Help!
I’ve got an idea, and I’m curious if anyone can throw an opinion about it my way.
First off, I have a Kodak DC4800, but it’s getting a bit long in the tooth. I want a new camera, a Nikon D70, but I can’t afford it yet.
So, here’s what I’m thinking of doing…
I should be able to get a Nikon Coolpix 3200 and matching case for ~$158. Rechargable AA batteries for it will run about about $25 with charger, and 512MB of UltraII SD memory $65.99. That makes it about $250 for a new, smaller camera with about the same capabilities as my current one.
The current one should sell for about $125 on eBay, making it all a difference of about $125 for the new camera. This will provide something much smaller and considerably lighter than my current camera, with plenty of memory. Unfortunately the zoom and resolution of this camera is the same as the old one…
Then, sometime next year after saving up a bit, the D75 could be a possibility. This way I’d eventually have a small, more knock-around camera, and a better one for more serious photography.
How does this sound? Does anyone have any suggestions or better ideas?
Thanks!
i dunno, if i were you i would wait until i could afford the d70.
Problem is, I think it would still be a good idea to have something pocket sized. SLRs are huge, and I’m thinking for parties and stuff, the D70 might just be a bit big. :\
the other conisderation for the D70 is the cost of the lenses, unless you already have some newer Nikon lenses kicking around…
I’ve got a 35-70 AF lens, but it doesn’t do all the nifty things you want on a digital lens. It will still work… I think I might want something newer / better to get started, though.
And I know what you mean about the cost of lenses… I was looking at a 70-300 (or so) Sigma f2.8 and it was around $1k.
So, the startup cost of the D70 for me would be near $1800.
Go for the Nikon 80-200 2.8 if you can, the Sigma is pretty soft and the focus is scatterbrained. I have it and really don’t like it.
Oh, okay. :)
I just went ahead and ordered the Coolpix 3200, 512MB of SD, and it’s matching case. After the discount for signing up for an Amazon.com Visa, it was $211 shipped. With any luck I’ll get ~$150 for my current Kodak and accessories. Since I’ve only got 64MB to work with right now, anyway, I figure $61 is worth it for the memory upgrade.
Now, if the camera goes for a bit less on eBay, that’ll suck… But… It shouldn’t be too much less.
I *LOVE* my 3200. I really do. Passionatly. But the lithium batteries.. cant remember what they are, last a hundred thousand times longer than the AA. I like my 3200 because its small, (kodak isnt know for that) its a great hold, and yeah, you can always update later.
And besides that dont you want a small camera to have around for parties or things like that? I have years of carrying around an slr and its great to have something small and pocket size sometimes.
Just my opinion and congratulations on picking Nikon! I’ve always shot nikon. (almost always)
Well, the AA’s I’m talking about are 2300milliamp-hour batteries, FAR more power than AA nicads… In my mom’s Coolpix 2200 they last… Well… She hasn’t recharged them since I got her the camera. A few hundred shots, at least. And with eight batteries, recharging shouldn’t be an issue.
I’ve actually always liked Nikon SLRs. I’ve got a N5005 downstairs, which is what all the film that I’ve been scanning lately is shot with. :)
As far as the pocket digitals, the Nikons are cheap, generally solid, nice and well made, etc.
I just need to be sure I want to drop my DC4800 and picking up the tiny Nikon. It’ll likely be better, but the optics are WAY smaller…
My vote is to go for the Nikons. My D100 is bulky and a pain to take out to parties/the bar.
Hehe, well, I was always going to go for a Nikon… It’s just which one. ;)
I’m going through the Amazon credit card approval process right now. $30 off your first order. Whee! Then I’ll cancel it right away. hehe…
i have coolpix 4300 and i’ve been pretty happy with it. i can make exposure compensations and if i really wanted to i could get some more lenses for it. the macro is fussy which annoys me sometimes but for running around town point and shoot it’s been great. someday when i win the lottery or decide to get really serious about photography again i’d probably look at the d70. nikon always!
Unfortunately macro always seems weird… :\
Hmm… I’ll probably end up with the 3200 for now, and the D70 later, if there isn’t a good D100 replacement that I can afford. Then again, that might be overkill for me. :))
Hope you enjoy the 3200… it’s a pretty good camera. I picked up the Sony P100 before my adventures in California land, and I love it. I looked at the T1 (just ’cause it’s so cute)… but couldn’t justify the cost vs. the features. I also heard it breaks a lot. It figures though, that about 40 days after I got the P100 they came out with the P150.
If you’re ever looking at an electronic and want to know if the upgrade is coming out soon, lemme know and I’ll check at work…. I get all sorts of super-secret advance knowledge like that.
Oh, nice. Thank you. :) I wasn’t planning on doing this initially, but with the way things (should) work out financially, it’ll be nice.
A few months ago I bought my parents the Coolpix 2200 for a starter camera, and the size is impressive. It’s tiny and light. While the 3200 doesn’t have as many features as the DC4800, with same zoom and same resolution, it’s smaller, not too pricy, and new.
You know, I really like the size of the Sony cameras, but I just can’t get over Memory Stick. It’s so expensive… At Costco it was the same price for 256MB of MS as 512MB of SD. Odd, that. :)