Another request for advice from a novice

[Terzo123]

I'm thinking about splashing out for a DSLR next month for my birthday

I've searched lots of threads looking for a beginners set up and Nikon seem to fit the bill for quality and price

Out of the following two deals which would you recommend, or have you any other suggestions

Thanks

Nikon D60 - http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00131Z1G...

Nikon D40 - http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000KIX65S?ie=U...

Edited by Terzo123 on Thursday 2nd October 14:31

[beano500]

I am a devoted Nikon user and fan, but I have to declare that I wouldn't go shopping for either of these.

As you expand and develop you will want to look at additional lenses. You will have to accept that apart from the latest AF-S and AF-I lenses you will be restricted to manual focus and you may be restricted to manual metering techniques. Something to think about for the future.

Now, that aside, Nikons are easy to learn to use and once you've learnt one, you can probably migrate to any quite easily (it's a bit like having a new 'phone and sticking to the same brand because everything is familiar.

The "kit" lenses are OK. However, many people find that they're not as good as they'd like - maybe image quality or build and handling - and if you go anywhere near a better spec Nikkor lens you won't want to go back! And the market for both new and secondhand glass is a great reason to hitch up to a Nikon.

As far of which will be "better" - the D60 is the newer and latest technology, so is likely to be better for that reason. But it's been out long enough for any teething troubles to be known about - I don't believe there's anything major that is not a risk to any new technology purchase.

If you want a D40 it might be worth considering if they are in the s/h market now for a real bargain. But for new - on balance - D60.


Just my 2p.

[Simpo Two]

Yep Beano, but you use crappy weird old lenses

[beano500]

Simpo Two said:

Yep Beano, but you use crappy weird old lenses

AF 10.5mm f/2.8 DX
AF-S 17-35mm f/2.8
AF 35mm f/2D
Ai-P 45mm f/2.8
AF 50mm f/1.4D - in the post, just purchased from a Nikonian
AF-S 70-200 f/2.8 VR
AF 85mm f/1.4D
AF-S 105mm f/2.8 Micro VR
TC-14E and TC-20E II

(All but one of these, IIRC, were purchased secondhand, lest you think I've a bottomless money pit!)


Given you wrote "lenses" - i.e. plural - cite two of that list that fall into your category





Having said that, only three out of eight would offer autofocus on the D40/D60 type bodies, I agree. And that's my point, I think!

[Simpo Two]

beano500 said:

cite two of that list that fall into your category

...only three out of eight would offer autofocus on the D40/D60 type bodies

Ergo, five are crappy and weird.

QED, win to Simpo, where do I collect my prize?

[Simpo Two]

To the OP - what Beano says is true, but pretty much all modern lenses, bar some specialist ones, will be AF-S, and that's what you'll need for autofocus. So as long as your needs are not exceptional (eg crappy and weird ) you'll be fine with these models. If in doubt, go for the D80 - which may be cheaper now the D90 is out.

[beano500]

Simpo Two said:

QED, win to Simpo, where do I collect my prize?

I did bite rather didn't I?!!!



D80 is a good call.


And this is a useful link to check out current prices .....


http://www.camerapricebuster.com/cat4.html

[RobDickinson]

D40's lack some features I'd seriously miss, in addition to the body motor which nikon should have ditched years ago and prepaird their lens inventory for beforehand.

[Coq au Vin]

beano500 said:

Simpo Two said:

Yep Beano, but you use crappy weird old lenses

AF 10.5mm f/2.8 DX
AF-S 17-35mm f/2.8
AF 35mm f/2D
Ai-P 45mm f/2.8
AF 50mm f/1.4D - in the post, just purchased from a Nikonian
AF-S 70-200 f/2.8 VR
AF 85mm f/1.4D
AF-S 105mm f/2.8 Micro VR
TC-14E and TC-20E II

(All but one of these, IIRC, were purchased secondhand, lest you think I've a bottomless money pit!)


Given you wrote "lenses" - i.e. plural - cite two of that list that fall into your category





Having said that, only three out of eight would offer autofocus on the D40/D60 type bodies, I agree. And that's my point, I think!

The 45mm AI-P works on the D40 too (It's not AF anyway...) Actually, it's so old and crappy I'll offer you a tenner for it.

[Terzo123]

It all sounds so confusing!

[flat-planedCrank]

Terzo123 said:

It all sounds so confusing!

Its just cos its a slightly unusual situation where some lenses will not autofocus on the d40/d40x/d60 range of cameras.

Here are the reviews on dpreview:
D60
D40

The first page of both reviews shows the difference in the mount (the bit the lens attaches to).



Check the conclusions pages on those reviews, they do a pretty decent job of summing up...

Can always just post back on here to canvas opinion on any of the points they raise


Cheers.

[Terzo123]

Thanks for that

I suppose the big thing for me as a beginner is cost.

Although i see myself leaning towards the d60 as its the newer model, and has the better lense kit, will i notice where the extra cash went if i chose the d60 over the d40?

Thanks

[Steve Evil]

Terzo123 said:

Thanks for that

I suppose the big thing for me as a beginner is cost.

Although i see myself leaning towards the d60 as its the newer model, and has the better lense kit, will i notice where the extra cash went if i chose the d60 over the d40?

Thanks

To start with probably not no, as you get more experienced and start getting more out of the camera then yes you will.

[NewNameNeeded]

Steve Evil said:

Terzo123 said:

Thanks for that

I suppose the big thing for me as a beginner is cost.

Although i see myself leaning towards the d60 as its the newer model, and has the better lense kit, will i notice where the extra cash went if i chose the d60 over the d40?

Thanks

To start with probably not no, as you get more experienced and start getting more out of the camera then yes you will.

But by that stage you might have outgrown the beginner camera anyway? I bought a Nikon D50 (which does admittedly have the in-body motor) as my budget entry to the DSLR world. 18 months later, and restricting myself to just the kit 18-70mm lens I felt much more confident in what I was doing and which lenses I wanted (completely different to what I thought when I'd first bought the camera) so I upgraded and splashed out on the lenses.

Welcome to a very expensive hobby

[Terzo123]

Well after a month of looking i've pretty much committed to buying a Canon 400D from the e bay outlet, although if a 450d comes along i might be tempted

I've bid for about 6 cameras so far, but the prices seem to keep going up and up.

The first camera i went for sold for around £250. I wish i could get that price now.

Folk are going crazy, bidding up to £290 for a refurbished camera. Might have to give up the bidding malarky and go for the " Buy it now" at £279

[Ordinary Bloke]

350D and 300D are also pretty good, you don't need more than 6Mpix unless you're going to enlarge beyond A3 size.

[RobDickinson]

Ordinary Bloke said:

350D and 300D are also pretty good, you don't need more than 6Mpix unless you're going to enlarge beyond A3 size.

300D is an utter antique, all round preformance is woefull compared to modern ones, and the LCD is awfull (as is the 350D's). Both take ace pics but I wouldnt go older than 350d myself.

Someone was saying they've found a new 1000D for 270, which isnt bad unless you want 3fps in RAW.

[Ordinary Bloke]

RobDickinson said:

Ordinary Bloke said:

350D and 300D are also pretty good, you don't need more than 6Mpix unless you're going to enlarge beyond A3 size.

300D is an utter antique, all round preformance is woefull compared to modern ones, and the LCD is awfull (as is the 350D's). Both take ace pics but I wouldnt go older than 350d myself.

Someone was saying they've found a new 1000D for 270, which isnt bad unless you want 3fps in RAW.

I'm not saying you're wrong, but the OP is obviously on a tight budget and I'd guess a 300D could be £100 leaving an extra couple of hundred towards a nice lens, I know you'd agree that the lens is more important than the body. Just another option...

[SamHH]

Ordinary Bloke said:

RobDickinson said:

Ordinary Bloke said:

350D and 300D are also pretty good, you don't need more than 6Mpix unless you're going to enlarge beyond A3 size.

300D is an utter antique, all round preformance is woefull compared to modern ones, and the LCD is awfull (as is the 350D's). Both take ace pics but I wouldnt go older than 350d myself.

Someone was saying they've found a new 1000D for 270, which isnt bad unless you want 3fps in RAW.

I'm not saying you're wrong, but the OP is obviously on a tight budget and I'd guess a 300D could be £100 leaving an extra couple of hundred towards a nice lens, I know you'd agree that the lens is more important than the body. Just another option...

I've got a 300D and I find some of its limitations annoying. For example the write buffer is very small, generally the electronic side of the camera is quite slow and there's no manual control of the metering mode. However, with the exception of the high ISO noise performance, they're all just inconveniences, not limitations on the quality of photo that can be produced. The next time I spend money on kit, it'll be on a lens, not a body.

[Terzo123]

Thanks for all your advice guys

I finally managed to purchase a 400d with kit lens from the Canon outlet (For under £260)SHould be with me next week

I've heard the kit lens is not the best, so come Christmas time i might ask Santa for something better.

In the meantime, apart from the obvious ( Memory card ) what accessories would you recommend to help me get up on my feet

Thanks T