Should I / Shouldn't ?
Discussion
Right, i need help, but mainly pointed in the right direction.
Think i want a Nikon d80. Comes highly recommended etc etc.
Now my options are, pick one up of Ebay with a decent 18-200mm lens for about £450
Or
Pick on for about £580 brand new but with peace of mind it's all new.
Then there is the problem, should i buy one now or wait until Christmas to see if with the sales i can pick something up better/cheaper.
What would you do?
Think i want a Nikon d80. Comes highly recommended etc etc.
Now my options are, pick one up of Ebay with a decent 18-200mm lens for about £450
Or
Pick on for about £580 brand new but with peace of mind it's all new.
Then there is the problem, should i buy one now or wait until Christmas to see if with the sales i can pick something up better/cheaper.
What would you do?
Camera bodies are complicated. I'd always buy from the UK, eg www.warehouseexpress.co.uk.
However I'm happy using s/h lenses from anywhere.
However I'm happy using s/h lenses from anywhere.
Malx said:
Think i want a Nikon d80. .....
.... pick one up of Ebay with a decent 18-200mm lens for about £450
Or
Pick on for about £580 brand new but with peace of mind it's all new.
A new D80 and 18-200 for £580 would be brilliant..... pick one up of Ebay with a decent 18-200mm lens for about £450
Or
Pick on for about £580 brand new but with peace of mind it's all new.
I've not seen them new for less than £400 ish EACH.
Or why not look for secondhand that already has an extended warranty?
When I bought my DSLR stuff (new from Calumet) it came with an EXTRA three years 'Mack' warranty
(free with the body and some nominal sum for the 18-200 lens).
Elderly said:
Malx said:
Think i want a Nikon d80. .....
.... pick one up of Ebay with a decent 18-200mm lens for about £450
Or
Pick on for about £580 brand new but with peace of mind it's all new.
A new D80 and 18-200 for £580 would be brilliant..... pick one up of Ebay with a decent 18-200mm lens for about £450
Or
Pick on for about £580 brand new but with peace of mind it's all new.
I've not seen them new for less than £400 ish EACH.
Or why not look for secondhand that already has an extended warranty?
When I bought my DSLR stuff (new from Calumet) it came with an EXTRA three years 'Mack' warranty
(free with the body and some nominal sum for the 18-200 lens).
Sheesh, i dunno, take the risk and buy second hand or go new. Will sleep on it.
Malx said:
Think i want a Nikon d80. ...
...
...
...
What would you do?
As devil's advocate here..... ...
...
...
What would you do?
I have some serious questions, just to balance up everyone's eagerness to tell you where to part with your money***.
Why do you think you need to get a dSLR?
Will you be investing in a set of lenses to complement this, or will you just get a mid-range (though excellent) Nikkor?
What will you be using it for?
Does the thought of dust-on-the-sensor seem like a nightmare or just a triviality in life?
Have you actually handled one, before you part with your cash, to recognise whether you will:
a) take it with you everywhere you go, be prepared to take millions of pictures until it's worn out
or
b) take it out once, realise it's a heavy paperweight and then leave it at home and miss a million and one opportunities.
You don't have to answer these, but I've come across a few people recently who think they want a dSLR when maybe there's something more useful.
*** but if you get this far, put aside a little more budget, go and choose your lens(es) and then see how much you've got for a body and buy secondhand....
^^^ It's always good to take a reality check before spending, but:
beano500 said:
Does the thought of dust-on-the-sensor seem like a nightmare or just a triviality in life?
In my experience the dust issue is greatly exaggerated - mostly by camera makers who happen to incorporate sensor-cleaning. I change lenses a great deal and by the simple expedient of turning the camera off first and changing lenses quickly, I have little or no problem with dust. It shows up most at small apertures on a plain background, eg sky. And if you see it, and if it's spoiling an otherwise great shot, a second's work with the PS clone tool gets rid of it.beano500 said:
Malx said:
Think i want a Nikon d80. ...
...
...
...
What would you do?
As devil's advocate here..... ...
...
...
What would you do?
I have some serious questions, just to balance up everyone's eagerness to tell you where to part with your money***.
Why do you think you need to get a dSLR?
Will you be investing in a set of lenses to complement this, or will you just get a mid-range (though excellent) Nikkor?
What will you be using it for?
Does the thought of dust-on-the-sensor seem like a nightmare or just a triviality in life?
Have you actually handled one, before you part with your cash, to recognise whether you will:
a) take it with you everywhere you go, be prepared to take millions of pictures until it's worn out
or
b) take it out once, realise it's a heavy paperweight and then leave it at home and miss a million and one opportunities.
You don't have to answer these, but I've come across a few people recently who think they want a dSLR when maybe there's something more useful.
*** but if you get this far, put aside a little more budget, go and choose your lens(es) and then see how much you've got for a body and buy secondhand....
1) Went from a compact to a Panasonic FZ-8 which i've been using for the last year and a bit. While it's an ok camera i've missed plenty of decent images when the zoom didn't quite cut the mustard.
2) I would like to built up a collection of a few lenses. Obviously spending 2k+ on a lens is out of my league at the moment i was using advice i was given with some of the Nikkor lenses.
3) Dust on a sensor, hmm, not sure. Pass
4) Yes, handled one in Le Mans and also in the office yesterday. Will not turn into a paper weight. want to get out and about and take it everywhere. There's a few guys at work do that (never realised there were so many). Good excuse to get out at lunch time.
Right then - I know someone with a 70-300 ED up for sale that's a good lens and better around 200 than the 18-200mm.
Pair that with a secondhand 18-70, 18-105 or 18-135.
Plan for:
50mm f/1.8 plus any from 35mm f/2 and 85mm f/1.8 and an old 105mm/60mm or 55mm micro.
Get someone to buy you an SB-600 (or ideally an 800, but don't push it!) for Christmas.
Don't go near a D40 or anything that insists upon AF-S lenses.
Do hang on as long as poss to see what deals you can screw out of anybody with a D80 because of a) the credit crunch and b) the arrival of the D90 - make sure you get them to throw in a spare battery, or something else useful. Remember: if you don't ask, you don't get!
Bob's your Parents' Sibling!
Pair that with a secondhand 18-70, 18-105 or 18-135.
Plan for:
50mm f/1.8 plus any from 35mm f/2 and 85mm f/1.8 and an old 105mm/60mm or 55mm micro.
Get someone to buy you an SB-600 (or ideally an 800, but don't push it!) for Christmas.
Don't go near a D40 or anything that insists upon AF-S lenses.
Do hang on as long as poss to see what deals you can screw out of anybody with a D80 because of a) the credit crunch and b) the arrival of the D90 - make sure you get them to throw in a spare battery, or something else useful. Remember: if you don't ask, you don't get!
Bob's your Parents' Sibling!
Some good issues raised above. Just to add my 2p as a D80 user.
18-135 is nasty IME. On paper it's a versatile lens but in the field it's softer than cow pat. As soon as you have a sniff of another lens you'll ditch the 18-135 so you're as well just avoiding it in the first place.
Jessops of all places are currently doing D80 with 18-55 VR for £449. I don't have experience of the 18-55 VR but it can't be worse than the 18-135.
If it's a big performing lens you're after, Jessops are also offering the Sigma 18-200 IS (Image Stabilised) for £249 which compares very favourably against the Nikon 18-200 VR. The Sigma is a tad slower at the long end but is otherwise as sharp and contrasty as the Nikon.
The 50mm f/1.8 is a great lens and you'll always love the pics it gives but it can sometimes feel a bit long and make you need to think creatively for composition.
Keep an eye on Camera Price Buster for prices of gear (I had a bit of lens lust and ended up on the Jessops website from CPB and found the deals above).
18-135 is nasty IME. On paper it's a versatile lens but in the field it's softer than cow pat. As soon as you have a sniff of another lens you'll ditch the 18-135 so you're as well just avoiding it in the first place.
Jessops of all places are currently doing D80 with 18-55 VR for £449. I don't have experience of the 18-55 VR but it can't be worse than the 18-135.
If it's a big performing lens you're after, Jessops are also offering the Sigma 18-200 IS (Image Stabilised) for £249 which compares very favourably against the Nikon 18-200 VR. The Sigma is a tad slower at the long end but is otherwise as sharp and contrasty as the Nikon.
The 50mm f/1.8 is a great lens and you'll always love the pics it gives but it can sometimes feel a bit long and make you need to think creatively for composition.
Keep an eye on Camera Price Buster for prices of gear (I had a bit of lens lust and ended up on the Jessops website from CPB and found the deals above).
beano500 said:
Right then - I know someone with a 70-300 ED up for sale that's a good lens and better around 200 than the 18-200mm.
Pair that with a secondhand 18-70, 18-105 or 18-135.
Plan for:
50mm f/1.8 plus any from 35mm f/2 and 85mm f/1.8 and an old 105mm/60mm or 55mm micro.
Get someone to buy you an SB-600 (or ideally an 800, but don't push it!) for Christmas.
Don't go near a D40 or anything that insists upon AF-S lenses.
Do hang on as long as poss to see what deals you can screw out of anybody with a D80 because of a) the credit crunch and b) the arrival of the D90 - make sure you get them to throw in a spare battery, or something else useful. Remember: if you don't ask, you don't get!
Bob's your Parents' Sibling!
Very good advise. Sold my D80 last week. There's umpteen threads about the 18-200mm. It has its fans, and those that don't raveabout it. I'm not a fan, and would suggest two sharp lenses are better than one jack of all trades lens. Ignore what Ken Rockwell says.. ;o)Pair that with a secondhand 18-70, 18-105 or 18-135.
Plan for:
50mm f/1.8 plus any from 35mm f/2 and 85mm f/1.8 and an old 105mm/60mm or 55mm micro.
Get someone to buy you an SB-600 (or ideally an 800, but don't push it!) for Christmas.
Don't go near a D40 or anything that insists upon AF-S lenses.
Do hang on as long as poss to see what deals you can screw out of anybody with a D80 because of a) the credit crunch and b) the arrival of the D90 - make sure you get them to throw in a spare battery, or something else useful. Remember: if you don't ask, you don't get!
Bob's your Parents' Sibling!
Pick up a D80 body only then add a decent std lens (ie 18-55 ish), and a good consumer 70-300. Cheaper option than the above and with better results.
For what it's worth, after umpteen lens upgrades and two years of use, I never really felt the D80 held me back. The image quality is very good and it lacks very few features. The D300 (which I upgraded to) has better AF and lower noise, but if I was to print an everyday image from both I doubt I could tell the difference.
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