Need help D-SLR Shopping

[trevorjk]

so im getting into some courses where i need to start to think about getting my own camera. as ive wanted one for a while. so kill 2 birds with 1 stone. i know next to nothing on D-SLR's except how to vaguely use them.

so my question is this, the camera recommend at my school is a Nikon D80 with a nice tripod.

so with that in mind, what are my options? a nice secondary lens? tripods? memory? price?

otherthings i should take into account? ect ect, the more help the better

Thanks
Trevor

[KevinA]

The D80 is a nice starter, and for some maybe all the camera they'll ever need. I started with a Canon Rebel XT, and up until a few weeks ago was very satisfied with it. The only reason I am unsatisfied, is because of the customer service I got from Canon, it had nothing to do with the performance. You can pick up Rebels now for pretty cheap, I think the XT goes for about $400 new now? The XTi which came out recently from canon goes for about $600ish? I would wait on a lens, see what kind f pictures you like to take first, a tripod is a must, and you might want to get some lens filters, you can get a set from BeachCamera.com for like $50. I'm no expert, but I know a bit. Hope I helped.

Kevin

[kruger]

The D80 is a very good camera, and a bit pricey too. But, if you are looking to get into a camera a little on the cheaper side, then consider the D40. Small, powerful and will have the features of the the bigger D80, most of them anyway. The differences between the D40 and the D80 are not normally things that a novice will notice anyway. The only disadvantage that the D40 has is that it will not work with all lenses out there. And, while we are on the subject of lenses, the camera is not as important as the lens that you use. A great camera with a so-so lens will take so-so pictures. A so-so camera with a great lens will take great pictures. The camera can only take pictures that it sees, and the lens is how is sees the pictures that it takes. For the novice, the D40 is all the camera that you could use. The D80 has more features, but, to be honest, you will probably never use most of the features that are available.

Here is a website that will give you no-nonsense information about everything cameras.

kenrockwell.com

[MANN]

I am camera searching as well. I think I will pick up a Sony alpha. I have heard only good things about them so far.

[drg]

The #1 thing to do when DSLR shopping, bar none: Consider the lenses.

Do your research into the lenses and see whether for the line you are considering you can get the things you want out of the lenses.

[trevorjk]

well im looking for an intermediate D-SLR setup, camera, nice lens, tripod, 4gb memory, and a nice case for all of it (minus tripod) for around 800-900. camera will be used alot thats for sure, so id much rather go with a medium range and go from there so i dont find my self trying to get a new camera in a year or so

Thanks for the help so far guys
Trevor

[kruger]

d80

The closest that you will get. The lenses are not that great, but will get you started. Also, if you do search Ebay, then you will notice that there are others that will cost more, but you have to look at the lenses that are offered in the package deal. Nikon makes great lenses, has for many years. And, the Nikon cameras work best with Nikon lenses, they were designed that way.

Also, if you check out the link that I listed, you will find that Ken Rockwell raves about the D40. And, he has several Professional level cameras, and prefers to carry the D40. It is not necessarily an entry level camera.

D40

If you check out this Pkg deal, it has everything that you are wanting, and then some. Even has the Nikon lenses. These are great starter lenses and will do until you know what it is that you do want in a lens. Do a little checking out of the D40 and you will find that it may be the best bet for you. Then again, it may not.

[going_home]

d80

The closest that you will get. The lenses are not that great, but will get you started. Also, if you do search Ebay, then you will notice that there are others that will cost more, but you have to look at the lenses that are offered in the package deal. Nikon makes great lenses, has for many years. And, the Nikon cameras work best with Nikon lenses, they were designed that way.

Also, if you check out the link that I listed, you will find that Ken Rockwell raves about the D40. And, he has several Professional level cameras, and prefers to carry the D40. It is not necessarily an entry level camera.

D40

If you check out this Pkg deal, it has everything that you are wanting, and then some. Even has the Nikon lenses. These are great starter lenses and will do until you know what it is that you do want in a lens. Do a little checking out of the D40 and you will find that it may be the best bet for you. Then again, it may not.

I have had a D50 for several years now. Love it.
My teenage daughter wanted one like mine for Chritsmas.
So I charged up the Best Buy card to get her a D40 .
She loves it. I recommend the Best Buy warranty.
If it cant be fixed they replace it. Doesnt matter if it was dropped in the swimming pool
or onto the driveway off the roof.
If it gets stolen you are just out of luck though.

One word of caution on the D40 though.
If you are going to get some bargain lenses as you can afford them on Ebay
you are better off getting the D80 because with the D40 Nikon has changed the lenses.

My AF lenses do work on her D40 but they dont auto focus.

You will still be able to use the older lenses on the D40 but auto focus will only work
with the new type lenses. Manual focus on the D40 only with older lenses.

But it was considerably less money for the D40 so thats why I went that way, even knowing about the lens issue. And she loves it. What teenager wouldnt love a camera that costs
that much ?

[kruger]

I personally use a D50, an I also love it. Just today, got the 18-200 mm VR lens for it. I did mention that the D40 would not work with all the previous lenses, just the DX type. There are short falls with the D50, but, at my level of skills, it will never matter. I just wanna take pics.

BUT, if I were to get a newer camera, then the D40 or the D40x is it. The X is debatable, dont know if I actually need the resolution or not.

But, these are all just personal opinions, and they apply to my preferred objectives. The D80 is supposed to be a great camera, dont know, havent used one. But, I have been doing a lot of research lately on cameras and lenses. I just know that the D80 is more camera than I will ever use.

[Indignant]

the D40 is crippled. i would never buy one.

if you can afford the D80, do. A Canon 20D or 30D could maybe be found cheaper and perform as well.

[trevorjk]

the D40 is crippled. i would never buy one.

if you can afford the D80, do. A Canon 20D or 30D could maybe be found cheaper and perform as well.

yeah after reading reviews it seams the D40 is nice and all, but for long term use it just does not seam logical to spend the money on that model.


how about the canon rebel xti? how about Pentax? pro's con's?

[mtaylor]

just so everyonne knows, the d40 has been discontinued. The d60 and the d40x are the replacements i beleive.

not sure of the changes.

[Thordic]

You could prolly pick up a 20D or 30D with <10k shutter actuations for your price range.

Someone above me made a very VERY good point. Look into lenses, not cameras. Does Nikon make a lens you REALLY want but there is no Canon equivelent? Does Canon have a lens feature thats important to you?

With DSLRs, you aren't buying into a camera body. Long term, you are buying into a lens system.

I have two Canon bodys, a 300D which cost me around $700 new, and a 20D that I picked up for around $700 used. So if I switched bodies again, it wouldn't cost me a ton.

However, I have a $1000 lens, an $800 lens, and a couple other $400 lenses. If I switched to Nikon at this point, not only would I need to buy a new body, but I'd need to sell all my lenses and start over.

Personally, I like Canon's lens lineup a little better than Nikon. Nikon seems to get a lot of props for their camera bodies, which is all well and good, but glass is where the focus should be.

As for the Sony, I wouldn't bother. If you are looking at DSLRs, you stick with Nikon or Canon, anything else is going to be a waste of your time and money.

[Thordic]

Oh, and after you decide on the body, please please please for the love of god research your glass. If you buy some cheap $160 70-300mm piece of crap lens, you are probably just going to turn around and spend $300 on a MUCH better lens a few months later, its better to invest in quality from the start.

[Indignant]

seconding thordic here, a camera is only as good as the glass on it. Canon has a very large selection of quality lenses for good prices. It was one of my main reasons to switch over from my first camera, a Pentax *ist DS. the lenses for the Canon are much more readily available and priced much lower than a Pentax counterpart because they are making, and selling, more of them.

I've got a $60 Canon 50mm f/1.8 and a $325 Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 that I bought used, and they are very sharp, the 28-75 is versatile, and they are both fast enough for the low light concert type events I usually shoot at. Research.