Wow -- Small is better, right?
# # # # #
From Amazon store
$90 KODAK PLAYSPORT Video Camera / Zx5
Waterproof, shock proof, 32gb maximum / 10 hours (720p) / 2 hours of recording
eBay purchase of a used ZX5 costs $40 shipped.
I would fully charge 2 or 3 of these with me when I travel
Or
(paid for) iPhone 4 camcorder?
Not-waterproof, not shock proof, 64gb drive (50gb max?)
Nikon Sensor Size
DX
FX
1/2.3" CCD
Nikon Camera, milestone camera with best value
2011/2012 - D700 - DX 16 (USED $650)
2011/2012 - D5100 - DX 16.2 mpixel, full HD video, 3rd gen processor ($600) /USED ($400)
2008 - D90, DX 12.3 mpixel, basic video recording, 2nd gen processor ($900)
2004 - D70 DX 6.1 mpixel, 1st gen processor (NEW $900)
How do you choose a backup camera? When a do it all lens can't do it, a second camera seems to be a logical choice to resolve the need to swap out lenses on fly.
With a D90 camera on
hand, should a "step up" D7000 a right choice? or "step down" D3100 a
better choice, or stick to of the same D90 is a even wiser choice?
Budget
comes to be the key factor, otherwise, buy D7000. It's all about
getting most "bang for the buck" without missing out the new advances in
technology.
So, which one?
Amazon offers a Nikon D3100 kit with 18-55mm VR for $560. If the lens can be sold for $80 on eBay, then the upgrade for a second camera is going to run $480. The draw back?
1. two battery chargers
2. two great lens 50mm f/1.8D and the Tokin 11-16mm ultra wide needs the AF motor! I just cant use both lens at the same time (see wedding!!)
March 2013 = Its time to buy new camera!
Amazon offers a Nikon D3100 kit with 18-55mm VR for $560. If the lens can be sold for $80 on eBay, then the upgrade for a second camera is going to run $480. The draw back?
1. two battery chargers
2. two great lens 50mm f/1.8D and the Tokin 11-16mm ultra wide needs the AF motor! I just cant use both lens at the same time (see wedding!!)
March 2013 = Its time to buy new camera!
$800 - D5200 (new)
$750 - D7000
$500 - D5100 (new)
$500 - D5100 + 18-55mm VR
$400 - D5100 (ebay)
$500 - D3200 + 18-55mm VR
$600 - D3200 + 18-55mm VR (new)
$360 - D3100 + 18-55mm VR (red)
$400 - D3100 + 18-55mm VR
$470 - D3100 + 18-55mm VR (new)
====================================
Travel - general
D5100 - 19.6 oz, no strap
Nikkor 18-200mm VR DX - 19.8 oz
total weight = 40 oz = 3 lb 4 oz
Travel - building, extra weight
D90 - 25.2 oz
Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 19.3 oz
total weight = 45.5 oz = 3 lb 5oz
Extra
Nikkor 35mm f/1.8 DX
======================================
The new lug around is a
Nikon D3100 (Nikon D5000) with Nikon 18-200mm VR at all time = (1,065g)
The special project/fun is a
Nikon D90 with Tokina 11-16mm / ultra light weight 50mm f/1.8D = (1,250g)
(the Nikon 50mm f/1.8D weights less than 160g
# # #
Nikon D3100 weight (wet) = 505g
Nikon D90 weight (wet) = 710g
Nikon 18-200mm VR DX = 565g
Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 DX = 548g
Nikon 35mm DX f/1.8 = 197g
Nikon 50mm f/1.8D = 158g
d3100 & 18-200mm VR = 1,065g
d3100 & 35mm f/1.8 = 702g
d90 & 50mm f/1.8D =858g
d90 & 11-16mm f/2.8 DX = 1,248g
July 2010 - Looking like a Pro - Two Cameras
Are you serious about photography to wear two cameras to cover an event, like wedding, or parades? Is it really necessary when I have the old faithful Nikkor 18-200mm VR f/3.5-5.6 - it seems to do it all. Sometime I crave for that low light 35mm or 50mm f/1.4 f/18 lens, or that ultra wide angle lens - Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X116 Pro, it seems to be a single purpose lens - for landscaping/real estate photography.
The Nikon D5000 seems to the right gear to supplement my existing D90. My biggest concern about the D5000 is not about the camera body itself, nor the lens issues, but it's about different batteries used.
Most digital cameras DSLRs, D90/D5000 are capable of taking 500-600 shoots on a single charge- without problems. To lighten up the weight, I will assume that a single charge from both batteries will be suffice to cover an event.
# # #
I found couple Nikon refurbished D5000 camera kit (with 18-55mm VR) for about $530.
# # # #
Camera one
D5000 / Nikkor 18-200mm VR f/3.5 / SB-600 flash
Camera two
D90 / Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8, with a 50mm f/1.8 in the pocket / and a desktop-mini tripod to hold the SB-600 for the D90 "command mode" external flash sync.
\
July 2009 - Travel with Two Cameras
I was excited abut my visit to our national capital -Washington DC for 4th of July
Packing
up my photographic gears for sightseeing was big part of my trip
planning. My last trip to Paris (May 09) – the bulky full size, digital
SLRs were more common than the point-n-shoot cameras among the
tourists. My “Japanese Tourists” look was “normal” at this time around.
I
usually pack 4-5 days of clothing and the camera gears in a large
backpack as a carry on luggage. Having backpack as the “only luggage”
not only let me “tour” before hotel check in time, it also let me “tour
freely” before catching that late afternoon/evening flight.
Here is my typical backpack content (15 lbs) breakdown by weight
8/15 lb 54%– clothing/hygiene kit
5/15 lb 33% – Camera gear
2/15 lb 13% – Travel guide/book/phone/mp3 player
I
begin to doubt myself about whether the Digital SLR is suitable
traveling. Many will agree that my Nikon D90 & 18-200mm VR Lens
is an ideal combo for traveling; but it weights in 3 plus lbs. I can’t
resist not taking my Tokina ultra wide lens for landscape, interior
shots, but the lens also add another 1.5 lbs to my luggage weights.
The bottom line - my camera gear accounts for 1/3 of overall luggage weight.
Nikon D90 mfg info link
Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED AF-S DX VR Zoom mfg info link
Tokina AT-X 116 PRO DX AF11-16mm f/2.8 Mfg Info Link
I
plan to look for a “backup” camera to make a lighter “get away”. At the
current time, there is no substitute for the Tokina ultra wide
(17mm/35mm equivalent); therefore the “backup" is about the finding a
D90/18-200mm (27-300mm equivalent) replacement.
These cameras are on my shopping list
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 (25mm-300mm) Mfg Info Link
Canon SD880IS (28mm-112mm) Mfg Info Link
Nikon Coolpix S620 (28mm-112mm) Mfg Info Link
Casio EXILIM EX-H10 “Superzoom” (24mm-240mm) – NEW product
I
am a big sucker for the wide angle lens. The DMC-ZS1 & EX-H10
come close to my favorite all purpose Nikkor 18-200mm VR (27mm-300mm)
lens in terms of field of view. Will I trade for the size (Exilim) over
the zoom (Lumix)? Hopefully, I will have something small to bring to my
next vacation.
