Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: notesfiles
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!floyd!harpo!decvax!ucbvax!ucbcad!tektronix!hplabs!hp-pcd!hpfcla!hpfclk!fritz
From: fritz@hpfclk.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.rec.photo
Subject: Re: recomendations?
Message-ID: <90500001@hpfclk.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 17-Mar-84 20:47:00 EST
Article-I.D.: hpfclk.90500001
Posted: Sat Mar 17 20:47:00 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 22-Mar-84 02:31:07 EST
References: <382@ut-ngp.UUCP>
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Fort Collins Systems Division - Fort Collins, CO
Lines: 80
Nf-ID: #R:ut-ngp:-38200:hpfclk:90500001:000:4411
Nf-From: hpfclk!fritz    Mar 19 17:47:00 1984


You're asking almost exactly the same questions I was about to ask.
Let me add a few questions to the list...

------------
Warning!  This is a LONG string of questions.  You may want to skip it.  
However, I'd really appreciate any suggestions.  First, some background:

I've decided I've lived long enough without a decent camera.  I've used 
various 35mm cameras (Minolta, Nikon, Yashica mostly), but most of my 
experience was back in high school shooting school newspaper & yearbook 
pictures.  I haven't followed the market very closely lately, but I know 
the Nikon line fairly well because several friends own Nikons.  I like 
the Nikon's reputation for durability, and will probably get one.

I subscribe to the "buy quality" philosophy, within reason.  I.e., if
deciding between two zooms, I would definitely go for a $200 model
over a $150 if the $200 had better picture quality, mechanical
construction, or convenience of use.  However, I probably will not 
spend $600 on a camera body, no matter how great it is.  I can get 
the features I want with good quality in the $200-300 range.

I plan on taking most pictures in manual mode, but definitely want some
competent automatic system in the camera for those quick-shot situations.
I had planned on getting a Nikon FG, but just finished reading a review on
the FA.  It looks like a pretty nice camera, although I question paying $200
more for a camera that basically just has more gadgetry:  the magic auto-
metering system of the FA in particular.  (I forget what they call it, but
it looks to me like it very seldom earns its keep.  It's cute, but not
worth $200.)  Does anyone have any good reasons to recommend either the
FG or FA, or any others in the Nikon line?  I have two friends who own
FG's, and are very happy with them.  So far the biggest complaint seems
to be that there's no depth-of-field preview.  I think I can live without
that, but it would be nice to have.  Do you have any particular favorites 
by other manufacturers, and if so, why?  I realize selection of a camera
tends to be a rather religious issue.  I'm tending to lean toward Nikon 
because I'm somewhat familiar with it, and have several friends I can swap 
lenses with.  I'd like to keep the body in the $200-300 range, but would 
consider more if the camera was worth it.

On to lenses.  I'm pretty much not even considering Nikkor lenses because
they're so INCREDIBLY expensive.  Are Nikon series E lenses any good?
I've heard real mixed reviews about them.  Any recommendations on other
makers of fixed-length lenses?  If I was to go with the FA, are most
Nikon-compatible mounts AI or AI-S?  Apparently you need AI-S to take
advantage of all the bells&whistles you paid so much for.

I plan to get one fixed-length lens (a fast 35mm or 50mm), and will
probably also get two zooms, approx. 28-90 and 70-210.  I realize that
most zooms don't have the ultimate quality of fixed-length lenses, but
my experience has been that I miss a lot of shots with fixed lenses
because 1) I didn't bring the right lens with me, or 2) I couldn't change
lenses in time to catch a shot.  One of my FG-owning friends has a
28-90 that he leaves on his camera most of the time, in spite of
owning 24, 35, and 50mm Nikkors.

It appears to me that Vivitar Series 1's are very nice zooms.  They
seem to have very good quality for a very reasonable price.  Any complaints
from owners of VivitarS1 28-90's or 70-210's?  How about other manufacturers?
How do Tamron, Sigma, Tokina, etc. etc. etc. zooms compare to Vivitars?
Are any of them noticably sharper than the others?  How do the various 
manufacturers' zooms hold up mechanically -- that is, does the barrel 
travel smoothly and hold firmly in position even after years of use?  
Is there some convenient place (as opposed to searching through piles 
of back issues of photo mags) that has comparative reviews of lenses, 
giving center/edge resolution, chromatic aberration, mechanical quality, etc.?

Lastly, does anybody know anything about the new Nikon SB-16 flash?  Is it
enough better than the 15 to warrant the extra $90?  What about the other
Nikon flashes?  Do any other flashes (Sunpak, Vivitar, ?) support the
TTL metering on the FG & FA?


That's about it.  Thanks much for your patience and help.  Please respond
here or, preferably, by mail.

Gary Fritz
Hewlett Packard
Ft. Collins, CO
{ihnp4, hplabs}!hpfcla!fritz