i need help with camera selection!

[GRUNTILDA]

i guess the biggest thing im worried about is buying used or referbed cause if there are any problems your screwed

 

[mikespirito]

Keeping a dslr for 6+ years is like a baby wearing the same clothes for 6+ years

michaeldavidphotography.com

 

[Solarflare]

The D4 only has 16MP... is it behind the D7000 with its 16MP? Would you take a D5100 with 16MP over a D700 with only 12MP? The D90 is just as good now as it was when it first came out.

Meh. There are many more parameters to a fotochip than just the megapixel. Such as:

- Color depth: how precisely can the chip meter fine differences between colors. The eye manages about 25 bit or so.
- Dynamic range: the eye can do 24 steps, chemical film can do 16-18 steps. My D5100 can do 12 steps at ISO 100 and thats right now brilliant for a digital camera.
- Low light performance: how low ISO values are still producing tolerable pictures ?
- Noise: Chemical film doesnt know this problem at all. How much noise is in the picture ?
- Detail: How well are fine details preserved ? Canons are known for good performance in this. In fact that seems to be the category where they are brilliant. I am not sure how this is measured though, it just appears in some magazine tests without explanation.

Interesting features:
- Eletronic Shutter: Can the chip realize extremely short shutter speeds electronically ?
- Automatic Gray filter: A feature I would like to see on future cameras: RAISE the ISO to much higher values if wanted, so grayfilters are superflous (for example to make slow movements visible on pictures).

And thats just the fotochip. The lenses add many more parameters of quality.

Keeping a dslr for 6+ years is like a baby wearing the same clothes for 6+ years

michaeldavidphotography.com

I dunno, if Nikon doesnt release their 3ccd on a chip in the next 6 years, I might still be happy with the D5100. I dont think theres much I cant do with it and getting a full frame is kind of silly for a hobby photographer like I am.

 

[StandingBear1983]

Long term body investment (5 years until next body) - D7000
Long term lens investment - 50mm 1.8G

Which is a FX (full frame) lens, if by any chance in 5 years time a FX camera will be dirt cheap, you'll have a very good lens to upgrade from the D7000 body.

If you can put another 100$ down, get the kit 18-55 and your good to go. that you'll have wide angle for day shoots.

 

[Solarflare]

Just be aware that a 50mm FX will be cropped to 75mm FX on a DX camera.

I.e. the 50mm FX will show the same as a 50mm DX on a DX camera - but when you move to a FX camera, it will then show the same area as a 35mm DX does on a DX camera !

That means, yes you can still use FX lenses, but they will suddenly have a much wider camera angle than before.

Thats why I got a 35mm DX. Yes I could get a 35mm FX. But when I move to FX, I will want a 50mm instead anyway, to get the same camera angle as before.

 

[gryffinwings]

If your considering a D90, take a look at the D300, I believe it's the same sensor and you can get them used for a good price.Pros:51 focus points6 FPSWeather sealedhttp://snapsort.com/compare/Nikon-D5100-vs-Nikon_D300It says take with a grain of salt when comparing a pro and consumer cameras.

 

[GRUNTILDA]

This may be a stupid question, but is a d300 for about $750 1. a good deal, and 2: a good choice for a camera?

 

[gryffinwings]

This may be a stupid question, but is a d300 for about $750 1. a good deal, and 2: a good choice for a camera?

Yes to both question as far as i know, but i don't own one, I have a D5100, but I'm looking at buying one or trading for one eventually. Look its a prosumer camer at 12.3 MP, shoots up 7 FPS, has 51 focus points, 15 which are cross type, magnesium body and weather sealing. Might want to ask for more input though. Link for specs: Nikon D300 In-depth Review: Digital Photography Review

 

[mjhoward]

This may be a stupid question, but is a d300 for about $750 1. a good deal, and 2: a good choice for a camera?

D300, not so much. D300s, yes good deal.

 

[mjhoward]

Just be aware that a 50mm FX will be cropped to 75mm FX on a DX camera.

I.e. the 50mm FX will show the same as a 50mm DX on a DX camera - but when you move to a FX camera, it will then show the same area as a 35mm DX does on a DX camera !

That means, yes you can still use FX lenses, but they will suddenly have a much wider camera angle than before.

Thats why I got a 35mm DX. Yes I could get a 35mm FX. But when I move to FX, I will want a 50mm instead anyway, to get the same camera angle as before.

WTF are you talking about? This is so completely wrong and I urge anyone reading what you've written to do a little more homework, including yourself.

 

[jriepe]

Just be aware that a 50mm FX will be cropped to 75mm FX on a DX camera.

I.e. the 50mm FX will show the same as a 50mm DX on a DX camera - but when you move to a FX camera, it will then show the same area as a 35mm DX does on a DX camera !

That means, yes you can still use FX lenses, but they will suddenly have a much wider camera angle than before.

Thats why I got a 35mm DX. Yes I could get a 35mm FX. But when I move to FX, I will want a 50mm instead anyway, to get the same camera angle as before.

WTF are you talking about? This is so completely wrong and I urge anyone reading what you've written to do a little more homework, including yourself.

What he is saying is true but you may be interpreting it wrong.
1. The 50mm FX lens on a DX camera will show the same angle of view as a 50mm DX lens on the same camera. True.
2. The 50mm FX lens on a FX camera will show the same angle of view as a 35mm DX lens on a DX camera. True (or at least close).
3. You can use FX lenses on a DX camera but putting that same lens on an FX body will give you a wider angle of view. True.
4. The reason he purchased a 35mm DX lens is because he wants the same field of view as a 50mm FX lens on an FX body and if he ever goes to an FX body
he will purchase a 50mm FX lens to keep that same field of view.

 

[gryffinwings]

This may be a stupid question, but is a d300 for about $750 1. a good deal, and 2: a good choice for a camera?

D300, not so much. D300s, yes good deal.

I just checked on those and it looks like the price for used ones has gone way down. Thanks for the correction.

 

[StandingBear1983]

D7000 got a much better sensor, IQ, low light performance...the D300 is already kind of ancient, it has a good body though, so does the D7000...

I have both the 35mm DX 1.8G and the 50mm FX 1.8G - i told you to get only the 50, because you said that you were short of money and wanted to be 'future proof'...that also why i said if you have extra money you should get the 50mm 1.8G and a kit lens for wide. the kit lens 18-55 costs half the price of a 35mm DX.

 

[gryffinwings]

D7000 got a much better sensor, IQ, low light performance...the D300 is already kind of ancient, it has a good body though, so does the D7000...I have both the 35mm DX 1.8G and the 50mm FX 1.8G - i told you to get only the 50, because you said that you were short of money and wanted to be 'future proof'...that also why i said if you have extra money you should get the 50mm 1.8G and a kit lens for wide. the kit lens 18-55 costs half the price of a 35mm DX.

The D300 can take, from my understanding, really amazing pictures. Even though it's a little old it's still really good, the D90 is still being bought and it's the same vintage and IQ is about the same. To be honest I think you would be hard pressed to see many differences in image quality in most situations.

 

[GRUNTILDA]

i know its all but impossible to be future proof, but after thinking about it some more, i think the d5100 is starting to look like the best deal because technically it should take better quality pictures than the d300 or d90 due to the newer sensor. also after all is said and done i will have more money for lenses and such.