Best way to blow about £850...

[Mr Whippy]

...for average starter kit...

Not gonna do any specialist portrait stuff, or specialist sports stuff, just a bit of a jack of all trades to start with, but not getting something that will leave me wanting more straight away!


Current plan is probably a new D70s (or get an Ebay body only), sell kit lens for as much as possible (£500 from Jessops) then source an 18-200VR lens.

Anyone else got similar kit?

Benefits, drawbacks, things you wish you'd got instead?


Cheers

Dave

[mr noble]

I have a D70 and a 70-200 vr. Its rubbish, sent it to Nikon, 10 weeks later they sent it back and its still rubbish!




do I sound bitter?

[Mr Whippy]

Is it just yours that is rubbish and Nikkor are not fixing it properly, or the lens is generally rubbish?

I've read quite alot of good things about the 18-200 VR as a "general purpose" lens, which is what I want, and it's VR means I can be less likely to haul a tripod around, the wide range of FOV also means I'll likely never need to swap lenses, so it's perfect to just take with me most times and get those one-off shots that I really want to be getting!

Just don't wanna get the D70s kit, and a random average 200mm lens that just puts the overall cost close to what a do it all lens would do all in one!

Dave

[trackdemon]

Mr Whippy said:

Is it just yours that is rubbish and Nikkor are not fixing it properly, or the lens is generally rubbish?

I've read quite alot of good things about the 18-200 VR as a "general purpose" lens, which is what I want, and it's VR means I can be less likely to haul a tripod around, the wide range of FOV also means I'll likely never need to swap lenses, so it's perfect to just take with me most times and get those one-off shots that I really want to be getting!

Just don't wanna get the D70s kit, and a random average 200mm lens that just puts the overall cost close to what a do it all lens would do all in one!

Dave

Oh god, don't let Matt hear you typing that.

[GetCarter]

I'd ignore all these people with fast cars and faster lenses and buy it.

...and the VR does work well without a tripod.

[poah]

the 18-200 VR is a 10x zoom. its not the greatest quality but tis a jack of all trades. VR useful for stationary subjects I'd rather have two fast lenses than one slow 10x zoom but thats me

[Leithen]

Probably about to be replaced, but we've found the D50 stunning. Now have a D80 too - it's undeniably more capable, but the D50 still takes great pictures - as an "entry level" digital SLR it gets my vote - probably get some cheap deals around too.

[Mr Whippy]

poah said:

the 18-200 VR is a 10x zoom. its not the greatest quality but tis a jack of all trades. VR useful for stationary subjects I'd rather have two fast lenses than one slow 10x zoom but thats me

Yeah I agree, VR/IS is great when you can expose for longer because your subject allows it, forgetting the small vibrations, and get enough light with a slow lens... yes a non IS/VR lens is just as good on a tripod in theory, but it's a general purpose zoom I'm after, and the VR/IS lenses open up handheld telephoto shots that you just can't do with any other lens...

Tis a tough decision but I just can't afford to specialise on what is ultimately "my first slr"

The kit 18-70 on the D70s is a good little lens. To just add 130mm and VR to it just makes it a perfect all rounder I guess.

In my view I've justified it on the grounds that I can offset the cost of the 18-200VR against the 18-70 which would be sold, against buying any telephoto lens which would supplement the 17-80... Even a £300 telephoto that starts at say 50mm or 70mm means I am only £50-100 off the VR lens (having sold the 17-80)


Still open on options of course, I quite like the Canon range of lenses, seem more varied to the Nikon, but not keen on the camera's in my price range... 350D really didn't feel as "point and shoot" as the D70s, requiring menu visiting alot sooner than the command wheel driven D70s.

Dave

Edited by Mr Whippy on Tuesday 7th November 18:58

[Biker.ie]

Mr Whippy said:

I've read quite alot of good things about the 18-200 VR as a "general purpose" lens, which is what I want, and it's VR means I can be less likely to haul a tripod around

Great lens for panning shots, this lad was doing about 3mph, taken 1/15 Sec, 150mm through a glass window

Vibration Reduction munches the battery tho

[mneame]

i went straight for an eos30d. only trouble is that will eat your budget and not leqve you with any money for a faster lens. but i find the kit lens quite good.

[David_G]

good luck getting an 18-200VR, Ninko are experiencing "supply problems"

Sigma are aparently about to release an 18-200 Optically Stabilised lens.

rumour has it that the Ninko is made by Sigma. I know that the Ninko 80-400VR is the same lens as Sigma's 80-400 OS. cool eh. not

[Biker.ie]

I doubt you're right, anyway who cares, you pay for the badge and this subconsciously reassures and improves both posture and composure ultimately translating into much better shots.

BMW's have the same effect, who cares if Audi are just as good- its a JR Ewing & the Barns healthy rivalry type thing and those sigma folk are merely stable sweepers (albeit very good ones) in all of this.

[Andy M]

I recently recommended the following to a mate of mine lwho had just under a grand to spend:

Canon EOS 400D & 18-55 LENS - £487 from Amazon (www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000IKVOE8/watersphotogr-21/ref=nosim )

Canon 50mm f1.8 II - £70 from Warehouse Express

Canon 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM - £369 (www.jacobsdigital.co.uk/products.php?productId=12261 )

2GB Lexar 80x WA Pro CompactFlash Card - £38.59 (www.pricestorm.com/moreInfo.asp?code=LXRCF2GB80666 )

Slightly over your budget, but an awesome kit

[Biker.ie]

...would be even awesome'r if it were Nikon / dives for cover

[Mr Whippy]

Andy M said:

I recently recommended the following to a mate of mine lwho had just under a grand to spend:

Canon EOS 400D & 18-55 LENS - £487 from Amazon (www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000IKVOE8/watersphotogr-21/ref=nosim )

Canon 50mm f1.8 II - £70 from Warehouse Express

Canon 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM - £369 (www.jacobsdigital.co.uk/products.php?productId=12261 )

2GB Lexar 80x WA Pro CompactFlash Card - £38.59 (www.pricestorm.com/moreInfo.asp?code=LXRCF2GB80666 )

Slightly over your budget, but an awesome kit

Thats actually not so bad now you add it up!

I'm just finding difficulty with the lower-spec Canon's. My brothers partner has a 20D and the 70-300IS and takes some very nice shots, and the 20D is lovely to use, but the 350D just feels so much harder to get to grips with when taking pictures. Felt to be messing in the menu's far too often, and although a nice size it was quite hard to hold.

On the other hand a workmates D70s felt alot nicer, bigger viewfinder, double command wheels, a bit bigger, but I was then spoilt by a D200 I think of another workmates which had a lovely viewfinder and lots of usefull buttons. But it was bloody heavy...

Still got my heart set on a D70s I think... seems a very good all-round package for the money.

Dave

[mr noble]

(It is just my 70-200 VR that I was going on about above)

Personally I'd listen to others on here in saying that these long zoom lenses (18-200) are really marketed at the newbie amatures. They are not very good at doing anything.

Firstly, I think you'd be a bit silly to get the discontinued D70s when its just been replaced with the D80 (soon anyway). Unless you're getting a super cheap deal on a D70s that a retailer is trying to get rid of. The D80 has the same chip and other bits and bobs as the superb D200 and for the few extra £££ over the 70s its well worth it.

Then I'd say that for normal stuff and everyday shooting and getting used to an d-slr, the 18-70 kit lens is actually very good.

Then you want a 70-200 f2.8 (expensive but great) or a much cheaper but still great 70-300 ED.


Oh and you have to have a 50mm f1.8 cause they are a must. (although I've not bought one yet )

HTH

Greg


(and sorry for my flippant remarks above, I'm just a little pi55ed at Nikon haveing it "fixed" for 10 weeks and it still not being sharp! And its a £1250 lens!!!)

Edited by mr noble on Wednesday 8th November 22:42

[Andy M]

Speaking peronally, though the D70 is by no means a bad camera, I'd have the 400D over it any day.

A D80 would make me think twice

[Mr Whippy]

Sounds like I need a trip out to Jessops to play with the D80 and 400D then... though I feel the 400D doesn't really offer much over the 350D in user terms, though technically the reviews I have read suggest a considerable leap... and the D70s does everything I would ever need really... I think money on lenses would be better spent... hmmmm...

Not keen on spending mega money on a fast telephoto just yet. I know it's tons more flexible in what it can do at the zoom range, but the cost, size and my "newbieness" to the SLR scene just can't warrant such cost.

A 50mm f1.8? Is that just a portrait lens with a shallow DOF then?

Dave

[Podie]

Jessops will price match off t'internet... so do some shopping

[Andy M]

Mr Whippy said:

A 50mm f1.8? Is that just a portrait lens with a shallow DOF then?

It can be used as a portrait lens, but is so much more. Probably the best lens on the market when measured by performance per pound.

I believe it to be a must for any starter kit

Podie said:

Jessops will price match off t'internet... so do some shopping

I'm not sure this is the case anymore. It's certainly not at my local store