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Nikon DSLR (Read 96413 times)

tomtom

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Nikon DSLR
August 18, 2009, 01:24:09 pm
Hello,
Thinking of getting my first DSLR, and for better or worse I think it should be a Nikon (father - and work has one so can borrow some interesting lenses). I have not got a clue which model to get - but theres no point in me getting a top end one - so something a bit up from bottom of the range. D60 seems to OK, but is the D3000 a new/better model? I get quite confused by the models/labelling for the Nikon range..  :-\
Any advice or pointers to good deals welcome,
Tom

dave

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#1 Re: Nikon DSLR
August 18, 2009, 01:34:12 pm
they're all good

basic points:

D40/40x/60/3000/5000  line are all small light "basic" models (but still very good) and can only autofocus with recent lenses, mainly zooms. So any older lenses you might inherit probably won't AF, and manually focusing reliably with these is a ball cos the finders aren't set up for it. You can't control off-camera flash remotely from them. not that it matters to 99% of users. Otherwise no problem, good cameras.

D70/70s/80/90 line are a bit higher spec, all a bit bigger, heavier, work with all the AF lenses, and can control off-camera flash. More expensive as a result.

D200/300 line are same as the above, but faster but heavier built and can meter with old manual lenses. Much more expensive.

(the odd model D50 sits between the first 2 groups, i.e. its like a D70, can AF everything but can't control remote flash)

Basically as you go through the ranges the sensors tend to be the same, i.e. image quality (i.e. all the 12mp camera have got pretty much the same guts), but features/handling/speed improve as you go up. best deal is either drop on the last of the new stock of a recently discontinued model, or get a laast-generation model second hand from somewhere that gives you a warranty (i.e. a reputable second hand dealers). If you're going to inherit some lenses a second hand D80 might be the way to go. Digital SLRs are quite prone to having to be fixed under warranty, so don't buy anthing without one.
« Last Edit: August 18, 2009, 01:40:10 pm by dave »

slackline

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#2 Re: Nikon DSLR
August 18, 2009, 01:35:38 pm
If you're looking to use old lenses and want to be able to autofocus then the D60 and D90 won't play ball, and I doubt the D3000 will either.  Cheapest new model that will is I think the D300, although second hand D50/D70(?)/D80/D200 will work.

What dave said  :) (but include the D50 in the group that will AF all lenses, although its quite old and you'd have to get one second hand most probably).

Handy model details to help with confusion.

If you buy second hand make sure to find out how many shutter actuations the camera has the lower the better, too high and you'll likely end up paying for a service so worth budgeting for that.  Although I'm on something like ~34000 shutter actuations on my D50 and it seems to be doing fine.

tomtom

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#3 Re: Nikon DSLR
August 18, 2009, 01:42:41 pm
Thanks Guys - thats exactly what I was looking for...
Excellent,
Tom

dave

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#4 Re: Nikon DSLR
August 18, 2009, 01:51:18 pm
If you buy second hand make sure to find out how many shutter actuations the camera has the lower the better, too high and you'll likely end up paying for a service so worth budgeting for that.  Although I'm on something like ~34000 shutter actuations on my D50 and it seems to be doing fine.

I recon you're more likely to break something else on the camera before the shutter. I'd take the shutter count just as a general indication of useage more than anything else. Chances are if someone has used a camera to high shutter count without breaking it, scratching the LCD, snapping a battery door or having buttons pack up then chances are they've looked after it pretty well, hence a good buy.

Bear in mind that whatever you buy will be worth next to nothing in a couple of years regardless. don't buy as an investment.

cofe

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#5 Re: Nikon DSLR
August 18, 2009, 02:09:08 pm
i haven't checked, but can't you get a D200 for essentially fuck all at the moment (£400ish)? seems like a fucking good deal to me.

dave

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#6 Re: Nikon DSLR
August 18, 2009, 03:23:20 pm
yeah you can get a D200 for 400-450 bananas with a guarantee. idiots probably pay for than that on ebay mind. Have seen D300s for under 800 too.

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#7 Re: Nikon DSLR
August 18, 2009, 04:37:14 pm
I might be selling my D50 very soon

slackline

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#8 Re: Nikon DSLR
August 18, 2009, 04:42:52 pm
I might be selling my D50 very soon

If tomtom isn't interested I may well be 'cause whilst I'd love to splash out on a D300 it ain't going to happen anytime soon (and I'd be more proactive about hooking up than the six-month protracted debacle over the MD player and external media-storage  :P).

tomtom

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#9 Re: Nikon DSLR
August 18, 2009, 04:44:55 pm
Could be very interested... what condition, lens, price?? PM me if you prefer..

or Slackers..? D50 sits in the right area having looked around...

tomtom

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#10 Re: Nikon DSLR
November 25, 2009, 05:05:18 pm
GCW's thread made me kick start this thread...

I'm very close to choosing a DSLR - and am pondering between the D3000, D5000 and D90 - which are c. £350 - 450 and 750 each or thereabouts...

The D5000 looks like the more likely one and from what I understand its quite similar in spec to the D90, but doesnt have the AF in the lenses - so takes older lens and has a couple of things too (actual pentaprism instead of mirrors..??). Then again - will the 5000 give me much more than the 3000 as they share the same lenses? It has a fancier autofocus & metering and a better iso sensor - but is this something I am likely to use/need? That aside is there really any great difference that makes it worth the extra £100 - £150?

Any thoughts?
T

cofe

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#11 Re: Nikon DSLR
November 25, 2009, 05:40:36 pm
D90 looks cheaper than that: http://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/cat4.html

D200 is still less than 500 notes too secondhand. Not that I know owt about the difference between nikon cameras.

dave

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#12 Re: Nikon DSLR
November 25, 2009, 06:03:06 pm
D90 looks the best buy in the nikon lineup right now and a step above the D300000/500000. They're just coming onto the second hand market now in numbers, so keep you're eyes open.

The lower models are all pretty much of a muchness, the specs tell you it all. Great compact bodies with image quality to equal the top line models, you've just got to put up with the limitations.

I've seen D200s as low as 400 sheets.

Tris

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#13 Re: Nikon DSLR
November 25, 2009, 07:08:31 pm
D90 looks the best buy in the nikon lineup right now and a step above the D300000/500000. They're just coming onto the second hand market now in numbers, so keep you're eyes open.
Do they all have video on them nowadays?

Also can you still get the D40? That's a crackin little camera.

I was waiting for ages for the D90 to turn last year, but gave up and settled on the D300 instead. So glad I spent a little more on the body.

What's your budget Tomtom?

tomtom

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#14 Re: Nikon DSLR
November 25, 2009, 10:23:21 pm
D90 looks the best buy in the nikon lineup right now and a step above the D300000/500000. They're just coming onto the second hand market now in numbers, so keep you're eyes open.
Do they all have video on them nowadays?

Also can you still get the D40? That's a crackin little camera.

I was waiting for ages for the D90 to turn last year, but gave up and settled on the D300 instead. So glad I spent a little more on the body.

What's your budget Tomtom?

Well - I could probably stretch to £600 but wouldnt want to go any more than that... need a case etc.. too..

dave

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#15 Re: Nikon DSLR
November 25, 2009, 10:42:16 pm
new D90s will probably dip under 600 shortly, or find a good second hand example for less.

if you're happy to stick to mainly recent zooms and have no burning desire to use off camera flash then the D5000 could be a good choice, save some wedge and spend it on a better lens etc. Generally long term putting the money on the lens rather than the body is best, decent lenses will still be worth the same in 4 years, the body will be worth next to nowt.

surfchimpster

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#16 Re: Nikon DSLR
December 24, 2009, 11:56:54 am
I've just sold my Nikon D40 on eBay for £230 after 2 years pretty consistent use. Think it was £340 new not bad return for nowadays.

I've gone for the a New Nikon D5000, big sensor same as model up and with HD video with the ability to use old lenses for shallow depth of field manual focus effects.

tomtom

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#17 Re: Nikon DSLR
December 24, 2009, 05:23:38 pm
I've just sold my Nikon D40 on eBay for £230 after 2 years pretty consistent use. Think it was £340 new not bad return for nowadays.

I've gone for the a New Nikon D5000, big sensor same as model up and with HD video with the ability to use old lenses for shallow depth of field manual focus effects.

Let me know how it performs - still umming and aahing about what to get...
Good advice too Dave about the Lens.. used Nai's cannon with a lovely 10-20mm sigma zoom a couple of weeks ago and was very impressed with the lens...

Tris

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#18 Re: Nikon DSLR
December 24, 2009, 07:18:14 pm
used Nai's cannon with a lovely 10-20mm sigma zoom a couple of weeks ago and was very impressed with the lens...
If you are planning on getting that lens, I'd be a little wary about buying Sigma's - it can be a bit of a lottery as to whether you will get a good lens. If you do go for one, make sure you buy it from a respectable UK shop with a decent returns policy, not a cheap deal from Hong Kong etc ;D.
I used to have the 10-20 Sigma and it did give nice sharp images, however a lot of people have found the opposite...

tomtom

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#19 Re: Nikon DSLR
December 24, 2009, 07:30:16 pm
used Nai's cannon with a lovely 10-20mm sigma zoom a couple of weeks ago and was very impressed with the lens...
If you are planning on getting that lens, I'd be a little wary about buying Sigma's - it can be a bit of a lottery as to whether you will get a good lens. If you do go for one, make sure you buy it from a respectable UK shop with a decent returns policy, not a cheap deal from Hong Kong etc ;D.
I used to have the 10-20 Sigma and it did give nice sharp images, however a lot of people have found the opposite...

Good advice- they're about £500 sheets.... so not something to take a punt on!

Tris

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#20 Re: Nikon DSLR
December 24, 2009, 07:52:52 pm
Good advice- they're about £500 sheets.... so not something to take a punt on!
Wow - they've gone up in price, I paid under £300 2 years ago!!

dave

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#21 Re: Nikon DSLR
December 24, 2009, 07:55:08 pm
you can get those sigmas for 250-300 bananas from decent second hand dealers, i.e. with return privelidges. Buying sigmas on ebay is a mugs game.

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#22 Re: Nikon DSLR
December 25, 2009, 10:01:12 am
Good advice- they're about £500 sheets.... so not something to take a punt on!
Wow - they've gone up in price, I paid under £300 2 years ago!!

I've one of these for Nikon and get great pictures out of it, really nice lens.

The reason there is the price disparity is that recently Sigma bought out a f/3.5 version, the older ones (that are cheaper) are f/4-5.6.

Tris

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#23 Re: Nikon DSLR
December 25, 2009, 10:08:19 am
The reason there is the price disparity is that recently Sigma bought out a f/3.5 version, the older ones (that are cheaper) are f/4-5.6.
Ahh - that makes sense, I had the f4-5.6 version. I upgraded it to a Tokina 11-16 f2.8 earlier this year.

Santa has just brought me one of these, so I'm off out to play with it  ;D

Tris

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#24 Re: Nikon DSLR
February 10, 2010, 11:00:44 am
Nikon have just announced two wide interesting (yet bloody expensive) lenses:

AF-S NIKKOR 24mm f/1.4 G ED

AF-S NIKKOR 16-35mm f/4G ED VR

 

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