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