All the Camera I will ever need...
Written: Jul 20 '01
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Pros: Lightweight, easy to use, many different pre-programmed modes
Cons: built-in flash is useless
The Bottom Line: Great camera at a great price. For all but the pro photogs, this one will do the job.
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| jystrebler's Full Review: Nikon N50 Film Camera |
I'm not much of a photographer, but I can tell the difference between badly shot photos and ones that were done with better equipment. Instamatics are basically gone, now. You have disposables, digitals and SLRs.
I had a digital camera and did a lot with it, but frankly, most of the digital cameras still have a way to go before they compare with a 35 mm SLR.
Keep in mind that 35mm is what is called "small format" film. It does a lot, but there are things it can not do. For instance, for portrait photography, and a lot of professionally shot pictures, the photographer uses medium formats (bigger film, to capture a better image.)
Still 35mm has been the choice of action photographers and photojournalists for years. For most amateur photographers, this is as good as it needs to get.
I liked that this camera had a lot of different automatic modes. You can set it for point-and-shoot mode. I use this frequently.
However, if you're taking portraits, it has a portrait mode. If you're doing landscapes, it has a landscape mode. If you're shooting sports, it has a sports mode.
I'd have to say that a person would have to spend years upon years with a camera in their hands, exposing miles of film before they'd be able to get better results, manually, than the automatic programs within the camera will get them.
The last time I had an SLR, autowinders were an option. Apparently, they all have them, now. If you're in outdoor light, you can just click and the camera advances you to the next frame automatically.
The built-in flash isn't good for much. I really can't imagine ever using it. However, it's not that expensive to buy an aftermarket strobe. Also, for those really getting into this sort of thing, you may wish to look into getting some photographic lights.
The lens I have is a Sigma general purpose zoom jobby. I won't go into it in this review, except to say that it integrates perfectly with the Nikon.
I've taken my camera to several continents, taken hundreds of portraits, hundreds of landscapes and probably more than a thousand general "point and shoot" type pics.
Frankly, for all but the true professional, this is probably all the camera you will ever need.
Perhaps those who are serious, serious photographers would want something else.
For the rest of us, you can get a lens, camera and all the fixins for under $500. Your pictures will thank you later.
One last word on film versus digital: even when I scan the pictures (using a cheap scanner) anything shot on film looks better than digital to me.
Great camera for all amateurs, and intermediate photogs. Probably not a bad unit for the pros, either, but I'll leave it up to the pros to make that determination.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 250
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Epinions.com ID:
jystrebler
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Location: Toledo, OH, Northcoast of America
Reviews written: 96
Trusted by: 11 members
About Me:
Father of one squirmy child, Sometimes listenable Musician.
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