Nikon D80 Users Guide
Nikon D80
I use the Nikon D80 to take most of my pictures. Yesterday I stumbled upon a Nikon D80 User Guide when I was on Ken Rockwell’s website. He allows you to make one copy for your camera bag. I found his website last year before I made my purchase. The cameras he uses are Nikon’s and Canon’s.
Actually, he might use other cameras but those are the ones I’ve seen him mention. A few of the photo websites I read actually get to serve as testers for the cameras that make me swoon. The Nikon pro line I find very swoon worthy and the Nikon Nikkor lens put me into my own separate reality. The Canon video cameras have the same effect on me. In fact I have a Canon video camera.
Nikon and Canon make good quality products and some excellent lens. I only want another Nikkor. A macro lens. I want to get closer to insects. I’ve always been fascinated by them and it appears that my daughter shares my love for them as well.
As much I love Nikon’s camera’s I know I don’t need a “good camera” to take a fabulous picture. I still use my point and shoot in my day to day travel outside of the home and often I pull over to capture something that has caught my eye. It does a good job even if it does not have all the bells & whistles like my Nikon.
In my little dream world where I can take pictures and do whatever the heck I want every shot is more spectacular than the last and ever squirrel poses just for me. Hmm, now that I think about it maybe that wouldn’t not be as fun. I have to admit there is some sense of satisfaction capturing an animal or insect that was playing hard to get.
I was swayed towards the Nikon based on what Ken Rockwell had to say about both camera’s. I did try out a Canon and a Nikon in the store and for me I preferred the Nikon. Anyway I read through the Nikon D80 manual last evening/morning. I learned a few new things about my Nikon that I did not know before. Who am I fooling I learned about a lot of cool features.
I make regular stops at Ken’s website because I have found a lot of information there that I can use. I always enjoy reading what he has to say like Thomas - Technical blogger when stepping into Ken’s world be prepared for a full course buffet.
I discovered Ken’s website before I made my “big DSLR purchase” the information provided helped me with making my decision. His style of writing keeps me coming back for more. Initially I was leaning towards the 200x but I thought I would get my feet wet with the Nikon D80. It’s been a while since I’ve used a “real camera” if I lost interest (I knew I wouldn’t) I did not want to regret putting all that money into a camera.
Ken Rockwell says…
Buying new gear will NOT improve your photography. For decades I thought “if I only had that new lens” that all my photo wants would be satisfied. Nope. I still want that “one more lens,” and I’ve been shooting for over 30 years. There is always one more lens. Get over it.
The above quote was taken from Ken’s article Why Your Camera Does Not Matter. Ansel Adams stated something similar and some of the pictures featured in Ansel’s books were taken on cheap cameras. My favorite book by Ansel Adams is The Camera.
Agfa Isola
Observing a few pictures I’ve seen taken by my father, friends, even a few professional photographers, on so called “cheap cameras” really drives home this point. My father was an amateur photographer and he has captured amazing stills on cheap cameras. Sure he had some nice camera’s but the ones that truly impressed me were on the “junk cameras”.
You know what? Some of the best photos that I enjoy were taken on my point & shoot camera and the Agfa Isola that my father passed on to me.
If you’re interested in photography I recommend that you check out Ken Rockwell’s website. I also think it’s cool that he features his son, almost a year old, on his page.
[tags]Nikon D80, Nikon 200x, Ken Rockwell, photography, Agfa Isola, Ansel Adams[/tags]
