Nikon Camera Purchase

[kiley9806]

After doing some research I'm pretty sure I will be going with the Nikon D80 body for my new camera. My Sony H5 has been a great learning camera, but Im ready for something else now... Im thinking about getting the Nikkor 18-135mm 3.5-5.6 lens. Does anyone own the D80? Travis, I think you do... I read somewhere you thought you maybe shouldve gone with a D60 body and a better lens? What are your and anyones opinions on the lens and any other essential peices of equipment? filters cases etc... I'd really like to hear from anyone who actually owns and shoots with this camera. The more info the better! :p Thanks all!

[AcadieLibre]

My first suggestion is even though I use a Canon I would go to the store and get a feel for them in your hand, I had thought of going with a Rebel until I picked one up, then it was not going to happen, I also looked at Nikon and Sony but for the weight and feel I just preferred the Canon I bought, I think Nikon/Canon/Sony quality and lens options are fairly comparable, but holding it and feeling how it feels in your hand is important. Even if your just choosing between those two models may be worth holding, touching and seeing how it feels in your hands. Slight differences in weight, button placements and ergonomics can make a bigger difference then some realize.

[Travis]

Nope.... I have the D60.....

The D60 pinches a lot of techs from the D80 (sensor and processing algorithms)... The D80 is due for a redesign (I'm think they are calling it the D90) but I'm not sure..... anyways regardless the D80 is still a better camera then D60...

You say you are moving upward... so in my opinion the D60 would not be for you... this is only because of the lens limitations.... the D40/40x/60 do not have autofocus motors in the cameras.... the focus motors are in the lenses... this limits your selection.... you can still use the lenses without the autofocus motors built in... but you have to focus yourself...

BUT....If money is an issue... buy the D40 body and put the rest of your money in the glass.... bodies come and go but the glass stays with you... The D40 is only 6 meg pix... but if you buy 18 - 200 vr you don't really need to crop and 6 meg pix gives you plenty of room..... then you can supplement specialty lenses to taste...

i know it sounds like a step backward but you are into big bucks if you need to buy glass and body and accessories all at once.... but if you have the money to spend then go for it(the D80)...

The D40 also has killer flash sync speed and that might be fun to play with...

The D80 will be worthless in a couple of years... The D40 gets you in the game with extra money for focal range... I think you shoot like me... kinda random.... so you need focal range....

If you don't have a bottomless pit of money try this - (and remember I'm a newb)

D40 Body
SB400 Flash (you will need this)
Nikkor 18 - 200mm VRII (highly rated for what it is)
72mm Polarizer and UV filter (this is almost $200 alone)
A few gig of memory stix
A camera bag to hold it..
and I'm sure you already have a tripod...

This is a nice kit for under a couple of grand.... you can then think of a 10-20mm... and a 100mm macro...for future purchase...

Then when you have all your glass... upgrade the body and keep the great D40 as a back up/vacation body or take it to parties you wouldn't take your main body too...
:)

You can do great things with a D40

[kiley9806]

thank you for your answers - very helpful!
i do have to get myself to a store and handle them in person before completely making my mind up, for sure. thats the hard part of living an hour away from the closest camera shop. but its coming up here in the near future i can feel it!
thanks for all that info travis, very much appreciated! my budget is around the $1500-$2000 range. im taking a photography course and am really looking for something that can grow with my knowledge.
i'm a random picture taker too, landscapes, buildings, people, outdoors, indoors, etc. im looking to play around alot with focus, lighting, (flash and natural, so the flash info is useful) fliters, & macro.

[AcadieLibre]

That is the best way to get into photography, shoot anything and everything and see what really grabs your interest, or you may just continue on that path of just enjoying shooting everything, good luck with the photography course. One can never have to much knowledge.

[kiley9806]

yup, i did a bunch of comparing on the lens and if i do go this route, im pretty sure i'll have to go for the 18-200mm... :)

[Marko]

The lenses are always the killer moneywise. Most good bodies are 1000. plus and some people skimp on the lenses after that. That's a mistake since the camera is just a box...it's the lens you need to take the nice shot.

I would check out reviews for your potential lenses and at this point buy something decent. It doesn't have to be the 'best' lens but it should get decent reviews. I haven't read the reviews on the 18-200mm but if the reviews are good, I would suggest that this is a good learning all purpose lens.

[kiley9806]

i did find a good comparison for the lenses, which made me lean more towards the 18-200mm, one main reason being the VR option. here is the link to the review...

http://www.digitalreview.ca/content/Nikon_Lens_comparison_intro.shtml

the d80 body may be a little over my head at this point, but i'd rather spend a few more dollars now, and have the body that will grow with me. i also found this comparison between the d80 and canon bodies, rebel xti/eos 400d...

http://www.digitalreview.ca/Content/Canon-Digital-Rebel-XTi-versus-Nikon-D80.shtml

[Travis]

yes... the VR on the 18-200 is second generation... with the added option image stabilization of handheld shake + source shake (like taking a picture from a moving car).... or for me... i'm looking forward to using it on a boat taking pictures of wakeboarding...

it is supposed to give you and extra 4 stops... the original VR was 3 stops...

most pro reviewer(s) support the claim...

[AcadieLibre]

Wish I would have had my Camera at last years Wakestock in Toronto, but depending on the Lineup may possibly go again this year. I don't think the Camera will be over your head, don't let it overwhelm you. This is what I did, I bought a book for my Camera, found the manual that came with it, just lacking. And I sat with the book and spent an hour or two a sitting with the Camera and reading through the book with camera in hand so when it was explaining something I would look and check it out on the Camera. For the extra 30 bucks to your cost I found it invaluable and within a week I had the camera down pat.

[kiley9806]

thats a great idea - i googled it and think ive found the perfect book!

http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/0470120517/ref=sib_rdr_dp

thanks!

[calgaryjustin]

Hello I am a Canon shooter and have been for a long time. I think the best entry level camera is a Nikon D200-D300. You can say enough about a water sealed body with a good price. Canon has not got that hint yet!! The thing about a Nikon D80 that is better then the rest is the built on autofocus motor.

Justin Murphy
Calgary Wedding Photographer (http://www.murphyimages.ca)
www.murphyimages.ca (http://www.murphyimages.ca)

[kiley9806]

ok - i have another question about the nikon cameras - after taking looks in person, and doing more online checking, im wondering what other peoples opinions are on the differences between the D60 and D80? Im thinking the 60 will be better for me now, but want to know if im passing up something on the 80 that i'll be kicking myself for later...

[Travis]

ok - i have another question about the nikon cameras - after taking looks in person, and doing more online checking, im wondering what other peoples opinions are on the differences between the D60 and D80? Im thinking the 60 will be better for me now, but want to know if im passing up something on the 80 that i'll be kicking myself for later...

lol... I thought you were keeping the camera you had for a while...

The bottom line is... D40 D40X D60 D80 D200 D300 D3...

If you can't take great pictures with any of these DSLR's then it's not your equipment it's you!!! Don't forget that 10 years ago pro's were taking National Geographic pictures with half the technology that is in these models.....

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/notcamera.htm

Get the body you can best afford....they will all work great... but keep the bulk of your budget for lens...

Once you get your DSLR you will become somewhat of a lens junkie.... even if you drop the money on a super zoom like the 18-200 it still won't be enough..

you will want a wide lens like sigma 10-20mm or the tokina 11-16mm and you will also want a 105mm prime for macro/portrait and maybe even a prime 50mm

If I knew what I'd end up spending on lenses... I most likely would have got the D40 instead of the D60...

$799.00 Nikkor 18-200VR
$699.00 Tokina 11-16 (on order)
$599.00 Sigma 105mm Macro

and I'd still like 50mm prime and focal range to 300 or 400mm...

[mrtim]

Travis,

You mentioned in this article that you had a Tokina 11-16 on order, and that you already have a Tokina 12-24. By now I assume the 11-16 has shown up; what do you think of it compared with the 12-24?

- Tim

[Travis]

Travis,

You mentioned in this article that you had a Tokina 11-16 on order, and that you already have a Tokina 12-24. By now I assume the 11-16 has shown up; what do you think of it compared with the 12-24?

- Tim

I ended up cancelling the order because it was taking too long..... so I bought the 12-24 used instead....

funny ... I was in my camera shop the other day picking up some Cokin filters and they still didn't have it.... That would be about 1000 missed shots or more... I might pick it up when the hype settles down....

as far as the 12-24 I have no regrets.... I'm using the long end more than I anticipated.... I'm using this lens more than I anticipated as well.... so much you can do with it...

I did ask another forum member (on another forum) that had both for his opinion and he was impartial..... the 11-16 is sharper corner to corner though... less distortion because of smaller focal range.... and the 1mm does make a big difference on the wide end....

[mrtim]

Ah, I getcha.

I have the 12-24 myself, and in general I like it . . . but it does have some compromises for the wide range, and the 11-16 would be a better fit to my 17-55.

No rush though . . . with any luck the D700 release will trigger another wave of FX camera buyers who need to sell their DX lenses (that's how I got my 17-55).

- Tim