Take a new camera?

[Anco]

So I'm off to Bali for a short trip mid next week and I'm a little unsure what gear to pack. I have just switched brands from Pentax and now have a D610 with my first lens due to arrive in sometime in the next few days. As yet I haven't even charged the battery in my new Nikon as there didn't seem to be much point. So at this stage I would say, I would have no more than a day or two to familiarize myself with this camera (not full days as i'll be working) before heading overseas.

Should I jump in the deep end and take the new gear or play it safe and stick with what I know? It's not like the trip of a lifetime or anything, just a little getaway, but at the same time I've never been there and I would like to come back with some nice pics. The lens I'm getting for the D610 is the 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5, if I took my Pentax, I'd probably take a 17-50 f/2.8 and maybe an 18-270 f/3.5-6.3

What would you guys do?

 

[traceyjj]

I'm in a similar situation.
We go away for a short break somewhere really scenic on Thursday. I have had my new camera since Monday night... do I use my daughters D3100 or take my new "beastie"

 

[No longer here]

No better time to learn your new gear, I say.

 

[carguy]

Take the new stuff unless you think figuring it out would take too much time away from the vacation experience.

 

[Anco]

No better time to learn your new gear, I say.

I see your point, there's plenty of photo opportunities, I just don't want to miss them

Take the new stuff unless you think figuring it out would take too much time away from the vacation experience.

I don't think it would take away from my experience. My wife may have a different point of view. Taking longer to navigate unfamiliar menus/buttons/settings for for so many photos might push her over the edge.

 

[Anco]

I'm in a similar situation.
We go away for a short break somewhere really scenic on Thursday. I have had my new camera since Monday night... do I use my daughters D3100 or take my new "beastie"

What are you going to do Tracey. I've never used a Nikon so I'm not familiar with the two models you are talking about, are they similar to navigate around at least?

 

[traceyjj]

D3100 is an old(er) entry level camera, very easy to use... the D800 (the beastie) is towards the other end of the spectrum. Not too much the same on both cameras... I hope to get a little practice in over the weekend, and depending on the shots I get, that will help me choose... but I really want to take the new one.

 

[Anco]

I did look at the D800E when I was deciding which model to get. I can see why you call it the beastie
I wouldn't mind having the weekend to practice, but it looks more likely that I'll get my lens Monday afternoon and I fly out Wednesday morning.

 

[Pretzel]

For ALL of the features/functions, you'll need a while, but in two partial days of training, you can learn how to quick adjust ISO, Aperture and Shutter and read your exposure meter in the eyepiece. If you had a firm grasp on how to set those 3 things before, the new cam won't be so tedious. That's all ya need to take a good shot, the rest is just gravy (although I would say it's GOOOOOOD gravy).

 

[gqtuazon]

I did look at the D800E when I was deciding which model to get. I can see why you call it the beastie
I wouldn't mind having the weekend to practice, but it looks more likely that I'll get my lens Monday afternoon and I fly out Wednesday morning.

Congrats on the new camera.

Have you considered watching the D600 digitutor for a quick crash user course? Once you become familiar with the dedicated buttons, life gets better.

have a safe trip



Glenn
Caution: Typos may occur randomly.

 

[Anco]

For ALL of the features/functions, you'll need a while, but in two partial days of training, you can learn how to quick adjust ISO, Aperture and Shutter and read your exposure meter in the eyepiece. If you had a firm grasp on how to set those 3 things before, the new cam won't be so tedious. That's all ya need to take a good shot, the rest is just gravy (although I would say it's GOOOOOOD gravy).

I'm familiar with the old triangle and I'm sure i'll get some good shots but to justify this new purchase to my lovely wife, I'm going to need some REALLY good shots

 

[Anco]

Congrats on the new camera.

Have you considered watching the D600 digitutor for a quick crash user course? Once you become familiar with the dedicated buttons, life gets better.

have a safe trip

Thanks, that sounds like a good idea, even though I have never heard of it. I'll google it

 

[gqtuazon]

Thanks, that sounds like a good idea, even though I have never heard of it. I'll google it

Here you go.

Nikon | Imaging Products | Digitutor | D600

 

[SkvLTD]

Just adjust auto-ISO range, put it on RAW quality, Shutter priority and you're all set. Will be above and beyond any Pentax today.

 

[Bill16]

Then I would suggest you take the Nikon! What better chance do you have to get a great shot, than when your somewhere on a vacation? Besides, it also offers you an excuse too. If you don't get the greatest shots your looking for, you can say I did the best I could with no time to get use to it before you went. Lol

I'm familiar with the old triangle and I'm sure i'll get some good shots but to justify this new purchase to my lovely wife, I'm going to need some REALLY good shots

 

[Deleted]

I'd take the new camera. The D610 has a "scenes" & "program" mode to fall back on if all else fails. In fact, I'd start with those modes for the first few shots to get used to the camera.

 

[Anco]

Then I would suggest you take the Nikon! What better chance do you have to get a great shot, than when your somewhere on a vacation? Besides, it also offers you an excuse too. If you don't get the greatest shots your looking for, you can say I did the best I could with no time to get use to it before you went. Lol

I like that, a built in excuse, how can I go wrong

Ok, thanks everyone I'm convinced. Not that I needed a lot of convincing anyway, I'm itching to use it. I mean seriously I asked a Nikon forum whether or not I should use a brand spanking new 610, as if anyone here was going to say no. Besides if I press the button enough times, I'll have to end up with a few good ones..... and I'll just fix the others in post

 

[FastGlass]

If your familiar with the shooting modes and shoot in RAW format than what's to learn other than some features you can learn as you use it. When I went from knowing the D90 and getting my D3s sure I did a quick study but it's not like I couldn't use it till I learned ALL the ins and outs. All the extra features the D3s has over the D90 really doesn't have anything to do with composing a shot and capturing an image. Yes there are many features that make life simpler but it's not like buying a new car and needing to learn to drive all over again.

 

[Anco]

If your familiar with the shooting modes and shoot in RAW format than what's to learn other than some features you can learn as you use it. When I went from knowing the D90 and getting my D3s sure I did a quick study but it's not like I couldn't use it till I learned ALL the ins and outs. All the extra features the D3s has over the D90 really doesn't have anything to do with composing a shot and capturing an image. Yes there are many features that make life simpler but it's not like buying a new car and needing to learn to drive all over again.

I agree completely and fully expect that I will be able to use it reasonably well. But when you've driven one car for a while then u get a new one with the controls the other way around, sometimes you end up turning the windscreen wipers on when you meant to indicate.
Landscapes, scenery, architecture, no problem i'll sort it out. People, events, moments in time.... might be gone.

 

[Chubby]

I learned more about my new camera in the first couple days of vacation than i did in the first month playing with it on the couch.