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Question about buying a d50 cheaply



 
 
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  #31  
Old May 4th 06, 08:12 PM posted to rec.photo.equipment.35mm,rec.photo.digital.slr-systems,rec.photo.digital
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Default Question about buying a d50 cheaply

(East Bay) Phil wrote:
Just a couple of questions - 1. Have you got the 'Gimp installed?


certainly.

2. If you have then make sure that you also have 'ufraw' or 'dcraw' or
rawphoto installed.


I have dcraw installed in order to increase the functionality of
gallery 2.x. That said, I wasn't and am still not certain that this
handles the decryption necessary for Nikon raw images.


It does.

If it does this
automagically, I'm set.


I'm not sure what "automagically" means to you. What /dcraw/
does is produce a PPM format file from a "raw" format. It works
for just about any raw format known to exist. Command line
parameters allow manipulation of anything reasonable, such as
color correction, gamma, etc.

Basically /dcraw/ is excellent for batch processing, but can also
be used to decode image files one at a time too.

I'll take images as raw, save to DVD, and
upload to gallery for jpeg viewing.


Note that /dcraw/ does *not* decode jpeg image files! To
convert from raw, or from the PPM files that /dcraw/ produces,
to jpeg requires another utility (and there are several, but
/convert/ from /Imagemagik/ is a good one for batch processing).

The other program you'll want is /ufraw/, which is normally a
GUI standalone or front end to the GIMP, but can also be invoked
as a batch process. /ufraw/ is based on /dcraw/, and is *very*
much worth your time to install.

My typical work flow for a batch of images that are all similar
is to do one image with /ufraw/ as a standalone process, and
generate a configuration file as part of the output. Then I
invoke /ufraw/ as a batch process, using that configuration
file, to do the entire list of files all in the same way.

The commands look like this:

ufraw dsc_1234.nef
mv dsc_1234.ufraw IC
ufraw-batch --conf=IC *.nef



--
Floyd L. Davidson http://www.apaflo.com/floyd_davidson
Ukpeagvik (Barrow, Alaska)
  #32  
Old May 4th 06, 08:56 PM posted to rec.photo.equipment.35mm,rec.photo.digital.slr-systems,rec.photo.digital
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Default Question about buying a d50 cheaply

(East Bay) Phil wrote:
On Wed, 03 May 2006 10:56:08 -0700
SMS wrote:

(East Bay) Phil wrote:
I'd avoid the E-500 due to the noise issues. Also, there is no
upgrade path with Olympus, nor is there a good selection of lenses.
With Nikon, you have huge availability of lenses, both new, used,
and third-party.
In the course of investigating the Nikon, upgrade path has been
something I've begun to explore. I've read posts about the d70(s)
vs d50. I'm not experienced enough with the high-end to properly
assess feature differences. That said, if I'm looking at the d50
w/ 18-70 vs the d70 w/ 18-70 at a similar price should I be looking
to the d70?

No. By the time you go to the D70s, you're almost at the cost of a
Canon Rebel XT, which is better than the D70s in many ways. The D50
is perfect for what you're looking for.


Hrmm. I found a refurb d70 + 18-70 for $699 at one of the recommended
online stores. That's what sparked my query. This is contrasted with
$399 for a d50 body + $2-300 for an 18-70 lens.

I'm going to take a spin over the local camera shop today to get a
feel for both of these models.

It's very bad manners to try out cameras at a local shop, then buy
online.


Point taken. As a rule, if a local shop sells or can sell within a
reasonable margin of the 'best deal' I will support the local
merchant. Rest assured that they do get business from me.


Good point. I bought my DSLR locally although I could have saved CDN100
if I bought it online. The local merchant threw in a CF card and if I
have any problems it is just a couple of minutes down the road to the
dealer.

Ron

--
And it really doesn't matter if
I'm wrong I'm right
Where I belong I'm right
Where I belong.

Lennon & McCartney
  #33  
Old May 6th 06, 06:23 AM posted to rec.photo.equipment.35mm,rec.photo.digital.slr-systems,rec.photo.digital
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Default Question about buying a d50 cheaply


buy it at costco where its featured now, you have six months to try it out
and figure out if you would rather have something else.


I've put-off the leap to digital for financial reasons and because I

wanted a SLR. It seems possible to get a d50 in my range. I'm thinking of
buying the body as cheaply as possible and then finding a reasonable
multipurpose lens until the 18-200 becomes financially accessible to me. I
have a few questions.

1 - Is there any reason I should consider the d70 or rebel xt over this

camera?

2 - Any recommendations for a place to buy it cheaply? I saw some

places - royal camera, best price cameras, and cci camera city - that sell
the body for around $300. Are these places for real? reputable? I've
never dealt with 'grey-market' goods, if that's what they sell.

3 - Assuming I do get the body and then hunt for the lens, is the 18-70 a

good place to start. Truth be told, most of my experience is with a plain
ol' pentax p3. :^D


Thanks,
Phil

PS: please pardon my cross post - I'm not certain which list is most

appropriate for these questions.


  #34  
Old May 7th 06, 04:18 AM posted to rec.photo.equipment.35mm,rec.photo.digital.slr-systems,rec.photo.digital
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Default Question about buying a d50 cheaply

On 2006-05-03 15:15:17 -0400, (East Bay) Phil
said:

On Wed, 03 May 2006 10:56:08 -0700
SMS wrote:

(East Bay) Phil wrote:
I'd avoid the E-500 due to the noise issues. Also, there is no
upgrade path with Olympus, nor is there a good selection of lenses.
With Nikon, you have huge availability of lenses, both new, used,
and third-party.

In the course of investigating the Nikon, upgrade path has been
something I've begun to explore. I've read posts about the d70(s)
vs d50. I'm not experienced enough with the high-end to properly
assess feature differences. That said, if I'm looking at the d50
w/ 18-70 vs the d70 w/ 18-70 at a similar price should I be looking
to the d70?


No. By the time you go to the D70s, you're almost at the cost of a
Canon Rebel XT, which is better than the D70s in many ways. The D50
is perfect for what you're looking for.


Hrmm. I found a refurb d70 + 18-70 for $699 at one of the recommended
online stores. That's what sparked my query. This is contrasted with
$399 for a d50 body + $2-300 for an 18-70 lens.

I'm going to take a spin over the local camera shop today to get a
feel for both of these models.


It's very bad manners to try out cameras at a local shop, then buy
online.


Point taken. As a rule, if a local shop sells or can sell within a
reasonable margin of the 'best deal' I will support the local
merchant. Rest assured that they do get business from me.


Ditto on the above.... My local camera store sells bodies within 10 to
30 dollars of B&H prices.. why wouldn't I give my business to him. I
have the D70s.. Dad has the D50. The 18-70 lens is great. You won't
go wrong with either of these!

--
Jim

 




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