Nikon tax?

Pixual said:
I know what works for me based on EXPERIENCE not some geek site where they take photos of newspapers and brick walls.
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Well, I have some experience in conducting rational discussions. And that EXPERIENCE is telling me to stop trying to have a rational discussion with someone who cannot be swayed by rational arguments.

Anyhow, thanks for the entertainment nonetheless.

Readers of this thread that are interested in understanding DOF, Bokeh and related matters, please take a look at Paul van Walree's site (http://toothwalker.org/optics.html), including his excellent free DOF calculator (which even works under Wine).
 
Thanks for the software link. Sometime we should probably start a free photo software thread (if it does not already exist).
 
So yeah… how about them Nikon prices… :p
 
bwana said:
So yeah… how about them Nikon prices… :p
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Yeah, lots of pent up frustrations and too much testosterone being used on the forum, when it should be used elsewhere :D

So, last week I ponied up the Nikon tax, and paid about 20 - 25 % too much on a new Nikon P600. Nice bridge camera, excellent picture quality, but I'm a bit miffed at the slow auto focus. I was up in Botswana this week, and wanted to take a pic of a guy going down the road on a moving donkey cart. Well, by the time the camera focused, the zoom level was wrong, the donkeys were right in front of me, and all I got a picture of was the donkeys left ear. :D
 
anyone shipped a Nikon in from overseas recently, trying to decide whether to buy local or get an Amazon special
 
surfs-up said:
I was also stumped by this - I am currently wanting to replace my Canon SX40 bridge camera with a new superzoom camera.

Now...the new Canon SX60 with 60x optical zoom seems like the likely candidate, however, after lots and lots of browsing I see that it is a sick puppy - images are very poor and smudged at the long end, way inferior to the Canon SX50 that it replaced.

So, I kind of like the images and reviews for the Nikon P600 which has a comparable 60x optical lens, and am wanting to buy it. HOWEVER, in the USA the Nikon P600 (and elsewhere in the world) sells typically for $395. The new Canon SX60 sells for $ 550. So, the Canon is about 20% more expensive than the Nikon. But in good old sunny SA these cameras are selling for the same price. So Nikon (South Africa) is charging around a 20 % premium/tax.

Nikon P600 USA - $ 395
Canon SX60 USA - $ 550

Nikon P600 SA - R 5895
Canon SX60 SA R 5695

??????????? Nikon S.A ????????
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SX50HS is quite a good model. I saw the specs for the SX60 and they seem to be lacking in some regards even though it's supposed to have a better image processor. Anyone who wants the SX50, now is the time before it's discontinued. Just remember with the superzooms it's taken from a wide angle of 24 for 35mm equivalent so a 50x zoom is only 34 in reality. Still not bad though.

fvdbergh said:
Why do you reject the scientific method? It allows us to make repeatable measurements independently, so that when we start discussing things we know that we are talking about the same things.
There is no reason why "real world field experience" cannot be used to derive valid scientifically sound experimental results. It is, however, vital that the comparisons be performed in a fair way. For example, an f/1.8 lens on m4/3 is not equivalent to an f/1.8 lens on a 36x24 mm sensor when considering noise.
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I see the science buffs continually toting it as the be all and end all of our lives. The reality however is that science is only good where it is valid and reproducible in the field. You are touting theory over practice here in an area where it is simply not valid.

A very important detail you are neglecting to mention is that there are multiple factors involved. You can't just reduce it to sensor size and the number of photons especially where different technologies are involved. If I'm not mistaken DSLRs use CMOS sensors where compacts and mirrorless don't. Electrical noise is another factor and affects them differently. At this point the sensor technology may be the same quality but in future as the other types mature they may outperform CMOS.

What I see being done is extreme tests to tote one camera over another. When it comes to the field though these tests mostly don't matter. People taking shots with different systems where the quality can't be discerned.

I don't think it's a one size fits all and DSLRs don't tick all the boxes as was mentioned. For action photography perhaps but then there's areas where they certainly don't. And not being able to change a battery that is just absurd to me. I don't care what game is being played but there are always pauses with no action where 10s can be spared. Shoots and locations they are certainly not ideal and many photogs are moving away from the clunk that comes with SLRs. One thing is certain, if someone can't afford some new kit then they're obviously not getting enough of those big money shots from their current kit in any case.
 
Swa said:
A very important detail you are neglecting to mention is that there are multiple factors involved. You can't just reduce it to sensor size and the number of photons especially where different technologies are involved. If I'm not mistaken DSLRs use CMOS sensors where compacts and mirrorless don't. Electrical noise is another factor and affects them differently. At this point the sensor technology may be the same quality but in future as the other types mature they may outperform CMOS.
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I sure hope you are just trolling.
 
Swa said:
One thing is certain, if someone can't afford some new kit then they're obviously not getting enough of those big money shots from their current kit in any case.
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A professional photographer is just someone who earns a living from their photography so those big money shots as you put it have to pay for everything, not just their gear. So yeah, we budget for replacement kit, for sure, but not for adding and maintaining a second system - at least I don't.
And not being able to change a battery that is just absurd to me. I don't care what game is being played but there are always pauses with no action where 10s can be spared.
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I just got off a gruelling weekend covering the 7s where at times I was running around with a long lens + body on a monopod, a telephoto zoom and body around my neck, a shorter telephoto in a clip (also around my neck), a ultra wide zoom in my pocket and a flash in another pocket. Do you really think I want to carry and hunt for batteries as well?

Anyway - how the heck did we gravitate back to this when we all know Nikon SA is overcharging!
 
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bwana said:
A professional photographer is just someone who earns a living from their photography so those big money shots as you put it have to pay for everything, not just their gear. So yeah, we budget for replacement kit, for sure, but not for adding and maintaining a second system - at least I don't.

I just got off a gruelling weekend covering the 7s where at times I was running around with a long lens + body on a monopod, a telephoto zoom and body around my neck, a shorter telephoto in a clip (also around my neck), a ultra wide zoom in my pocket and a flash in another pocket. Do you really think I want to carry and hunt for batteries as well?

Anyway - how the heck did we gravitate back to this when we all know Nikon SA is overcharging!
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Liar!

You were lying on a deck chair with a cold one in the left and a remote shutter release in the right while your kids pointed the camera in random directions.

We're on to you!
 
bwana said:
You know one of the cameras listed there is a mirrorless, right?
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The EOS M?

bwana said:
I just got off a gruelling weekend covering the 7s where at times I was running around with a long lens + body on a monopod, a telephoto zoom and body around my neck, a shorter telephoto in a clip (also around my neck), a ultra wide zoom in my pocket and a flash in another pocket. Do you really think I want to carry and hunt for batteries as well?

Anyway - how the heck did we gravitate back to this when we all know Nikon SA is overcharging!
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Hmmm... the original excuse was there's no time to change batteries without missing that "money shot." Not that there's no room to carry them with a less bulkier setup. In any case I do get your points. Where I have issue with is that DSLRs are being punted as the be all and end all of photography when they are certainly not. I would like to see a DSLR setup that can match my 1.2m equivalent zoom while being easy to use and still rather inconspicuous. Then if I control the light and pace of shooting the strengths of DSLR that you listed actually become non-considerations. Mirrorless still has quite a ways to go yes just as DSLR has matured over the years but I think they should be given a chance instead of deciding that the tech itself can't match DSLR. There may well be current setups that can already surpass DSLR. Not all photography is sports related. If I open up a magazine it makes up less than 1% of the entire field so I don't think punting DSLRs based on that is a valid argument.

And yes, we gravitated back to this because one guy was incorrectly applying science to show which camera tech is the best. There's a much bigger issue besides cameras involved there. But yes we all know there's no reason to invest in Nikon. :D :p
 
bwana said:
Anyway - how the heck did we gravitate back to this when we all know Nikon SA is overcharging!
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Yes. It seems that there are quite a few people who are just dying to destroy their credibility if you give them half a chance. Can this thread be frozen?

It seems unlikely that future posts here will pertain to the original topic.
 
Pixual or others, what are your thoughts on the Fujifilm X-T1? And lenses?

What about versus the Olympus E-M1?

The EVF of the X-T1 is appealing, but then so is the touch screen of the E-M1. The E-M1 is also older.

Wonder if a new Olympus with newer tech and better EVF will come out soon, or a touch screen Z-T1 equivalent?

Any others I should look at?
 
Bleak that the Olympus is 2x CF, where the Fujifilm is 1.5x but lacks touch focus. This is irking me in wanting to do wide shots.
 
Touch focus often ends up being less useful than it sounds. What type of photography are you looking at doing?
 
Why is Nikon SA ripping us off?

Compared to Canon, Nikon products are ridiculously expensive.

70-200 F2.8

Canon B&H - $2099 - R25 188
Canon Orms - R23 395 - 7% cheaper!

Nikon B&H - $2397 - R28 764
Nikon Orms - R34 995 (on special!) - 22% more expensive

50 F1.4

Canon B&H - $349 - R4188
Canon Orms - R4195 - 0% more expensive

Nikon B&H - $419 - R5028
Nikon Orms - R6595 (on special!) - 31% more expensive

I could go on.

I would be writing this to Nikon SA, but their website's contact link is broken, and their broken links contact is broken. Maybe this'll get back to them, but even if it doesn't, it's cheaper for me to switch to Canon than to stick with Nikon, so that's what I'll be doing. Plus Canon offers a 1-5x microscope lens. Nikon can kiss my hairy ass.
 
Tell me about it. I lost my USB cable for charger the camera and lo and behold it uses a propriety USB connector (UC6). R400 for a stupid USB cable. I eventually found one for R360...yeah, fsck Nikon's prices!
 
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