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Message: <blockquote data-quote="2kon" data-source="post: 147989" data-attributes="member: 14159">... back to the Nikon fold. Bought a Nikon D40 when they came out, when was that, 2006 ? Not sure. It was fantastic. Foolishly sold it a year or so ago, having been tempted by the latest and greatest. Here's what I went through in the last 12 months :Fuji X100, JX420*Panasonic GF1, GF3, G1, LX5Olympus EPL2Pentax K10D, K7Ricoh GRD2, GRD4*Nikon D50**Still ownThat's just the ones I remember. Also went through a full set of lenses for each of the u4/3 and Pentax platforms. I had everything from 300mm/f4 primes to 28mm.f2.8 pancakes, super-fast autofocus zoom wonders to 1950's manual lenses. Lenscap lenses, extension tubes, adapters, star-trackers, custom-made focussing screens. What a journey !After all that, and a LOT of photos, I have settled on the Ricoh GRD4 as compact ( it is superb, really ) and drum roll please, a Nikon D50 !Yes, I've tried the latest and greatest. They are excellent. But ... looking at my pics, the ones from that original Nikon D40 still impress. So I went on the lookout for it's older but slightly-more capable companion, the D50. The reasons being: 1. It has a focussing motor and I have a couple of non-AF-S Nikon lenses left over from the D40 ( and my earlier, Nikon film camera ) days. I used to use these as manual-everything on the D40, but I know I'll get more use from them with a working AF. 2. 1/500s flash sync. This was excellent on the D40, excellent on the Fuji X100, and I would really miss it. The D50 has the same mech/electronic shutter and unlike other Nikons I can find, supports 1/500s flash sync. 3. Size and weight. It's tiny but still manages an always-on LCD top display AND dedicated buttons for ISO, WB, QUAL just like the D300s, while being about half it's size and weight <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" />4. Tiny LCD. I'm not a fan of the tendency for rear LCDs to grow, taking up most of the back of the camera and making the control buttons thus sit under the base of your thumb. I got rid of most of the cameras above because of handling, not image, issues. Many times, simple things like having all the controls crowded out by a too-big rear screen were enough to ruin the handling.5. 2000 shot battery life. I remember this from my D40 days. I love not having to worry about the battery.6. CCD not CMOSThe Panasonic LX5, Ricoh GRD ( both the versions I owned ) and D40 use CCD sensors, as does the D50. I seem to prefer the look. I don't care about pixels.And finally ...7. I found one mint in box for less than ¥10,000 ( less than US$100 ) with a 6-month guarantee. So, I'm back and that's my story !Paul, Tokyops "2kon" is pronounced "ni-kon" in Japanese <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite7" alt=":p" title="Stick out tongue    :p" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":p" /></blockquote>

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