Dan, I don't know how old you are, and what is your
tolerance for lugging heavy stuff. However, there is no way I could use a
D-1x, or an F-5 and a set of lenses, etc., without pain and suffering. I
am not carrying a pocket camera, but my main tool is a Pentax
ZX-5N/MZ-5N, with a Sigma 28-105, f:2.8-4 lens. A gadget bag with a
fairly light 80-200 zoom, plus film and miscellaneous is the rest of my
kit. If I try to carry that stuff on my shoulder, the shoulder and neck
start to ache. As part of your search criteria, ask yourself how much
weight you will be wanting to lug on a field trip.
Hersch
At 04:37 PM 06/29/2001, you wrote:
> Right now, I have three film
cameras, a bunch of lenses and
> a Nikon LS30 film scanner. I *don't* have thousands of
> dollars to spend on a digicam. So I just want to get the
> best out of the gear I have, and that's why I'm here on
> this list. :)
It's a pivotal time, and it makes buying decisions more difficult than
ever.
Right now I _don't_ have a bunch of lenses and cameras (well, not
entirely
true: I have an M6, Hexar RF, and three Leica M lenses, which is
investment
enough, I suppose), but I'm in the market both for an SLR kit (for
macro,
telephoto and zoom lenses) and a digital darkroom setup (PC,
scanner,
software, printers, etc.).
I figure on spending $10-20k when all is said and done (spaced out over
a
period of 2-3 years). I'm not opposed to spending $3k of that on a
very
high quality film scanner, and several thousand for a top-notch SLR and
pro
lenses. But I have to wonder if I wouldn't be better off combining
those
expenses and getting a Nikon D1x, or (better still) waiting another
few
months to see what Canon and others have to offer. With the near
term
possibility of 6 Megapixel CCDs that are the same size as a 35 mm frame,
I
have to wonder if a $3k film scanner is a smart investment right
now.
