Asked for advice and I need HELP!

rbiemer

rbiemer

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This afternoon, I got a phone call from my dad. Odd enough to worry me a little until I got on the phone and then things got even odder!
He called me to ask about digital SLRs😱
And I'm apparently the one to ask since the newest camera I own was made in 1990. And most of my others are 40 years older than that.🙄
I didn't ask him if he'd had a stroke until after he says this to me: "I've been looking online and on ebay and..." Who is this guy? He isn't an internet kind of person--computer literate but has always staunchly maintained that the internet is a waste of time.
He and mom have always had a camera or two around, in fact they are still using the Canon AE-1p dad gave to mom as a present 30 some years ago. As well as a two year old Canon digital P&S(which they like since they don't have to carry film on their travels--a good thing since they decided to spend us kids' inheritance on passports and plane tickets).
And he's a little upset that the lenses they have won't be compatible with the new Canons.
So, I get to learn enough about digi-SLRs this week to recommend one or two to him when I have dinner with him on Sunday:bang:
If there were a decent camera store near him I would just point him to that and let him talk to some one there but probably he'll be buying from one of the "big box" electronic stores and will need to pretty much know what he wants before he goes.
I'm going to go look around DSLR Exchange but I thought I would also ask here:
Where else should I look for some straightforward comparisons and info?
Any helpful books to recommend?
Any helpful suggestions about a decent, "kit" are very much appreciated!
Let a guy hang a couple of your prints on his wall and he thinks you're an expert or something. Bother.😕
Rob
 
"Let a guy hang a couple of your prints on his wall and he thinks you're an expert or something."
Click to expand...
Double-LOL! Good for you Rob. No, I have no idea how to help you. I'm a digital.clueless.nitwit. But the story is a good one, and if I were close, I'd join you for that lunch just to hear the conversation. Your dad sounds like a kick! Good luck, though. 😉
 
CVBLZ4,
I was startled enough when I talked to him, I forgot to ask what his budget is for this--I'll need to call him tomorrow and find out.
I did spend some time at our sister site and there were a couple of threads that covered some of this so I have a starting point.
If I had any interest in these, I would have some specific options to offer him.
He's been(or was, I guess) fairly happy with the P&S he has; but I'll want to also ask what's changed about that.
I've liked lots of the prints he has made but I don't remember seeing any bigger than 4x6--they have been traveling world wide(two or three times a year) since they retired and have been printing and then making photo albums of the prints...I'd be delighted if they'd make CDs and give them to each of us kids or, I dunno, maybe email 'em to us?.
Every body finds their own work-flow, I guess.🙂
And, perhaps, I'll end up with the AE-1 for my "help".
I'll post how the dinner conversation goes--I'll be driving down to see the folks which means I'll be driving back. Which means not too much wine with dinner. Which means I should have pretty good recall.😀
Rob
 
OK, this is getting odder still.
Dad has looked at the links i sent him, and we've talked about what he wants (more megapixels and more lens options)that the P&S isn't giving him. I honestly did not have any opinions or preferences about digi-SLRs before this brief look I took at them to give him a reasonable short list.
I sent him an email earlier this week and suggested that he physically fondle three(Canon, Nikon, and Pentax) to see which seems to "fit" best in his hands and which control layout makes better sense to him. And I also told him which one I would probably choose were I looking and had his budget. And he agrees with me.😱 This is unheard of. Definitely a milestone in my life.
The next big trip is back to Italy in May, so he should have time to get comfortable with whatever camera he decides on.
Rob
 
"And I also told him which one I would probably choose were I looking and had his budget. And he agrees with me."
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Okay, Rob, you're breaking new ground here on several fronts. Going where no digi-less filmster male child has gone before. You're making suggestions... and the parent is actually listening. I'm sitting on the edge of my seat to see how you have accomplished such a feat.

My mother, 1932 vintage, has yet to hear me or my siblings when we have tried to sway her toward cell phones, internet, DVDs or even an automobile made in this century. 🙄 I guess it's karma... I'm recieving back all those times, well, the whole decade known as "the '70s", when I refused to listen to my parents. 🙁

So you must be The Good Son. Well done. You're obviously heading in the right direction. Carry on and keep us posted.
 
Frankly it's a little scary!😀
I have mostly listened to dad's advice over the years but cheerfully ignored it when I thought I knew better. Of course, it's amazing how much smarter dad got after I hit 35 or so...🙄
Not too surprisingly he didn't hear the part of my advice that said,"First buy your oldest a nice M-3...":bang:
Brunch was pretty good as well--I cooked a pork loin on the grill and it only took about ten minutes longer than usual because of the cold(10 F) weather we are having now.
Off to make my dinner now.
Rob
 
I'm going through something similar...

I'm going through something similar...

rbiemer said:
And I also told him which one I would probably choose were I looking and had his budget. And he agrees with me
Click to expand...


I'm looking for a DSLR myself, and I'm torn between the Nikon D80 and the Pentax K10. I'll decide aafter some serious DSLR fondling, as ergonomics are fairly important. I am curious though which camera you are referring to in your message.
 
I suggested that dad look at the D80, Rebel XTi. and K10D.
My choice would be the K10D. Partly because I have used Pentax SLRs on and off for a long while--I own a K2 DMD now and had a K1000 to use in my last two years of high school, and because of the body based anti-shake feature. And if I were picking one for myself, I really like the usability of most M-42 and K mount lenses ever made. Hey, I like the look of vintage lenses and the K10D seems to be the easiest to use those on. That last thing doesn't affect my pop's decision; 2 lenses probably will cover his wants very well. The 18-50 kit lens and maybe something wider.
Rob
 
Take a look at the Panasonic Lumix L1. Read some reveiws on this and if your dad is not afraid of spending a little money on this, I would reccomend it to him. If your looking for something a little cheaper, I would look for a D70 or a D50. I mean, their reletively inexpensive and I don't expect your dad to be making 16*20's or anything. 6.1 mp's should suit him fine. I also would go Nikon because they make good sturdy cameras, just without all the bells and whistles that Canon adds.(which might actually be an advantage to getting the Nikons I've suggested. Also, suggest that he get a standard zoom Sigma.:>]Oooh Yeah!
 
I'd actually suggest the Rebel XTi. Yes, none of his FD glass will work out of the box and the adaptors that exist are basically garbage. However:
1) he already understands the Canon way of doing things.
2) if he is used to seeing how Canon glass images things then going to Pentax or Nikon is going to be a very major change in how he sees the world. Canon may have changed thier mount but they didn't change thier glass. The lenses still have that same, distinctive, look. The whole Canon/Zeiss vs. Leica/Nikon thing is very real to my eyes.

In the end, the real questions surround what he shoots & how he shoots. He might be best served by sticking with film & getting a T90 to take the greatest possible advantage of his earlier FD glass. Maybe not. Those questions are the one's you'll need to sit down and figure out. And I'll be over here greatful that it isn't me... :bang:

William
 
Sigma4ever: Dad has decided that 10 mp is what he wants/needs.
William, he's not going back to film. Dad decided a few years ago that digital was easier for the travel he's been doing. less "stuff" to carry and no x-ray worries. Good point about the glass, though. I'll bring it up the next time we talk about this. He gave my sister the first or second version of the film Rebel when she had my nephew. At the time he thought about getting one for himself but didn't especially like the layout of the body/controls. The Rebel is still going fine. It was given to me for my B-day last year.
And while I'm fairly promiscuous about lens brands, dad stuck with Canon lenses for the three or four he got for the AE-1. I remember his deciding then that the Canons were very much better than the off brand choices and not that much more money.
And, admittedly, there is this small voice I keep hearing "you know, you could find a Canon Adaptor FD(L?) and use the 24mm FD lens on your P..."
Thanks for the help and input, folks!
Rob
 
So my old man decided to buy the Pentax K10D. He's had it a little more than a week now. Tomorrow the folks are taking my nephew to Washington, DC for a few days. Dad called me tonight and asked,"So, do you want to play with the Pentax while we're in DC?"
"You're not taking it along?"
"Nope. I'm not comfortable enough with it yet."
"Umm, you could just leave it on auto everything. This trip seems like a really good chance to get to know it better..."
"Well, you mom is bringing the Canon*. Probably the last time we use it. Should I bring the Pentax to your sister's house when I pick up Garrett(the nephew)?"
"Sure! I'll take good care of it and see what I can get out of it. Thanks!"
For some odd reason,while we were talking tonight, I kept hearing in my head that line from Star Wars. "Luke, I am your father"...😀
The sort of scary thing is that I actually do have some ideas I want to try out with this camera...
Rob
*the AE-1p
 
I enjoyed reading this thread so much! It sounds familiar to me too, except in my case it was with my mother and about computers, the internet etc. I remember clearly the conversation, "Hey honey, I want you to look at my website, what do you think?" Your what? Pretty soon she is talking about starting her own internet business, if I thought the URL was a good name, did I like the idea? How about marketing? I found myself thinking, Who are you?

Nancy
 
Rob, you da man. The Good Son. You've come out of this ordeal not only unscathed and in your parents' good graces, but also with a nice widget to play with. Imagine the sudden turn of events upon their return when you explain how you accidentally knocked the Pentax off the bathroom counter into the toilet. 😱 Enjoy!
 
CVBLZ4 said:
Rob, you da man. The Good Son. You've come out of this ordeal not only unscathed and in your parents' good graces, but also with a nice widget to play with. Imagine the sudden turn of events upon their return when you explain how you accidentally knocked the Pentax off the bathroom counter into the toilet. 😱 Enjoy!
Click to expand...
Thanks,Reagan!😛
"So, dad, you did get the extended, no questions asked warranty with this?"🙄
Dad's a serious gardener so, "But these are magic beans, dad!"
Actually one of the things I'm thinking about shooting with the K10 is Tinkers Falls. I have one photo of it in my gallery and I try to get out to the falls at least once every season. Hadn't been out there yet this winter--we didn't get any snow (or cold enough to freeze the falls) until a few weeks ago. The added benefit of shooting there is that if I drop the camera, I will have the 60 or 70 foot falls to throw my self off of.
And it will be interesting to do some macro photos with my FSU lenses.
Plus some halfway decent photos of the gear I'm culling.
I joined JPG magazine but haven't submitted anything yet. Partly because I haven't had or shot any photos I thought were good enough for the themes and also, they want large files which are a bit of a pain for me to get. I may have something for the current submission cycle--got a couple of ideas and a little time to spend on them.
Rob
 
hhaha, recommend him the ricoh gr-d with the fixed focal 28mm lens 😀
just kidding. He won't ever talk to you again if you do that.

I think Pentax's dslr offer is about the hottest nowadays, between people with limited budget of course.
I am partial to minolta and since it's gone, to sonys clone but i have already some slr lenses that would fit ... so if i buy a dslr, that's going to be. If i ever do that😀
 
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