The choice of camera for amateur. Need advice!

Anton1609 · Jul 2, 2011

Now I have a Nikon D3000. Photographing is not rare, and not often. From time to time I do a photo shoot. And I have a choice:
- To sell this and buy D5100 with lens 18-105. Body is better, another sensor, function, and maybe more.
- For the same money to buy up to Nikon D3000 lenses 50 mm f/1,8 G and fisheye Samyang 8 mm f/3.5. Photos taken with 50mm is really better)
Thank you.

Max713 · Jul 2, 2011

How well do you know your D3000? Do you feel it is lacking in any particular area?

For the most part, if you don't plan to go Fx or at least not for a while, your lenses will work forever. Bodies come and go. What lenses are you shooting with at the moment, I'm assuming the 18-55? If that's all you've ever shot with, I'd recommend picking up a Nikkor 35 1.8, the 50 1.8 will not autofocus on your D3000. The 35 really is an incredible lens, it will produce images on par with a lot of Nikons pro glass, and it can be had for about $180 used, I think it would hold you over for a while, but that's just me.

If you upgrade lenses now, they will only become that much better once you upgrade your body.

Anton1609 · Jul 2, 2011

Max713 said:
How well do you know your D3000? Do you feel it is lacking in any particular area?

For the most part, if you don't plan to go Fx or at least not for a while, your lenses will work forever. Bodies come and go. What lenses are you shooting with at the moment, I'm assuming the 18-55? If that's all you've ever shot with, I'd recommend picking up a Nikkor 35 ƒ1.8, the 50 ƒ1.8 will not autofocus on your D3000. The 35 really is an incredible lens, it will produce images on par with a lot of Nikons pro glass, and it can be had for about $180 used, I think it would hold you over for a while, but that's just me.

If you upgrade lenses now, they will only become that much better once you upgrade your body.

I know my D3000 very well, but I feel it is not enough for me.
As for me, the best choice is D5100 with 18-55 ( I think that I don't need 105m ) and 50mm/1.8G AF-S. This 50mm has autofocus, hasn't it? And D5100 is new better sensor and higher quality of image.

Max713 · Jul 2, 2011

Anton1609 said:
I know my D3000 very well, but I feel it is not enough for me.
As for me, the best choice is D5100 with 18-55 ( I think that I don't need 105m ) and 50mm/1.8G AF-S. This 50mm has autofocus, hasn't it? And D5100 is new better sensor and higher quality of image.

Yes, I read wrong and missed the "G" in your first post, the 50 ƒ1.8G does AF on both the D3000 and D5100.

Anton1609 · Jul 2, 2011

Max713 said:
Anton1609 said:

I know my D3000 very well, but I feel it is not enough for me.
As for me, the best choice is D5100 with 18-55 ( I think that I don't need 105m ) and 50mm/1.8G AF-S. This 50mm has autofocus, hasn't it? And D5100 is new better sensor and higher quality of image.

Click to expand...

Yes, I read wrong and missed the "G" in your first post, the 50 1.8G does AF on both the D3000 and D5100.

Ok. Thanks. And one more question. What you would choose:
- Nikon D90 with 18-55 and 50mm/f1.8D
- Nikon D5100 with 18-55 and 50mm/f1.8G

EPPhoto · Jul 2, 2011

Neither lol...your current camera will be just fine. Your not going to notice some amazingly different photos by changing to a new camera. Invest in quality glass and that's how you will take better looking photos. Or invest in some classes to hone your skill.

EPPhoto · Jul 2, 2011

And btw...the 18-55 KIT lens isn't that great of a lens and the 18-105 would get more use due to the larger zoom.

Anton1609 · Jul 2, 2011

EPPhoto said:
Neither lol...your current camera will be just fine. Your not going to notice some amazingly different photos by changing to a new camera. Invest in quality glass and that's how you will take better looking photos. Or invest in some classes to hone your skill.

Many people say that body plays an important role in photos. So I think it will be good to upgrade D3000 to something better. But if I buy the same kit lens, I will get nearly the same photos, so 50mm lens is important for me. Is there really much difference between D3000 body and D5100?

EPPhoto · Jul 2, 2011

You already have a 50mm focal length with your kit lens...what makes you think a 50mm f/1.8 will drastically improve your photos?

jdag · Jul 2, 2011

I would look at the D3000 to D5000/D5100 to be a relatively modest upgrade. Don't get me wrong, there are many differences, but it is sort of a 1/2 step upward. My suspicion is that if you feel that D3000 is limiting you, you will not feel "liberated" if you upgrade to the D5000 or D5100.

A more complete step up would be to the D90 or D7000. You gain many important features with such a move (commander mode for off-camera flash, multiple control dials, in-body focus motor, top mounted LCD, etc.) The D90 and D7000 have bigger/heavier bodies, which may be a plus or minus for you.

Anton1609 · Jul 2, 2011

EPPhoto said:
You already have a 50mm focal length with your kit lens...what makes you think a 50mm f/1.8 will drastically improve your photos?

This lens makes awesome background blur and wide aperture for low light. Great think for photographing people. IMHO. What you recommend to me?

jdag said:
I would look at the D3000 to D5000/D5100 to be a relatively modest upgrade. Don't get me wrong, there are many differences, but it is sort of a 1/2 step upward. My suspicion is that if you feel that D3000 is limiting you, you will not feel "liberated" if you upgrade to the D5000 or D5100.

A more complete step up would be to the D90 or D7000. You gain many important features with such a move (commander mode for off-camera flash, multiple control dials, in-body focus motor, top mounted LCD, etc.) The D90 and D7000 have bigger/heavier bodies, which may be a plus or minus for you.

I'm not going to be a pro photographer. I just want a bit better camera for better quality. So I think, I will buy D5100, if I successfullt sell my D3000. But I still in uncertainty with lens for D5100. Is it good to buy 18-55 and 50/1.8G?

Thanks everybody for advices.

Tomasko · Jul 2, 2011

EPPhoto said:
You already have a 50mm focal length with your kit lens...what makes you think a 50mm f/1.8 will drastically improve your photos?

You must be joking, right??

Anton1609 said:
Many people say that body plays an important role in photos.

Yes, to a certain degree. However, better lens gives you bigger quality difference. Is it ALWAYS better to shoot cheap body + great lens, than to shoot expensive body + kit lens

Either way, I believe it's a waste of money upgrading D3000 to D5100...

jdag · Jul 2, 2011

Tomasko said:
Either way, I believe it's a waste of money upgrading D3000 to D5100...

+1

EPPhoto · Jul 2, 2011

The 50mm 1.8 is a great lens, and produces nice bokeh (blur) don't get me wrong. But it I think you are expecting it to be some kind of magical lens that is going to do wonders. The best investment a beginner can make is knowledge. Read some popular books and watch instructional videos, basically surround yourself with photography knowledge. THAT will make the biggest difference in the quality of your images.

Upgrading your tools before you know how to take advantage of them is a waste of money IMHO.

Anton1609 · Jul 2, 2011

Thanks. Why I want buy D5100? I want to start shoot HDR photos ( it has bracketing, D3000 - no), it has a better image quality ( not like semi-pro, but upper-beginner ). Anyway, firstly I'm gonna buy 50mm/1.8G.
EPPhoto, I don't expect wonders from 50mm, but it is good lens for shooting people.