Looking to get into photography

Type: TTL metering
Cell: 40-segment honeycomb-pattern SPC
Range: 0 EV to 20 EV (+2 EV to +20 EV with Spot metering)
(at ISO 100 equivalent with F1.4 lens)
Mode: Multi segment, Spot, Center weighted
 
bwana said:
Partial metering works just fine on the 400D - its only a slightly larger area than a spot reading would use. Keep in mind what that one article had to say about the Pentax K100D and its unsuitability for astrophotography.
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Cool. I'm leaning towards the 400D. I just don't like the way it looks. The Nikons look really nice. I also hope I feel comfortable holding it. I think I should make a turn by Makro tomorrow just to have a feel for the camera.
 
mercurial said:
Cool. I'm leaning towards the 400D. I just don't like the way it looks. The Nikons look really nice. I also hope I feel comfortable holding it. I think I should make a turn by Makro tomorrow just to have a feel for the camera.
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If you dont like the way it looks then why buy it? Consumers are spoilt for choice these days :)
 
bwana said:
If you dont like the way it looks then why buy it? Consumers are spoilt for choice these days :)
Click to expand...

Because of its great functionality and flexibility. But maybe if I see the thing in real life I would like it more.
Else I would be choosing something based on its looks and that might offend sensitive viewers :p
 
mercurial said:
Cool. I'm leaning towards the 400D. I just don't like the way it looks. The Nikons look really nice.
Click to expand...

Hehe, the Nikons' look is the one thing that puts me off - especially from behind. Some of them look like they're missing a cover or something :)
 
Yeah - make sure it is a comfortable fit :)
 
I will definitely go have a look and feel first. I'm on dpreview.com now and the pic there doesn't make the Nikon look nice lol. Aah well, I think I'm not gonna know for sure unless I actually go there and feel it.
 
mercurial said:
I will definitely go have a look and feel first. I'm on dpreview.com now and the pic there doesn't make the Nikon look nice lol. Aah well, I think I'm not gonna know for sure unless I actually go there and feel it.
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. . . . and then comes the glass :eek:
 
bwana said:
. . . . and then comes the glass :eek:
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Lol yeah. I will in all probablity get the 400D. The glass is gonna cost quite a bit. There's a few that I wanna get and they're quite expensive, but at the end of the day, it's really worth it.
I read somewhere that the lens that they give with the 400D isn't that great and they advised to get a better one. I might wanna get the IS version of that. Your thoughts?
 
This is from dpreview.com WRT to the 400D's pros and cons:

Conclusion - Pros

Excellent resolution, lots of detail, not a leap from eight megapixels, but certainly from six
Good color with selectable PictureStyles for different subject types
Good dynamic range (more than peers) with soft roll-off of highlights
'Integrated Cleaning System' designed to keep dust at bay
Widest range of image parameter adjustments among its peers
Low noise throughout the sensitivity range, noise reduction maintains detail well
Good in-camera image processing, resolution advantage shooting RAW is slight
Larger, brighter and more detailed LCD monitor
Re-designed user interface a great improvement over the EOS 350D
On-screen setting adjustment (ISO, WB, etc.) surprisingly quick and easy to use
Updated nine point AF system, proved fast, accurate and still good in low light
Very fast off to shot time (virtually instant), slightly slower if you want to read screen
Numerous small bug fixes improve usability
Magnification available in record review (although requires two button press)
Small and light but hand grip is still too small, can be uncomfortable for large hands
Excellent supplied software bundle, two RAW conversion options
Remote capture software included for computer controlled shooting
Unique JUMP mode in playback (by date, 10 or 100 images)
Value for money

Conclusion - Cons

Kit lens disappointing, better to buy body only and spend more on a good lens
Sporadic continuous shooting once buffer is full
Occasional under-exposure issue with Evaluative metering
Average automatic white balance performance, still very poor under incandescent light
ISO, WB, Metering mode etc. not displayed on viewfinder status bar during change
Flash must be raised for AF assist
No Kelvin white balance selection in-camera
No spot metering
No mass storage device USB driver, poor WIA transfer rates (and awkward to use)
Opening the CF compartment door shuts camera down, loses any buffered images
Small viewfinder view
Click to expand...

What can you tell me about those cons? Are they bad?
 
mercurial said:
I will definitely go have a look and feel first. I'm on dpreview.com now and the pic there doesn't make the Nikon look nice lol. Aah well, I think I'm not gonna know for sure unless I actually go there and feel it.
Click to expand...

To me, they all look pretty similar (in real life)... The lenses are quite a bit bigger than they look on websites :D
 
mercurial said:
What can you tell me about those cons? Are they bad?
Click to expand...
Kit lens disappointing, better to buy body only and spend more on a good lens - it's a mixed bag. I've got some good shots out of mine and I'm keeping it in my bag once my new lens arrives just to have something semi disposable.

Sporadic continuous shooting once buffer is fullNever really noticed that but its not to say it isnt true.

Average automatic white balance performance, still very poor under incandescent light Easy fix in post.

Occasional under-exposure issue with Evaluative metering I rarely pay attention to what metering mode its in. If I slightly under/over expose a batch it takes 10 seconds to fix the lot. Probably should pay more attention to it though.

ISO, WB, Metering mode etc. not displayed on viewfinder status bar during change Sounds about right.

Flash must be raised for AF assistI switched that off anyway - the flickering of the flash bugged me a little.

No Kelvin white balance selection in-camera - I either do a custom WB or fix it in post

No spot metering - did I mention I really couldnt care less on that one

No mass storage device USB driver, poor WIA transfer rates (and awkward to use) I've been using a card reader for so long I wouldnt know.

Opening the CF compartment door shuts camera down, loses any buffered images - never knew that. I'll give it a test later.

Small viewfinder view - iirc its around 95%

If I had thought there was anything particularly wrong with the camera I probably wouldnt have got a spare.
 
mercurial said:
Awesome post, thanks a lot. On the issue of card readers... do I need this? Will it not transfer any other way? Also, is there any real difference between the different speeds of the compact flash cards? Some are 133 and others are 266 etc...
http://www.orms.co.za/browse.php?a=browse&brand=9&category=214
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In my experience the card reader seems quicker and it doesnt drain the camera battery. Worth the money IMO.

CF cards - as far as I can tell the speed is only relevant when you're copying off the card. I've got all sorts of brands/speeds and they all seem to write at the same speed.
 
bwana said:
In my experience the card reader seems quicker and it doesnt drain the camera battery. Worth the money IMO.

CF cards - as far as I can tell the speed is only relevant when you're copying off the card. I've got all sorts of brands/speeds and they all seem to write at the same speed.
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Cool. I need to get one of those.

I'm looking at the Ducati range of CFs. They look awesome and I checked on dpreview.com and they showed that these cards allow remarkable copying speeds.
 
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