Real Life Chronicles of Making The Switch

Once I found out that I would not be able to use my manual focus lenses on the D100, I made the decision to continue on with the move anyway. Sure they will fit on the camera, but the metering system will not set the aperture as it will with the auto focus lenses. And so in giving up my 28mm, 50mm, 50mm macro, 43-86mm, 35-105mm and 70-210mm lens collection I was left without the capabilities I once had. I ended up with only a 35-80mm lens after all was said and done.

I then made the decision to make cuts in my Hot Wheels collection to make monies for new lenses. And so after selling off quite a few cars I finally have built my lens arsenal back up to a 19-35mm, 60mm macro, 35-80mm and 80-300mm lenses. Once again not only do I have the focal capabilities I had with my previous system, but I have actually expanded it. Going wide to 19mm from 28mm and to 300mm from 200mm. With the added cropping effect know as the digital multiplier, which effectively turns the 300mm into 450mm which is very good for capturing wildlife without having to use a teleconverter.

With the macro lens, I get even closer than I could with the film camera and on the wide angle end, my 19mm becomes effectively a 28mm lens. But for some reason it sure seems wider than the view I was getting with the 28mm manual focus lens.

Although I am using Nikon equipment the same switch factors hold true no matter what brand of camera you are using. As long as it is a SLR type you will not be dissatisfied, but on the other hand if you switch from a film SLR to a simpler consumer grade digicam you will encounter some roadblocks that will need addressing. But for those that are now giving serious thought to the Canon Digital Rebel or the newly announced Nikon D70 which are priced at around $999.00, you won't be making a bad decision.

As it was discussed in a previous issue about if a digital camera will make you a better photographer, indeed the camera by itself will not but the fact that you end up capturing many more images than you would with film sure can help. I have found myself capturing lots of images of the same scene or subject. I found that some of those images I would not have normally captured were the ones I ended up printing.

In theory if you are taking so many more images than you were with film, then you will be experimenting more and trying things that you hated to waste money in film on previously. Keeping with that same theory that you are also being more critical of your work and trying to always improve. Or possibly I am the only one who thinks that we can always continue to improve the quality of our work. There are so many aspects of a great photograph, that very few people ever have every single aspect picture perfect. If you wish the achieve "Master" status as a photographer you may want to make sure you are always open to improvement.

Taking a look back over the process of making the switch I have found it to be a milestone in my photography. As profits increased, so has my efficiency and knowledge of the digital aspects of photography. The transition was so dramatically seamless that it seems only natural now when I am out shooting with the digital SLR.

I have found that the advantage of "No Cost" images is the biggest factor in making the switch. While it allows me to shoot only a handful of images for a project and not waste any film, I am able to shoot many more images than needed to help assure myself I captured the perfect image.