Nikon D50

This was the first DSLR camera i had ever boughten. its been over a year now, and it has never let me down. I am soon to be a professional photographer at 19 years old, and this has been my lifesaver. It has to be one of the best, well built cameras nikon has ever built. A camera that was built over three years ago, shows superiority over the D40,D40x. It has plenty of white balance options, ISO doesn't get really grainy until 1600. 800 is perfect for photos put into newspapers, gives you a great lighting range, even in tough conditions.

the reason i am giving this a 5 out 5, is because this camera has sparked my career. i am ninteen years old and have been shooting since i was 15. once i bought this camera, it seems a never ending amount of possibilities have come up, and ive never had to refuse, or worry about the quality of my camera, or whether or not i could accomplish my goals with it, if you can't use this versatile camera, you are better off with point and shoot.

i'd recommend this to the beginner and enthusiast.

it is durable
strong body
megapixels are great for what i do, (photojournalism, portraiture, stock)
It has a great time with light, aslong as you have the appropriate lense and lighting, it works so easy.
alot of white balance options
ISO is good
picture clarity is phenomenal for a 6.0MP camera of its time.
great diversity asfar as using old and new lenses.
price was fantastic

2.5 frames for second, i can miss shots at an important event for the newspaper if im not really careful(more a concern than a weakness)
aging quickly against technology(every camera has this problem)

I bought this camera as a first DSLR after years of shooting Nikon SLR 35mm for myself and whatever digital point-and-shoot was handy for snapshots. I wanted to be able to capture faster-moving subjects, which it does just fine. What I didn't anticipate was the ability to use higher ISOs (than the point-and shoots) due to the larger sensor. What I REALLY didn't anticipate was the ISO advantage over film (maybe I should have figured this out earlier...)

If you want a starter DLSR, or a backup / vacation DLSR (having it lost, broken, or stolen would not be the end of the world), you can't do much better than this camera.

Better backwards compatibility with autofocus lenses than Nikon's newer entry-level DSLRs - the cheap classics like the 50mm f1.8 won't autofocus on the D40/40x/60.

6mp is enough if you're not printing larger than 8x10 on a regular basis.

Noise is excellent up to iso 400, very good at 800. At 800, there is some slight film-like grain and little chroma noise.

Small enough to be your vacation camera with a compact lens.

Cheap on the used market - good copies easy to find for <$400

Won't meter with AI and AI-s manual lenses - you need a "prosumer" D200/300 for that.

Auto white balance is so-so in incandescent light - use an 80A/B warming filter or set WB yourself. li WB options are somewhat limited, too.

Only 1 command dial makes it less convenient to use in manual mode.

No built-in flash commander mode.

Wow for the price this is an awesome camera, I got it as part of a kit that came with the 18-55 f/5.6 lens (which isn't the best lens). This camera has helped me come from a beginner in the still photo field to now I'm getting paid for the shots that I take, all with the same camera.

Lots of settings, allows you to work your way up into a more professional style of camera. Cheap when it comes to professional gear. Battery life is off the chart.

A little basic for the photo professional. ISO gets grainy at 800 or above.

I first purchased the D40 from Best Buy as my entry level DSLR camera. It was less than entry level for a dslr price of $650. It was basically a point and shoot in a bigger body w/ interchangeable lenses. The D50 was the best move I ever made. The whole outfit w/ lens and some extras was only $500 w/ free shipping from Canada...nearly new with box.

I am able to shoot how I want with a few clicks of the menu button.

Whether I shoot with the built in flash or my SB-600, manual, or automatic.
I can get great shots with back light which I can't get with Digital p&S or the D40.

There were many low-light situations in automatic mode where I couldn't get the D40's flash to pop up...don't know if it is a sensor problem or what. Of course, many of the older and some new lenses won't work with the D40 and it seems EVERY one of my lenses with the Nikon mount are "read" well with my D50! I had an old Promaster that takes great pics with the D50.

After taking the D40 back, I went on the Rockwell site as well as Steve's site to compare the D50, D80, D70. I came to the conclusion from other reviews and sample photos, that for the price, the D50 was an excellent choice. When I can afford the D200, the D50 will be my excellent back-up camera.

Easy to operate
Fairly lightweight
Works well with older lenses

D70

Haven't had to use, yet :)

I got this Nikon D50 for 330$ used on Ebay, in excel condition, it came with the stock lens 18-55mm, just another junk G lenes made in Thailand, which i sold right after that. D50 is a very nice camera for any beginner who dont know any better on DSLR, its very good on images quality on its own , but please do not try to compare it to another brand DSLR, D50 is just a simple average Dslr, it does simple things, not too many advance features. i was lucky and smart to buy it for only 330$, its worths 330$, i see 3 reviewers here all paid for D50 800-900$, what a waist of money.
In my case i've compared my D50 to my Sony A100( which i paid 585$)A100 out performs D50 in everyway and forms, i happened to have 2 same lenses to test on both of these cameras. A100 outdo D50 in final image quality, sharpness, colors, neutral grey balance, auto white balance, A100 has more advance features for pro use, like custom white balance, grid line, Super Steady Shot, CCD dust removal, Sony colors are much truer, smoother, and dont blow hilites details as D50, D50 colors seems to lean toward pinkish or bluish cast, D50 light metering is not accurates, you will have shots hit or miss on exposures, D50 is lack or short of dynamic range, therfore the hilites details seem to have blown to white or lack of details, the shadow can be too dark or plugged up. For indoor shots w/o flash using auto white balance or tungsteen set up, you will have oranges or reddish cast to images.Iso is well in control at higher iso which is an improvement on Nikon.
I dont see how reviewers here can give D50 a 5 star, a 5 star camera is a perfect camera, D50 is not!! its a beginner camera for beginners, not thing special about it, i strongly suggest people to buy Sony A100 or Sony R1 over D50 any day, you all should know that Sony made CCD for all Nikon DSLRs, People need to at least test 1 other camera to D50 before they can praise about D50, so if you tight on budget buy D50 for 330$ its a good deal, but if you have 500$ buy others camera.

Well build, solid.

lack of many features could improves image quality..

Sony A100 and Sony R1.

The pop up flash stop working.