dSLR confusion

[hidetheelephants]

I've been trawling for information here and elsewhere to help me pick a dSLR, but have only really confused myself with info overload. I've got as far as deciding I want a dSLR rather than a bridge as the shutter delay I've encountered on testing some was irksome. My budget of 200-250 clearly means used equipment. I still have my Nikon SLR system lurking somewhere gathering dust, but I'm not going to rule out other makes without a good reason. Any suggestions?

[RobDickinson]

What do you think you will shoot? Theres perfomance differences between older cameras that could make some difference.

Also if you want to use your old nikon SLR lenses you should be able to, depending on the lenses though they may need a body motor to AF (thus restrict your scope of used bodies a bit) or even work better on lower end canon than the equivalent nikon ! (with an adapter).

Not sure what 200-250 gets you but I suspect an entry level of 3-4 years ago ( 400d or something) plus a kit lens.

[hidetheelephants]

I do a mix of generic family-type stuff(weddings, parties, outings) and action shots of aircraft and yachts. Shooting the latter is where I have had problems with shutter delay on borrowed cameras.

[Pints]

Assuming you've already a decent range of Nikon lenses, it'd be a shame for them to go to waste.

Alternatively, you could sell your old lenses, which would increase your budget.

Not really recommendations, but hopefully food for thought.

[GetCarter]

Most of us in here suggest you stick with Nikon or Canon (as they are the market leaders and there are so many second hand and new lenses for sale).

The thing that will affect your choice of lens (that you might not realise) is that all the entry level Nikons and Canons have a 'crop' sensor. This will make a 50mm lens produce a shot that looks like it was taken with a +/- 75mm lens. This will of course benefit your aircraft/yacht scenario, as the normal kit lens (which goes to 55mm) will feel like it goes to 80mm. The addition of a 70-300 (Lots of Nikon second hand ones about - try for the 'ED' not the 'G') will give you an effective 450mm reach to bring stuff really close... \/

Edited by GetCarter on Sunday 3rd July 11:55

[Steve Evil]

Try the Canon Outlet shop on eBay:

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Canon-Outlet

I got my Canon 350d on there a few years ago and saved quite a bit over buying it elsewhere.

[mrmr96]

GetCarter said:

Most of us in here suggest you stick with Nikon or Canon (as they are the market leaders and there are so many second hand and new lenses for sale).

The thing that will affect your choice of lens (that you might not realise) is that all the entry level Nikons and Canons have a 'crop' sensor. This will make a 50mm lens produce a shot that looks like it was taken with a +/- 75mm lens. This will of course benefit your aircraft/yacht scenario, as the normal kit lens (which goes to 55mm) will feel like it goes to 80mm. The addition of a 70-300 (Lots of Nikon second hand ones about - try for the 'ED' not the 'G') will give you an effective 450mm reach to bring stuff really close... \/

Edited by GetCarter on Sunday 3rd July 11:55

And to add balance: The other side of this is that when you're trying to take wide angle photos, the lens will feel move 'zoomed' that expected. (i.e. at 18mm the lens will feel more like 29mm) So what you gain in zoom you lose in wide angle. I think the ratio is 1.6 for the non-full frame sensors. (i.e. take the focal length as printed on the lens and that will be what it is on a full frame sensor, but you must multiply by 1.6 to get the effective focal length on a cropped sensor as seen on the entry level DSLRs)

[Simpo Two]

mrmr96 said:

I think the ratio is 1.6 for the non-full frame sensors

Entry and mid-level Nikons are 1.5x ('DX' in Nikonese as opposed to 'full frame' = 'FX')

[Elderly]

GetCarter said:

The addition of a 70-300 ... will give you an effective 450mm reach to bring stuff really close... \/

I've fixed that for you Get

[mrmr96]

Simpo Two said:

mrmr96 said:

I think the ratio is 1.6 for the non-full frame sensors

Entry and mid-level Nikons are 1.5x ('DX' in Nikonese as opposed to 'full frame' = 'FX')

Ok, thanks for correcting me.

To the OP: The term for this is 'crop factor' and you can find out the crop factor of any given camera using google.

[hidetheelephants]

For the purpose of completeness I've just bought a used Nikon D40 with a 18-55 and a 55-200(not VR but I'll see how I get on) for 200 notes. New toys!

[flat-planedCrank]

hidetheelephants said:

For the purpose of completeness I've just bought a used Nikon D40 with a 18-55 and a 55-200(not VR but I'll see how I get on) for 200 notes. New toys!

Congrats on the new kit!