Nikon's D50 Digital SLR

Nikon's D50 digital SLR camera hit the market in late summer 2005 and people are still buying it like crazy. This camera was developed to replace the D70 as Nikon's entry-level digital SLR. Even though the price was much lower than the D70 at launch, the D50 has many features that beat those of its older sibling.

The camera features many of the same specifications of the D70, for example, you can shoot from 30 seconds to 1/4000th of a second. The scene modes that are so popular with casual shooters are still there, but, they have added a "child mode" to help you capture images of active kids. They've also improved auto-focus performance. This camera is peppier than the D70 and feels faster than the D70s, too. In fact, not only is the camera faster focusing, Nikon claims that you can shoot 137 consecutive shots using "JPEG normal" settings. While you're watching the camera focus, you might notice that the view-finder is brighter and a little more accurate than the D70, too.

The biggest improvement over the D70; however, is energy efficiency. Nikon claims that you can shoot as many as 2000 shots with the EN-EL3 battery, even though the battery appears much smaller than the one used in the D70. The smaller battery helps cut camera weight and makes for a smaller body, easier to hand-hold.

This camera has an APS-film-sized CCD image sensor manufactured by Sony (same one used in the Pentax *ist DS). It's about the size of a postage stamp, a bit smaller than a 35mm frame, so, there is a x1.5 "lens factor" to figure focal length with your lenses.

On the backside of this camera Nikon put a two inch LCD screen. This is larger than the D70's LCD. Several recent DSLRs sport two inch or larger screens. Most users want the biggest screen they can get. I was concerned when LCDs went to this size since battery life has always been an issue, but with this camera, you won't have to worry about it. Even if you don't get two thousand shots, you'll have plenty of shooting time. If you look at every shot just after you take it, you'll still be shooting all weekend with plenty of battery life to spare.

photo credit: Nikon Corp.

I have always loved Nikon lenses, so, had I been stocked with a bunch of auto-focus Nikon glass, I would have jumped at this camera. I have Nikon lenses, but, they are manual-focus, AI series lenses. They won't work with this camera. If this is a second Nikon digital SLR for you, then you most likely have compatible lenses. What you will need, though, is memory cards. Unlike the D70, the D50 uses SD memory media. Why? It saves space and, these days, it is just as fast, if not faster, than compact flash cards. The only problem is that finding "professional series" Lexar or Sandisk "Extreme III" cards will be hard unless you go to a camera store. Most discount stores, Best Buy, office supply stores will not have state-of-the-art cards.

Lexar's "Platinum" cards are 40x and as fast as last years "pro" cards. At the time of this writing, though, pro cards are 133x and only available at camera stores. They cost quite a bit more than the 40x cards, so, unless you really need the fastest cards out there, you can save a bit by buying a couple of 40x 1gig cards.

If you shoot sports, or wildlife, where speed counts, you should pop for the fastest cards you can get with this camera. Believe me, you'll get better shots at the race-track if you do.

Comparing image quality with Pentax, Canon, and Olympus, I'd say the D50 can hold its own. Nikon DSLRs have always had very natural color images. Canon's original Rebel was artificially warm and the Rebel XT seems to under-expose a bit. Olympus "E" series cameras don't have as good of image quality, especially at higher ISO settings, and they are not fast enough for sports action. Pentax *ist series cameras have good color, but, the Nikons are faster. The D50 is less noisy than the D70 and D70s, so, you will not get many "grainy shots" unless you are in very low light. The smoothness of tone is similar to the Pentax DS, very nice. I'd seriously consider a SB600 or SB800 flash if you plan to shoot a lot indoors. The pop-up flash is too low and you will often get a shadow at the bottom of your snapshots, even six feet away.

Over all, the D50 feels very substantial. It is ruggedly built and looks very classy. I have always liked that about Nikon's digital SLRs. They are beautiful cameras. They are great for landscape shooters. For people-poppers, some photographers prefer the warmer skin-tones of Canon's digitals, but to me, their pictures just don't seem as natural.

Grab a D50 and a bunch of 1gig SD cards, I have a feeling you'll be needing them.