Charts and Graphs
November 26th, 2004As today is traditionally a heavy shopping/consumer crazy day, I’ve been working on some ways to discuss digital cameras (a popular request) and how to decide which one is best.
Aside from actually going somewhere and taking a few pictures with cameras you are interested in (sometimes this is not a possibility if you live in, say Antarctica, but then again, does FedEx or UPS service Antarctica?), we’ve had the staff work on some charts and graphs that might help.
Typically, there are three forces at play when we decide we want something (fig. 1). Okay, maybe there are more than three, but for the sake of illustration, we’re sticking to three. There is always the potential for override by external factors e.g., income, significant other denying usage of funds or rent/mortgage claiming fund usage (fig. 2). It is important to remember that the override can be any number or combination of things.
At any rate, we look at our three criteria and give each a weight in our minds, and typically, one wins out. When this is the case, the sweet spot grows a bit to accommodate our weighting, and becomes more inclusive of products we may not have considered. In the case of a digital camera, it might be price, performance and feature set. So we look at those and weigh each one (fig. 3).
To use this example for the purchase of a digital camera, we might weight price or ability to shoot pictures quickly as the most important things we want. Or perhaps it isn’t cost, but some other feature like megapixel count or camera bulk or shutter speed or expandability. Maybe it’s the name we trust. We prefer Brand A over Brand B; a friend or family member had a bad experience with Brand A and so we give Brand B a higher weight…
In the case of the Nikon D70 over the Canon Digital Rebel (300D), speed and feel of the Nikon won. This doesn’t mean that the 300D sucks. It’s a great camera and takes great pictures. We also looked at another camera, the Canon 10D. Unfortunately, the price of D70 beat the 10D by $500-$600, and so the Nikon won out. We are more than happy with our choice, as it landed right in the sweet spot (fig. 4).
While this all might seem very pedantic, both Heather and I have received a large amount of email about why we chose the D70 over other options. Originally, I was going to have wonderfully sarcastic commentary about consumerism and how we’re going to hell because the day after Thanksgiving, if you get up early enough, you can buy a 42″ plasma TV for $1,888 (after rebate) or a 160 gigabyte hard drive for $69.99 (after rebate, limit 10 per store).
I think it’s important to note that our previous digital camera, a Nikon Coolpix 990, has taken over 10,000 photos in the course of 4.5 years of ownership. After six months of use, we’ve already shot over 6,000 shots with the D70. That should tell you something about the camera and how wonderful it is to shoot with. I think the case would be the same, whether we bought the D70 or another digital SLR. Making a switch from a point and shoot camera (with it’s limitations) and buying a more serious camera means you shoot more, because it is easier and faster with a better camera.
Now, if I can just use this post to justify a Dual G5. o
I seem to recall the man at the camera shop saying something about some cameras not being made in the same factory. Something like a Kate Spade Knockoff purse… looks the same but not really.
OK, here’s the (tequila) Stats:
Nikon Coolpix 990
10,000 shots over 4.5 years
2222.222 per year
5,000 per 6 months/.5 years
833 per month
416 per 2 week pay period
27.7666 per day
1.15 per hour
.0004279 per minute
D70
6,000 shots over .5 years
(adjusted gross) 12,000 shots per year
1000 shots per month
500 shots per 2 week pay period
33.3333 shots per day
1.38 per hour
.02314814814814815481481481 per minute
Sorry about that last one, but the pattern was mesmerizing.
I had been taking my BF’s Sony something or other digital cam out everyday to take pictures for my photojournal. For over 6 months. Averaged 46 photos per day (near max of allotted memory).
Started reading dooce. Lusted for D70. Within 2 weeks, Sony Something Or Other – Stolen from my desk!
Had to buy Canon. NICE Canon. To replace Sony for BF. Planning to buyu D70 for me, since I am no longer allowed to take the camera on field trips that include the subway.
YAY
I also have the Canon Powershot S50 which I love dearly. I also have a old Nikon that my dad bought in 1965 that takes the best pictures EVER. Mind you, when I had to replace the battery cap last year it cost me 40 bucks, but the price was well worth it. The camera has been in over 50 countries, 5 continents, been dropped from cars, and generally loved for the past 40 years and it STILL takes awesome pictures.
In terms of the mp3 players, I also have a 20G Ipod that is great. I used to have a Diamond Rio Sport that was great for running, really really crappy for music at a measly 256MB. Get the ipod, you’ll love it.
Wow, ya’ll make my head hurt. Too much info in your brains. Interesting though…
You totally need a Dual G5. I think there’s a warning label on the D70 that says, “Warning: Shooting in RAW format requires a minimum awesomeness of a Dual G5.”
I made sure I bought my Dual G5 before I got the D70 because I knew the post processing time was going to be my biggest barrier to taking lots of photos in RAW format. They are an excellent combo together. Make sure you get one of the new cinema displays too.
I probably would have opted for the D70 as well based on much the similar Blurbomat criteria, if I didn’t already have a standard Canon Rebel SLR with various lenses. I opted for the Black body Digital Rebel and so far (about 200 shots) am a super please PROSUMER.
(For thoughts on the word PROSUMER, see the post on my site http://www.mattlandia.com)…
Are you trying to tell me my Canon A-310 sucks?
I just wanted to let you all know that I have no idea what the hell any of you are talking about, but I’ve been googling all these gadgets and hopefully one day I will learn to use them (even the cameras, I use diposables. Yeah, yeah, hanging my head in shame.).
The Digital Rebel is on sale at Sears for $999.99 with an additional $100 rebate right now. I’m sure better deals could be found on the internet, but I like walking in someplace and reaching out to touch someone. Someone on commission. Wearing cheap pants.
With all this interest – feigned or otherwise – in underpriced 160 GB HDs, I’m feeling pretty. damn. superior. I just returned home from purchasing a 160 GB/8 MB cache Maxtor for $89.99.
“So what?” you say?
I’m in Canada. Good exchange rate these days means that’s about $75 BushDollars. And no getting up early the day after Thanksgiving. Because, well, ours was a month ago.
Over and out.
::ahem:: on black friday at certain Best Buys in Pennsylvania, 160 GB hard drives were $30. THIRTY. i didn’t find out til afterwards, but my friends stocked up.
Canon EOS Digital Rebel SLR Camera with 18-55mm Lens
List Price: $1,299.99
Our Price: $839.90
Save: $460.09 (35%)
overstock.com
To Mark and Sheryl:
Insurance! If you have homeowners or renters insurance, you can get a rider on your policy for full replacement of expensive equipment you take with you like that. I don’t remember how much it is now, but for years it was $20 a year additional to cover a video camera, my sons’ band instruments and a laptop. It paid for full replacement of a video lens that got smashed, another camera stolen and my son’s trumpet left on a bus.
I take a lot of photos indoors, at night. Like around a dinner table with a birthday cake. Is D70 okay for this? For some reason, I only see outdoor shots with natural light. Is the D70 flash okay?
I have the Canon Digital Rebel, and I love it. If you can’t afford the D70, but can afford the Rebel, go for it. I could have gone for the D70, but decided it was wiser for me to use the extra cash for some other extras, like an additional CF card and battery. Either way you’ll end up with great photos.
I don’t really understand most of this but Yay!! You’re back!
Venn diagrams! Yay!
I wonder….
Does the “charts and graphs” title have anything to do with the Postal Service? (the band, not the actual mail service)
OK weird but important question. The rubber used on the D70? Is it natural latex rubber or is it some kind of soft touch plastic? I suffer from anaphylaxis from natural latex rubber, and I hate it when companies put rubber grips or eye caps on anything. I have to research to find out whether a product will kill me or not. (So far it hasn’t!)
Just wondered if there were something about it in the manual. Have also written to Nikon, but no reply yet.
Thanks in advance.
Ali
USPS goes to Antarctica if it’s to someone stationed there (in the military). They just transfer it to the military and they get it down there.
And e-mail! And phone calls! It’s really weird.
Here’s a picture of my friend Joe and his friends at 11:45 pm on New Years Eve:
http://www.daymented.com/2004/0109_radiofoolios.jpg
(Bright as high noon!)
Oh and PS they have a gift shop in Antarctica too. No joke. And bars.
okay, so i’m also a very proud owner of a nikon d70…
Foss- the auto mode is extremely easy to use. it auto focuses and adjusts the settings by itself pretty well. the only thing i had trouble with at first was figuring out how to turn the flash off when it was in auto mode, but once i looked it up in the manual it was cake. i’ve had my d70 since the beginning of september and haven’t really had time to learn the manual controls yet but have been happy overall with the auto settings.
to the person who asked the question about the flash (sorry, i’m too lazy to go find your name) – i’m not incredibly overjoyed about the built-in flash on the d70. it does a fine job but i always end up putting my hand in front of it when i shoot (bad habit from being an events photographer and having a huge flashmount that made it hard for me to get my hands in the way). i think you can get an attachable hotshoe-type flash for under $100 though and i’m sure that would be much better if you were interested in shooting a lot indoors. usually i prefer upping the ‘iso’ setting on the camera (it’s really neat, you can set it to simulate different speeds of film) instead of using the flash if i can avoid it, but i’m not a huge fan of flash regardless of the camera.
oh, and for those of you considering buying the d70..i got over 1gig of card space for barely $140 and it was so worth it. with one of my cards (half a gig) i can get about 350 pictures in large (and i mean LARGE) jpeg format and when i blow them up to 8×10 they are absolutely beautiful.
oh, and the battery is amazing. i can easily shoot at least one of my cards without recharging.
ah, love.