Suggestions and Information on a DSLR.

[Atlas77]

I know there have been many help threads on a first time SLR but this is more personal so i made my own thread

A bit of background: Ive been interested in photography because i do a lot of art, my father was also a photographer with a pentax film camera with about 4 or 5 different lenses. My sister has a pentax film camera that she used for photography class and "lost interest" in photography because of a bad teacher which ruined it for her.

I'd like to start doing a wide variety of things before i set my mind on one thing such as city landscapes, nature, random things, a variety of action sports i do for fun, etc. Basically the choice for me is between nikon and canon (as usual) and im not quite sure if i should get a body and buy a seperate lens that would work the best for me or just go for a kit. So far the most cameras that have came up in my mind (under 1000$) are:

Nikon: D40, D60, D80,

Canon: Rebel Xsi, Xti, 40D,


Other suggestions would be great and used is okay too and if you have any photography book suggestions that would be great

Thanks

 

[dwol]

Have you thought about going for a Pentax camera body and using your father/sisters lenses? Pentax bodies are pretty good too.

Im not sure about Nikon as such, but I know the kit lenses that comes with the Canon 40D is pretty good (from what i've read.)

And I've heard the Nikon D80 is a great DSLR.

Maybe you will have to research more to find out what you really want.

 

[Atlas77]

Have you thought about going for a Pentax camera body and using your father/sisters lenses? Pentax bodies are pretty good too.

Yes i have thought of that and im still not sure i want to use the lenses be he has so much money into it and a lens for everything pretty much although its film it would work with a new pentax body i belive.

Im not sure about Nikon as such, but I know the kit lenses that comes with the Canon 40D is pretty good (from what i've read.)

And I've heard the Nikon D80 is a great DSLR.

Maybe you will have to research more to find out what you really want.

Yeah i keep going back and forth between cameras ive read guides on the internet, have looked at prices over and over again and have still not been set on one camera

 

[dwol]

What do you really want to take photos of the most? out everything you like taking pictures of??, if it's landscape, look at different branded wide angle lenses and see which one is better for the price etc. And then depending on the brand decide on which body to choose. e.g I like photographing things close up so i bought a canon body and the 100mm macro lens. Before buying, I read the 100mm macro for canon is one of their better lenses for the price. . .

hope this helps, best of luck

 

[Joves]

I suggest the D80 over either of the other Nikons listed. With it you can use every AF lens Nikon makes. With the D40/60s you are limited to AF-S/I lenses for full functionality. Sigma and Tamron alos make lenses for those two cameras as well. I love my D80 even though it doesnt see as much use since I got my D300.

 

[Atlas77]

I suggest the D80 over either of the other Nikons listed. With it you can use every AF lens Nikon makes. With the D40/60s you are limited to AF-S/I lenses for full functionality. Sigma and Tamron alos make lenses for those two cameras as well. I love my D80 even though it doesnt see as much use since I got my D300.

The D80 was one camera that came up a lot in my searches and i thought i was set on it except for when i did this comparison

Compare cameras (dont mind the D90 in the comparison i put it up for fun)

The D60 just seems cheaper and a bit better but as you said you can use all the lenses for the D80.

 

[davebmck]

Of the Canon's you mentioned, I would go with the 40D. Have you considered the new 50D? Between the XTi and the XSi, I would choose the XSi.

 

[Atlas77]

Of the Canon's you mentioned, I would go with the 40D. Have you considered the new 50D? Between the XTi and the XSi, I would choose the XSi.

I have considered it it does seem a bit out of my price range.

 

[Atlas77]

What do you really want to take photos of the most? out everything you like taking pictures of??,

So youre saying one of the best ways to go is to get a body and then a lens that i could work with?

Ive catorgerized styles into 8 categories I cant just pick one so i need to put what i think im going to be doing and what im interested in beside the style (if ive missed any please tell me!):

1. Landscape- Landscape seems like a good option
2. Macro- I'd like to do a bit of macro
3. Portrait- Possible
4. Action and sports- Action and sports wouldnt be my main style but i do alot of sports like hockey and snowboarding and would like to bring my camera on the way
5. Travel- I do travel once in a while and a lightweight camera would be good
6. Indoor- meh.
7. Studio- I dont plan on doing any studio pictures
8. Night/City Landscapes- Definite.

Conclusion (so you dont have to read that all): I would love to do a lot of Black and white and night and city lanscapes, those would be my main things and a bit of landscapes. Possibilities are macro, and portrait for the future, also a bunch of random things would be fun with my camera. Things i would do plainly for fun are action and sports

 

[Joves]

The D80 was one camera that came up a lot in my searches and i thought i was set on it except for when i did this comparison

Compare cameras (dont mind the D90 in the comparison i put it up for fun)

The D60 just seems cheaper and a bit better but as you said you can use all the lenses for the D80.

Yes but if you look at the graphs you will notice that the D80 and D60 are nearly neck&neck in all categories. To me it boils down to you are not loosing enough in imaging power to trade off the lens issue. And I hadnt realized how much the D60 has dropped in price. Also remember the D80 is a dumbed down version of the D200, it just lacks some of the D200 features. Much like the D90 is the lower version of the D300.

 

[Atlas77]

Yes but if you look at the graphs you will notice that the D80 and D60 are nearly neck&neck in all categories. To me it boils down to you are not loosing enough in imaging power to trade off the lens issue. And I hadnt realized how much the D60 has dropped in price. Also remember the D80 is a dumbed down version of the D200, it just lacks some of the D200 features. Much like the D90 is the lower version of the D300.

True that they are neck and neck and maybe i should save my money and buy a D60 then add an extra lens with the save from the D80? You can find D200 bodies on ebay for 500$...

 

[Joves]

Yeah you can but I would be wary of anything too cheap. I see B&H has the D80 body for $550 and the D60 for $600. The D200 is still selling at $800.

 

[Atlas77]

Yeah you can but I would be wary of anything too cheap. I see B&H has the D80 body for $550 and the D60 for $600. The D200 is still selling at $800.

yeah cheap is not good. i meant to say something that i want a camera that will last me because im the type of person who is always buying then a year after exchanging then buying something else.

 

[Joves]

Hey with Dslrs that can be a constant. Rmember which ever body you buy, it will be supposedly obsolete next year. After you decide on a body, then save for glass. Glass is king in imaging and, the better the glass the more it holds its value.

 

[davebmck]

I have considered it it does seem a bit out of my price range.

On B&H the 40D body only is $800 and the 50D is $1070. Not that much difference really.