I am liking the looks of the 85 1.4...that just looks mean on there...

So what about a D50 vs a D90?...

What? The D90 is unquestionably a superior camera to the D50, though of course it isn't in the hands of a neophyte and the D50 is in the hands of an expert.

The D90 has a full generation of sensor development on the D50, and has all the features that the D50 has, plus more.

luminosity wrote:
What? The D90 is unquestionably a superior camera to the D50, though of course it isn't in the hands of a neophyte and the D50 is in the hands of an expert.

The D90 has a full generation of sensor development on the D50, and has all the features that the D50 has, plus more.

So ? Technically the D90 is more advanced, that’s a no brainer. But in all practicality iso200-800 where most of photography is shot you can’t tell a bit of difference unless printing large between D50/D90 or my D3 for that matter. Actually I feel the D50 6mp iso200 was on par with the wonderful iso100 of D200. The iso200 of D300/D90 doesn’t match iso100 of the old outdated generation behind D200 imho..

Shaun Nyc wrote:
luminosity wrote:
What? The D90 is unquestionably a superior camera to the D50, though of course it isn't in the hands of a neophyte and the D50 is in the hands of an expert.

The D90 has a full generation of sensor development on the D50, and has all the features that the D50 has, plus more.

So ? Technically the D90 is more advanced, that’s a no brainer. But in all practicality iso200-800 where most of photography is shot you can’t tell a bit of difference unless printing large between D50/D90 or my D3 for that matter. Actually I feel the D50 6mp iso200 was on par with the wonderful iso100 of D200. The iso200 of D300/D90 doesn’t match iso100 of the old outdated generation behind D200 imho..


I agree with that my D200 at ISO 100 produces superior large size prints - decidedly on par with my D300. Sorry, though - the D50 isn't even close when it comes to printing big. Overall, even though I use my D300 all the time, I still like the image quality of my D200 (at ISO 100) best.

Although we have a D40, I can't compare the D40 to the D50 or D70 / D70s. I DO, however significantly prefer the D70 and D70s over the D50. Image quality is better (slightly), and the controls are appreciably better (less stuff buried in menus).

Gerald

Agree about the iso100 files from the D200. They are just fantastic.

Shaun Nyc wrote:
D40 has poopy metering of D80, D50 meters same as D200.

Actually the D40, D50, D60, D80, D90, and Dxxxx models share the 420 pixel metering. The D70/s are the only "lower end" models that share the 1005pixel metering of the D200/300, D2/3 models.

The excerpts from Thom Hogan's review of the D40 below suggest to me that JPEGs are less noisy. However, no mention of D40 v. D70s RAW.


"...The sensor in the D40 is the same 6mp CCD made by Sony that was used in the D50 (and D70s)..."

and...

"...Nikon has once again integrated a number of things into the D40 to address the potential for decreasing noise production versus the previous consumer cameras. For example, data is kept in 12-bit space right up until the final compression to an 8-bit JPEG. Second, the internal digitization engine has a noise reduction component in it. That, plus the fact that Nikon has a long, deep experience with this sensor and knows how to optimize the image data from it means that the D40 promises to be quite good in handling noise. When we get to the results section of the review, we'll talk more about whether or not Nikon was successful, but I'll preview the answer here: yes, they were..."

mfletch wrote:
Shaun Nyc wrote:
D40 has poopy metering of D80, D50 meters same as D200.

Actually the D40, D50, D60, D80, D90, and Dxxxx models share the 420 pixel metering. The D70/s are the only "lower end" models that share the 1005pixel metering of the D200/300, D2/3 models.

Ah yes, that too. See why I hold on to my D70s? It's small, light, yet has all these great features that make it very versatile

I sold my D70 a year ago. I miss it, and I just struck a deal on a D70s body for less than $200 shipped on TPF. It should be here this week. Reasons to love the D70: 1/500sec flash sync, ridiculous long batt life, 1% spot meter, light weight, 2 command wheels, 1005pixel metering, focus motor. Downside to the D70 is rather poor jpeg engine and one of the worst viewfinders in DSLR's. The D40 produces much better files straight out of camera and is the smallest and last Nikon with the 1/500 flash sync.

It may have been a while, but I always felt that the d40 was far inferior to my d70 and d80. The only gripe that I have over the D50/D70/D80 is that it is a larger camera and does not fit in the 'small DSLR' niche as much as the D40/D40x/D60 does. However, by far, even with the D70, the buttons and dual wheel prove to be more advantageous. I have a d70/35 1.8 and it's a wonderful lightweight kit that cost me $400 net

actually mfletch, the d70 will sync at any shutter speed, all the way to 1/8000s, provided your flash duration is faster than 1/8000s.....if you put a non dedicated, non nikon ttl flash such as a sunpak 383 on a d70, it will sync as fast as you can shoot. Radio slaves work the same way....put a pocket wizard on, and you can push at LEAST 1/1250, although i've never had to go higher than that....so i'm not sure with a PW....

the only thing is if you put a nikon flash on the camera, it knows you have a flash attached, and stops you from going above 1/500s....