Eshin Direct

Thanks to changes in my situation, I am now able to finally address one interest that had fallen to the way side – photography. My first forays into photography yielded interesting results and had me lugging an F80 with multiple lenses, and more troublesome a host of different film types around. At the time, I decided to go with film but ultimately, it was the film issue that killed the interest in photography for me.

There were two reasons why I decided to go for film over digital. Firstly, it offered more value for money in my opinion in the quality of image that you can achieve. This was important for potentially printing photos in different formats like poster-sized formats and so on. Secondly, it would give me a chance to work with a medium that was rapidly disappearing.

However, after four years, the toll on the wallet was exorbitant for buying film, developing it, and converting it into CD format (because digital does last longer than film in Asia’s climate). Changes in economic situation meant that it was simply not possible for me to shoot photographs anymore as it was a financial luxury. I think I even have some undeveloped rolls of film somewhere to this day. The cost eventually worked out higher especially since my photos would never be blown up to billboard size.

Likewise too, the joy of working with film is one that eludes me in the absence of a real passion for understanding how film works versus digital. Once you are committed to a type of film, you are committed until the end of the roll. You still end up carrying around at least 10 rolls of film for different subjects and situations. Lugging all that equipment in situations where I was likely to use my camera – social situations, wakeboarding, riding around etc, this became purely impractical. The camera stayed at home.

So evaluating my lifestyle, and the amount of time I have and how I convey my photos to the outside world, I’d say that digital is the way to go. Through the use of email, my blog, and services like Flickr and Facebook, no-one comes over to my place to look at photo albums anymore. Thankfully, I will still have my film camera to work with but this will have to be set aside for special interest projects.

So, eagerly I went down to Comex to see if there would be anything interesting to be had from Nikon or Canon. I’m a Nikon guy myself since it says photography for me and I think I grew up with a strong Nikon/National Geographic association (as a result of colour psychology 101). I looked briefly at Canon but I always find their camera bodies are too lightweight for me. I’m not looking for heavy but just something that feels solid. Nikon’s digital range still seems to provide that robustness of character that makes you believe you too could go Jane Goodall and shoot gorillas in the mist.

Besides, the Nikon digital SLRs obviously have a higher degree of compatibility with my current equipment.

So the choice remains which DSLR should I take? I’m not a professional amateur so the D300 or D700 are probably not in my scope (along with the hefty price tag). The choice then becomes whether I go for a D40, D60, D80 or even a D90. I do believe that technology is underused these days. Probably 10% of the features that go into a D40 are probably used by 90% of its users. So that really begs the question on whether to go anything higher than a D40, pocket the difference and spend more on accessories like lenses.

A sophisticated auto-focus feature as a back up is great for lazy beginners like myself. With the D40 and D60, you only have 3 AF points but when you go to the D80 it jumps to 11. I have found this useful on my F80 so I would consider it a must to have at least 5. With the introduction of the D90, this remains the same but the software for AF recognition of scene types and face recognition jumps up a notch apparently.

Of course, this is an exercise in laziness. The reassuring thing about an SLR is that you have control over the focus, exposure and speed and so on. At least that is the intention. What can you do with a digital camera that you can’t do with a film camera without the bells and whistles. It is just a matter of expertise and in part convenience (e.g. changing ISO speeds on the fly). I suppose I am moving towards the D90 since it is packed with more features that does give me more control over my shot. I might not be able to use it to its fullest initially but eventually I might and it is something to grow into. Besides, if it is touted to replace the D80, why go for a model that is clearly going to be obsolete.

With technology and something that you are going to be stuck with for a while, best to get the best you can afford in the mid-rage sector. Never go for the high-end as you’ll end up paying only a premium for technology that will become cheaper very soon. Go low-end and you’ll probably end up wanting eventually and it will cost more to upgrade.

Thankfully, the D90 hasn’t hit stores yet in Singapore so it gives me time to consider the choices open to me. Hopefully, the D90 will be available in the next couple of weeks so I can at least get my hands on it and try out its feel.

Tags: canon, nikon, Photography, photos