Nikon D50 Camera
 

I recently purchased my first digital SLR after months of research, hand wringing and pouring over the wonderfully exhaustive reviews at dpreview . It's been quite a process and I finally came down to the Nikon D50.

My top contenders were the Minolta Maxxum 7D, the Canon Digital Rebel XT, the Nikon D70 and the Nikon D50. I have an older Minolta Maxxum SLR camera and could use the lenses I already have, plus my older digital camera is a Minolta Dimage and I loved the very easy menu system. So, I went into the search with a distinct prejudice for Minolta.

The most remarkable thing I learned is that the digital SLRs are so much better than even the highest megapixel point and shoot cameras that you really have to see the results to believe it! If you are toying with purchasing a digital SLR, I recommend that you go into a camera shop (or electronics store) and try them out. If you have a memory card or can bring in a laptop PC, do it. You won't be sorry that you did and you'll really be able to appreciate the quality of these cameras. Too often folks look at only the megapixels in judging how good the resolution will be from a camera. This is a trap! The DSLRs have a huge advantage over their less pricey counterparts. They can accommodate the best in lens technology and it makes all the difference in the world.

When I made my decision it came down to just a few things. The photo quality was best in the Canon and Nikon cameras. The Minolta just didn't quite measure up, apparently due to the technology they use for vibration reduction. The image stabilizer, built into the camera body, is great for low light photo shoots when you want to avoid a tripod, but comes with a trade off where resolution is concerned. The photos aren't quite as crisp as the Canon or Nikon. So, I had to choose between the Canon and Nikon cameras, and since I had become addicted to my spot metering setting on my prior Minolta, I went with the Nikon. The Canon doesn't have a traditional spot metering setting, but comes close with a center weighted metering option. I just couldn't judge how that might impact my photos, and all things being roughly equal otherwise, I went with the Nikon. For those who don't know about the spot metering, it is a setting that allows you to let the camera decide how much exposure you'll need for a picture based on a very small spot in the center of the viewfinder. This can be really important if you like to take a lot of photos of backlit subjects. I do!

So, what is the Nikon D50 like? It is very similar in many respects to its older brother, the D70. The review claims that in some respects it outperforms the D70, and in some it doesn't quite measure up. I can attest to the fact that for clarity, true color, flexibility and overall ease of use, it is a top notch portrait camera. As well as I liked my older digital, the photos with the D50 are like night and day in comparison. I don't get the delay time in shooting when I press the shutter release, and the camera powers on instantly. Also, the rechargeable battery lasts a very long time, a huge plus.

When I bought my D50, I chose to get the camera, body only and purchase my own lenses. I didn't really have much use for the kit lens, which is an 18-55 mm DX zoom lens. Deleting the lens saves you about $100-$150 and of course you can then turn around and buy the lens you want! I chose a Nikkor 24-120 mm zoom lens with Vibration Reduction technology. I love to do without my tripod if possible when photographing children. I feel that I get a more spontaneous look and feel when I can move around. The VR technology allows me to get crisper shots in lower light than I could get without it, by about 3 stops (so they say). The 24-120 mm digital range translates into 36-180 mm in a traditional SLR. That is perfect for me in terms of the ranges I would normally want to shoot portraits in. This is a high end lens, with extremely low distortion, and so can be used for many purposes.

In my next post, I am attaching a couple of photos I've taken with the D50. I'd be happy to answer any questions or make specific photo tests, if anyone is interested.

Some D50 portrait photos
 

Attached are some of the photos I've take with the D50. I have also posted one closeup so you can see the resolution I'm getting.

Congratulations!
 

Hi Molly,

That is an impressive new camera. It is interesting to see how Nikon has evolved in the last three years since I got my D-100. I suppose mine is the grandparent to your D-50, and is now out of production. I have been more than satisfied with it, accumulating about 90,000 shots with it so far! Probably, the image quality is even better on your D-50. I understand there is a better method of highlight rendering than what my old Nikon produces. That alone is wonderful!

Nice shots by the way! I gather you are using the mode III sRGB color space setting, which I hear is the new default setting. I have an older version of this setting too, but typically have been using the mode II Adobe RGB (1998) setting, for its wider color gamut range.

So when can I drive over to behold your new D-50 marvel? :D

Garth

Molly, these must be your children (or you've found a family with remarkably similar features to your own.) Just wanted to say, handsome family!
Thank you for the info on the camera. You've saved me a lot of shopping and hand-wringing of my own when I'm ready to make that SLR leap!

Beatuiful, Molly! Great post. Let me also thank you for your input into my recent camera purchase. I ended up with the Canon version which I am thrilled with but it sure was close. Very tough choice that I agonized over for weeks. It came down to a few more megapixels and the fact I could use my older 35mm lenses (from my old Canon) with the new one-teh real kicker for me since lenses are not cheap. You are so right about your comparisons above. You know your stuff. I don't think one can go wrong with either the Nikon or the Canon. Both of these cameras produce better results than a 35mm. Digital has come a long way.

Hi Garth!

You're sure welcome to come out to the country for a visit anytime, but since there isn't much to see way out here other than the camera (I haven't produced enough work of note to interest anyone , then how about if I come visit your studio and bring the camera along? :D

Brenda,

Thanks for the complements on the kids! These are only three of five, and the others are just as good looking (if I do say so myself). I wish I looked more like them. I have this somewhat cursed attribute of looking far better in photos than I do in real life. ;)

Lisa,

I am so glad you got your new camera and are happy with it. These Digital SLRs are truly amazing, and if anyone hasn't inspected the results of one yet, they're in for a huge treat. It isn't all about resolution, either. The color and values are much more lifelike (though I wouldn't rely solely on these photos anyway) and the software for manipulating the depth of shadows is fantastic and easy to use. Viewed on a good computer monitor, the photo images are almost like working from life. A great thing when painting wiggly, giggly kids (my personal favorite).

Hi Molly,

Thanks so much for your very informative post! I am just in the process of looking at digital cameras and the information you laid out so clearly will really help. I have two Canons, a very old 35mm and a newer non-digital Rebel. The thing that interested me the most was your point about the light meter reading. I've held onto my totally manual camera for so long because I am able to set the light meter myself. As far as I am concerned, my Rebel is too automatic in a mindless sort of way, though it is easy and convenient.

I would also like to see your new camera, which reminds me that we were talking about getting together. Let's do it soon. Maybe when our kids are back in school?

Alex

I've had the Nikon D70 for a few months now and am awed by its capabilities. It has so many features that I will probably never use them all, but I'm considering buying a second body so I'll have one in reserve if this one ever needs repair. I have four standard Nikons - a 5005 which needs work, two N60's and an N75 - so I already had the lenses although I did buy a telephoto - 70 to 300 - for the D70. However, I get frustrated because each of those standard SLRs has a slightly different way of operating, and when you're going for those grab shots of active kids you need to be on automatic mode in your own head to take full advantage of what's happening in front of you. That's hard if you're readjusting to another camera.

What are the differences between the D50 and D70? The photos you posted were just gorgeous, so I can see that the optics are superb. Looks like you have some perfect home-grown models, too.

One thing I found when I was trying to photograph candid shots of circus performers practicing in a dark big top was that putting the camera on Auto ISO allowed it to adjust so I didn't have to second-guess exposure. I'm wondering if that was the best way to go but it seemed to work under those circumstances.

I'm less than an hour from Philadelphia myself. Maybe we should all get together for a camera session...

Hi Alex!

I'd be happy to talk more with you about the digital SLRs and let you try mine out! I am really looking forward to having the kids back in school. They start September 6th. :D

Hi Leslie,

There are lots of small differences between the D50 and D70. There's also the new D70S. The review here is pretty exhaustive and talks about the changes. There is also a comparison with the Cannon Rebel XT and a Pentax camera, I think, toward the end of the article.

I think the biggest obvious differences between the D70s and the D50 are the D50 has only one control "wheel" in the back, whereas the D70 has a couple. Also the D50 has different automatic scene modes, for instance it has a "child" setting. I love that one. The fastest shutter speed on the D50 is double the D70 at 1/4000th of a second, but since I am more likely to work in low light, I didn't care. The D50 has an improved highlights rendition over both the D70s. Probably the biggest functional difference is that they use different storage cards. The D50 uses an SD card, while the D70 uses a compact flash card.

The best way to find out the things that matter to you would be to check out the link I made for the review. Right up front they put in a really nice chart of the feature comparisons.

If I were you, I might be tempted to have one of each camera, but then you'd have to carry both storage types, etc. Oh, to have such terrible choices to make . . . ;)

Where to buy onine
 

Just thought I'd mention that I purchased my D50 through B and H photo and video online. I have bought from them multiple times and have never had an issue. If you click on the review link in my last post, the DP Review site is supported through the use of their vendors. B and H is one of them, but you have to click the link at the bottom to show all their vendors.

I looked at the dpreview site and could see what you meant by the differences in color modes. Hadn't played with that feature on my D70. Re the "child" setting, do you mean the new autofocus mode which switches between single and continous focus automatically? How does that work in practice?

I wonder whether the two bodies and controls are similar enough that I wouldn't have to make a mental adjustment when I switched back and forth. The SD card vs compact flash card alone wouldn't be a big problem, although I'm not sure what the difference is.

I'm not sure how important the enhanced highlights feature would be, since we're using these for reference photos rather than for standalone works of art. Definitely something to think about, though. I had heard of the D50 but wasn't sure what it was. Thanks!

Child setting
 

I like the idea of the child setting putting the camera in continuous focus mode, however, the setting I'm talking about is one of the numerous little icons on the dial on top of the camera that puts the camera either in full automatic, aperture priority, shutter priority, full manual, or one of several "special" modes. Each of those modes simply programs the camera with a series of settings to maximize the ability to shoot those types of pictures. Here's what Nikon says about the programmed settings:

7 Digital Vari-Programs: The next evolution of Nikon's scene-optimized Digital Vari-Program modes produces great results for the intended shot, while freeing you to concentrate on the moment. New Child mode makes it easier to take memorable pictures of the children with the right amount of vivid color and contrast straight from the camera. Choose from Auto, Portrait, Landscape, Child, Close Up, Sports, or Night Portrait.

I think the body styles of the two cameras are sufficiently similar that you would not have difficulty switching. The D50 is a bit simpler.

Molly and Leslie, I would love to get together after my show opens on Sept. 16th, and try out the camera. This information is so helpful to me, because the good digitals are not cheap, in fact I will have to sell a couple of paintings before I can afford to make this investment.

Alex

Molly,
thank you so much for taking the time to write so detailed comments about the camera. My Nikon coolpix just broke and now I have no more doubts about what I will buy!
Ilaria

I just wanted to add that I also have the D50 and I love it! Its made my work so much easier. I had an old Coolpix before, and then a Canon. There is so much more color information as well as detail with this camera.

I just bought a Nikon D50 on Molly's recommendation and I'm having the time of my life! Thanks, Molly. Since this is my first digital camera it'll probably take me a while to find out all the things I can do with it, but so far I can say the spot metering is comparable to what I used to be able to do on my manual camera, in a fraction of the time--and that's saying a lot.

Alex

Gosh, i've heard so much about D50, and now i have Alex as a living satisfied customer of it!
Now i don't know how to decide between this baby, and Canon D350 model which boasts excellent quality pictures and higher megapixels than D50. Has anyone done a comparison between the both? :(

Check this link:
 

Hi Marcus,

There is an in depth review and comparison at this link - note that there are many pages. : Nikon D50

Molly, you should contact Nikon and tell them how you're converting the art world, one portraitist at a time! Maybe they'll use you in a commercial? ;)
Seriously, though, I am sold. Next camera is going to be the D50, because I do trust your folks' judgement on this matter.

I agree with Brenda. A pretty face and a hot camera - i'm seeing a new up-and-coming "AMERICAN ART IDOL"...kekeke :D

bulging in the middle
 

Hi Molly,

Now that you have had your camera for a while, I have a question. I bought the D70 a year ago and love it. But, recently, when photographing my own work for my portfolio, I noticed a continual oddity. I am wondering if you or anyone else has the same problem. I use the landscape setting to insure that the flash doesn't go off. I learned early on in my career that the truest form of color is photographed between 11 & 2 midday, outside in the shade. That isn't the problem. But, when doing this with a setting that will keep the flash off, (landscape setting) I get a distortion in the middle of the screen. It is wider in the center of the screen. I can see this because all the other edges are perfectly centered when I go to crop with Photoshop, but, the center is bulging. This may be a problem with my lens that I have over looked in my haste to only use the camera as a source and not looking for perfection. Would you try these settings on your camera for me and see if this happens for you also? I would appreciate it. I stand straight over my artwork making sure that the frame of the canvas is set square by the sides in the frame and also looking at my posture and the angle. (Of course if you were to take your time, you would put it on a tripod and use an easel, but, I am taking so many photos of my work that I am cutting corners.) My second question would be is this: a setting malfunction? But, my guess is that it would be the lens.
Thank you,
Bobbi Baldwin

Sounds like the lens.
 

Hi Bobbi,

I have not met you before, so hello and welcome. I have the similar but preceding Nikon D-100. From what I gathered from what you wrote, your issue has nothing to do with flash or no flash, or time of day, but is simply some kind of lens distortion. I doubt I have the same lens as you, but if I did, or if Molly did on her D-50, we should all see the same lens result. I noticed similar problems with my three lenses, and they are lens problems, not camera function problems. I usually suffer a slight pin cushion effect at the frame edge. Usually I just accept and ignore it. Which lens(es) do you have?

Could you post an example of the distortion you are experiencing? It would be easier to discuss this with a tangible example.

Garth

I should add that zoom lenses have varying distortion like you describe at different focal lengths. At the widest angle the distortion will differ from the longest telephoto setting. Sometimes there is an ideal focal length that has the minimum of pincushion or barrel distortion present. You may have to try photographing your painting from different distances until you find the least distortion.

Then if you later have to photograph a different size painting, you may have to test this out all over again. One work around for this is to note down the relationship of the size of the painting to the distance you are standing from it, and keep this ratio as the one you can depend upon.

I hope this helps.

Garth

Landscape mode = distortion?
 

Hi guys,
I was reading Bobbi's thread, and i just can't help but feeling it could be an internal programme setting from the cam itself when you use the function. I have this feeling, as my E5500 Fujifilm cam has color-enriching distortions that can be turn on/off...in my case Fuji's well-known for great landscape pics, and it's part of the camera's function to enhance the yellows and greens...
I digress, so i suspect it could be the mode that we use for our pictures.

Bobbi and Marcus,

You should get exactly the same distortion, whether in Landscape mode or not, or in fact, on my camera or Molly's camera. It's NOT the camera setting , but the LENS itself.

Try the same exact photo on a tripod, in Landscape mode and in other modes with or without the flash going off. You will see no difference in the distortion so long as you never bump the tripod.
;)

Garth

Garth and Marcus ...
 

Hi Garth and Marcus,
I don't think I have met you. I was really active with the portrait societies and a juried artist with Cynthia for a long time, but have been MIA ... getting in gear for a new assertion in my business life and married soon. I started a West Coast based portrait society and ran it both as pres. and assisting pres from 1995 to 2001, while simultaneously running a cooperative gallery with up to 21 artists specializing portrait work. The portrait society went when my gallery went and I took a sabbatical from promoting everyone else. But, now I am back and looking to start the new school where I will continue to teach and bring in talented teachers like Tom Nash. I am excited about the plans but they are not for sure as of yet. ... Still writing the business plan and looking for the space.

Thank you for the input. I have a Nikon lens that came with the camera and Garth, you may have hit the point I was trying to learn. It is a Nikon DX zoom lens, AF-S Nikkor 18-70mm 1:35-4.5ED.

I will try what you said to with the different distances. I don't have a lot of time to mess with equipment, so your help is good. Thank you both. I have put off buying a straight 50mm lens just for photographing my work, but, I may do just that, so that I don't have to deal with taking any more time to get the photos done and I am insured of getting a true likeness to my photos.

I do know that sometimes I zoom a bit even though I am standing over it, to better fit it in the frame opening and sometimes I bend down. So, I am not sure which I did here. I may have done both and gotten the same result for all I know.

Bobbi

Hi Bobbi!

I don't have the same problem, but then again, I do have a different lens.

One thing I wanted to add, is that you should be able to keep the flash turned off in any mode on your D50 camera.

The trick is to change the flash mode out of automatic for any of the P, A, S, M modes and the just shut the flash down when it pops up. It will stay down. In the preprogrammed modes, just change the flash mode to off. The way to change the flash mode is: hold down the flash button (with the lightning symbol) on the front left side of the camera body, and turn the thumb wheel dial in the back upper right side. Watch in the top display and you can scroll through the flash options; red eye, back fill, no flash, etc.

If you have any trouble, let me know. :D

Bobbi,

That's some serious distortion! A reason your lens may be doing this is to avoid stretching and elongating the image to the corners. My lenses have never produced anything like that (usually they have an extremely mild reverse of this problem, - pin-cushioning, where the corners are slightly extended). I bet you were standing close to your work with the lens focal length toward the 18mm end. I would suggest trying the same pictures from a much greater distance. If that does not work, then you should shop for a better suited lens; there are so many other candidates.

My three current lenses are zooms also, so they are not entirely perfect. Maybe someone can pipe in whether their prime lens (non-zoom) is distortion free. I have a Sigma 15 - 30 mm that compensates to avoid your problem by stretching and elongating the images (another distortion) to the corners, keeping the image rectangular at a cost. My Nikon ED 24 - 85 mm lens is silent, but imperfect too, although not like yours. My Nikon ED 70 - 300 mm does the best job at copying paintings without distortion, but I need to stand quite a distance away with a required tripod.

Garth

Dear Molly and Garth,
Thank you both for the information. Molly, I will print this out and try it soon. Thank you so much. I hate to read the literature and still have to go through the DVD to learn more about my camera. It can do so much that I haven't even tried. My fiance tried to get me to use the RAW mode ... but, I just found that to be a hassle. Unless I were going to make giclee's of something, I can't see using that mode for photo references. Plus, you can't view them easily in thumbnails. I ended up manually converting too many photos into JPG's after this. Oh well.
I am going to price a straight 50mm lens to make it easier to get photos done in a way that won't waste time.
thanks again!
Bobbi

Another question for the panel of D50 experts!

I am experiencing difficulties in getting a proper photo of my last painting, and I was wondering which settings you lot are using for this.
My pictures seem slightly out of focus. I tried the auto and premesured white balance settings, and set the autofocus to nearest subject. Bracketing resulted in the best shot being slightly underexposed. Unfortunately I couldn't use my tripod ( lost somewhere in the house) but I have been shooting yesterday at a speed of 1/325 and I don't think it is my hand shaking.
I don't understand, maybe it is a matter of glare.
I painted for the first time on a sanded surface, which perhaps bounces out the light more then a textured one.
This was my best result
http://forum.portraitartist.com/show...8219#post58219
and even when seen in full quality is not very good.
Any suggestion?
Ilaria

Ilaria, I am in NO WAY an expert with this camera! I probably never will be. But I had trouble photographing my paintings, too. I finally had success when I:

1) used tripod
2) set up incandescent photography lights on either side of painting
and turned them until there was no glare
3) switched white balance to "incandescent"

There may be other better ways, but that was what worked for me. The lighting was just a cheap kit with two flimsy tripod stands with sockets and aluminum shades, and two "incandescent lamp" bulbs.

Thank you Alexandra,
I'll try that one, as soon as I'll remember WHERE I put my tripod (shouldn't be that difficult to find it, but I have searched the whole house and I only have a vague memory of thinking once: I'll put it here, and now I just have no idea...).
Also thank you for your comments on the painting, I can see your point very well and am thinking if I want to go all the way with such extensive rework, or perhaps save the lesson for the next work...
Ilaria

Llaria:

If I were you I would remove the "focus closest" setting. You may have to put your dial setting into the "P" mode to do this.

Also, you need to be very careful to keep the surface of the painting perpendicular to the line of site of your lens. This would be especially important if you are in "focus closest" mode. If the painting is slightly tilted back at the top it would be focusing on the bottom close edge, or visa versa.

I have my best luck when I photograph my paintings outdoors under the cover of an awning (shade, not direct sunlight). Another helpful tool is to lay a black cloth behind the painting, such that the only thing that enters your view finder is your painting surrounded by black.

Of course the tripod is a very handy tool for this project.

Mike, thank you very much, I wil try again, today is overcast, thanks to the cloud of smoke over here!

I also find that using spot metering (I have the Nikon D70) aimed at the light side of the face in a portrait gives me a good overall exposure also. I notice the example you indicated seems too washed out and this might help.

I'm considering the D50 but have a question on lens. So far they're all greek to me. If I were to purchase two lens, which ones would you recommend? I do have a limited budget, so please don't suggest a thousand dollar lens.

Jean :bewildere

Hey Jean:

I believe that the D50, like the D70, comes in a kit form which includes an 18-55 mm lens. I think this lens is a good choice for indoor work. Nikon also offers an 55-200 mm lens for about $250. The extra telephoto is my lens of choice when working out of doors.

If I could only have one lens for portrait work it would be the shorter one. While out of doors you can usually walk closer to your subject, but, while indoors you don't always have the option of backing up.

Having both is nice.

Thank you Mike, I really appreciate your advice! When I started reading about all the different lens, I got so confused I gave up. I will go with your suggestion. I like to shoot outdoors because of all the beautiful nature out here, and have wanted a telephoto lens for a long time. Last fall I watched (and tried to photograph) a set of cranes in a field near here and all I have is blurry crane type images. I just couldn't get close enough. But there are too many lens to choose from. Thanks again.

Jean

Like Mike, I also have the D70, and I agree with his recommendation about which lenses to use. I love my camera and I'm sure you'll love the D50 too.

Jean, as you might have read I found difficulties at taking pictures of one of my paintings, which was quite large, but I took very good reference photo with my D50 and kit lens, even in this dreadful January light. Worked very well inside with natural light.
Ilaria