D50 COMPARED TO D70 and D70s

The D50 improves on the D70 and D70s by:

1.) Adjusting ISO directly in full stops, not cumbersome thirds.

2.) Self timer and remote control options are now set with their own button instead of through the drive mode control. (You lose the meter mode button to get this.) This is the washed-out button in my photo of the top of the D50.

3.) New AF-A mode automatically selects AF-S or AF-C modes for you. You may still select the AF-S and AF-C modes just like the D70 and D70s. There's no icon displayed for this mode since the LCD which would display this new mode is simply the LCD from the D70 and D70s which has no such icon. This is an advantage for tyros for whom the D50 is designed and transparent to serious photographers.

4.) A new default ISO control mode has the camera choose the ISO in the scene modes. You can turn this off to set your own ISO in the scene modes which is how previous cameras worked. The Auto ISO function is also available as with the D70 and D70s. See pages 91 - 92 of the manual for more. This is an advantage for my mom for whom the D50 is designed and transparent to photographers.

5.) Cutesy in-camera ability to copy and resize photos for email to 640 x 480, 240 x 320 and 160 x 120 pixels.

6.) Lower Price.

7.) Less Weight.

8.) Smaller size.


What's missing compared to the D70 and D70s that I'd miss a little:

1.) No White Balance fine-tuning. You can do this through bracketing, but that's cumbersome. If you care about this as I do get the D70s; 99% of people will never miss this.

2.) No front (secondary) command dial. That's OK, the D50 also lacks the WB fine tuning you adjusted with this dial. To adjust the aperture in manual exposure you hold the aperture button (same as the exposure compensation button) while turning the command dial. I prefer this in A and S modes since I never can remember which knob to turn on my D70; on the D50 it's always the one command dial that does it.

3.) No ability to use the built-in flash for remote control of external flash. To do this you'd need to buy an SU-800 or SB-800 for a few hundred dollars, which makes no sense. If you use this feature (I do) just get a D70 or D70s. I have a whole page explaining this here.

4.) No viewfinder grid. I would miss this, most people won't.

5.) SD vs. CF memory cards. Again, better for a tyro whose point-and-shoot probably took these. Bad for pros since we all have pockets full of CF cards, in fact, for a pro the price difference between the D50 and D70s is about the price of a few new SD cards.

6.) No ability to set the lowest shutter speed used with flash in P and A modes. I do set my camera to 1/15 or 1/8 instead of the usual defaults of about 1/60.

7.) No AF area selector lock button. I rarely use this and it bugs me when I do, so no big deal.

8.) Won't work with MS-D70 battery holder for disposable CR2 batteries. Even though the D50 uses the same EN-EL3 rechargeable, there is a pin on the MS-D70 that corresponds to a hole in the D70 and D70s. To jam it into the D50 you'd have to take a pair of dykes to the MS-D70, but don't do that since the MS-D70 puts out a higher voltage than the EN-EL3 for which the D70 and D70s can compensate and the D50 can't. The EN-EL3 makes 7.4V while the MS-D70 pumps out 9V. I do keep an MS-D70 in my bag if my rechargeable ever dies on me, which has never happened in over a year of use.

9.) 2.5 FPS compared to D70's and D70s' 3 FPS.

10.) No prophylactic LCD cover. I suggest using a conventional stick-on one cut to size like these here so you simply may replace the cover, and not the camera, when you scratch it up.

11.) No illumination of top numeric LCD panel. In the dark use the menus and see them on the rear color LCD.

12.) No depth-of-field preview button. No big deal, 99% of photographers don't even know what this button does even if the D50 had it.

13.) No top LCD illuminator. You'll have to bring a flashlight or rely only on the viewfinder shooting in the dark.

14.) No two-finger FORMAT CARD buttons. You have to go into a menu. Pros refoprmat a card every time they use it. We don't just erase the images. We reformat because it eliminates any potential for data errors and other weird things that can accumulate over time without reformatting.


What's missing that I never used on my D70 anyway:

1.) Only 1/4,000 top shutter speed compared to 1/8,000. Not important; I've never even used 1/4,000 on any of my cameras.

2.) The D50 loses the hard button for bracketing. One has to use a menu instead.

3.) No custom function for setting exposure compensation without having to press the +/- button. No big deal, the default is just hold the +/- button and turn the command dial like every other Nikon DSLR.

4.) No ability to change the diameter of the center weighted meter (Note to Nikon: specs on page 130 claim this feature however there is no way to set it in the menus on page 96).

5.) No ability to set the order of bracketing.

6.) No ability to allow your selection of AF areas to wrap around when you go off one end.

7.) No ability to turn off the "use flash" symbol in the viewfinder.

8.) No meter mode button. I never use center or spot meters, but if you do you now have to go find them in a menu. The meter button of the D70 and D70s is now the self timer and remote control button on the D50, which I prefer.

SUMMARY

The Nikon D50 is a great camera for basic photographers, non-photographers or backup. Image quality is identical to the D70 and D70s, which means brilliant 12 x 18" prints that many people confuse with prints from a medium format film camera. Most people will never miss the few features I would, so if you don't have any idea what I'm talking about in my comparisons get a D50 and you'll love it.

The D50 AF-S DX 18-55mm ED kit lens is not all that bad. It focuses reasonably fast and silently for a budget lense. It's sharp and doesn't have as much distortion at 18mm wide compare to the D70 kit lens AF-S DX 18-70mm.

You find more info of D50 at : D50 Review
But if you have the $$$. Go for the D70s lah. I am saving up to upgrade pretty soon. 

not bad not bad. seems that i have found what i want 

i'm a normal photographer who shoots photo as a hobby so i think D50 is enough for me. anyway, anyone know how much is D50 body only? hopefully it is below 2500   

i planned to get myself the AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6 G ED since its kinda cheap. any suggestion? my budget for the lens is about 1000  or maybe should i just stick back to the 18-55mm lens provided?

well actually i started this topic in the "nikon fans" forum but planned to put it in the main forum so everyone can share ideas.

so besides the cf n sd card, what other big difference between the D50 n D70s? n whats the market price for D50 now (KL)? any good honest shop to recommend? i dun wanna get 'fried" if u know what i mean 

i know D50 is cheaper compared to D70s but if the difference in terms of body built is too big than better off getting a D70s. but if the difference is just minor stuffs...well a D50 should be ok.

really need some help from DSLR pros   

If money is not a concern for you, why don't you buy D70 ?

Ever thought about third party lense? Stick to the 18-55mm and add another sigma 70-300mm for around RM700 

got so cheap meh?

70-300mm sigma

yar actually the noise prob in FZ30 oso make me hate the photos that i took. it ruined all my prom night photos bcos i forgot to set back to ISO 80 from 400 due to the previous night shot 

anyway planned to sell away now  n sad case is that my dad dun allow me to touch with his sigma tele lens(that nikkor lens...no need to say since he said it is one of the best in its class which i dunno what he meant.sayang like gold). he put it in the air tight container together with all his F100 goodies 24-7 unless if when he wanna take photos

2500-2700...is that with the 18-55mm lens or just the body??if its just the body might as well go for D70s since i heard someone in the forum said it cost 3500-3700 together with the 18-70mm lens but anyway i'll scour all the shops in sungei wang, low yat n times square tomolo n c what their package gonna offer 

Yeah, thanks for the info too. Although im based overseas now, im still more interested in getting the d50 back in malaysia. I checked out the EOS 350D over here today after conversion it's Rm3600... cheap?? I didnt ask what's bundled in the package. Just window shopping.

Yeah, thanks for the info too. Although im based overseas now, im still more interested in getting the d50 back in malaysia. I checked out the EOS 350D over here today after conversion it's Rm3600... cheap?? I didnt ask what's bundled in the package. Just window shopping.

i think i'll go to the shop (either boeing/tarita) that can give me the best service n best price for D70s after bargaining with them 

well i think thats all for this thread. time to say thank you n bye bye  thnx again everyone! 

Pricelist :-

Nikon D70s Kit = RM 3550 ( Free Nikon Ori Bag )

i got quoted from vladimir, forumer here who sell cams.
ok o not the price? coz it included the Nikon Ori Bag

i got quoted from vladimir, forumer here who sell cams.
ok o not the price? coz it included the Nikon Ori Bag

wow...luckily they gave a battery...i omost "died of excessive bleeding" liao after buying the camera kit n a nikon bag  even the external flash oso have to wait till i get enough 'blood" for my wallet 

yeah i plan to buy a nikon bag oso...anyone knows where to buy ori 1??

n like BurgaFlippinMan said that ori bag should come with a warranty right??

Nobody worries about the photokina september? D90 woh 

this D90 not only blood come out... even internal organ also come out. haha..

haha true oso  but if D90 is released then D70s price will be rocketed downwards  anyway lazy wanna wait liao. cant really live without a camera for 5 whole months 

i'll buy either this week or next week depending whether i'm able to sell my FZ30 or not  someone called me today n i have to meet him tomolo  he said if it is satisfying he'll buy straight away 

Ic, i can buy only in end of April or May, if u can wait...Wonder will it be cheaper if we buy together with bassist as well

Wei, dun la, i m having exams!!!!!!!!
Wait me until end of april lah! 

I probably buy D50 only, coz i still wanna buy flash, bags, card etc.
In big dilemma, duno d50 or d70s!

how much for the flash? (model?)

Ic, i can buy only in end of April or May, if u can wait...Wonder will it be cheaper if we buy together with bassist as well

Seems like we can gather some ppl to go for BULK? lol
just scared that the shop dont have sufficient product to let us grab

yeah...D70s is kinda hard to find sometimes. some shops oso everytime no stock 

i can buy around end of april oso. wanna build some cash n 1 shot sapu everything 

anyway if between 350D n D70s i would go for D70s since 350D is kinda small but performance wise...very hard to say...but mostly r siding 350D
1 using CCD another 1 using CMOS...
1 6mp another 1 8mp...
1 ISO 200 another 1 ISO 100 (minimum)... 
but i still side the "Dark Side" 

the flash SB600 if 1st hand oso need 800 bucks but can only reach ISO 1000...  but if u got the cash then can spend maybe another 500 to get the SB800   

but i think i'll go again this coming saturday n ask boeing c whether they can give discount KAU KAU if we buy lots of camera (different types) or not 

another thing..

Canon lenses is widely available and much cheaper than Nikon lenses and hard to find.

yaya... if can then we come out 1 list and let him see and get the stocks ready and go down one shot.

BTW, i'm from johore. How about u guys & girls?

It's great to see a huge respond. BTW, I am from KL. I am planning to purchase the D70s and if budget permits a SB-600 flash as well

update the list yah...

DSLR Shopping Trip
Date : End of April/Early of May
Shop: Anywhere tht is convenient and give good price, some suggest Tarita/Boeing

Members:
1. cyberkid - Nikon D50
2. cfyung85 - Nikon D70s
3. basSist - Nikon D70s or D50+accessories
4. Intrigue
5. ferox - Nikon D50
6. crackie - Nikon D70s
7. ...

update the list yah...

DSLR Shopping Trip
Date : End of April/Early of May
Shop: Anywhere tht is convenient and give good price, some suggest Tarita/Boeing

Members:
1. cyberkid - Nikon D50
2. cfyung85 - Nikon D70s
3. basSist - Nikon D70s or D50+accessories
4. Intrigue
5. ferox - Nikon D50
6. crackie - Nikon D70s
7. ...

cyberkid.

add me..

canon 350D Kit or D70s

would depends on the budget when buying.

Not added u meh?See the list below

i am thinking.. if i can buy d50 body only and buy the d70s's kit lens separately then would be cheaper right?
anyone can go and ask for the d50 body only price?

My fren got jalan to get D50,D70s from Japan. and it is much more cheaper..
about RM2134 and RM3151 respectively and all include kit lens.

so the main problem.. the warranty is it apply to Malaysia as well.

If it is not better buy locally

but its kinda hard to find a shop that only sell D50 body only. i scouted all the camera shops in SG, times square n low yatt for 2++ hours n only BINTANG MAJU COMMERCIAL sell D50 body only. that oso cost RM2380

if like that better add 20/70 bucks go buy the D50 with 18-55mm lens. n it is oso not much of a difference if u buy D50 body then cantum the 18-70mm lens since that lens not cheap oso...maybe >800++. i saw in www.nikon.com.my DX 18-70mm lens cost >1200 bucks 

My fren got jalan to get D50,D70s from Japan. and it is much more cheaper..
about RM2134 and RM3151 respectively and all include kit lens.

so the main problem.. the warranty is it apply to Malaysia as well.