Starter dslr

[Lieur]

Im thinking of buying either a d80, a used d200, or waiting for the d80 successor.

What do RFD people suggest? Im going to make a purchase around mid-may at the latest.

[goofball]

What is your level of expertise? The D200 is not a camera I would recommend for a first timer. There's no auto modes other than P. I don't consider S/A auto modes but maybe some do?

The D80 is a good camera that I would recommend for a starter. D40/D40x/D60 as well though you may want to see what the D80 offers over these before making your decision. Between the D80 and D200, there aren't as many major differences but between the 40/60 and 80, there are a few that could be big enough to be considered major.

[Lieur]

Expertise? I know how to use a camera on manual (exposure/shutter), but that's about it.

[legendofxix]

If your just starting out, I'd say a D80 is even "too serious" for you.
If you can find a D40, D40x or even buy a D60 that'd be enough.
Of course, if you plan to never upgrade, then just get the D200 and use it.
Unless you a complete newb with cameras and only have it on auto of course.

[craftsman]

Expertise? I know how to use a camera on manual (exposure/shutter), but that's about it.

If you know manual, then you are not a newbie. Knowing about proper exposure is a big thing. Most people who buy their higher end cameras know nothing about manual and use it on full auto or program and expect expert results.

Never buy a camera expecting never to upgrade. You might not want to upgrade today or tomorrow but at sometime you will.

A used D200 is a good buy - I have a D200 myself and I can say that it's a solid camera. However, as with all electronics, be sure to have it checked out first.

[Lieur]

Another question, could anybody tell me what the major differences between the d80 and the d200 are?

[KorruptioN]

Knowing exposure puts you ahead of a ton of people, seriously.

A new D80 or lightly-used D200 would be a good starting point for you. The Nikon 18-70mm is a good lens to go on either, plus a 50mm f1.8. You'll be able to find either fairly cheap too.

edit: differences? D200: magnesium build, 5fps, larger and brighter viewfinder (slightly), compact flash support, the list goes on. The D80 is cheaper but shares a similar sensor.

[Lieur]

How about repairs? For used gear, there's really not much guarantee that the 100-200 day warranty will support it before you replace it. Thoughts?

Im really leaning into getting the used d200 if its the same price as a new d80.

[NiMSo]

A used D70 or D50 would be very cheap.

[Lieur]

From what I researched, a used d50/70 wont hold for 2-3years more since its body's not like the d200, where buying a used d200 is the same as buying a new d80, in terms of condition.

[goofball]

From what I researched, a used d50/70 wont hold for 2-3years more since its body's not like the d200, where buying a used d200 is the same as buying a new d80, in terms of condition.

What do you mean by that? A good condition D50/70 will easily last 2-3 years. It all depends on how you treat your stuff.

[craftsman]

How about repairs? For used gear, there's really not much guarantee that the 100-200 day warranty will support it before you replace it. Thoughts?

Im really leaning into getting the used d200 if its the same price as a new d80.

For used gear, you might not use it as much as you think in the first 100 - 200 days. Sure you will try the basic features but you never know if the camera will freeze up or lock up in cold weather or if heat is a problem. Heck, these things happen with new equipment.

What I would do is to drop the camera off at the authorized repair depot and get them to have a look at it. You might have to pay but most of the obvious problems will be detected or itemized. The other thing I would do (as dumb as this may sound) is to see how much they charge for a used camera warranty - generally not offered by the manufacturer but the retailer.

[Lieur]

its $150 for a year of extended warranty. pretty expensive i guess.

[KorruptioN]

its $150 for a year of extended warranty. pretty expensive i guess.

Where?

[Lieur]

Henrys. $1000-$1500 extended warranty for used cameras are $150.

[craftsman]

its $150 for a year of extended warranty. pretty expensive i guess.

Depends if you need a repair... A simple adjustment may cost that alone...

[Lieur]

I've decided, I'm just going to get the d40+18-70mm to save myself a couple of bucks, then just get a better body after 18months/2years. How does it work in low lighting?

[craftsman]

The D40 works pretty good in low-lighting - even better than the D40x.

[NiMSo]

From what I researched, a used d50/70 wont hold for 2-3years more since its body's not like the d200, where buying a used d200 is the same as buying a new d80, in terms of condition.

:confused:
...I suggest you do more research...

[Lieur]

:confused:
...I suggest you do more research...

I changed my mind to a d40, no worries.

[looniepincher]

Good choice.

It's easy to upgrade bodies since they change every few years or so. You're starting off slow and there's absolutely no problem with that. Heck, even some more professional photographers keep their D40 as a small, lightweight back-up camera.

Keep in mind the D40 does not autofocus with non-AF-S lenses like the 50mm 1.8. Have fun.

[Lieur]

Good choice.

It's easy to upgrade bodies since they change every few years or so. You're starting off slow and there's absolutely no problem with that. Heck, even some more professional photographers keep their D40 as a small, lightweight back-up camera.

Keep in mind the D40 does not autofocus with non-AF-S lenses like the 50mm 1.8. Have fun.

Nah, it's okay, i can manually focus it anyway.

O yeah, how do you think I should pay for it? My debit limit is just $100 a day, do you think the bank guy could bump it for me to $1000 for just one day?

[isom3tric]

You can go to the bank and ask the teller to withdraw the amount in cash.

Good choice on the D40. I bought the 50mm 1.8D today, and oh man is it clear. Manual focusing is a pain cause I'm still a newb, but I'll be pro with it after like a good 100+ shots. Oh man I love this lens.

[Lieur]

You can go to the bank and ask the teller to withdraw the amount in cash.

Good choice on the D40. I bought the 50mm 1.8D today, and oh man is it clear. Manual focusing is a pain cause I'm still a newb, but I'll be pro with it after like a good 100+ shots. Oh man I love this lens.

Lugging $900 around though will prolly give me a heart attack. Any other choices?

[isom3tric]

Call the bank customer service on the back of the card and they can change it on the spot.

$900, you buying an extra lens? You'll need 600 max for D40 + kit lens.

[looniepincher]

OP, you don't have a credit card I assume.

Those are pretty much your options. Agreed, what lens are you looking at that bumps the price to $900?

Check this out:

http://www.photoprice.ca/product/00524

[isom3tric]

Even better

http://www.adencamera.com/prod-overview.asp?ProdID=1686&Category=1

Go to black's to PM, they usually do it. Thats how I got mine :)

Man I wish I didn't have a midterm tomorrow, I would so go outside and play with the 50mm

[looniepincher]

That's how I got mine too. Got Black's to PM. And they give you a 60-day price protection. Great stuff.

[GZero]

Lugging $900 around though will prolly give me a heart attack. Any other choices?

To put things in perspective, after you get your camera, you'll be lugging around that $900 every time you go out to take photos. It'll be more visible and thus, easier to steal than 9x $100 bills stuffed in your wallet.

[sfu_engineer]

To put things in perspective, after you get your camera, you'll be lugging around that $900 every time you go out to take photos. It'll be more visible and thus, easier to steal than 9x $100 bills stuffed in your wallet.

+1 !

Just buy a super heavy tripod and practice swinging it like a baseball bat at home. It's harder than you think and takes lots of practice for it not to hurt your own fingers while swinging. I guess a monopod would be easier but three legs offer better protection than one!

;)

Too bad a good heavy tripod and head is another $300.

Regarding the price of a D40. I have seen them used online at Henry's for only $350 (body only). www.keh.com also has them in stock at similar prices but they charge a bit more for delivery.

[Lieur]

To put things in perspective, after you get your camera, you'll be lugging around that $900 every time you go out to take photos. It'll be more visible and thus, easier to steal than 9x $100 bills stuffed in your wallet.

But one trip without 900 still makes the difference ::cheesygri

Im getting the d40 body(450 at blacks, 399 at adens), 18-70mm(349 at blacks, 369 at adens), and a 4gb (30 bucks). He said he'll give the body+lens to me for 750, + 30bucks for the memory card, which brings it to 780+tax, around $900.

Do you think I should get a bag for it? Which should i get? If I had a choice, i'd rather just throw it into my jansport mini trinity, but that's just me.

[sfu_engineer]

But one trip without 900 still makes the difference ::cheesygri

Im getting the d40 body(450 at blacks, 399 at adens), 18-70mm(349 at blacks, 369 at adens), and a 4gb (30 bucks). He said he'll give the body+lens to me for 750, + 30bucks for the memory card, which brings it to 780+tax, around $900.

Do you think I should get a bag for it? Which should i get? If I had a choice, i'd rather just throw it into my jansport mini trinity, but that's just me.

The D40 is a good camera at a okay price. I would skip on the brand new 18-70mm lens. $350 is way too much for it. I have seen it going for $150 used online a lot. It's good but not THAT good. I would just get the 18-55mm for under $100 used.

[goofball]

or get 18-55 VR.

[Lieur]

Nah, I'm settled with the 18-70mm. I don't want to pick up a vr lens yet so i can learn how to hold a camera steadily, and then maybe after 4-5 months, i'll get the 18-200mm vr.

Still looking for which bag to get.

[sfu_engineer]

Nah, I'm settled with the 18-70mm. I don't want to pick up a vr lens yet so i can learn how to hold a camera steadily, and then maybe after 4-5 months, i'll get the 18-200mm vr.

Still looking for which bag to get.

It's just that the 18-70mm at $350 is a waste of money. If you spend $50 more you can get the Tamron 17-50mm F2.8. Which is a much sharper and faster lens. I am unsure of it will focus on the D40. Probably not. But then again you can go for the Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 with HSM.

I am just saying that the 18-70mm is just not that good of a lens. It just has a slight advantage in reach in the long end and is SLIGHTLY/MARGINALLY faster of a lens in terms of light. Not worth the extra $$$ when the normal 18-55mm can be had for under $100 used.

I have owned the 18-70mm and was always disappointed with it indoors as it was not fast enough. And outdoors you have enough light to use F5.6 compared to F4.5 so there is no big deal. Also the wide angle on the 18-70mm was pretty terrible.

[goofball]

It's just that the 18-70mm at $350 is a waste of money. If you spend $50 more you can get the Tamron 17-50mm F2.8. Which is a much sharper and faster lens. I am unsure of it will focus on the D40. Probably not. But then again you can go for the Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 with HSM.

I am just saying that the 18-70mm is just not that good of a lens. It just has a slight advantage in reach in the long end and is SLIGHTLY/MARGINALLY faster of a lens in terms of light. Not worth the extra $$$ when the normal 18-55mm can be had for under $100 used.

I have owned the 18-70mm and was always disappointed with it indoors as it was not fast enough. And outdoors you have enough light to use F5.6 compared to F4.5 so there is no big deal. Also the wide angle on the 18-70mm was pretty terrible.

Tamron has a 17-50 with a focus motor internally (not like AF-S or HSM quality) which will allow it to AF with D40. Don't know about the pricing. The sigma 18-50 with HSM is considerably more expensive than the 18-70.

I used the 18-70 for a little while only before returning it. The Tamron 17-50 hardly ever leaves my camera unless I have a specific need for another lens like more reach or macro.

[KorruptioN]

Tamron has a 17-50 with a focus motor internally (not like AF-S or HSM quality) which will allow it to AF with D40.

It was just announced... I don't know if it is in the distribution channel just yet.


Nah, it's okay, i can manually focus it anyway.

Manual focusing with a D40... not as quick and easy as it should be. It's okay if you've got the time to compose. Otherwise, the relatively-small viewfinder will be annoying.

[Lieur]

It's just that the 18-70mm at $350 is a waste of money. If you spend $50 more you can get the Tamron 17-50mm F2.8. Which is a much sharper and faster lens. I am unsure of it will focus on the D40. Probably not. But then again you can go for the Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 with HSM.

I am just saying that the 18-70mm is just not that good of a lens. It just has a slight advantage in reach in the long end and is SLIGHTLY/MARGINALLY faster of a lens in terms of light. Not worth the extra $$$ when the normal 18-55mm can be had for under $100 used.

I have owned the 18-70mm and was always disappointed with it indoors as it was not fast enough. And outdoors you have enough light to use F5.6 compared to F4.5 so there is no big deal. Also the wide angle on the 18-70mm was pretty terrible.

Eh? I checked Henrys and they had the 18-50mm at 499

[isom3tric]

Manual focusing with a D40... not as quick and easy as it should be. It's okay if you've got the time to compose. Otherwise, the relatively-small viewfinder will be annoying.

I do find it hard to keep that green focus light to be steady and not blinking. Is the D50 viewfinder significantly bigger?

[KorruptioN]

I do find it hard to keep that green focus light to be steady and not blinking. Is the D50 viewfinder significantly bigger?

Not really, no.

[goofball]

Eh? I checked Henrys and they had the 18-50mm at 499

http://www.henrys.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ItemsDisplay?storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&departmentId=10404&categoryId=11802&itemID=224429

Don't know which one you were looking at, the non-HSM is 629.99 and the HSM is 649.99 on Henry's.com

[looniepincher]

Anyways, back to the OP's question, you might like the bag I bought--the Lowepro Slingshot. I picked up the 200, but you might be good with the 100. It's waterproof and slings around to the front for quick access. Probably around $60 or so.

Check http://www.cambags.com/