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General discussion

Lori Grunin, CNET editor for for digital imaging, Live!

by Lee.Koo Jul 10, 2007 8:40AM PDT

Ask the Editors Live!

Digital SLR camera live chat event with CNET senior editor Lori Grunin starts Thursday July 19th at 11 a.m. to noon Pacific / 2 p.m to 3 p.m Eastern. Where Lori, will be answering your questions about digital SLRs cameras from buying advice to raw-file minutiae and more. See you at the event!

Check out the Ask the Editors Live event calendar for upcoming events and past transcripts of events:
http://forums.cnet.com/4520-12548-6748916.html

Discussion is locked

31 - 60 of 71 Posts
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Canon A640
by 4honor Jul 19, 2007 4:22AM PDT

I am in the market for a compact digicam, but I think the A640 series is too big... I need at least a 1/1.8 sized sensor, please help, thanks!

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A new lense for my Nikon D40
by hkflash Jul 19, 2007 4:22AM PDT

Dear Lori:

I want to get a new wide angle lens for my Nikon D40, could you give me some advice? I mostly use it in indoor with low night, (Close Range I rarely need more than 55mm, No Flash, mostly are people at a party with my friends at a restaurant) So, what do you think I should get?
Thanks

George

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Without looking at the prices...
by lgrunin CNET staff Jul 19, 2007 4:26AM PDT

(and assuming you mean 55mm in 35mm equivalent) my suggestions would be
17-35mm f/2.8D ED-IF AF-S Zoom-Nikkor
18-35mm f/3.5-4.5D ED-IF AF Zoom-Nikkor
24-85mm f/2.8-4D IF AF Zoom-Nikkor

I think the two f/2.8s are probably expensive, but for low-light it will give you some extra exposure range. You might also want to check out the 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor; it's slower, but the VR will buy you some extra latitude.

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Nikon 18-200 lens - followup
by best4less Jul 19, 2007 4:22AM PDT

Mostly shooting kids and landscape... I guess I can use my Nikon 1.8 normal lens to make up the slowness of the 18-200 lens. Right?

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Yup
by lgrunin CNET staff Jul 19, 2007 4:27AM PDT

You'll just have to zoom with your feet Happy

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dSLR with video capabilities?
by mruane Jul 19, 2007 4:25AM PDT

Now that we have dSLRs with live-preview LCDs like the Olympus E-330, any idea when we might see video recording capabilities?

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excellent question
by lgrunin CNET staff Jul 19, 2007 4:28AM PDT

but as far as I can tell, not until mid-2008 Sad

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Looking to Moving Up to dSLR
by speedracerx Jul 19, 2007 4:27AM PDT

Hi Lori-
I currently have a Canon Powershot S-70 that's near death's door (or rather, the S70's lens door is dying and will not function properly). I would like to move into SLR territory for all the obvious reasons, and have a few "must have's" for my upgrade:
-Better at low light shots
-Faster high-speed burst shots per second
-Would like a flip-out/rotating viewfinder screen
-As inexpensive as possible (of course)

I would imagine any digital SLR will be an improvement over the S-70, but can you steer me towards any particular models that are particularly good at the items in my wish list?

Thanks!

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the desire for a flip screen
by lgrunin CNET staff Jul 19, 2007 4:30AM PDT
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Good lens for Rebel XTi?
by erichcom Jul 19, 2007 4:31AM PDT

Dear Lori:
I just bought my first dSLR and it is a Canon Rebel XTi. A friend of mine suggested a 50/1.8 lens and he told me that's it's great for still object. I think I'm going to get one of that. What do you think of that? And what other lens would you suggest for a beginner?

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the 50/1.8 lens is great
by lgrunin CNET staff Jul 19, 2007 4:34AM PDT

but if you're used to shooting a snapshot camera, you may get frustrated with the fixed focal length. The 18-55mm kit lens that comes with the XTi is pretty good, and I think you'd be fine with that as a second lens.

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A new lense for my Nikon D40 - follow up
by hkflash Jul 19, 2007 4:32AM PDT

Thanks for the suggestion!

But what I have in mind was this one:
AF-S Zoom-Nikkor ED 12-24mm f/4G IF DX
What do you think about this lens? Will it be a good choice for me?

George

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That might be a good choice
by lgrunin CNET staff Jul 19, 2007 4:35AM PDT

but keep in mind that you might have annoying distortion throughout the entire zoom range--a fact of life with really wide angle lenses. That's why I generally prefer something that starts wide but ends normal. In case I don't want the distortion.

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How do I maintain/clean my Nikon D50?
by ruchivarma Jul 19, 2007 4:32AM PDT

Hi Lori

I got a new Nikon d50 last year. But not too sure on how to clean the lens and the other parts. Should i get it done professionally (and pay huge bucks for it) or do it myself?

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The lens you can do yourself
by lgrunin CNET staff Jul 19, 2007 4:36AM PDT

Unless you've gotten something particularly heinous on it, a lens-cleaning kit should be fine. However, unless you've seen dust spots on your photos, I'd leave the sensor alone for now.

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Zoom Point & Shoot
by Keyahe Jul 19, 2007 4:32AM PDT

I'm looking for a very good Point & Shoot camera with a 10X or more zoom lens...I have a Nikon 7900, but want something with more zoom, which should include some kind of anti-shake mechanism. I would prefer one that used an SD card. Any good recommendations?

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Canon PowerShot S5 IS
by lgrunin CNET staff Jul 19, 2007 4:54AM PDT
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Filters
by gilklee Jul 19, 2007 4:33AM PDT

Hi,
I've got a D50 and am also in the market for some lenses. Is it a no-brainer that I should be getting filters to protect the lens? Any recommendations on good ones to look at?

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A good UV filter for the lens
by lgrunin CNET staff Jul 19, 2007 4:39AM PDT

is usually a good idea, since it protects the glass underneath. That much hasn't changed from film photography. Happy I'd start with a moderately inexpensive one, like a Tiffen, but if you find it's somehow decreasing your exposure or distorting the photos, then I'd opt for something a bit more expensive.

Tiffen UV filters
http://reviews.cnet.com/4244-5_7-0.html?query=tiffen+uv+filter&tag=srch&target=

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How about sony DSLR 100K
by govind7 Jul 19, 2007 4:33AM PDT

I am planning to buy this one any suggestions

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Sony showed a higher-end
by lgrunin CNET staff Jul 19, 2007 4:39AM PDT

and lower-end models (under glass) at PMA this year, so you might want to wait a bit and see if they release one more in line with your needs...

Crave blog: Sony shows new SLRs, expands lens range
http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9695954-1.html

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Minolta Lenses
by phyredraque Jul 19, 2007 4:34AM PDT

I have zoom and wide-angle lenses for my old Minolta SLR. Are there any dSLR bodies that would accept these lenses?

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Sony bought Konica Minolta
by lgrunin CNET staff Jul 19, 2007 4:41AM PDT

and with it comes lens support on its Alpha dSLR cameras. You do lose some capabilities with older lenses, but that differs from model to model. Your best bet is to check the documentation for the Alphas (available on Sony's web site). It should tell you exactly what features you lose for your specific lenses.

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f-stop andother fetures
by EMT_4_Rent Jul 19, 2007 4:40AM PDT

how do I best learn how to use the f-stop feature and the shutter speed? I have a camera that has all the options I could everwant (I think) But Idontknow how to use them.

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Check out local photography classes
by lgrunin CNET staff Jul 19, 2007 4:43AM PDT

Local camera stores and community colleges often offer classes that teach fundamentals of photography (it doesn't need to be digital specific for exposure features). Plus there are tons of books for beginners, if you can learn that way--not everyone can. Just plunk yourself down in the local borders and start skimming to find the teaching style you best relate to.

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Quick question about lens
by hkflash Jul 19, 2007 4:43AM PDT

Do you know any up-coming lens from Nikon?
Just wondering... ^^"

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nope. sorry.
by lgrunin CNET staff Jul 19, 2007 4:45AM PDT

just as much in the dark as you Happy

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Digital Slow Motion Cam
by speedracerx Jul 19, 2007 4:45AM PDT

Are there any digital cameras (still or video) that capture video footage at a higher than normal speed, similar to a high-speed film camera that rockets the film past the lens in order to produce clear, smooth slow-motion shots?
Or is there some form of technology out there for simulating the effect of non-choppy, slow motion video?

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you can find this in camcorders
by lgrunin CNET staff Jul 19, 2007 4:46AM PDT

Several of Sony's tapeless camcorders have a Smooth Slow Record mode that's exactly what you're talking about

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Do I really need a flash?
by erichcom Jul 19, 2007 4:45AM PDT

I got a D50 with the 18-55 and 50 mm f/1.8 lens. I am thinking about to buy a speed light which is SB-800. Do I really need it? Since I found out that the 50 mm is nice but sometime I want to enhance the lighting of the picture. Do you have any comment on this? Thx

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