Choosing the right body & lens

[jcls519]

I'm beginning to shop around for my first dslr setup. Nikon is def my choice as I am impressed with my L100 point-and-shoot. I will mainly be taking landscape/nature shots and still am an amateur so I don't need something too big and fancy. I've been looking at the D3000, but have been recently recommended to get the D5100. Also, I've been looking at the 55-200 lens for distance and have been recommended to get the 70-300. I'm looking for the best value and picture quality for my money. Help please!

 

[MTVision]

I'm beginning to shop around for my first dslr setup. Nikon is def my choice as I am impressed with my L100 point-and-shoot. I will mainly be taking landscape/nature shots and still am an amateur so I don't need something too big and fancy. I've been looking at the D3000, but have been recently recommended to get the D5100. Also, I've been looking at the 55-200 lens for distance and have been recommended to get the 70-300. I'm looking for the best value and picture quality for my money. Help please!

The d5100 is a nice camera - I have one. The d5100 can take great pictures in low light at high ISO's! I bought the 55-300 so I can't give advice/recommendation on either lenses. The 70-300 is the best of those 3 lenses (from what I've heard) For landscape spots you might want something a little wider. There is the kit lens 18-55 that is pretty inexpensive. It can still take quality shots and is a good lens to learn on. The 18-55 and the zoom will cover a huge focal range which will help if you decide to buy more lenses.

If money isn't an issue the d7000 is an awesome camera an can take both newer lenses and older lenses whereas the d5100 can only take the newer more expensive af-s lenses.

 

[jcls519]

Thanks! As I get better and I sell more photos, I will consider a larger camera. The D7000 looks fantastic, but I would be stretching it to afford getting a D5100 and the right equip to go with it. So the 55-300 does pretty good? That's another lens I've been looking at.

 

[KmH]

For nature and landscape photos you generally don't need high ISO performance. Both kinds of shot are usually made in good lighting with the camera/lens on a good sturdy tripod/head.

Based on your uses the D3000 would be quite capable. You would want some accessories like graduated ND filters to make it easier to control the exposure of a bright sky with a necessarily darker foreground landmass.

Between the D3000 and the D5100 is the D3100. The D3100 and the D5100 hace CMOS type image sensors, while the D3000 has a CCD image sensor.

$450, new - Nikon D3000 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens

$650, new - Nikon D3100 14.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens

$850, new - Nikon D5100 16.2MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens

Lenses have a fairly large impact on overall image quality, and lenes don't change nearly as often as camea bodies do.

Landscape shots are usually made with a wide angle lens. Something like the Nikon 12-24mm f/4G ED IF Autofocus DX Nikkor Zoom Lens

or the less expensive 3rd party Tokina AT-X116PRDXN AT-X PRO DX 11-16mm Ultra-wide Angle Lens for Nikon

For nature shots you usually need reach (magnification). One of Nikon's best lens values is the Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED IF AF-S VR Nikkor Zoom Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

For shooting birds and other wildlife I first used Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 AF APO DG OS HSM Telephoto Zoom Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

before graduating to Nikon 600mm f/4.0G ED VR II AF-S SWM Super Telephoto Lens for Nikon FX and DX Format Digital SLR

The landscape and nature genres are tough market segments to sell photos in.

 

[jcls519]

Thanks everyone! Definitely food for thought as the purchase comes near. There's a lot for me to learn and I'll probably have several more posts in the future!

 

[jcls519]

I am thinking seriously, after careful consideration, about purchasing the Nikon D3100 refurbed from Adorama. Not much more than the 3000 new for the extra MP and live view, not to mention higher ISO. My wife and I have discussed it and she doesn't care to purchase refurb, but is hesitant to spend more for it as opposed to the new 3000. I won't disregard these thoughts, but I do not think she will regret it. Thoughts y'all?

 

[KmH]

Refurbished gear gets more individual attention and testing than gear on the assembly line. Whereas every refurbished cameera gets tested, only 1 out of 100 on the regular assembly line get checked as thouroughly.

Nikon only gives it's refurbished gear a 90 day warranty, but IIRC Adorama adds an additional 9 month's of warranty to that.

The D3100 has a CMOS image sensor with markedly better high ISO performance than the CCD image sensor in the D3000. The CMOS sensor doesn't use quite as much power either, so the battery lasts a bit longer in the D3100.

The D3000 doesn't do video.

because of the video and better high ISO performance, the D3100 will retain it's resale value better than a D3000 will.

 

[jcls519]

Thanks, KmH! Very good insight. And seriously about Adorama?! I haven't seen that posted on the site. I def like the fact of a 14 mp and higher ISO sensitivity over the 3000.

 

[KmH]

Contact and ask;

Helen Oster
Adorama Camera Customer Service Ambassador, about any added Adorama warranty.

HelenO@adorama.com

The extra 4 MP aren't worth a whole lot.

 

[djacobox372]

The d300 is ccd sensor camera, currently the only old tech sensor camera tyat nikon sells. The d5100 is miles better, very close to the D7000 in iq.

 

[jcls519]

I sent Helen an email! Hope to hear from her soon! I won't be purchasing till at least mid January, but it's important to build a good business relationship for me anyway, lol.

 

[jcls519]

And thanks again, KmH! 372, I would consider possibly a 5100, however, I don't have it in my budget even in the time frame that I have. Plus, my photo business isn't very popular at all yet. Been almost a month running and I only have 27 fans on Facebook. Kinda depressing, lol. But I would like to possibly move up to something like the 5100 someday. Thank you very much for the insight! :-D

 

[flatflip]

I love my D3100 and would recommend it. Look on deal news dot com every day and night. Scroll down to cameras. I have seen new D3100 kits on there several times for $480 and several times for $550. The 55-200 lens is on sale at adorama for $147. At least it was all weekend with no mention of a holiday sale. I put it in my cart but am still being shy.

Have Fun, Mick

 

[jcls519]

Ok, so I think my wife and I have made almost a final decision. I was messin around on eBay and found a Nikon D5000 for...get this...$5 more than the D3000!!! It's refurbed, comes with the 18-55 lens, and has a full 1 year warranty!!! I'm like a little kid in a candy store right now, lol. The D5000 had came recommended to me from a family friend who is also a photographer and she had one until she got a larger camera. I just didn't wanna put the $730 some into a camera and take the risk of not going anywhere with it. Research does pay off and I am def beginning to find that out, lol!!!

 

[iNNo]

Boy I know that feeling of suspense knowing you will purchase some new equipment. It is the holidays!