Photographers - which camera?

Zardon · Jul 25, 2009, 12:06 PM

I thought this thread would be a handy 'sticky' addition to this forum so that people can share their equipment of choice and perhaps share some tips with others as to how they achieve their pictures.

Obviously with the quality of the current range of digital cameras you can get away with "auto" in most situations but for those with some creative ideas, please share.

I tend to be a user of Canon SLR's and I have owned about 10 Canon's throughout my life, with the 30D and 1000D my most recent choices.

I recently moved to the Nikon D90 which I am very pleased with, due to the extremely fast speed of the engine and the quality of the body.

Zelig · Jul 25, 2009, 01:21 PM

I guess I'm just a wannabe photographer, due to the budget limitations of being unable to afford a nice SLR.

I've got a Canon Powershot A720 IS, the last model of the A series to include manual controls. I run the CHDK firmware to give me raw files, and some extra control over camera settings.

I've been tempted to pick up a waterproofing package for my camera, I spent a lot of my winters in mountains with gorgeous scenery, but am always hesitant to bring my camera out into the snow, and it's not something I'd do with a pricey SLR anyway.

Mac Daddy · Jul 25, 2009, 01:22 PM

Well I am still using this 4.1MP Sony Cybershot which really isn't doing what I need it to do. On a replacement Z and a few others have made a few suggestions and just need to save some cash.

On the difficulties with this current camera it has to do mainly with white balance. I am taking shots indoors with a self constructed light box but the soft white tungsten bulbs cast a yellowish tint over the pics. There are adjustments for white balance and one for tungsten lights in the camera but it doesn't seem to help much. The only solution I have seen googling online is using very high candle power bulbs with a white filter to remove the tint.

Any ideas are welcome the camera model is DSC-P73.

Falstaff · Jul 25, 2009, 01:50 PM

Digital Cameras

1. Nikon D90
2. Nikon D40
3. Canon Powershot G-10
4. Canon EOS Rebel T1I
5. Canon EOS Rebel XSI
6. Canon EOS 40D
7. Canon EOS 30D
8. Canon EOS 20D
Various Olympus Camedia Cameras
Various Canon Pocket Cameras
Tiny Sony pocket Camera

Film

Canon T-70
Kodak Brownie Starmeter
Zenit TTL
Yashica MAT 124
Leica 107
various old bodies, no lenses

I want:

Mamiya DL33 (saving up)
Hasselblad 1600F (saving up)
Hasselblad stereo camera (I wish )
old russian 35mm cameras ( in good condition)
Kodak Model 3A autograph camera (repaired or not working)

What I like to do:
I am just an enthusiast so I take pics that give me the same image in my mind as well as on the media I am using.
What I mean is, the effect and the subject is more desirable for me.
I shoot thousands of pics every month, maybe save less than a few.
I experiment, and when someone brings me a happy accident, I ask them how or when or where they did it, then I try to reproduce it.
i am constantly experimenting, even with scanners to obtain a unique or satisfactory image.
If I am not satisfied, I dont give up, I just come back to it later, like restoring an old car, or a recipe I cant get right.
I ask my friends if they want me to take photograph subjects.
I love black and white and old color film effects so I always try.
I love polaroid film and the effects.
I consume photo magazines for any information that will help me develope my own style.
I am selfish, I spend hours taking pics.
I have been hurt three times taking pics, often throwing caution to the wind to get a good shot.
I still believe in film, and I want to get back to it, hoping my father will still be alive when I get my lab set up and start developing again.
I dont think I could ever be a good professional photographer, I am just too selfish to try to cater to a customer, except myself.
thats about it.

**temeteus82** · Jul 25, 2009, 02:05 PM

I got only one Canon EOS 450D with the kit lens..

Falstaff · Jul 25, 2009, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by temeteus82

I got only one Canon EOS 450D with the kit lens..

very good choice, I use my Sigma 150 - 500 on that bodie when I go to Duxford. I love it.

**temeteus82** · Jul 25, 2009, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falstaff

very good choice, I use my Sigma 150 - 500 on that bodie when I go to Duxford. I love it.

How much that costed to you? I'm looking for lens on that range ...

Zardon · Jul 25, 2009, 02:35 PM

jeff thats an insane amount of camera bodies ! personally I would sell most of them (keep the Nikon D90/Canon 40d) and get a few lenses. Great collection mind you !

Sigma btw are a great value lens - normally a few hundred quid less than the equivalent Nikon or Canon lens in their respective focal ranges. (although I would tend to pay a bit extra for the nikon or canon ones as they tend to be quieter and have a few more options).

Falstaff · Jul 25, 2009, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zardon

jeff thats an insane amount of camera bodies ! personally I would sell most of them (keep the Nikon D90/Canon 40d) and get a few lenses. Great collection mind you !

Sigma btw are a great value lens - normally a few hundred quid less than the equivalent Nikon or Canon lens in their respective focal ranges. (although I would tend to pay a bit extra for the nikon or canon ones as they tend to be quieter and have a few more options).

no, some of them were gifts, some have gone to Afghanistan and Iraq with me and some, though not working have memory I wish to treasure. Like the film camera's, I cant get enough.

I watched my father, the consumate technician repair and clean his film cameras and when he gave them to me, it was like a jewel. I love digital
but I value the old way.
The only thing I learned from my father is to appreciate substance over anything else. I have old pinhole camera pics i am still proud of. When I worked in Xray, we used to experiment with all kinds of things to reproduce
images, and I wish I still had the negatives, but with silver recovery being what it was, most of them were disposed of long ago.
I truly wish I could just get some old glass plates, and produce my own from that.
My father asked me to consider learning black and white first, to develop real technique and I will probably go back to that one day.
Allan, you enjoy camera's so you know, when you have something so wonderful, like an old pocket watch that doesnt work anymore, you still treasure it, becaause it too, is like a work of art and demands interest even when it no longer functions.
So too with my old cameras,they are retired, but they still serve me in a way.

RoyBatty · Jul 26, 2009, 08:33 PM

My first camera was Fuji F40fd which I bought just for ocassional p&s. But later I got more into it and wanted something more powerful with larger zoom range but not too heavy to take it with me for a bike trips. So after reading some reviews I got the Fuji S100fs. The reasons being good high-ISO performace thanks to a 2/3" CCD, decent focal range 28-400 mm, manual zoom control and the user interface I was used to from the F40fd (not to mention the good price I was able to get it for

).

Yes, the CA is quite apparent on some (especially high-contrast) shots and the continuous shooting buffer could be larger, but I can live with it.

Falstaff · Jul 26, 2009, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoyBatty

My first camera was Fuji F40fd which I bought just for ocassional p&s. But later I got more into it and wanted something more powerful with larger zoom range but not too heavy to take it with me for a bike trips. So after reading some reviews I got the Fuji S100fs. The reasons being good high-ISO performace thanks to a 2/3" CCD, decent focal range 28-400 mm, manual zoom control and the user interface I was used to from the F40fd (not to mention the good price I was able to get it for

).

Yes, the CA is quite apparent on some (especially high-contrast) shots and the continuous shooting buffer could be larger, but I can live with it.

I think even the high end Canon or Nikon cameras have a similiar problem. You know, the more pixels you have, the more noise you will get and CA and other issues never really go away.

Cow_160483 · Jul 27, 2009, 07:15 AM

well am not really that particular about my camera its a samsung NV3 digital camera so it serves my needs + i dont really know much about cameras, as long as the pictures comes out ok am happy

niceguyrichy · Jul 28, 2009, 11:14 AM

I played with the NV3 for a while (had a borrow of it)
its damn sexy, and really solid, I quite liked it

I'm still using my Konica Dimage Z2 mostly, desperately holding on and hoping that my next upgrade I can afford an SLR.
it could be worse. you gotta take your time with it, it's most definately not a point-and-click camera lol
but if you get it right it can take a real nice pic

(and btw Jeff mate, that's a mean ole collection

)

**dj_stick** · Jul 28, 2009, 11:24 AM

Well on my desk right now I have the following:

Canon T-70 film SLR with a Tamron 35-210mm f/3.5-4.5 lens
Fuji Finepix J15fd (Happy snap camera)
Canon EOS 350D/Rebel XT DSLR w/ Canon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II Lens (currently completely dead, but has served me well for the past four and a half years)

and my newest addition, a Canon EOS 450D/Rebel XSi with a Canon 28-135 f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens attached - hopefully this will serve me just as long as the 350D

Also have a Canon Speedlight 430EX II flash gun for indoor/night shots, and the Twin Lens kit for the 450D - 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS and 55-250mm 4/4-5.6 IS, both of which I'll probably stick on ebay shortly

Taken with my phone

IvanV · Jul 28, 2009, 12:47 PM

I've got a Canon A590 IS. The price dropped significantly when it was about to get phased out and I figured that it's going to be the cheapest camera with manual controls that I'd see anytime soon so, having read some positive reviews, I bought it.

It's a very nice camera and, while I don't know too much about photography, the manual controls are very handy every now and then, with lots of shooting modes (six) with varying degrees of control over different parameters (though some things are a little annoying, for example, you can't set ISO speed auto in manual mode and in other modes you'd have to give up control over some other parameter). It's certainly a leap ahead of my old Canon A400 in every aspect (though that ancient Canon's low end model produces surprisingly good photos and my sister who "inherited" my old camera is quite happy with it).

necrophyte · Jul 28, 2009, 01:53 PM

im not a photographer, but my main camera is a nikon d300, which is absolutely great for my uses (although probably using less than 1/20 of its features :P). for the real professionals the d3x is a star afaik.

Falstaff · Jul 28, 2009, 05:54 PM

anything that gives you great performance at a decent price regardless of the megapixels is good in my book. I started out with a crappy Sony 1 megapixel digital and I took some good shots with it, I was very very pleased.
It isnt all about the megapixels, its the composition and the technique for me, I just hope I get better.

Zardon · Jul 28, 2009, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by necrophyte

im not a photographer, but my main camera is a nikon d300, which is absolutely great for my uses (although probably using less than 1/20 of its features :P). for the real professionals the d3x is a star afaik.

yeah the D3X is pretty much the best camera money can buy - unfortunately its quite a bit of money !

Nikon D3x Review: 1. Introduction: Digital Photography Review

My nikon D90 with 18-200mm AFS and battery grip delivers what I need - and I use the Canon 1000D for review work as its good for macro stuff with the 18-55mm lens (although I might possibly get a D3X around Xmas time). I agree totally with Jeff however, the camera is the tool, the real skill comes in the persons hands (also never forget how important a good quality lens is either).

dvorak · Jul 28, 2009, 09:35 PM

I have a Canon 5D MKII with a EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM, Canon 580EX and 430 EX Speedlites, and two Sandisk 16GB Extreme IV UDMA CF cards. I've had the 5D MKII for a couple months now and I love it. It's full-frame (sensor size is the same as 35mm film) which gives pictures greater quality over APS-C sized sensors. Also the f/2.8 lens is a great lens, the f/2.8 allows a lot more light to the sensor allowing you to shoot in low light easier, and provides great DOF (Depth of Field).

Falstaff · Jul 28, 2009, 10:25 PM

very good choice, I love the comparisons between that camera and the Nikon Equivalent.

Zardon · Jul 28, 2009, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dvorak

I have a Canon 5D MKII with a EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM, Canon 580EX and 430 EX Speedlites, and two Sandisk 16GB Extreme IV UDMA CF cards. I've had the 5D MKII for a couple months now and I love it. It's full-frame (sensor size is the same as 35mm film) which gives pictures greater quality over APS-C sized sensors. Also the f/2.8 lens is a great lens, the f/2.8 allows a lot more light to the sensor allowing you to shoot in low light easier, and provides great DOF (Depth of Field).

Yeah I think most of us know about full frame cameras, the D3X is one as well which i mentioned beforehand, and canon do other ones like the 1DS MKIII at around 4k (ekk)

No offense but you sound like a sales man with all those linkages in one paragraph

- please share some of your work in this forum would be nice to see how the 5D handles in your hands. Incidentally make sure you flash the firmware on the 5D, some good updates recently from Canon.- was playing with one at the weekend.

Chaos · Jul 28, 2009, 10:51 PM

Personally I am using the Nikon P80 that I got a great deal on used

Zardon · Jul 28, 2009, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chaos

Personally I am using the Nikon P80 that I got a great deal on used

You should post a few pics man, this forum is like Jeffs personal portfolio !

Chaos · Jul 28, 2009, 11:59 PM

I have posted several images taken at a friends place on the Ocean but i will post more

Falstaff · Jul 29, 2009, 12:06 AM

I am just very enthusiastic Allan

**dj_stick** · Jul 29, 2009, 12:16 AM

you can say that again Jeff

I should start posting some of my club photos here, I tend to take between 400-1200 a week (depending on how many events I cover)

Zardon · Jul 29, 2009, 06:37 PM

Added a custom LCD battery grip to my Nikon D90 today, really helps with the handling (also life lasts about 5,000 shots with two of the E batteries).

Falstaff · Jul 29, 2009, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zardon

Added a custom LCD battery grip to my Nikon D90 today, really helps with the handling (also life lasts about 5,000 shots with two of the E batteries).

did you buy the NIKON product?
I was swindled by Warehouseexpress.com and they sold me the Hanel equivalent and it doesnt work at all...
bullocks!!!!!!

Zardon · Jul 29, 2009, 11:09 PM

no I got a different product from the far east which hasnt been released yet, im "testing' it for the company. Its very good. takes two batteries and if you use the 'e' rated batteries it shows up in the nikon menus and you get a L and R battery life percentage and wear panel which is useful. There is also a little LCD time counter on it which shows the date (year/month/minute/second) and you get a timer for setting shots as well as a shutter button and focusing ring.

It will be released shortly around the £100 mark. Nice addition to the camera I think as I find most of the SLR's a little small - when I worked for a newspaper we had big ass cameras and I loved those bodies. Adding a grip not only doubles battery life but it improves the handling significantly.

When I get the money for my motorbike and a few other things, I think I might opt for the Nikon D3X (to last me for at least 5-10 years I hope). but its a little down the line.

**dj_stick** · Jul 30, 2009, 12:03 AM

I had a similiar battery grip for my 350d, but I never used to LCD for anything other than checking the time, but the extra battery capacity, physical size (I have big hands) and vertical shooting controls (most of my shots are "portrait") are something I already miss greatly on the 450d, so I have a basic grip on the way from Hong Kong

Jul 25, 2009, 12:06 PM	#1
Zardon DriverHeaven Founder Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 32,480 Rep Power: 179	Photographers - which camera? I thought this thread would be a handy 'sticky' addition to this forum so that people can share their equipment of choice and perhaps share some tips with others as to how they achieve their pictures. Obviously with the quality of the current range of digital cameras you can get away with "auto" in most situations but for those with some creative ideas, please share. I tend to be a user of Canon SLR's and I have owned about 10 Canon's throughout my life, with the 30D and 1000D my most recent choices. I recently moved to the Nikon D90 which I am very pleased with, due to the extremely fast speed of the engine and the quality of the body.

Jul 25, 2009, 01:21 PM	#2
Zelig HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 3,187 Rep Power: 71 System Specs	Re: Photographers - which camera? I guess I'm just a wannabe photographer, due to the budget limitations of being unable to afford a nice SLR. I've got a Canon Powershot A720 IS, the last model of the A series to include manual controls. I run the CHDK firmware to give me raw files, and some extra control over camera settings. I've been tempted to pick up a waterproofing package for my camera, I spent a lot of my winters in mountains with gorgeous scenery, but am always hesitant to bring my camera out into the snow, and it's not something I'd do with a pricey SLR anyway. __________________ --

Jul 25, 2009, 01:22 PM	#3
Mac Daddy DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 7,950 Rep Power: 79 System Specs	Re: Photographers - which camera? Well I am still using this 4.1MP Sony Cybershot which really isn't doing what I need it to do. On a replacement Z and a few others have made a few suggestions and just need to save some cash. On the difficulties with this current camera it has to do mainly with white balance. I am taking shots indoors with a self constructed light box but the soft white tungsten bulbs cast a yellowish tint over the pics. There are adjustments for white balance and one for tungsten lights in the camera but it doesn't seem to help much. The only solution I have seen googling online is using very high candle power bulbs with a white filter to remove the tint. Any ideas are welcome the camera model is DSC-P73. __________________ "My mom said the only reason men are alive is for lawn care and vehicle maintenance." - Tim Allen

Jul 25, 2009, 01:50 PM	#4
Falstaff Old Codger Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: USAFA Posts: 19,048 Rep Power: 207	Re: Photographers - which camera? Digital Cameras 1. Nikon D90 2. Nikon D40 3. Canon Powershot G-10 4. Canon EOS Rebel T1I 5. Canon EOS Rebel XSI 6. Canon EOS 40D 7. Canon EOS 30D 8. Canon EOS 20D Various Olympus Camedia Cameras Various Canon Pocket Cameras Tiny Sony pocket Camera Film Canon T-70 Kodak Brownie Starmeter Zenit TTL Yashica MAT 124 Leica 107 various old bodies, no lenses I want: Mamiya DL33 (saving up) Hasselblad 1600F (saving up) Hasselblad stereo camera (I wish ) old russian 35mm cameras ( in good condition) Kodak Model 3A autograph camera (repaired or not working) What I like to do: I am just an enthusiast so I take pics that give me the same image in my mind as well as on the media I am using. What I mean is, the effect and the subject is more desirable for me. I shoot thousands of pics every month, maybe save less than a few. I experiment, and when someone brings me a happy accident, I ask them how or when or where they did it, then I try to reproduce it. i am constantly experimenting, even with scanners to obtain a unique or satisfactory image. If I am not satisfied, I dont give up, I just come back to it later, like restoring an old car, or a recipe I cant get right. I ask my friends if they want me to take photograph subjects. I love black and white and old color film effects so I always try. I love polaroid film and the effects. I consume photo magazines for any information that will help me develope my own style. I am selfish, I spend hours taking pics. I have been hurt three times taking pics, often throwing caution to the wind to get a good shot. I still believe in film, and I want to get back to it, hoping my father will still be alive when I get my lab set up and start developing again. I dont think I could ever be a good professional photographer, I am just too selfish to try to cater to a customer, except myself. thats about it. __________________ "Inspiration is always a surprising visitor." Last edited by Falstaff; Jul 25, 2009 at 02:05 PM.

Jul 25, 2009, 02:35 PM	Thread Starter #8
Zardon DriverHeaven Founder Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 32,480 Rep Power: 179	Re: Photographers - which camera? jeff thats an insane amount of camera bodies ! personally I would sell most of them (keep the Nikon D90/Canon 40d) and get a few lenses. Great collection mind you ! Sigma btw are a great value lens - normally a few hundred quid less than the equivalent Nikon or Canon lens in their respective focal ranges. (although I would tend to pay a bit extra for the nikon or canon ones as they tend to be quieter and have a few more options).

Jul 26, 2009, 08:33 PM	#10
RoyBatty HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 1,941 Rep Power: 122 System Specs	Re: Photographers - which camera? My first camera was Fuji F40fd which I bought just for ocassional p&s. But later I got more into it and wanted something more powerful with larger zoom range but not too heavy to take it with me for a bike trips. So after reading some reviews I got the Fuji S100fs. The reasons being good high-ISO performace thanks to a 2/3" CCD, decent focal range 28-400 mm, manual zoom control and the user interface I was used to from the F40fd (not to mention the good price I was able to get it for ). Yes, the CA is quite apparent on some (especially high-contrast) shots and the continuous shooting buffer could be larger, but I can live with it.

Jul 27, 2009, 07:15 AM	#12
Cow_160483 HH's only cow moooooo... Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: BOTSWANA Posts: 6,813 Rep Power: 300 System Specs	Re: Photographers - which camera? well am not really that particular about my camera its a samsung NV3 digital camera so it serves my needs + i dont really know much about cameras, as long as the pictures comes out ok am happy __________________ Decode! Muhahahahah!

Jul 28, 2009, 12:47 PM	#15
IvanV HH Assassin Guild Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 5,912 Rep Power: 333 System Specs	Re: Photographers - which camera? I've got a Canon A590 IS. The price dropped significantly when it was about to get phased out and I figured that it's going to be the cheapest camera with manual controls that I'd see anytime soon so, having read some positive reviews, I bought it. It's a very nice camera and, while I don't know too much about photography, the manual controls are very handy every now and then, with lots of shooting modes (six) with varying degrees of control over different parameters (though some things are a little annoying, for example, you can't set ISO speed auto in manual mode and in other modes you'd have to give up control over some other parameter). It's certainly a leap ahead of my old Canon A400 in every aspect (though that ancient Canon's low end model produces surprisingly good photos and my sister who "inherited" my old camera is quite happy with it). __________________ If anyone has Portal 2 and hasn't played the co-op and wants to do me a favour, let me know (PM me or whatever).

Jul 28, 2009, 01:53 PM	#16
necrophyte HardwareHeaven Lover Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: 1130 Vienna, Austria & Zagreb, Croatia Posts: 131 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Re: Photographers - which camera? im not a photographer, but my main camera is a nikon d300, which is absolutely great for my uses (although probably using less than 1/20 of its features :P). for the real professionals the d3x is a star afaik.

Jul 28, 2009, 05:54 PM	#17
Falstaff Old Codger Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: USAFA Posts: 19,048 Rep Power: 207	Re: Photographers - which camera? anything that gives you great performance at a decent price regardless of the megapixels is good in my book. I started out with a crappy Sony 1 megapixel digital and I took some good shots with it, I was very very pleased. It isnt all about the megapixels, its the composition and the technique for me, I just hope I get better. __________________ "Inspiration is always a surprising visitor."

Jul 28, 2009, 09:35 PM	#19
dvorak DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 2 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Re: Photographers - which camera? I have a Canon 5D MKII with a EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM, Canon 580EX and 430 EX Speedlites, and two Sandisk 16GB Extreme IV UDMA CF cards. I've had the 5D MKII for a couple months now and I love it. It's full-frame (sensor size is the same as 35mm film) which gives pictures greater quality over APS-C sized sensors. Also the f/2.8 lens is a great lens, the f/2.8 allows a lot more light to the sensor allowing you to shoot in low light easier, and provides great DOF (Depth of Field).

Jul 28, 2009, 10:25 PM	#20
Falstaff Old Codger Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: USAFA Posts: 19,048 Rep Power: 207	Re: Photographers - which camera? very good choice, I love the comparisons between that camera and the Nikon Equivalent. __________________ "Inspiration is always a surprising visitor."

Jul 28, 2009, 10:51 PM	#22
Chaos Number Nine Join Date: May 2002 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 5,268 Rep Power: 167 System Specs	Re: Photographers - which camera? Personally I am using the Nikon P80 that I got a great deal on used __________________

Jul 28, 2009, 11:59 PM	#24
Chaos Number Nine Join Date: May 2002 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 5,268 Rep Power: 167 System Specs	Re: Photographers - which camera? I have posted several images taken at a friends place on the Ocean but i will post more __________________

Jul 29, 2009, 12:06 AM	#25
Falstaff Old Codger Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: USAFA Posts: 19,048 Rep Power: 207	Re: Photographers - which camera? I am just very enthusiastic Allan __________________ "Inspiration is always a surprising visitor."

Jul 29, 2009, 06:37 PM	Thread Starter #27
Zardon DriverHeaven Founder Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 32,480 Rep Power: 179	Re: Photographers - which camera? Added a custom LCD battery grip to my Nikon D90 today, really helps with the handling (also life lasts about 5,000 shots with two of the E batteries).

Jul 29, 2009, 11:09 PM	Thread Starter #29
Zardon DriverHeaven Founder Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 32,480 Rep Power: 179	Re: Photographers - which camera? no I got a different product from the far east which hasnt been released yet, im "testing' it for the company. Its very good. takes two batteries and if you use the 'e' rated batteries it shows up in the nikon menus and you get a L and R battery life percentage and wear panel which is useful. There is also a little LCD time counter on it which shows the date (year/month/minute/second) and you get a timer for setting shots as well as a shutter button and focusing ring. It will be released shortly around the £100 mark. Nice addition to the camera I think as I find most of the SLR's a little small - when I worked for a newspaper we had big ass cameras and I loved those bodies. Adding a grip not only doubles battery life but it improves the handling significantly. When I get the money for my motorbike and a few other things, I think I might opt for the Nikon D3X (to last me for at least 5-10 years I hope). but its a little down the line.