One of the drawbacks of the Nikon D50 is that in manual mode in order to change the aperture you have to depress the exposure compensation button while turning the command wheel. Shutter speed is changed by turning the command wheel alone. Not the most user friendly setup for underwater use and probably impossible to do while looking through the viewfinder.
Does anyone know if it's possible to change this configuration with a custom setting. If not this is something that Nikon should look at for a future update or possibly a firmware upgrade because otherwise the D50 would seem like a good choice to house for underwater use. After all you can buy nine of them for the cost of one D2X. It certainly would be a lot more affordable to carry one or two backups.
The D50 has been generating a lot of positive buzz on Nikon forums. At least from user reports it would seem that the D50 has better low noise and auto-focus performance than some of Nikon's more expensive models. Certainly a camera to consider, especially if there is a work around for the aperture issue.
The Digtial Rebel works exactly the same way.
You want a housing that when you engage the exposure compensation button it will stay pressed untill you disengage it.
Most housings for the rebel were like this. I don't know which if any D50 housings are like this but if they are I think that this method is preferable to a two wheel system.
The Sea & Sea DX50 housing for the D50 works this way. The housing +/- exposure button can be pushed down and turned to lock it down, so enabling the rear thumbwheel to be the aperture control knob instead of the shutter speed.
However, it is not an ideal solution as you are locked out of all the menus, other settings and the delete during this operation. You can still shoot and the instant review comes up - so it is perfectly usable if not ideal to some.
Thanks for the responses guys. That sounds very doable although I would still prefer an option to switch the shutter speed and aperture function. Now if ther were only some more housing options.
Also if you'll find a work around solution it's won't me natural and comfortable to work like this. This issue is far more important to me the maybe a little improvements in noise or AF so I'll stick with the models that have two command wheels.
I don't know which if any D50 housings are like this but if they are I think that this method is preferable to a two wheel system.
Actually having two wheels makes it much easier to adjust exposure. Using a Seacam housing (I'm sure Aquatica, Subal and others are the same), I can leave my thumb on the shutter speed wheel, index on the shutter release, and middle finger on the aperture wheel. This allows me to make any adjustment I want with lots of ease at any time.
Just my 2c worth.
I seem to remember Ikelite developing these kind of buttons for this purpose. It doesn't mention it on their site though so you should ask.
Actually, I think this is probably the biggest drawback to the D50. I find the two wheels a huge help both above and below water on the D70. This is one of the reasons I was happy to get the D70 over the Rebel . It just seems so intuitive and functional. I don't know why you would build a camera any other way.
Of course if I were buying today I'd give some serious throght to the D200. It has some really nice features (not all are really underwater related).
Hi Guys, how are you donig?
Look, the Nikon D50 is a very modern camera,with a lot of improves on a low cost body.
It´s not necessary to use on manual mode, you can use only the aperture mode or the speed shutter mode. Using this camera on manual mode the D50 is not to able to use all tecnology as the new Matrix Metering II. So it´s not necessary to concern with the aperture or shutter change on sametime. You can choice only one.
Is the same situation with the Nikon N80 ( my old camera ) I rarely use she on manual mode.
Regards
On Canon's Rebel XT the Ikelite housing has a "pull in" type of control to hold the appropriate button depressed, and have your single command dial shift from Shutter Speed to Aperture when shooting in Manual mode.
Not sure if the button you need to press on the Nikon D50 is this type, but it hasn't been a problem for me. I usually set a shutter speed first and then leave the control pressed in giving me aperture from the comand dial control. The one parameter I change most often.
Augusto also brings up a good point.....If you have iTTL in your housing (Ikelite housing to Ikelite DS strobes for example) a Nikon dSLR is smart enough to keep your shutter speed between 1/60 and 1/250 when in Aperture mode and shooting with an iTTL strobe connection. This would mean your f-stop (and maybe flash output) is all you'd have to adjust....
