Best Digital SLR camera?

[Taosman]

You won't get a great lens with those "kits". Lens is another matter separately. Winslow has his favorites. I like Tamron lenses. My all-arounder is a Tamron 28-200. A well respected lens.
Tamron AF 28-200mm Lens

 

[jwinslow]

If you're just going to dink around occasionally, you can't go wrong with either. If you might go further with it as a hobby and get more professional equipment, even cheaper stuff, then it's a harder decision.

I like Canon a lot better for pro gear, not only the variety of lenses (some which NIkon simply doesn't have) but also the volume of Canon users for reselling (both buying and selling gear). However, the latest pro level SLR by Nikon blows the doors off of Canon with it's high ISO performance, and at $3000 cheaper.

Really, both are very good. I just find Canon to be a better "great" than Nikon. My preference is based on a specific niche, which you probably will never enter into.

Another thing to consider is FredMiranda.com and their buy/sell forum. Lots of pros and consumers deal their gear on there, many with history of sales (to help assure you when buying a big ticket item). They also have lots of good advice on there for various interests and needs. It's where I got my Canon 1D Mark II for $3000 off retail in excellent condition, from a seller with history of reselling such gear.


I don't know about all of the features on the entry level SLRs now, but usually there is not a huge difference between 1 generation of cameras, whereas there's a big difference in price, as the market is saturated by folks dumping their now outdated camera body.

I'd also figure out what lens you want, and look for a body for the right price, and only buy a kit if it has both for a price you like. Buying kits on ebay or elsewhere can lead to a suspect value purchase.

 

[OSUsushichic]

Another question: do you guys recommend VR lenses over non-VR?

 

[Conan O'Brien]

Another question: do you guys recommend VR lenses over non-VR?

I believe the VR technology is comparable to the IS (image stabilization) of the canon series.

The first priority should be lens quality. Getting faster and higher end lenses is always the best upgrade.

After that, having a 2.8 lens really opens up shooting possibilities if you won't shoot in only bright sunlight. Overcast, sunsets, and especially indoors will be tough with an f5.6, or even a 3.5-5.6 (that means the zoomed length is 5.6, which does not let much light in)

The is/vr feature is invaluable to grab handheld shots in limited lighting. It does not slow down action, but for me I can't handhold in low light below 320th of a second. With IS, I can easily do 1/80, and sometimes pull off 1/40. The ability to capture a moment without setting up a tripod, or more useful, not lugging it around.

If it is a matter of 300-400, I would save up and spring for the versatility.

You will probably still want a mini tripod (or monopod for sports) at times, for long exposure shots of sunsets or the like, but I rarely need one for candid shots anymore

Personally, for an all around lens I love the 70-200 2.8 lenses. The f4 ones are a cheap and lighter alternative but still high quality, at least the canon made ones. Not sure if they come in nikon mounts or not.

 

[Muck]

The D60 I'm looking at comes with the 18-55mm VR AFS DX Nikkor and 55-200 lenses, which I figure are pretty standard.

I would recomend a fixed focal length lens to start out with.

You're going to have one less thing to worry about and it will let you focus more on composition rather than fiddling with a zoom.

It'll be lighter & cheaper.

You will get better performance from it (it's going to be faster and sharper than a zoom).

A good quality 50mm f/1.4 will be your best friend for a long, long time.

If you need something with greater magnification as well look into getting a separate 85mm f/1.8 and swap lenses when needed.

 

[Taosman]

Fixed focal length lenses are too hair-shirt! You just don't need to go that route. :frown2: A cheaper "body" and a better lens will get you better pictures.

 

[Muck]

You just don't need to go that route.

You don't need to, but it's a good move if you are interested in becoming a better photographer rather than a point n shooter.

And snide comments aside the better glass makes a difference.

If you don't see an advantage in a lens that will gather 4x the light as it's competition (the two stop difference between the 50mm & the zoo mentioned) well then I don't know what to tell you.

A cheaper "body" and a better lens will get you better pictures.

Which is exactly what I said. Given similar price ranges the fixed lens IS the better lens, sometimes by a great degree.

The only advantage zooms have are increased flexible which for a beginner can actually be a disadvantage.

 

[Taosman]

What "snide" remarks? Lighten up.......Muck. Nothing was meant by my remarks.

 

[Muck]

What "snide" remarks? Lighten up.......Muck. Nothing was meant by my remarks.

Lighten up?

You've seen me overreact on this board, this ain't one of those times.

 

[OSUsushichic]

It's kinda crazy ... I could ask 10 people which lenses I should purchase and all 10 people will give me a different answer. I appreciate everyone's advice. I'm just looking for, say, two lenses to start out with. I only have $600-$800 to spend on body and lenses for right now. (I'm now looking at the Nikon D40 for the body, which will cost me about $450 for the body and 18-55 lens.)

 

[jwinslow]

You honestly can get away with just about anything for vacation type photos... it's whether you might ever use that to do anything else that is the question. Might you take indoor photos at a party/wedding, want to shoot a family portrait, take some quality artistic photos, etc. That's when the kit lens is going to let you down, maybe even on the vacation if the lighting is trickier (usually 'lower').

Do some looking on slickdeals as well... searching by title for 'd40' is usually the best way to narrow it down. Here are some I turned up with 1 min of searching and C&P'ing:
Nikon D40 6.1MP digital SLR camera w/ 18-55mm lens + Nikon 55-200mm VR Zoom Lens $581
Amazon Nikon D40 $449.99 + 55-200mm VR Zoom lens $214.95 - $100 instant rebate = $564.94 + FAR Printer
> Edit: I don't like the 3.5-5.6 lenses, they are cheap and very lousy in terms of quality and available light. Spring for something better.
Nikon D80 for $799 with 18-55VR and 55-200VR

I have no idea what kind of deals those are knowing little about the nikon line and prices, but it gives you a starting point for deal hunting.



Also, here's a great deal that keeps popping up for SD cards (returns ever month or two)
4GB Sandisk Extreme III SDHC Memory Cards $10, 2 For $5 ea, 3 For $3.33, After $30 to $110 MIR (expired

Beach Camera has the Sandisk 4gb SDHC Extreme III memory cards (Min 20MB/second sequential read and write) for $40 - $30 rebate = $10 with free shipping. There is a $30 to $110 tiered rebate [fillable form] depending on how many you buy. Buy 2 to get $70 rebate making it $5 each or buy 3 for $110 rebate making it $3.33 each. Thanks JackBauer2008
Many other cards also qualify for the rebate [Discuss here]
Please note, there may be some confusion about the rebate form not matching the product SKU. Most reputable merchants such as Adorama, Buydig and B&H Photo & Video are advertising the same rebate for the same memory card as well. However, if you believe that it's too risky, do not place the order.
The previous deal buyers have already started receiving their rebates [old discussion]
Rebate is valid till 9PM PDT or midnight EST today.

Here's some results from fred miranda:
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Arial] FS: D40 like new $300 ship[/FONT]

 

[jwinslow]

The reason normal lenses struggle so much indoors is that their f-stop is too high. To shoot indoors, you need a high ISO (which you'll have) and a f2.8 lens (or 1.8/1.4, but those are less common). The lower the f-stop number, the more available light it lets in (backwards rating, I know).

So to properly take shots without full sunlight or flash, you need a 2.8 lens. There will still be some times where it's too dark, but not often. And the versatility of the 2.8 lens is still vastly superior.

 

[Taosman]

"Choose wisely!"

 

[Muck]

It's kinda crazy ... I could ask 10 people which lenses I should purchase and all 10 people will give me a different answer.

Just be glad I didn't offer advice on a body or we'd be heading down the heretical Sigma/Foveon path.

FWIW one of the greatest advantages of Nikon currently holds over Canon is that they don't intentionally cripple certain capabilities of lower end models in order to help push people towards the next rung on the ladder. Canon can be very bad about that at times.

The D40 is a fine camera and will serve you very well.

 

[NJ-Buckeye]

Just send me a couple hundred bucks and your address... I'll have something delivered to you in a week...

PS And it won't have those red thingies in everyone's eyeballs