[PRCo] Re: going digital

[Edward H. Lybarger]

Omission in second sentence...it should read:  ...price of the latter, but
the latter has some nice... 

Sorry,
Ed

-----Original Message-----
From: pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org
[mailto:pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org] On Behalf Of Edward
H. Lybarger
Sent: Thursday, May 29, 2008 4:27 PM
To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
Subject: [PRCo] Re: going digital

I currently use a Nikon D100, which is now two generations obsolete.  If I
were replacing it today, the cameras I would consider are the D80 and the
D300.  The former is about half the price of the latter, but has some nice
features (such as an LCD screen you can actually see).  My lens is an 18-135
mm digital-only zoom from Nikon.  That's the equivalent of 27-202 mm in
film-speak lenses.  I use it much more frequently near 18 than anywhere
close to 135.

You should also plan on buying a good dedicated flash unit.  The pop-up
flash is so good as to be almost worthless!

I also use my N90s old-fashioned film camera with the 24-120 lens.  Depends
on the application; I can always scan the slides and print them if
necessary.  For vacations and the like I prefer film.  For family gatherings
and museum events, the digital provides instant prints or digital files for
publication.  Anything you see in Trolley Fare with my name on it is
digital.

Digital prints are not cheap, although the printers are.  I use a Canon
i960, which is horribly dated but produces great color prints.  I'd like to
buy something that would give me the equivalent color but greatly improved
B+W.  B+W demand is small, so they're not plentiful or cheap.  John 
B+Bromley
does great B+W on an Epsom model.  My wife gets great color on a Canon unit
that cost under $100.  Ink and paper are the cost drivers (and profit
centers for the manufacturers).

I'm locked into the Nikon system because of the lenses.  Canon makes
excellent products as well.  John Polyak uses their system and would
probably tell you what's available there.  If I didn't use Nikon products I
would probably use Canon's.

Digital has made me lazy.  I haven't printed a picture in my darkroom in
about eight years, though Fred and I did some in his on a couple occasions.
I will occasionally still make a copy negative or ten where I want more than
a digital file.

Longevity of digital files is a subject that uses up lots of bandwidth and
is often discussed by those dedicated to the museum employees' full
employment act.  Rules of thumb:  Back up your files daily on a separate
hard drive; it is highly unlikely that both will fail simultaneously.  Store
on CD or DVD as well; use name brands and do not store them in the sun or
other heat.  Think about recopying after a number of years...but I don't
know what that number is.  5?  7?  There's lots of hoopla out there about
how all this digital stuff will disappear, just like the magnetic tapes will
all be wiped out.  Keep in mind that I have some audiotapes that were
recorded in 1951, were stored in the attic, and still play just fine.
Likewise some VCR tapes, though not quite as old, of course.  Remember that
scaring people equates to an industry unto itself, but use common sense!

We can talk more next time you're at the museum.

Ed

-----Original Message-----
From: pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org
[mailto:pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org] On Behalf Of Dennis
F. Cramer
Sent: Thursday, May 29, 2008 10:15 AM
To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
Subject: [PRCo] going digital

Greetings,
As a retirement gift to myself, I am considering moving into the world of a
digital camera and am looking for recommendations.  I have used a Canon T-50
with 3 different lenses (50 mm, 28 mm and a 70-200 mm zoom) for the past 28
years. 

I do not want a point and shoot camera and would like to be able to
eventually buy additional lenses.  I would like to start with a zoom lens.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of digital over film?

Do any of you have any specific recommendations?

I take a shoot a wide variety of subjects both indoors and out.  

Dennis F. Cramer
      Trombone