[PRCo] Re: going digital

[Richard Allman]

I am using a Nikon D80 . I was a slow and late entry to the digital age but 
must confess to being a believer. To say nothing of the diminishing menu of 
films out there. I use the same 18-135 zoom lens as Ed. I am very well 
pleased except at the extreme of telephoto focal length. For digital, 35mm 
is "normal" lens length. The extreme of wide angle I must confess I haven't 
tried much since I don't much like the effect and distortion. In the 
27-100mm range I am quite satisfied. My understanding is that Canon was the 
standard and we Nikon'ers were waiting for some catch up. I think we're 
there. Regarding Ed's comments about the cost of printing, as a long time 
darkroom mole, currently the cheapest available fiber based paper is 86 
cents a sheet from one of the discount outfits. When adorama is having a 
sale, I can upload digital images to them and in 3 business days have great 
8x10 color prints back at $1 a pop.Somewhat more when sale not on, but 
searching around the internet, great deals are to be found. At our East Penn 
Traction Club slide contest, two years ago we brainstormed re: how to allow 
for digtal entries. This year, of the 13 categories, 10 of the winners were 
digital-the old order changeth and the times they are a-changin'. I am still 
getting acquainted w/ features of the D80; on a recent visit to PTM, on an 
admittedly gloomy day weatherwise, to experiment  I shot fully in the 
automatic mode. With minor corrections easilly accomplished, I was well 
please w/ almost 90% of my images. My current greatest photoquest is 
fighting the photonazis who masquerade as transit security forces and tell 
law-biding railfans that Homeland Security forbids all rail photography, as 
Bob Dietrich, Jack May, Fred sauerberger were (erroneously) told in 
Baltimore on 4/30/08. We have heard in recent days that thanks to the 
interventions of Walter Zullig, a fan and attorney, Maryland ACLU is taking 
the cause. To the ramparts sons of freedom!



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Edward H. Lybarger" <trams2 at comcast.net>
To: <pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org>
Sent: Thursday, May 29, 2008 7:27 PM
Subject: [PRCo] Re: going digital


> It's the second line, not the second sentence, too!
>
> -----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
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