Could not stand it any more.

[KmH]

Not having a camera that lets me choose exposure, metering, focusing modes, color space, etc.

I'm just not a P&S or cell phone camera kinda guy.

I've wanted one for a long time, so I finally got an used Nikon D50 (6.1 MP, 3008x2000 pixel, CCD image sensor). (KEH - body, Nikon charger, Nikon battery) - $126 - EX+ condition, so the camera looks brand new)
Nikon quit making them at the end of the 3rd quarter in 2006.
Nikon D50 6.1MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)

The D50 was Nikon's 1st entry-level DSLR.
It is not a 'compact' Nikon.
It has an AF motor and screw-drive system in the camera, a top LCD display (control panel), and has a max ISO setting of ISO 1600.

I have a 1 GB SD card (yep just 1 GB) in the camera and that 1 GB can hold approximately 135 D50 Raw files. I have a second 1 GB card so I can shoot approx 270 Raw files before I run out of SD card space.

I got a pristine, used Nikon 24-85mm f/2.8-4.0D IF AF Zoom Nikkor Lens from a business (D-Solution on Amazon.com) in Korea for $349.99 - including shipping from Korea.
I ordered the lens on Jan 6 and it got here (USPS) in just 5 days - Jan 11 from Seoul, Korea.

Now all I need to do is find the time to make some photographs.
I'm not far from a windmill farm, so I'll likely use the windmills as my first D50/AF 24-85 mm f/2.8-4 project. But, I won't freeze my ass off to do it. LOL!

 

[480sparky]

Wait.....what?!?!?!


Don't you have like ten D4's, six D700's, four D3's, a bevy of D7000's, a score of D300's, and a partridge in a pear tree?

 

[jaomul]

Have fun

 

[snowbear]

Wait.....what?!?!?!


Don't you have like ten D4's, six D700's, four D3's, a bevy of D7000's, a score of D300's, and a partridge in a pear tree?

^This.

 

[Patriot]

Man I thought you had like a D800 or a D4 or something. Mind blown

 

[KmH]

It was 2 D3, 2 D300, lenses, lights, props, modifiers, grip (light rigging gear), etc at the end.

All that stuff was included when I sold my photography business.
Jeez, I retired.
And actually, that was the second time I retired. I started the studio 3rd quarter 2006, about a year after I moved here from Arizona.
I even started a second photography business, action sports photography, 6 months later and hired a couple of second shooters to help cover all that stuff.

I still have my little upstairs personal studio, paper backdrops (107" and 53"), 6 or so light stands w/umbrella brackets, some 32", 45" and 60" umbrellas, hot shoe radio OCF flash triggers, some reflectors, flags, diffusion panels, yada, yada, yada.

But I hadn't been doing anything but family P&S and cell phone 'happy snaps' since 2011, and wasn't very happy with just doing that.
So I've had a couple year break, got the itch again, and got the D50.
I've seen some good buys on low shutter count D3's, but time will tell how far back into it I get as a personal pursuit.

Ray Kroc was about my age when he started McDonalds, but I think I was done with the hassles of running a business back in 2011 after having done it for 30 years.

 

[KmH]

Like the D40, D40x, D70, and D70x, the D50 has a mechanical/electronic shutter and can x-sync dedicated flash units up to shutter speeds of 1/500 and non-dedicated flash units up to 1/4000.

 

[MartinCrabtree]

:addpics:

 

[KmH]

http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/photojournalism-sports-gallery/362838-1600-iso-photos.html

http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/landscape-cityscape/354453-tilting-windmills.html

 

[hamlet]

I cant go 5 minutes without fiddling with my camera buttons. Every scene is a new adventure for me now. Am i going to post process this in photoshop? Am i going to do hdr? am i going to go for a special effect? How will i set my settings to convey the feelings i'm feeling the moment i take the shot? Photography is becoming more emotional and less technical over time as i learn more things.

 

[shadowlands]

So since you're use to a D3/D300, etc... how are you digging the D50, overall? I see them for $100.00 often, and I've considered grabbing one since it has the top LCD & AF motor.. something the other small Nikon's don't have.

 

[KmH]

As a personal camera the D50 works fine.

I miss having a second command wheel and having to menu dive is kind of a pain.
Because of what I miss and the pain, I'll probably get another D300, or a D300s so I can play with some video ideas I have had.

 

[greybeard]

All goes to prove that great pictures can be made with very modest equipment if you know what you are doing.

 

[astroNikon]

As a personal camera the D50 works fine.

I miss having a second command wheel and having to menu dive is kind of a pain.
Because of what I miss and the pain, I'll probably get another D300, or a D300s so I can play with some video ideas I have had.

But do you *really* need that or is it what you *want* :mrgreen:

pretty soon you'll have a set of d3x's again.

 

[KmH]

Nah. A D300 or D300s will be plenty.