2" LCD - 3x Optical Zoom - 3008 x 2000 Image - PictBridge - MPN: 25231
fraczekp
- Sep 24, 2005
Strengths: Price and Picture Quality
Weakness: Nikon's corporate marketing strategy cost you exta, no DOF, no "custom quick settings"
I am sure that this camera will surprise you in a nice way – many times. Although it is aimed at an aspiring amateur, it produces award winning images. I hope that my review will give you some insights on which you can draw your own conclusions. I hope to be as objective as it can be but then again – everything is a subject to author’s bias.
Having tons of Nikon equipment, logically I was locked into Nikon’s products. Being able to use most of it was the key selling points here. I needed a DSLR as I was really tired of the lack of control over your point-and-shoot photos but at the same time I really love the results of traditional film cameras. After some time with it I can state that the images are sharp and phenomenally accurate in color transcription. I can’t say enough good things about it – you ought to test drive it for yourself. The auto focus seems to be accurate and quite apt in sports photography! I am quite pleased with some of the “quick setting” operations controlled though the command dial – quite useful for changing situations (not to be confused with the multiprogram dial -- that's another story).
Now with some of the good points out of the way, I made my own list of things that I see as potential drawbacks (or in need of improvement).
First and foremost, lack of Depth of Field Preview makes this model sometimes difficult to work with and quite useless for serious macro photography. Non-the-less I have managed to take some amazing close-ups). If you know that you can’t live without the DOF preview, then don’t buy this camera. Personally, I am getting used to not having it – I can always go to my film SLR if I want to go that route. The camera is not as big and bulky as the D70 (or D100), but still not as small as I would like it to be. Going from the N80/75 to this one I felt the difference in size (and grip). The built-in flash seems to be little overpowering however, you can change the output values to suit your needs. In regards to the menus – In my opinion they are ok, although I could see some improvements in their layout.
I think the one item that I have hard time getting over is the ability to switch between metering modes (matrix/center/spot) – currently the only way to do is to hunt through the menus instead of implementing it as one of “quick dial” functions or a dial similar to the ones on D100 or D70 & D200.
As a final note – I purchased this camera with the outfit lens (18-55) and I don’t regret it. The outfit/set is a bargain. I strongly suggest considering the extra cash, at least to the 18-55 lens to cover the digital wide angle needs (keeping in mind that the camera has a 1.5 multiplier for 35mm lenses). However, one note about the DX ED lenses – I like the image quality as they produce little darker, more contrasty images compared to other Nikkor lenses.
Overall, in my opinion I do not regret buying this camera – I was very pleasantly surprised by the quality of pictures. I hope that the reliability will match the brand’s name. If you are on a market for a DSLR – test drive this camera, shop around, compare by all means and do the bottom line tests. All things considered this camera was a real bargain for under 800.
*** Dec 22nd***
3 months after first review and 5000+ pictures later, I believe that I might be outgrowing this product. Few more items are worth mentioning that came up since the last review.
PROS:
The digital sensor is amazing. With correct exposure (manual most of the time) the pictures are breathtaking in quality.
The instant power-on and no shutter lag are fabulous. I can never see myself using anything else if a spirit of the moment matters.
CONS:
The Nikon marketing strategy of locking metering for NON-CPU lenses is simply pathetic. It leaves you running with a light meter in your hand or relying on your expertise. Can you say 1950's all over again? The small plus here is that you will get to learn A LOT about exposure....
The lack of DOF is painful. I ran into many situations where I would want to check the DOF.
In order to bracket your exposure you have to hunt through the menu -- there isn't a quick switch for it. Painful.
None-the-less, I still love this camera but I see myself upgrading when the funds become available.
*** Feb 19th***
Hats off to the metering system - it seems to be very hard to fool!
*** MAR 19th***
Spontaneously got a D200, but this one will always stay in my bag too! Got to play with Rebel XT too! :)
Noticing significant price drop from the originally released price I believe that this is THE camera if you are willing to venture into DSLR photography without breaking the budget. I paid 780+ for an outfit with 18-55 lens and I felt like it was worth every penny of it. If you have extra few bucks or don't want to have to lug multiple lenses, consider getting the body only and the 18-200 lens instead of the 2 lens outfit when the price levels off.
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TopThanks for your review. I've never owned a good camera but want to get into photography for a hobby. D 50 sound s great for a novice. I live in S FL on the ocean and love nature shots( animals, ocean etc. Is this camera too much for me and if not, if I buy the body only, what else would you recommend? Lens, card, etc. Do I need a flash?
Thank you for any advice!
PS . I am tech adept!
Reply by member: fraczekp
:-)
Thanks for your reply! Drop me a note with question or concerns on my review! If I can, I will be more than happy to offer some of my experiences I've had with my D50, D100 and my beginners N75.
If not, just few words in response to the question:
No, I don't think the camera is too much! It has everything (except the DOF) that a SLR system should have. Why not get a fixed lens system? Well, technically you can get the pictures you want with a 3 dollar disposable camera, but what the 3 dollar camera won’t teach you is how to use technology to capture what you see in various ways.
As to lenses -- oh my -- that's a separate chapter and the most difficult part of an SLR system building. The reason why I mentioned the 18-200 instead of the 2 lens kit is because it seems that having one lens for most of your ventures. I don’t own the 18-200 but doing the math the lens will run you almost 600 more!! Convenience comes with price (yes, you get the VR system included in the price though)!
Card? Yes -- most definitely, the camera won't function without it. Don't break your bank on getting the most expensive, biggest card! Get a 512 or 1 GB and look into a portable storage such as the wolverine or coolwaker! Don't attempt to get anything below 512 as it is not sufficient for this system.
Flash? There is a built-in flash on the camera that works just fine. If you plan on doing most of your shots indoors, look into a flash like the SB-600 (800 might be an overkill for now!) or alike. I haven't tried the generic flashes, but I know that Nikon is quite sensitive to voltage ranges used by flashes, so don't put just any flash on the camera as it might damage your system!
Other items? YES!! Get a good tripod or monopod (or both!). Monopod if you will move through crowds tripod if you have the luxury of time and room to set it up. When you get one, get one that is sturdy (go check it out at a local photo store -- buying one without seeing it could be disappointing). ML-3 Remote is a must! Leveling bubble is nice to have if you are bothered by crooked horizons. Since the camera doesn't come with a LCD screen protector you can get a cover for the back or buy a camera case (or be careful how you transport it). The case gives you the extra padding for all your transportation needs!
Other than that, I don't see anything else that this system needs -- just your creative mind! Putting things together and pressing the button is the easy part -- pressing the button at the right time with the right content is the most difficult part. The good part about investing in genuine Nikon components is that if you get fed up of it or don't feel like photography is your field, you will realize that the resale value is quite acceptable so you won't be that terribly out of luck and out of cash! Also, I found pbase.com (or other photo community websites) a great way of seeing what the cameras and lenses can do!
Thanks for your review on the D50. I have never owned or used a digital camera in me life before and your essays have cleared up many points on D photography. I have been using 35mm SLRs for many a year now and the one I currently use is an N70 with a 35-70mmm 1:2.8 and a 105mm 1:2.8 micro (both D series AF). I do all round amateur photography concentrating on macro, thus appreciating your point about lack of DOF control on the D50.
Anyway, I am about to make up my mind in getting a digital camera. The rational thing to do is to buy a Nikon D body which takes the lenses I already have. Apart from the missing DOF button and in view of my low budget, the D50 is what I need. Of course I realise that it would be ideal if the AF-S DX 18-55mm lens is included in the same packet.
I would like you to let me know how well the lenses of your N80/75 performed on the D50.
Thanks again.
Reply by member: fraczekp
One wonderful point about Nikon mount lenses is that (with exceptions) most of them will fit the modern Nikon bodies. As mentioned above, non-CPU lenses have been disabled from metering functions as the D50 body does not have an aperture indexing ring. For lenses such as the ones mentioned above there is no issues or worries, but one needs to keep in mind the 1.5 multiplication factor. All metering and AF functions will perform flawlessly. On a Nikon DSLR, 35-70mm becomes 53-105mm and 105mm becomes 158mm equivalence. No issues -- for your wide angle needs add a 18-55 or even the 12-24 DX at some point in time (the 18-200 is overpriced at this moment in time)! In my opinion, the multiplier is actually advantageous but some claim it as bad (strictly personal opinion). Aside from the multiplication of focal length, there isn't much to discuss. Certain "deficiencies" with lenses seem to be less pronounced with digital bodies due to FOV cropping (such as softer edges or barreling). So all in all going digital won't make things worse! The two above lenses have been regarded as quite the performers (I actually have the 105 macro and I love the digital results!). Believe or not, my favorite lens on a digital body is a 50mm Series E! I have taken some really cool shots with that lens despite the non-functional meter and manual focus. However, if you are into macro, I would save the pennies for a D70s. Justify the purchase with the number of "wasted" prints that you would do @ 50 cents a print (actual number can vary) and step up to get the DOF preview. You will see that abandoning film is an initial investment that yields savings in the long run. It is noteworthy that I kept my N75 just in case I want to shoot film once in a while as I do enjoy working with the old "film chips" - aka 35mm film, or even for the light weight that you won't find on digital SLRs.
Thanks a lot for your review of the D50. I'm not a very experienced photographer, but I learned almost everything you need to know about exposure, optics, sensors, digital imaging, etc by researching online. I have owned only a compact canon point'n'shoot, and I was very limited in my options, mainly because it was a cheap camera with very few manual controls. A cheap but decent camera for taking snapshots, good even for some limited macro.
I have been researching the market for a few weeks now, looking for a super-zoom prosumer camera when my attention landed on the Digital Rebel XT or the D50. I have read extensive reviews and watched many sample pictures, and I couldn't decide 100% on one of the cameras. There is also a price difference, but that is not necessarily the deciding factor in my decision.
I was rather excited by the prosumer ultra-zoom cameras like the Panasonic DMC-FZ30 (12x), when I realized that with a few extra bucks you can get a DSLR like the D50 but with a limited zoom range. It’s a pity that is rather expensive to replicate that kind of zoom on a DSLR. Anyway if you are satisfied with 300mm there is the Nikkor 70-300mm f/4-5.6G AF which is cheap. If you want more, then you are out of cheap options.
I haven’t decided yet, but I think I will sacrifice the extra zoom of a prosumer camera for the quality, versatility and response time of a DSLR. I also have a question; do you think that the extra 2MP of the Rebel XT is worth the price difference? Is there any quality loss? Do you have any advice for my dilemma?
Thanks,
Vlad
Reply by member: fraczekp
Canon vs. Nikon -- the eternal question! The 2 mps on the Rebel XT in my opinion are not really **THAT** significant if you will not print your pictures greater than 8x10, none the less, it's been said that Canon has a better ISO noise performance than Nikon. The XT is little smaller and lighter on the grip. If you are not locked into a specific system (say by lenses or accessories) then you are at a dilemma. Keep in mind that there are opinions that Canon has better telephoto lenses but in my opinion this is very subjective.... As much as I would love to answer that question, I am afraid I will leave it for others to answer -- but I will say this: One should get to know both systems, Canon and Nikon to draw their own conclusions. Check out places like pbase dot com for some sample pics of each one!
Strengths: Outstanding optical quality with the kit lens but even more with the prime Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D. Fast start up and shutter speed. No more, "whoops I missed that one". Battery life is outsanding.
Weakness: for this price: nothing, absolutely nothing.
The Sony CCD sensor that is found in the camera is superb. The kit lens does a good job but I would definitely add other lenses to cover the full range to match this amazing body. The camera is light and fits great in the hand. It is rugged, has a nice grip, and great professional look.
For anyone who has not made the move to DSLR--no is the time because I paid a lot more for this camera a year ago but in retrospect, it was worth every penny. Nikon has a gem here.
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TopStrengths: Ease of use. Excellent JPEGs out of camera with minimal to no post processing. On camera flash system doesn't bleach out pictures. No start up time. Shutter release immediate. Nice feel in hands.
Weakness: none significant
This is my first SLR coming from a coolpix 4500. I have small children so the shutter lag became more of an issue as he gets faster on his feet. I enjoy photography as a hobby so this was the perfect camera to get into learning the nuances of photography.
The pictures right out of this camera are great. The JPEGs require little to no post processing except maybe some extra sharpness. The auto white balance does a pretty good job. The kit lens for me is OK. I will probably want something with a little more range in the future. If you can swing it price wise, I would look into getting the 18-70mm D70(S) kit lens with the body of the D50 as it is generallly better regarded and it will give a little more range. However, me being a newbie, I am very satified with the quality of D50 kit lens at present. You can't go wrong with it as a good starter lens.
Overall, you will be VERY pleased if you are someone making a jump into the DSLR market. The D50 and kit lens feels great in your hands- just the right size and weight. It has alot of options/ features to allow you flexibility in picture taking, and its ease of use is an advantage in learning photography. Yet, for someone coming from point and shoot, the auto modes actually do a great job. My wife can pick up the camera and take great photos with it on auto mode. For me it has just the right amount of options right now as I am learning. I don't miss anything so far. For someone who has been using an SLR for many years, you may want to make sure this camera has all of the options you need.
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TopStrengths: Great build quality and weight/feel; Excellent 2" LCD; D70s in a more affordable, compact package with only minimal sacrifices (even an improvement or two)
Weakness: No depth of field preview; No shutter release attachability; RAW image white balance has proprietary encrpytion; No included memory card; Slight over-exposure of images (easily fixed with settings)
This camera has turned out to perform precisely as I was hoping it would. The build quality is excellent (one of the reasons I strayed from the Rebel XT I was initially contemplating). The camera is exceptionally responsive, takes beautiful images and has one of the least noisy pictures when using higher ISO settings (check Digital Photography Review's review).
The camera has an excellent feel to it - both its weight and the quality of materials. The Canon Rebel XT just felt too light and plasticy to me when I tested it out. The D50 just feels right - easy grip and enough presence to provide excellent feedback as you manipulate the camera. The included kit lens is adequate - and enough of a bargain over purchasing just the body as long as you don't already have other Nikon lenses. It certainly is a light lens with very basic features/performance - but the the end result is what counts and pictures with the kit lens still look very sharp and excellent. In time I hope to upgrade to a better lens, but for the time being this lens performs admirably.
The D50 has rekindled my enjoyment of photography. I'd stopped using my old film SLR after getting my previous point and shoot digital camera since the cost of film development was too much and I'd been spoiled by instant review of the images. But I was missing using an SLR and had begun to take fewer and fewer images. My biggest annoyance with my digital camera was the standard shutter lag of most digicams. I'd see the picture I want to take and by the time the camera actually captured it (even after I'd focused) the moment was gone. With the D50 - that problem is a thing of the past. It starts in the blink of an eye and captures images almost instantaneously.
The USB 2.0 connection (high speed, not just the USB 1.1 - "full speed" of some USB 2.0 products) is excellent. No need for an external card reader - I just have my usb cable connected to my computer, sit down and plug it to the camera. It's instantly recognized (no drivers need to be installed on WinXP) and with a couple minutes the full camera is offloaded - all 512MB of images. Easy-peasy.
If you're a first time digital SLR consumer, this is a superb option. The controls are VERY intuitive and easy to use. The most frequently used functions (ISO, quality, flash, exposure, etc) are available with a simple press of a button and flick of the dial. You don't need to use the LCD screen and navigate menus to change these - saving both time and battery. Its obviously a little more limited than the D70(s) that has 2 dials for even more seamless control - but for the level of functionality I was looking for - this strikes the perfect chord.
In conclusion, this is a fabulous camera that does just about everything required of it with ease. I'm looking forward to many years with my Nikon D50.
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Top"3ft is smaller than I thought. Great Indian Chef"
This camera is absolutely awesome. I left my wife and children to marry it.
Reply by member: TomManolo
you guys should not spoil the quality of PriceGrabber's discussions. There is so much usefull information to find in there that finding posts like these makes us waste our time!
Strengths: Superb build quality, great handling, excellent picture, low noise ISO 1600, easy use menu, great batter life, and much more!
Weakness: No viewfinder grid lines, a little shutter lag (compared to film SLR), kit lens is not so great.
Finally I upgraded to DSLR. I have been using Nikon N80 for years. I love Nikon's body design, build quality and I own several Nikon lenses, that's why I chose Nikon DSLR. I chose D50 over D70(s) based (mainly) on price, size, and the fact that D50 uses SD card.
D50 feels just like Nikon's film cameras. It turns on instantly. I can notice a little shutter lag, but that is acceptable. Playback functions are very well design, especially the zoom in mode.
The status panel does not show ISO, I once forgot to change ISO back to 200 after testing ISO 1600, then the following day I took a bunch of pictures using ISO 1600. The good news is that even with ISO 1600 the pictures are still very clean.
I just wish D50 used the same kit lens as D70(s). But the 18-55mm kit lens is not too shabby to use occasionally, especially when my Tamron 28-70mm 2.8 lens does not cover 28mm anymore on D50. Overall, D50 is a great DSLR. It takes some time to get used to a DSLR if you are switching from film SLR like me.
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TopStrengths: really well put together, the pictures it takes are awesome (i.e. good color, good resolution, good auto focus), the flash is even and the battery lasts a long time.
Weakness: Hmmm.... well it would be nice if it came with the lens hood, since I had to buy it extra, it would also be nice if it came with some type of case, but hey for 700 dollars, it is a pretty good deal
I have been wanting to buy a digital SLR for years. My wife has had a Canon S45, which was great for its time and still takes great photo's. All my friends have Nikon and Lecia Analog SLR's, I am the first of the group to go digital. When I showed them the camera they were all really impressed with how well it is put together and also noted how well it took photos.
I almost settled on the Canon Rebel XT, which from what I have read and heard is a great camera. However there is one key feature that the Rebel lacks and that is external flash sync (maybe they will fix that in the next model).
As far as the lense goes, I really like the 18-55mm lense it came with. I mostly take photo's of people so having a wide angle capable lense is quite nice. If you plan on using your camera for shooting sports I would recommend getting the 55-200mm lens as well.
The interface with the computer is also nice. The camera just mounts as a USB 2.0 mass storage device, which is wonderful!!! I use windows XP and just download the pictures with the "autoplay" feature. This works great and thus I didn't even install the Nikon software, maybe I will try it sometime.
I also have a 1gig SD card, it holds 555 photos, which has been enough for each day that I shoot. If you are like me and take a lot of photos when you have your camera around I would definetly look into getting a couple of SD cards so you do not have lose any of your photos.
As far as the camera's operation, so far so good, if I have any problems with the camera at all I will definetly post another reivew.
Also just to note, I bought my camera from OneCall.com and they did a wonderful job, it cost me 720 shipped, I ordered it on saturday and had it on Wednesday! It was packed very well, even double boxed.
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TopJust wanted to post an update. 6000+ pictures later my D50 is still going very strong, I really really enjoy it and have had so much fun with it! I highly recommend this camera, I have had two other friends buy it since I recieved mine and they love theirs as well. I also was able to shoot with a rebel and D70s and I still recommend the D50 for the price and functionality. The supplied lens had been wonderful, however I got very interested in taking lower light photo's so I sprung for a Nikkor 50mm 1.8 lense (95 dollars from B&H). This is also a wonderful inexpensive lense that lets you take photo's that just are not possible with point and shot cameras, all this for under 1K, I am still blown away. Also as stated before I highly recommend getting the lens hoods. I also bought an extra battery which has been wonderful for when I forget to turn my camera off or recharge after two or three days of consecutive use. As for the high speed memory cards people are recommending, I have tried a couple and found that you only need a fast card if you are going to be taking the maximum 2.5fps for over 10 seconds are so. I personally have done a whole stop mototion animation project with a normal speed memory card and it worked out just fine. However, I must admit that if you do want to not have buffer issues look into getting a high speed SD card. Well that is all I have to report for right now. The next thing I see myself checking out is a Flash, which I have tried the speedlight 800 and it seems to be the one to get. I hope my comments help!
Strengths: Easy to use right out of the box, in fact, amazing quality for just point and shoot. I have owned SLRs for 30 year and this is is my first digital SLR. I am impressed.
Weakness: As everyone else has said, no depth of field preview, and several steps are needed to gain full manual control, but that's OK - I like to tinker.
Price is right, great quality (once you get over the plastic body and lens), tons of features, nice feel, and easy to use. I love it. Nikon is making more and more digital lens, and so easy to expand this camera system. I see now why Nikon is getting out of the film camera business. The range of creative possibilites with Digital SLR is enourmous!
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Top
TomManolo
- Apr 4, 2006
Strengths: easy to use, cool zoom
Weakness: none for my use
am not an intense user of that camera, but pictures always come out clear and crisp, the zoom is really easy to handle and it makes me feel like I am better at taking pictures than I actually am.
Would recommend for all novice photographers who want good quality memories!
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TopStrengths: The ability to take pictures immediately without having to read 100 page manual. Easy menu to follow.
Weakness: The manual, although provides detail on every aspect of the camera I think the explanations for the functions could be more descriptive.
The camera is great for people who don't want to have to read directions constantly to take good pictures. The camera response time is very fast when taking pictures. There isn't a wait time between shots. The camera is light and very easy to handle. The lens provided with the kit is a quality lens, they didn't throw in a cheap lens. The LCD is easy to read and work with. The labels for the menu items are very easy to figure out. Overall I would highly recommend this camera.
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TopStrengths: Very user-friendly great full featured Camera. The continuous shooting mode until the capacity of the memory card is full makes those action shots even more exciting.
Weakness: Camera body display is not lit. I use a small LED light for nighttime shooting.
This is the second DSLR camera I've purchased. I researched several different types of DSLR prior to picking the Nikon D50 and I very happy with the purchase. As I stated about the weakness of this camera is no lit display on the camera body, this is a very minor distracter and if you looking to purchase this camera do not let it dissuaded you from making this purchase. After all I am using the same LED light to get equipment out of my gear bag too. The size, weight and feel of the camera with the lens are excellent. The interchangeable lens makes this a great camera for someone wanting a full feature digital SLR camera. The ability for continuous shooting until the memory card is expended is another plus. All in all I highly recommend this camera to anyone who is ready to make the step to Digital Single Lens Reflex camera stage.
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TopStrengths: Well built, fast startup and autofocus, great pictures and low cost.
Weakness: limited ISO settings, smallish viewfinder.
If you are looking for a camera that takes great pictures, is easy to learn, doesn't feel like a toy, something you can be proud to own, this camera has everything you will need to take great photos. It has a nice feel to it, solid, it has quick autofocus, nice built in flash, and easy to learn menu's. One thing though is the pictures are on the soft side, a D-SLR trait. I sharpen mine after the pictures are taken. I will either use Photoshop Elements or Nikon's own Picture Project in which I will sharpen and use their D-lighting to get the picture looking just the way I want them too. I do not shoot in Raw but the jpeg's look great. If you want a camera that takes great pictures, is great with low light focusing, has nice flash capabilities and won't break the bank to buy it, you can't go wrong with this wonderful camera. I have been using 35mm and digital for over 30 years so believe me when I tell you this camera is capable of taking beautiful pictures. If you own lenses from Pentax or Canon ect. than I'm sure you will be happy with their cameras as they make nice cameras as well, but if you don't and are looking for your first slr, you will be delighted with the D50.
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TopJust wanted to say I have only owned this camera 2 weeks not 2 years. Sorry....
Strengths: price, picture color
Weakness: No backlight for the top LCD control, No live preview via LCD monitor
I bought D50 kit from circuitcity.com for ~$740 after tax and used it for couple of days. As a owner of Nikon FE2 and Sony S70, I have to say Nikon D50 is a very good DSLR for not only beginners but also pro-sumers.
You can use D50 as a point-and-shot camera. Or you can manually set up your exposure for shooting.
The camera starts up in less than 1 sec (People said 0.2 sec). The auto-focus (depends on if you have AF lens) is fast (instant to me compared to the slow AF of Sony S70) and accurate, which is very good for me to take pictures for my little 2 year old girl. There is a mode for “kid” picture taking and the camera can sense the kid’s movement and switch focus from one focus point to another. This is awesome if you often need to take pictures for running kids. Don’t even mention there is no delay in memory card writing between shots!
One thing I found interesting was there was no live preview through the LCD monitor. After checking around, I found out this is by design and almost all DSLRs do not have such feature.
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Top "One thing I found interesting was there was no live preview through the LCD monitor. After checking around, I found out this is by design and almost all DSLRs do not have such feature."
That's because DSLR's viewfinder is "through the lens" so the mirror covers the digital sensor and flips up when the shutter button is pressed.
Strengths: Image quality, easy use, price.
Weakness: Any for entry level camera.
Great Camera for entry level camera, very low level of noise.
Price very low, for a camera better than any compact camera.
6mp enough for any impression, professional quality to 11 x14 inches. Acceptable to 13 x 19.
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TopStrengths: Good handling, very short shutter lag, instant power on
Weakness: The kit lens is just ordinary
This is my first DSLR, and I've done a few months of research on it and the result becomes to choose one between Rebel XT and D50. Rebel XT does have more bells and whistles but D50 is around $150 cheaper at the time, also the D50 has a sightly better lens than XT. So I decided to go with D50.
I got the package a few days and I definitely love it! The handling is much better than XT which I tried on local stores. And it's much lighter than D70 which I borrowed from a friend for a few weeks, it's a important factor for me since I do a lot of hikings. The controls are almost the same as D70, so I didn't even have to read a single line of the manual before I started to take pictures. I took a fews shot inside and outside, both are great. I haven't done any detail comparsion between it and D70 pictures, but it does looks very sharp, and clean. The only problem I encountered is the kit lens is not fast enough, the result of it is that sometimes it's hard to focus at low light situation, and forced me to use flash even I increase ISO to 800.
I'll go take more pictures the coming weekend, hopefully I can give more feedback on it. But so far so good, I'm loving it! After all, it's just the price of a high-end fix lens digital camera. I'll definitely recommend it to any people who're looking forward to have their first DSLR.
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TopStrengths: Very responsive, fast focus speed. The color is very staturated.
Weakness: need a better lens
The image quality of kit lens is very good and sharp,but it only has 18-55m, and it is not enough if you want to shoot a long-distance object. The 18-70 lens will be more useful.
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TopStrengths: Foto quality, easy to use.
Weakness: Does not provide with a mamory card, and fotos can not be taken using the 2" LCD.
Great camera for the price. I jumped from the coolpix 995 to this one and is another world in terms of quality and features. Great to get into the SLR cameras!
I've being using digital cameras since 1997, and this one is by far the best one I had.
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TopStrengths: Reasonable price and uses SD memory cards
Weakness: Not compatible with any of the existing "Nikon mount" manual focus lenses that I own (either Nikon Brand or 3rd party).
I tried the D50 but it just locks-up without even minimal functionality if I try to use my existing Nikon mount lenses. Seems that the older Nikon film SLRs (such as the Nikon 2020) and lenses had a mechanical aperature linkage and the D-50 requires electrical aperature contacts. I am unwilling to throw out my investment in my existing gear (lenses, etc.) so I will just have to wait for a more compatible model.
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TopIt is unfortunate that you give the D50 low ratings based on your own inability to research if your current lense collection would work. I am reading through the posts to get some knowledge of this camera...and I discovered some ago what lenses would work (and I have no SLR experience).
I hope you found something to your liking and posted some constructive feedback as to it's meeting your liking or not.
I agree, it is unfortunate that you didn't researched more before buying the camera. But this is by no means Nikon's or the camera's fault. It's a pity you give bad ratings based on that.
I am sorry that you did not find my comment and concerns helpful. I believe that it is unfortunate that Nikon (which had historically been known for it's attention to backwards compatibility) did not continue the tradition (even when other manufacturer's have made the effort to support similar vintage equipment.) I did research the D50 product and had been misinformed / mislead about it's capabilities and compatibilities.
If there had been a similar post on this website highlighting these incompatibilities I would never have bought the product so my effort was to avoid the same experience for others.
Are you interested in selling your D50? I'm a buyer at the right price.
I think its a fair point. True his rating ignores the many fine qualities of the camera. But if you buy a budget canon slr it does meter manual lenses and if you use a simple mount adaptor it even meters nikon manual lenses. The d50 is an excelent camera but if your main need is to use manual nikon lenses it is infuriating that canons have better support for nikon manual lenses than budget nikons. Whether this is because they wish to force people to buy a more expensive model is a matter of conjector. This should not detract though as I said from the D50 being probably the best entry slr for the rest of people.
I know nothing about SLR operation, but I found the N-80 was incredibly easy to use. I bought the D-50 because it is so similar to the N-80. I can use the same lenses and now I don't have to keep reloading film. I get great action shots of my kids playing football, soccer, and rugby, and the money I saved on film and developing in the past four months has paid for the camera. I love it. It's a computer that takes pictures!
The only problem I have experienced is with an aftermarket battery. I have the original battery, and an aftermarket battery (that has Nikon written on it). These both work fine. I have a third EN-EL3 aftermarket battery that just says EN-EL3. Whenever I try to use that battery, the camera freezes up and won't do anything. I only paid $12 for this battery and charger, so it's no big deal. I don't blame this problem on the camera.
If you feel the compatibility of the camera and lenses were misrepresented to you, then take it back. If the camera shop won't give you a refund, they will probably let you trade it in toward something that will work better for you. I can certainly understand your frustration, and I would probably be in someone's face until the situation was resolved. Good luck!
Strengths: Used lenses, batteries more readily available than for the D40 that succeeded it
Weakness: Becoming hard to find, but still runs about $100 more than the D40 in similar condition
We bought this camera for the wife, who has used D-SLRs at work for years. She's not a super-photog, but she was spoiled by the SLR features.. glad there's finally some we can afford. By the time we bought this camera- factory refurbished- it had actually been succeeeded by both the D40 and D40X and was getting tough to find new (or rather, like-new). The value of the D50 vs. D40, D40 vs. D40X etc. are discused in detail elsewhere on the web- we picked the D50 over the D40X because we don't need to be able to take 11 megapixel pictures- we'd rather have a D-SLR that takes a decent 8 1/2 x 11 photo and sink that extra $250 into a good, used, telephoto lens. Minor technical preferences aside, we picked the D50 over the D40, inspite of a slightly higher price, because it has better back-compatibility with other Nikon autofocus lenses than the D40/40X (ie: will autofocus all AF lenses, not just the AF-S)and because it's batteries are a common type- so generics and used batteries are widely available. The camera took beautiful photos in questionable lighting on automatic settings, right out of the box- which means the husband can use it, too. We got ours for $519 as part of a kit with the same Nikkon AF-S 18-55 mm lens in the D40/40x kits (on a D-SLR, this is equivalent to a 29-77mm film camera lens), and it's perfect for day-to-day shots. Expect to spend $25 more for a camera bag, $20-40 on an SD memory card, $15-20 on a card reader, and $10 for a 52mm UV filter to protect the lens before you can really get down to business.
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TopStrengths: Size, price, shots per battery charge, color reproduction
Weakness: No depth of field preview, meter lock-out for non-cpu lenses
As a long-time Nikon user (started out over 30 years ago w/ a Nikkormat Ftn), I was a bit disappointed that I couldn't use my existing non-cpu lenses w/o hand-held metering. As long as the scene/subject is relatively static, that has turned into a non-issue for me (but I'm also slowly replacing my older lenses). The incorporation of a threaded external shutter release would have been nice, too. But here again, I've adapted by purchasing an inexpensive wireless release that works just great-- the only drawback is that it won't work from behind the camera. All-in-all, I'm very happy with my D50. If I'd had a few hundred extra $$ in my pocket, I would have sprung for the D80, but for now, the D50 does eveything I need it to.
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TopStrengths: superb image quality, very fast and accurate focussing, very good light metering, instant startup. no delay between shots, Auto ISO setting.
Weakness: Tendency to produce Moire.
This camera is really good. It feels solid in your hands. the controls are well laid out. with auto ISO, you dont have to worry about missing a shot. images at ISO 1600 are very good. SB600 makes a good flash unit.
kit lens is sharp, focusses fast and is sufficient for most people. focussing under low light is really fast. the camera does not struggle in any situation so far. i really like it. the price is excellent too!
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TopStrengths: Very good built, Fast camera, Pictures are sharp and clear even with the kit lens, Continuous JPEG shots until size of the card. Fast focusing.
Weakness: No Depth of field preview, rarely the focusing point miss out, No screen protection. No BW shots have to be done thru software
I have owned the Nikon D50 with Kit lens for many weeks now. I believe it is one of the best camera for the price. I work for a store that has many cameras. You could never go wrong with this.
It is solidly built, fast focusing, My only concern is the camera does not take BW pictures. If done with a software the file size is drastically reduce.
I will recommend it for the price.
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Testseek.com has collected 53 expert reviews for Nikon D50 and the average expert rating is 84 of 100. The average score reflects the expert community’s view on this product. Click below and use Testseek.com to see all ratings, product awards and conclusions.
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Digital SLR’s were once reserved for professional photographers, and could cost as much as the vacation you wanted to shoot, but with digital cameras becoming as common as owning a cell phone, the pricetags for prosumer SLRs have finally come down to earth. Now photo enthusiasts can enjoy the benefits of interchangeable lenses, burst shooting, and the accuracy of a through-the-lens viewfinder.
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The Nikon D50 may be a so-called entry level model; nevertheless it offers the user almost everything. Nikon offers a model of the lowest priced segment; this will make us meet more Nikons in the street. The Nikon D50 D-SLR provides excellent colour rendition, fine bright and no overwhelming noise. Also the auto focus proved its good service and absolutely lives up to the expectations. Read our...
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Digital single lens reflex cameras are produced in various price ranges and models by the major manufacturers, and are now being sold widely to the general public. With so much interest, it's only logical that models are appearing that are aimed at a broader market. The Nikon D50 and Pentax *istDL are two examples of SLR models that are more accessible - due both to lower price as well as greater...
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If you’re trying to choose between Nikon and Canon D-SLR cameras, the D50 might not be such an obvious winner. But if you have been wanting to go digital but haven’t liked the high prices, the D50’s sub-$1,000 sticker should make it a slam-dunk.
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A fine entry-level digital SLR--particularly if you own some Nikon lenses. It lacks some of the controls found on the D70s.
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The Nikon D50 is a very good entry-level digital SLR that performs just as well as the more expensive D70s, though you'll lose a few features along the way. Even so, many people will be happy to ditch those features to get an affordable D-SLR that performs very well.
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Nikon and Canon have been fierce rivals in the photo business for decades now, and the advent of the digital era has only intensified the competition. Of course, this is nothing but good news for the consumer, as the battle between these two rivals (not to mention the rest of the growing pack of manufacturers), has resulted in a continuing stream of innovation and cost-cutting. The latest result...
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The Nikon D50 is a solid contender among entry level DSLRs, providing users with a 6 megapixel APS-format sensor, 2.5 frames-per-second burst mode, vibrant color rendition, and excellent noise performance. Available at an MSRP of $899.95 and selling for around $700 or even below online, the D50 falls into an increasingly crowded segment of the DSLR realm. Supplying a 2-inch, 130,000 pixel LCD and...
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Great Entry Level Camera
Strengths: quick response, price, light, easy to handle
Weakness: no backlit LCD, no DOF preview, no battery grip
Aside from the minor gripes, this is a great camera. It is quick to startup, quick to respond, and with a few extra lenses is a very versatile camera. I've been using it now for 1 year and I'm quite happy with the images I get out of it. I can see that this is an idea SLR option for families and enthusiast shooters. The wealth of manual controls make this an ideal option for those on a budget as well. I would also recomend simply buying the body and a slightly better lense if you're not just going to shoot snapshots. Low light focusing is generally very fast and accurate. The battery life is good, although I'd recommend having a spare handy to get you through the day as there's no AAs to back you up with this camera. The mounted flash is also fairly harsh, even at it's lowest setting. However, the camera is VERY easy to use, and a recommended investment.
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