[photoguy]

I'm in the camera buying mode. I now have a Nikon 990 and have been pleased with it except for the shutter lag time. The specs of the Nikon 8800 intrigue me and I like the price. The other models that I'm thinking about are the Nikon D70 and D100 at a substantially higher price. Do the SLR's really have a quality increment to justify this price differential?

I would appreciate any comments that you might make.

Regards,

Photo Guy

[etaf]

yes, the slr's have lots of advantages - however, it comes down to what you want to do with the camera etc.....

I have EOS5 and EOS600 with various lens - 135mm 75-300mm 50mm all canon + flash guns - and it became a hassel to take it every where for snaps etc.

so i just bought a canon pro1 - and i have used this more - taken over 600 pictures in a few weeks - in fact this aftenoon i took 80 around a lake with autumn colours on a walk - i know i probably wouild not have carted the old kit around....

now my mate has been looking at the nikon 8800 - can t get our hands on one yet
it only has a 35mm wide ange - although an adapter is available to widen.
BUT it does have 350mm max zoom - and has a vibratiion thingy whichh means you can take pictures at the 350mm end with slower speeds - very useful.

I think the delay on the compact in shutter release would be greater than on the slr.

get you hands on them and play

[linskyjack]

Huge difference--if you can afford an SLR go for it---

[buck52]

I bought A D70 kit...18-70 lens comes in the kit... while my S2 was being fixed and still have it... great camera and lens combo for a first DSRL...very fast auto focus, very bright view finder...

don't waste your time/money on the 8800...

go for a D70...kit is about 1200 USD ... body only 900 USD

the 18-70 kit lens it comes with is quite good, if you buy body only look for an older 24-85 nikkor lens...it has macro feature and a great reputation for image quality

buck

[photoguy]

Thanks to everybody for your replies. You have made my life more complicated; but of course, that's why I asked. I will look carefully at the D70.

[RT]

I would also like to add to your complications, if I may

DSLRs are going to get the best digital images. No doubt about it.

You must decide if one is right for you. Tougher now that some DSLRs and some high-end digicams have criss-crossed at the $1000 price mark.

If you have any lenses and accessories accumulated from 35mm film shooting - (with a handle like 'photoguy' I'm betting you do ) - it might be worth your while to get a DSLR that can accept those lenses.

Another consideration is simply the ease of having one camera, one lens.
(Yeas..., I know that's the deal with the D70, and Rebel prosumer kits, Minolta's about to release one, too) But no kit comes with a 10x zoom, with IS (VR as Nikon calls it) That may or may not be important to you, rather handy at focals lengths over 200mm if your shooting without a tripod.

etaf mentions "I have EOS5 and EOS600 with various lens - 135mm 75-300mm 50mm all canon + flash guns - and it became a hassel to take it every where for snaps etc. so i just bought a canon pro1 - and i have used this more -"
So to point up his point,
you will eventually (if you have the budget for it) increase your accessories to the point you may need a bag as big as the one you lugged around when you were shooting film. And spend as much or up to twice as much for a new lens as you paid for the DSRL body alone!
A good prosumer camera may do all that you require in most situations. It won't handle every situation, but neither will a DSRL unless you opt to change the lens, screw on a filter, attach the off-camera flash, etc.
So if all you have to do is pick up the camera and shoot and zoom...
I hope you get my drift.

I'm not advising yea or nay to either for you , photoguy, just commenting.

I would love a DSRL, but simply can't justify the cost (both $$-wise and packing around the EQ) for DSLR quality just to send some email or make the occasional 8x10 print. If I still had my 35mm Nikon EQ (lost now, alas, by one disaster after another) I would find the strength to lug it around, and have a D70 on the way!
Or maybe a fuji s3??
If I had mega bucks right now, I'd get the Canon 20D and all the trimmings!

Sorry for the personal prefs, ranted much too long there, but just a comment refecting my own complications.

What's most important to YOU?

Hope it's not too unhelpful too complicate things.

[buck52]

want to buy my D70?

PM me

buck