DSLR for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

[Kerbouchard]

The AF motor wont give you more focusing speed, it just allows you to use "AF" lenses. This is more of a cost saving/compatibility feature, because "AF" lenses actually focus slower then their more expensive AF-S counterparts.

While this is true, the 50mm 1.8 costs around $100, the 85 1.8 is about $490 and neither will autofocus with a camera without an AF motor. To get an AFS, 1.8 prime, you are either looking at the 35mm 1.8 which isn't going to provide the reach needed, or the 50mm 1.4 at $550...or, you could always go for the 85 1.4 AFS which is around $1700.

With the OP's budget, it would be very limiting for him to get a camera body that does not have a focus motor. Basically, the OP can't afford not to have a focus motor in his body. Not having one would limit him to a 35mm 1.8, manually focusing, or going with a kit lens.

 

[owlxxx]

Just go with the d90 and a 50mm. Do a search on flickr and you will see that it is a nice setup. I just did a quick search "nikon d90 mma" and got some results that werent too bad.

 

[Ballistics]

Ok so, I just increased my budget a little bit and I am able to buy the D5100. Is it worth the $800?

 

[Kbarredo]

Ok with bjj where action isn't always that fast you might be able to get a d5000 with a 55-200mm lens. Try to take shots with minimal movements like when a person is in the guard. Or when the 2 guys are trying to setup a take down. Even in that lighting though a 1/600 shutter can make it pretty dark.

 

[Ballistics]

Ok with bjj where action isn't always that fast you might be able to get a d5000 with a 55-200mm lens. Try to take shots with minimal movements like when a person is in the guard. Or when the 2 guys are trying to setup a take down. Even in that lighting though a 1/600 shutter can make it pretty dark.

What is the difference between a d5000 and a d5100?

 

[Kerbouchard]

There is almost no difference between a d5000 and a d5100. Neither have a focus motor and both will severely limit your options.

 

[Ballistics]

This is difficult lol.

 

[Kbarredo]

No difference really the d5100 is the next model. It auto focuses on its own while in video while the d5000 is all manual focus. With your tight budget lens limitation is your last concern. There are still many great afs lenses. It just means that the lens contain the motor. In the future if you are so worried about less lenses you might as well fork out the 1000 for the d90. If you are a beginner the difference in lens availability won't really bother you so get that out of your head. specially with that small budget you won't be buying the whole afs collection soon. Worry about that when you get really good. By then you might even upgrade to the d700.
Another thing you're a beginner worrying about having a kit lens is like a teenager mad about not getting a ferrari for his first car. They are lower quality but they will get you what you need as a beginner.

 

[spacefuzz]

I have been practicing martial arts for 10 years so am well aquainted with the types of venues you will be in. I would say D90 or D7000 for their good high ISO performance and the 50mm or 85 mm price lens that was previously mentioned. You can get a used D90 body for ~$500 (heck mine is even for sale) and it puts out decent shots to about ISO 1000. D7k will shoot up to 4k ISO respectably. Id say got 50mm if you want both people on the mat, or 85mm if you want to be able to get their faces. The ISO performance you can get will allow you to compensate for cheaper glass. My 50m f/1.8 I got for $75 used and it works great. Another benefit would be if you can get down low it will throw the background crowd / gym wall out of focus which will make your shots look nicer.
Are your shots mostly for the web or what size prints did you want?

 

[Ballistics]

No difference really the d5100 is the next model. It auto focuses on its own while in video while the d5000 is all manual focus. With your tight budget lens limitation is your last concern. There are still many great afs lenses. It just means that the lens contain the motor. In the future if you are so worried about less lenses you might as well fork out the 1000 for the d90. If you are a beginner the difference in lens availability won't really bother you so get that out of your head. specially with that small budget you won't be buying the whole afs collection soon. Worry about that when you get really good. By then you might even upgrade to the d700.
Another thing you're a beginner worrying about having a kit lens is like a teenager mad about not getting a ferrari for his first car. They are lower quality but they will get you what you need as a beginner.

LOL ok good response. So this leads to my next question - Will the D5100 get me by for a year or 2?

 

[Ballistics]

I have been practicing martial arts for 10 years so am well aquainted with the types of venues you will be in. I would say D90 or D7000 for their good high ISO performance and the 50mm or 85 mm price lens that was previously mentioned. You can get a used D90 body for ~$500 (heck mine is even for sale) and it puts out decent shots to about ISO 1000. D7k will shoot up to 4k ISO respectably. Id say got 50mm if you want both people on the mat, or 85mm if you want to be able to get their faces. The ISO performance you can get will allow you to compensate for cheaper glass. My 50m f/1.8 I got for $75 used and it works great. Another benefit would be if you can get down low it will throw the background crowd / gym wall out of focus which will make your shots look nicer.
Are your shots mostly for the web or what size prints did you want?

Shots are mainly for the web. I will be taking a digital photography class in college for the fall so my wife is letting me spend a little more on a camera. But the D7000 is just to much for me right now. D5100 seems to be what I am going with.

 

[Kerbouchard]

No difference really the d5100 is the next model. It auto focuses on its own while in video while the d5000 is all manual focus. With your tight budget lens limitation is your last concern. There are still many great afs lenses. It just means that the lens contain the motor. In the future if you are so worried about less lenses you might as well fork out the 1000 for the d90. If you are a beginner the difference in lens availability won't really bother you so get that out of your head. specially with that small budget you won't be buying the whole afs collection soon. Worry about that when you get really good. By then you might even upgrade to the d700.
Another thing you're a beginner worrying about having a kit lens is like a teenager mad about not getting a ferrari for his first car. They are lower quality but they will get you what you need as a beginner.

I realize that everybody is entitled to their own opinion, but what you are saying just doesn't make any sense. The OP cannot take the kind of shots he wants to take with a kit lens and a consumer body without flash. It just can't be done. Period. The only hope he has of getting a lens anywhere near his budget that will sort of fit his needs is the $100 50mm 1.8 and you suggest he get a body that can't utilize it.

It's not even close to a teenager getting a ferrari for his first car. Getting a D5000 or 5100 would be like the teenager getting a hydrogen car and then figuring out he can't find any place to fill up.

 

[spacefuzz]

No difference really the d5100 is the next model. It auto focuses on its own while in video while the d5000 is all manual focus. With your tight budget lens limitation is your last concern. There are still many great afs lenses. It just means that the lens contain the motor. In the future if you are so worried about less lenses you might as well fork out the 1000 for the d90. If you are a beginner the difference in lens availability won't really bother you so get that out of your head. specially with that small budget you won't be buying the whole afs collection soon. Worry about that when you get really good. By then you might even upgrade to the d700.
Another thing you're a beginner worrying about having a kit lens is like a teenager mad about not getting a ferrari for his first car. They are lower quality but they will get you what you need as a beginner.

I realize that everybody is entitled to their own opinion, but what you are saying just doesn't make any sense. The OP cannot take the kind of shots he wants to take with a kit lens and a consumer body without flash. It just can't be done. Period. The only hope he has of getting a lens anywhere near his budget that will sort of fit his needs is the $100 50mm 1.8 and you suggest he get a body that can't utilize it.

It's not even close to a teenager getting a ferrari for his first car. Getting a D5000 or 5100 would be like the teenager getting a hydrogen car and then figuring out he can't find any place to fill up.

I agree, with a D5100 he will not be able to get the pictures he wants and it will be money wasted. I tried to shoot sports with an inferior camera for years, and all I ended up with was a bunch of crappy pictures.

 

[Kerbouchard]

Ok, now that I got that off my chest, I will elaborate upon the differences between a kit lens and a 1.8 prime. There obviously seems to be some misunderstanding.

Let's start with the basics. When you look through the view finder, the lens is wide open. That means, with a 1.8 prime, the aperture opens wider, so the view finder will be much brighter than with a kit lens. Now, the kicker is, the focus module also uses the image that is projected to the view finder. So, the image is brighter, the focus module works better, more shots are in focus. Now, the second kicker, a D5000/5100 has a pentamirror view finder, which is already darker than the pentaprism view finder of the D90. The D5100 is a newer model and I will say that it has comparable high ISO performance as it's big brother, the 'obsolete' D90, which can be found very affordable used. Now, for the third kicker, the D90 can utilize that $100 50mm 1.8 fully while with the D5000/5100 it is manual focus only. For the fourth kicker, manual focus absolutely sucks with actions sports. For the fifth kicker, a kit lens has a minimum aperture of around 3.5 to 5.6 depending on how far you are zoomed in. Let's assume you get the 18-55 kit lens. That means around 50mm, the kit lens will be at aperture 5.6 while the prime would still be at 1.8. Anybody want to guess how much of a difference that makes?

Schools out. To the OP, do whatever you want, but in the conditions you are going to be shooting in, while it may look bright, those conditions tax some of the best systems money can buy. You need every edge you can get, and that means you need a prime lens that has a max aperture of 1.8. You have two choices that won't blow your budget out of the water...a 35mm 1.8($220) which will autofocus on any nikon camera including the d5000/5100 or the 50mm 1.8($100) which will only focus on a camera that has a focus motor. In 35mm effective focal lengths, that gives you a choice between a 75mm 1.8 prime and a 52mm 1.8 prime. Because you are getting a crop body sensor, you gain a 1.5x reach. IMO, the 75mm efl is going to be a bit too short, but you can probably crop and get an image you can proudly display...the 52mm efl is just going to be too short.

Now for the sixth kicker, the D90 offers the ability to control remote flashes without any special gear...with the D5000/5100 you have to buy flash triggers. There are so many compromises with the d5000/5100 series and it costs so much money to overcome them, I honestly don't understand why anybody who is thinking they may want to grow as a photographer would even consider it.

 

[Ballistics]

Ok now I picked up the D5100 but before you look at me like the A-hole who asks for advice and does what he wants anyway hear me out:

I am brand new to photography and DSLRs. I am going to be taking a digital photography course in September so while I may not be able to get what I want out of the D5100, I will use it to learn about DSLRs and how to use it, and in turn will learn what I need and buy it. I am confident that what you guys are telling me is correct, so after 6 months or so I will upgrade to a D7000 body. I don't consider the purchase a waste, but I figure that there are more options and capabilities on the D5100 vs the D3100 so I can experience more while learning. I could probably sell it for 450 in 6 months.

I appreciate all of the insights and information you guys gave me.