Nikon turning back on film cameras - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Bill Wood · #1 01-12-2006, 03:56 PM

Here's an interesting tidbit I saw on Reuters today:

"Japanese camera and precision equipment maker Nikon said on Thursday it will focus on digital photography and stop producing most of its film cameras, except for a few professional photographer products."

I guess you can't blame them. I don't use film anymore. Most hospitals are converting or have plans to convert to digital.

Biodiesel300TD · #2 01-12-2006, 04:08 PM

I bet more and more will begin to do this. But you still can't beat the resolution of film. I have a digital, and a regular film camera. I still like the old film camera better.

A264172 · #3 01-12-2006, 04:12 PM

Kodak also appears to be abandoning film... and they are the 'film maker'...

Film is headed the way of vinal.

Kuan · #4 01-12-2006, 04:19 PM

I'll buy a 35mm DSLR once they make one that's 20 megapixels and $300. Until then I'm sticking with film. Still intend to get a medium format.

Ra_ · #5 01-13-2006, 10:16 AM

Just got the D70s

I'm reading reports of Pros who bought one as a second camera
and then elevated the D70s to 'first' camera, over their $5000 body.

I got Photoshop too, so I can make the most of the raw images.
Had to upgrade to a gig of ram.

The batteries on this latest generation camera are incredible.
You can shoot 800 highest resolution shots and still have juice left.

You can print 20X30 with this setup.
Costco only charges $10 for them.

Film is now officially passe'.

Ra_ · #6 01-13-2006, 11:12 AM

Hi Paul,

The camera body retails for $999.99
It is also sold with either 1 17-80mm lens, or with an additional lens up to 200 or 300mm.
The big zoom is not rated as highly as the 17-80mm, as seen in the first photo,
which is a top grade semi pro lens.
I found the best deal, from the highest rated seller, at ephotocraft
The camera and zoom sell for just under $1100 there.
ephotocraft D70s Kit

People should know that the camera requires a memory card.
I selected the sandisk 1 gig card, which I found for $80, with a $20 rebate.
Also be advised that the CCR sensor is smaller than a 35mm film negative,
so every lens is gonna appear 1.5X more maginfied.
This makes your kit lens into a 26-120 zoom, effectively.
Maybe better in one respect (zooming) ... but a disadvantage for very wide angle.

Another thing about this generation of DSL.
It is instant on... and it can fire off 3 shots per second on 'normal' quality.
( a bit slower on 'raw' )
It's buffer will fill with 'processing shots' after a couple seconds..
whereupon it will slow down.
Having a 1 gig memory card helps utilize the top speed capabilities of the camera.

Let me know if you have any more questions.
I'll post some photos when I get through the manual...
and the Photoshop manual!

wbain5280 · #7 01-14-2006, 01:28 AM

I just bought a Nikon D50 to suplement my Canon G2 and my Nikon F2. The older Nikon still takes great shots.

Holeshot · #8 01-14-2006, 01:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biodiesel300TD

I bet more and more will begin to do this. But you still can't beat the resolution of film. I have a digital, and a regular film camera. I still like the old film camera better.

This is generally true. There are also things you can do with film that digital just does not seem to do well yet (like the exagerated saturation of films like Velvia and Ektachrome). But it's getting there and the prices are getting lower and lower on the 16 MP + units. It's generally accepted that 16 MP is equiv to 35mm file resolution.

I stopped shooting transparency a couple of years ago, sold all my Canon FD pro-am film gear and bought newer EOS equipment, including digital bodies. Really saves me a bucket load of time 'filing' and I don't have to worry about the originals being destroyed in a fire. A digital copy of the file is just as good as the original and I can store copies offsite without much worry of the tempurature and humidity. Except CD's and DVD's are only supposed to be reliable for something like 10 years or so.. not sure how I'm going to deal with degrading digital media if it turns out to be a reality.

sfloriII · #9 01-14-2006, 02:09 AM

I own an "old" digital camera with only 3.1 million megapixels. I use it for inside shots and anything I don't plan to frame or blow up.

But I still very much prefer my Nikon 6006 film camera because of the look of film and my nice lenses.

Like others, though, I can see myself converting over to digital once the megapixels get over 16 million or so and the price comes down. At least any camera equipment is a tax write-off for me as a business expense!

Ra_ · #10 01-14-2006, 02:25 AM

The latest incarnation of photoshop can do some amazing things with raw camera files now.

sfloriII · #11 01-14-2006, 02:34 AM

I've got photoshop 7.1 on my computer. Pretty amazing stuff once you figure out what you're doing!

cmac2012 · #12 01-14-2006, 03:18 AM

I got me a Niiiii -- kon camera,
I love to take a pho - oh -oh - tograph,
Mama, don't taaaaaake my Kodachrome away....

I bought a heckuva Nikon film camera in '01. Forget the model name cause I hardly ever use it any more. It was on sale. Pretty good price. I researched it some and I couldn't see any reason it was a dog they were dumping so I bought it.

I get it now. Film was on the way out.

I heard a guy on NPR today talking about how much of history is based on letters that people saved. Likewise for photos. Now, our e-mails are not going to be found in someone's attic someday nor will our hard-drives with digi-pics. I like my digital camera but I miss having high quality photos to hold onto. I've heard some ads of outfits offering to make durable prints from a bunch of zeros and ones. I'll have to check that out.

#13 01-14-2006, 07:00 AM

X-Rays are digital now........X-rays, who woulda thunk.

Holeshot · #14 01-14-2006, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MedMech

X-Rays are digital now........X-rays, who woulda thunk.

Yeah.. no kidding. When I had a root canal about 6 years ago they used one. I thought that was way cool. Pow.. images righ there. No developing. I still had to wear the lead bib of course!

Ra_ · #15 01-14-2006, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmac2012

[I]
Now, our e-mails are not going to be found in someone's attic someday nor will our hard-drives with digi-pics. I like my digital camera but I miss having high quality photos to hold onto.

I see it differently.
I think email has revived the art of writing.

I don't think most of us have a lot of writings in our attic from the 80's.
People either talked in person, or by telephone.

I hate telephones and conduct all communications via web, if possible.
A salesman can lie over the phone and deny it later...
but if you've saved his email, you can demand that he honor his promises.

Another example of how we've embraced the art of writing,
are these very forums.

I've got some prints on the way, from one of the digital print services.
There are pros on the Nikon users forum that are happy with their quality.
The prices are outstanding. 4X6 prints are 17 cents... with free shipping on that size.

You do not need more than 6mb of camera to get high quality enlargements.
Photoshop CS2 and it's plugins are so powerful,
you can interpolate an image to 20 X 30 inches and get a flawless print.

Photoshop has greater vector conversion capabilities than ever.
Vector images don't use pixels, so they don't degrade much when enlarged.