Buying a new camera

[Hobby]

It's that time again for me to blow off a bunch of money on something i don't technically need... Last year it was a bigger tv, the year before that it was a row-boat for fishing.

This year? A camera.


I have about $1000 limit for a dSLR -- the choices have been narrowed down to these (provided no one else has better suggestions)

a) Nikon D60 (refurbished) with a 18-55mm lens and a 70-300mm zoom lens for about 500

or

b) Nikon D80 Digital SLR Camera with Nikon AF-S DX 18-135mm lens for just under 1k (my limit)


I may buy a zoom lens for the D90 eventually, but it has a long enough zoom to keep me happy for the time being.


Anyways, the goal I am looking for with a camera is mostly natural beauty (nature) shots / lightning and low-lighting shots.

[nalkin]

Honestly if I were you I would get a telescope for a few hundred bucks instead.

Can get an 8inch for real cheap even 10 inch for 500: http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&rlz=1G1GGLQ_ENUS374&q=dobsonian&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=16870401388942727895&sa=X&ei=qOH7TYCwLqnZ0QGgwY3RAw&ved=0CGEQ8wIwAQ

You could also get an 8 inch and a camera and maybe cheap motor system and do some astrophotog. Would be much better than buying a 1000 dollar camera imo.

[Dr.Spike]

What are you suppose to do with the camera?
Personally, I would have chosen a cheap camera and a just a bit finer lens. Perhaps a fixed 50mm lens with a large aperture and fast autofocus.

Like most beginners(dont know if you are it, not saying you are) buying a expensive camera with a cheaper lens, since they think the camera is more importen.
But the lens is the most importen thing, when takeing picture and wanting nice pictures.

If you think you will buy "old" autofocus lenses, which do not have AF-S, you should probably have a D90. Otherwise D3100 probably the logical choice, fully on par with the D60 and the picture quality even equal to or slightly better than the D90.
But remember lenses with AF-S is more expensive then others, so if you wanna buy cheap lenses go for the D90

And i recomend to buy a macro, for some nice outdoors pictures.

[Hobby]

The main thing i am needing is a large ISO range, a large shutterspeed range (maxing out at 30seconds is perfect, anymore more is almost worthless)...having a 'bulb' exposure mode as well as a shutter-release cable capable ** having a high FPS ability is nice as well, 3 + per second is great **

Anyways, those are the settings I have been looking for. The D90 is alittle more camera then I need...The D80 is about a hundred bucks cheaper, and provides the base settings that I am looking for...

[Doors]

http://s1.static.mymemory.co.uk/images/product_shots/11972_1202289030.jpg

[Dr.Spike]

then i would say go for the D90 :)

[Hobby]

D80* D90 has miminal advantage over the D80 :p

[Dr.Spike]

There is not much difference in the external terms on d80/d90 like you say, and the house is basically the same and hence where the choice is completely irrelevant.
The difference is, however, the inside,which the D90 has inherited from d300'an and things that are not found in any other camera from Nikon yet .. that movie function.

But .. D80 is obviously still a great camera, but money is no problem to buy in on a newer system.

D80/D90 is easy to grow in and is a full-featured D-SLR with many functions and is also beginner-friendly.

[Krimsin]

iTT: hipsters argue over who has the bigger zoom

[Japan]

hipster

get out

[moklianne]

D7000 is great for low noise high iso shooting. Its a bit high at $1300 for the body alone, but well worth it. Its a big upgrade from a D60 or D80. The D3100 or D5100 (or even the D3000 or D5000) would be better at low light shooting than the D80 or D60. I have a D50 which is similar to the D80 when it comes to noise, just a lower megapixel. The only usable iso is 200-400. The noise gets really bad anything above that. You can clean up alot of noise, but it sucks having to edit every shot about 400 iso. It also lowers the contrast when you do this, so it may not be as sharp.

[moklianne]

D80* D90 has miminal advantage over the D80 :p

The sensor is much better in the D90. Lower noise at higher ISO's, etc. CMOS sensor vs CCD.

[Jenithia]

I have the Nikon D80 you are speaking if and being an amatuer photographer myself, I would highly suggest it. The D90 is nice but put the extra money towards a nice camera bag or more lenses.

[Hobby]

I am not saying the D90 is not worth it, but my needs *SEEM* well met with the D80 specs.

We'll see what I think when I buy it i guess though.



And im glad there is a person who has the camera I have my eye on :p

[moklianne]

I am not saying the D90 is not worth it, but my needs *SEEM* well met with the D80 specs.

We'll see what I think when I buy it i guess though.



And im glad there is a person who has the camera I have my eye on :p

I still don't think the D80 can perform well at 800 iso or above, which is something you want. Head over to nikoncafe.com and search (or post a new thread asking) for D80 high iso shots see if its acceptable enough. Most people are pretty helpful there. I frequent it often.

Stay away from the lens lust forum though. ;) It will only lead to obsessions wit specific lenses down the road.

[fullylaced]

not sure the differences between that model but i would focus more on a quality body now you can always upgrade lenses in the future.

also i have a friend who has a sd + wifi card that goes into his camera and as the pictures are taken they instantly travel to the iphone to be mailed or w/e.

would also check out bhphotovideo if you havent yet and compare prices