Camera Labs

hi there,
I'm a beginner to dslr, totally into street photography, potrait, and travel. I'm not really into video. I've been using compact and phone cameras up until now and i really feel the urge to upgrade to dslr after i've being using some. i've used nikon D5100, D90, and also canon 550D and 60D as well. but all of them are borrowed from friends of course. Now, i thought that i should own one myself, but the problem is which one?

I have an interest with D7000 and D90 but i can't really choose one. then my friends are telling me its better to go with d5100 or d5200 with more spending on the lens. Probably i'll consider 50mm. do anyone here have any suggestions on which dslr and if possible, some lens suggestions to go with the camera? or should i just go with the kit lens for starting?

Thanks a lot in advance.

Hi checardio.

If you have friends who mainly own Canon, is it possible for you to swap & borrow lenses with each other? (keep the costs down)

It all boils down to that dreaded `budget` in the end, so it depends how much you have to spend really, as well as what you want to shoot.

Even though you aren't into video, it might be handy to have for the odd occasions?

If you decide to go the Nikon route, from those 3 I think i'd choose the D7000. It's at a great price point atm.
re lenses, it's THEY that really account for better quality images & not so much the camera body.

The 35mm f/1.8G AF-S DX really is a great lens, especially for the money.

If it was me & I could only afford 1 lens atm, I would possibly go with the 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR AF-S DX. I thought it was a great walk around lens.

Choices, choices..... Don't forget, if you start to really get into this great hobby, it aint cheap long term.

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Nikon D700 & D7100 bodies + Nikkor 300mm F2.8 VR11, 1.7TC, 50mm F1.4G, 16-35mm f/4G VR, 105 F2.8 VR macro, 70-300mm lenses. A couple of filters, Giotto tripod & ballhead. Lowepro Slingshot 302 AW

http://www.flickr.com/photos/oldcarlos/

Given a fresh start, I'd choose the D7000 (I have both that and the D90, among others).

It's an excellent camera and with the introduction of the D7100, should be dropping in price. It does have more useful features than the D90 and a very sweet sensor (though nothing wrong with the D90!)

The newer model is always more future-proof than the old one.

I agree with Old Carlos totally on the lenses he mentioned, by the way. Have them both and can't really fault either, but it's the 16-85 that seems to be on one of my cameras (mostly the D7000) all the time. If I had to have one lens, this would be it. It might seem a bit expensive, but it has rather less distortion than comparable models and at the wider focal lengths, is as good as my fixed focal length lenses. It may be the only lens you need.

However, if you buy the D7000, it will autofocus with the older, motorless, AF lenses and will meter (also with focus indication) on most of the older Nikon manual focus lenses (with just a bit of data entry), so if you want more lenses, you might do well in the second hand market. The D90 will autofocus and meter with the motorless AF lenses but won't meter on the older MF lenses (though it will give focus indication). The D5x00 will only give autofocus indication on any of those lenses, nothing else.

Good luck - it's a great hobby.

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HCC
Nikon DSLRs, film cameras from Leica to Linhof

Hi Checardio

While your friends are right that you should invest in glass, if you have ambitions to develop your photography, I would look further up the line than the D5x00. The simple reason is that both the 3x00 and 5x00 are (in my opinion) too menu based for quick and easy access to the most important settings that you will need to use, whereas the D90/D7000/D7100 have easier direct access. So if you as keen to develop as you sound then you may find yourself quickly frustrated at the control system of these cameras. In fact, in my job as a sales advisor in John Lewis, I often point out that all Canon models have direct access to the most important settings. I bought a Nikon D60 5 years ago (the predecessor of the D3x00 and D5x00) and within a year I was regretting it and upgrading to a D90 because I wanted this direct access. Now, Nikon have made improvements to the menu systems and they are clearly wedded to it on their entry level models. But it is not the system that higher level cameras use.

Of the larger Nikons, the D90 (which I own at present) has been a real success for Nikon and remains a great camera. It is quick, well equipped but not over complicated. I love my D90 and have captured lots of great images on it. But it is starting to show its age and if you can afford the D7000 then it will give you a brilliant sensor and better low light performance. The autofocus is also very advanced. The D7000 is also a great camera, very solidly built too.

The other thing I often advise people to do is to try and draw up a list of lenses they might want e.g. a telephoto and portrait prime lens, wide angle and macro. Read the reviews and price up the Nikon and Canon lenses to help see which system is better for you.

It sounds like you have already had hands on experience with several cameras, which ultimately is the best thing to do.

Hope all that helps

Michael

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Nikon D600, Nikkor 24-70mm f2.8|AF-S 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 VR|AF 50mm 1.8D|Nissin Di866 Flash|Lowpro Slingshot 200 & Fastpack 250|Giotos MTL9351B Tripod+MH1311 Ball Head|


http://www.flickr.com/photos/michdung/

Have you decided to increase your budget? I ask because that was the primary reason for ruling out the D7000 previously.

Mark

I'm afraid not. where i currently study, it's a rare cases to see some friends with lens other than the kit lens. Nice advices tho. thanks!



Yes, i thought i might be able to save a bit more. Since i'm currently studying in europe(and the price ain't cheap here, comparatively), going back this June. So, i still have 3-4 months to save up. But still, considering increased budget, would u suggest the d5X00 with some lens or i should go with d90/d7000? would you think the price differences will be enormous?



And about the lenses, i thought i might ended up with a prime potrait lens(high probably 50mm, used it a couple of times and it was awesome), and also a good standard zoom lens for all-round activity, still thinking about which one would suit my preferences better though. I believe those two is all i need.(at least for now, considering how addictive this hobby can be. ) great advices tho! thanks.

And another one, which one do you guys think is better, either buying using online retailer or just went straight into the camera shops and get it there. cuz some said it's better to go to the shop, eventhough it is more expensive. i'm not really sure about this, any comments?

Similar to what I said in the other thread, I think you should decide on the lens(es) first, then let your remaining budget determine which body you get. So if you have enough money left over after you buy "a prime potrait lens ... and also a good standard zoom lens" to get a D7000, then get that. If not, get a D5X00 or D90.

Also, personally, I think it depends on how good the service is at your local camera shop(s). i.e. is the service--both now and in the future--worth the price difference? Although, if you do decide to buy online, don't forget to support Gordon if you can.

Mark

Hi Checardio

Ref: 50mm prime lens. The older Nikon 50mm 1.8D lens is very cheap - about £100. But you will need a camera with a built in AF motor. That would mean the D90 or D7000/D7100...

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Nikon D600, Nikkor 24-70mm f2.8|AF-S 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 VR|AF 50mm 1.8D|Nissin Di866 Flash|Lowpro Slingshot 200 & Fastpack 250|Giotos MTL9351B Tripod+MH1311 Ball Head|


http://www.flickr.com/photos/michdung/

The old 50/1.8D needs a camera with that motor to have Autofocus, but it still fits!

And I think the price difference with the 50/1.8G does not make the older lens worth the while anymore if you do end up going the D5x00 route

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- Wout -
Nikon D80 with 18-70 DX, 70-300 VR, 35 1.8 DX
Manfrotto 055XPROB tripod with 488RC0 midi ballhead
Lowepro CompuRover AW and Nova 200 AW

just blooming out of curiousness, why 16-85mm rather than the 18-105mm kit lens. i tought that's no too much differences, and yeah, i don't think i really need the 2mm extra wide focal lngth.. n the price i believe is a good deal cnsidering its a kit lens. Is there some crucial thing that i missed?

VR generation 1 (~3 stops advantage) in the kit lens vs. VR generation 2 (~4 stops advantage) in the 16-85
Plastic mount without seal vs. metal mount with rubber seal at the mount

And probably the overall construction of the lens is better on the 16-85, but it all comes down to what you can afford, they can both produce great images what I hear.

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- Wout -
Nikon D80 with 18-70 DX, 70-300 VR, 35 1.8 DX
Manfrotto 055XPROB tripod with 488RC0 midi ballhead
Lowepro CompuRover AW and Nova 200 AW

Now i see. thanks!

For the times that manual focus becomes important, I know that the D7000 has more-precise focus indicator lights in the viewfinder; two illuminated arrows, plus the round illuminated dot. Most Nikon cameras of less than pro-level quality have just the one round focus indicator light, which is less precise. For this reason, alone, I would choose the D7000.

The ability to AF with the AF-D lenses is important to me. I do not believe any of the 5x00-series Nikons have the in-built AF drive motors.

The ability to meter light with the AI-S lenses is very important to me. Of the cameras under discussion, I believe that only the D7000 can properly meter light with AI-S lenses.

Before eliminating the D7000 from consideration, be advised it was just announced that factory-refurbished D7000 cameras are available for $750 US. This price has me considering a "refurb" to serve as a back-up camera for my wife, whose primary camera is a D7000, or for me to use, myself, to simplify logistics when we are traveling. (My cropped-frame cameras are primarily Canons.)

I might well have already acquired a D7000, but really have my heart set on a full-frame Nikon D700, either refurb or pre-owned, and have just about reached the financial position to accomplish that.

With the impending shipment of the D7100, it is likely that the price of new D7000 cameras will fall in the future.

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Canon 7D/5D/40D/1D2N; Nikon F6, FM3A, & Coolpix A; Canon 40mm Pancake, 135L, 50L, 35L, pre-II 50mm 1.8, 100mm 2.8L Macro, 10-22mm EF-S, 28-135 EF, 400mm 5.6L; Nikkor 50mm 1.2 AI-S, 50mm 1.4G, 50mm 1.8D, 16mm 2.8D Fisheye, 180mm 2.8D, 100-300mm 5.6 AI-S; Tokina 17mm & 100mm 2.8 Macro

You are correct in your statements.
The D5x00 series does not have a built-in AF-drive and the D7000 does have metering on AI-S lenses

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- Wout -
Nikon D80 with 18-70 DX, 70-300 VR, 35 1.8 DX
Manfrotto 055XPROB tripod with 488RC0 midi ballhead
Lowepro CompuRover AW and Nova 200 AW

I think i will be taking d7000. and with a doubt, with a 50mm 1.8G, but i'm still confused whether to have the kit lens or not. Since i believe, i won't be really using it if i already have a 50mm. But some said it is convenient to have a standard zoom at least one, just so u have it when you need it. Not to mention i do travel sometimes and take pictures here and there. Any suggestions on good standard zoom lens for travel and street photography? or would 50mm would suffice? since they said, packing light is crucial.