R&D cycle for traditional film cameras is super long compared to DSLRs, don't hold your breathe. probably like 2005 will we even get a whiff of the successor to the F5. i also can't really think what kinda major improvement they can make to it.

"D2" is another matter altogether, considering that the D1 was launched in 1999 and the D1x was out barely 2 years later, there's a good chance we'll hear news about another DSLR sometime end this year or next year.

 

[Mudpool]

Originally posted by firefox13
considering that the R&D cycle for traditional film cameras is super long compared to DSLRs, don't hold your breathe. probably like 2005 will we even get a whiff of the successor to the F5. i also can't really think what kinda major improvement they can make to it.

2005!!!

Yah... F5 is a really good camera. NASA's astronaut even uses it in space. The only modification to it was to use a special lubricant specified by NASA that doesn't solidify in the cold void of space.

Sorry, out of topic already. Get the D100, comparing F5 to F90x, there's no critical difference that affects your usage. But if you get the D100, there'll be extra money spent on getting real colour from your monitor (dunno what's the term), like buying the spyder thingy.

 

[Larry]

Originally posted by Mudpool
But if you get the D100, there'll be extra money spent on getting real colour from your monitor (dunno what's the term), like buying the spyder thingy.

yeah it's not just the monitor... also have to consider plenty of digital accessories, like a DX speedlight for the D-TTL functionality, memory cards, a super-wide angle lens (which don't come cheap), probably a dye-sub printer, blah blah blah and the list goes on...

which brings me to another question - which Speedlight should i get for a D100? SB80DX, SB28DX or SB50DX? i'm currently using a SB28, so i'm more inclined towards it but i hear that the SB80Dx is pretty good as well. price also quite similar. anyone got experience with the DX flashes?

 

[extreme2]

Originally posted by firefox13
yeah it's not just the monitor... also have to consider plenty of digital accessories, like a DX speedlight for the D-TTL functionality, memory cards, a super-wide angle lens (which don't come cheap), probably a dye-sub printer, blah blah blah and the list goes on...

which brings me to another question - which Speedlight should i get for a D100? SB80DX, SB28DX or SB50DX? i'm currently using a SB28, so i'm more inclined towards it but i hear that the SB80Dx is pretty good as well. price also quite similar. anyone got experience with the DX flashes?

You can ask YSLee about the flash. He owned a SB80DX.

 

[ckiang]

Originally posted by firefox13
yeah it's not just the monitor... also have to consider plenty of digital accessories, like a DX speedlight for the D-TTL functionality, memory cards, a super-wide angle lens (which don't come cheap), probably a dye-sub printer, blah blah blah and the list goes on...

which brings me to another question - which Speedlight should i get for a D100? SB80DX, SB28DX or SB50DX? i'm currently using a SB28, so i'm more inclined towards it but i hear that the SB80Dx is pretty good as well. price also quite similar. anyone got experience with the DX flashes?

Get the SB80DX, it's about $100 cheaper than the 28DX and has more features. Same power. 50DX is a little too weak in my opinion, and uses (of all things) Lithium batteries.

Regards
CK

 

[Larry]

Originally posted by ckiang
Get the SB80DX, it's about $100 cheaper than the 28DX and has more features. Same power. 50DX is a little too weak in my opinion, and uses (of all things) Lithium batteries.

Regards
CK

hmmm just took a closer look at the specs for the 28DX and 80DX. you're rite they're both quite similar in power. Nikon must be really pushing the 80DX though, looking at the price and the features (it's even got some wireless functions). the D100 brochure i got from the launch didn't even mention the 28DX, just the 80DX and 50DX.

i also agree with you about the 50DX, it's more of a fill-in light than a main external light source. it's meant to supplement the built-in speedlights on some models like the F80 i think.

 

[ckiang]

Originally posted by firefox13
hmmm just took a closer look at the specs for the 28DX and 80DX. you're rite they're both quite similar in power. Nikon must be really pushing the 80DX though, looking at the price and the features (it's even got some wireless functions). the D100 brochure i got from the launch didn't even mention the 28DX, just the 80DX and 50DX.

i also agree with you about the 50DX, it's more of a fill-in light than a main external light source. it's meant to supplement the built-in speedlights on some models like the F80 i think.

That's right. So if you have money to spend on a 28DX, buy the 80DX and save the $100 or so. Can't think of a reason to go for the 28DX now. ;p

I am still using the old 28, have to change if I upgrade to D100/D1 etc. I wonder why Fuji can use a standard SB flash but the Nikon ones has to use the DX versions.....

Regards
CK

 

[Trevor_Tan]

If you plan to do a lots of phototaking for commercial work like event photog mags or any other papers, do try to get a digital camera (D100).
I notice lot of photographers for the press and mags are moving to Digital camera. As the turn around time is faster, don't need to develope and print. Also lower production cost cos no need to purchase flim and to develop.
Cos no matter what format you give them, when they do the layout in computer using programs like "Page Maker", they will need softcopy of the picture, so they will need to scan the pictures, so if you able to get them in digital format, it save them their troubles.
But that will also mean you need to invest on a CD Writer also.
Commerical value aside, if you have a digital camera, you will feel more easy when pressing that shutter button, as you don't need to print (or even keep) the picture if it don't look nice. You can keep trying a photo technic (eg. panning, creative shots) till you get it right.
Just my point of view.

 

[Larry]

Originally posted by ckiang
I wonder why Fuji can use a standard SB flash but the Nikon ones has to use the DX versions.....

i think that's cos of the D-TTL function which only the DX speedlites can use. don't think Fuji has a equivalent function. but i could be wrong. mabbe the S1 Pro users can comment?

Originally posted by Trevor_Tan
I notice lot of photographers for the press and mags are moving to Digital camera. As the turn around time is faster, don't need to develope and print. Also lower production cost cos no need to purchase flim and to develop.

that's true but unfortunately some of my clients/mags are still a bit leery about digital shoots. i've sounded the idea to them before but they still prefer to stick to traditional negs and slides, especially when they need to blow up pictures to full-page size. but u're rite, the newspapers photogs are all usually armed with D1s or better, cos it makes more sense for them, both time-wise and practicality.

 

[Jed]

Originally posted by Trevor_Tan
If you plan to do a lots of phototaking for commercial work like event photog mags or any other papers, do try to get a digital camera (D100).
I notice lot of photographers for the press and mags are moving to Digital camera. As the turn around time is faster, don't need to develope and print. Also lower production cost cos no need to purchase flim and to develop.
Cos no matter what format you give them, when they do the layout in computer using programs like "Page Maker", they will need softcopy of the picture, so they will need to scan the pictures, so if you able to get them in digital format, it save them their troubles.
But that will also mean you need to invest on a CD Writer also.
Commerical value aside, if you have a digital camera, you will feel more easy when pressing that shutter button, as you don't need to print (or even keep) the picture if it don't look nice. You can keep trying a photo technic (eg. panning, creative shots) till you get it right.
Just my point of view.

Sorry, don't mean to sound harsh, but aside from the last paragraph, I'm not in agreement with Trevor at all. Just as someone who does a smattering of commercial work, has to communicate with magazines and print houses on a weekly basis, works as a press and magazine photographer at the sharp end of the business, and with pre-press and page layout experience.