Tekforums
Chat => Photography => Topic started by: Sam on November 09, 2009, 00:15:02 AM
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Im looking to buy a good camera. I was told the D5000 is a good choice. Any thoughts on that or other tips?
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It depends on what you want to do.
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Id imagine I want to take some pictures ?
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Id imagine I want to take some pictures of midgets?
well then a d5000 will be too big, youll need a smaller camera for them or theyll just look like tiny ants in the distance.
;)
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there is no DSLR on the market which doesnt take fantastic photos in the right hands. Best advice is to try and find somewhere you can hold and look through all the models you are considering.
That way you can judge for yourself if you like the size and weight, the viewfinder image etc.
If you want to take up phorography, a proper interchangable lens DSLR is the best tool for the job. If you just want to take snaps on Automatic mode, Id get a bridge camera. Smaller, lighter, cheaper, just make sure you get one with image stabilisation.
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common sense D5000 review (http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d5000.htm)
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The latest range of Sonys are very good, youd probably do fine with one of the Sony Axxxs, the Canon 350D or Nikon D40 always come recommended too. You dont need to spend a fortune.
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The latest range of Sonys are very good, youd probably do fine with one of the Sony Axxxs, the Canon 350D or Nikon D40 always come recommended too. You dont need to spend a fortune.
my canon is my baby (:
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Id imagine I want to take some pictures ?
:rofl:
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Sounds like the D40 is the way to go.
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You cant find the D40 any more in the UK but I see them still advertised across the pond; get it while you can.
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Id imagine I want to take some pictures ?
A bit more than that, its what you want to take pictures of, and how much of a camera you are willing to carry around.
Not everyone wants to carry something the size of a DSLR, or even a bridge camera. IfF you are doing party snaps then a compact might be a better choice.
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You cant find the D40 any more in the UK but I see them still advertised across the pond; get it while you can.
Yeah can get from Amazon for under $400. You recommend it ?
All the lenses for Nikkons are interchangeable right ?
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I used the D40 for 2 years and the gf still has one, use it regularly. All the Nikkor F-mount lenses ever made (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikon_F-mount#Nikkor) will fit; but only the more modern AF-S ones will autofocus (which wont be an issue as youd only ever want to buy perhaps the 18-200 or the 10 (or 12)-24 zooms to use with it and theyd be fine).
The only reasons I sold it were because the D90 has a bigger rear screen and works more quickly (but its more bulky and somehow more cramped, the D40 just fits easily).
The little 18-55 lens it comes with is a bargain too, very sharp.
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All the lenses for Nikkons are interchangeable right ?
Nikon backwards compatibility is among the best in the industry, the low end bodies dont autofocus lenses which rely on the screw drive system and the metering is limited with pre-electronic lenses but its pretty decent.
Unlike certain other big brands who change lens mounts at the drop of a hat, Nikon have kept the same basic bayonett since ~1970.
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The little 18-55 lens it comes with is a bargain too, very sharp.
The Nikon kit lens puts the Canon ones to shame, much higher quality.
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The little 18-55 lens it comes with is a bargain too, very sharp.
The Nikon kit lens puts the Canon ones to shame, much higher quality.
Ive looked through beer bottles which put the Canon kit glass to shame. Consumer end Canons are all cheap and plasticy in my experience, Nikon and Pentax build quality is in a different league at least until you get to the Canon Dxx, Nikon Dxxx, Pentax KxxD level. Even there Ill keep my weather sealing and body centred anti-shake and you Canikonites can keep your faster AF.
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Help me out guys...
Dont want to spend 700 bucks on a camera but I want something awesome. Talk to me.
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Any camera can take awesome pictures Sam, its up to the photographer not the equipment. If its the camera you want to be awesome rather than the pictures perhaps a Leica M9 (http://www.adorama.com/LCM9B.html)?
The D40 is recommended because it is cheap and easy to use and gives very good results, whilst allowing you to have more control as you learn more. Anything more expensive just has bigger quicker controls really.
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not a changable lens but very good walkaroud cameras are the Panasonic LX3 (http://www.dpreview.com/news/0807/08072102panasoniclx3.asp)(24-60mm) and Canon G11 (http://www.dpreview.com/news/0908/09081908canong11.asp)(28mm-140mm) both have fast lens (f2 &2.8 respectively). both are desiged to give you the control of settings like an slr but in a compact/rangefinder style body
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Any camera can take awesome pictures Sam, its up to the photographer not the equipment. If its the camera you want to be awesome rather than the pictures perhaps a Leica M9 (http://www.adorama.com/LCM9B.html)?
When he said he didnt want to spend 700 bucks on a camera, I suspect he imagined that number might go down rather than up.
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Help me out guys...
Dont want to spend 700 bucks on a camera but I want something awesome. Talk to me.
OK so youre looking for a starter camera. Big question:
Do you want to take up photography as a hobby, or are you just looking for something which will give you more versatility in your holiday snaps?
If the former then my recommendation is 100% buy an entry level DSLR from any of the major manufacturers with a twin lens kit. In Pentax (because I know them best rather than because Im trying to push them, I would look at every brand in your position) youd be looking at a K-x with 18-55 and 55-300mm lenses for ~£650. In image quality terms you litterally cant go wrong, Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Pentax and Sony all make excelent cameras. In my personal opinion Canon lens quality leaves a lot to be desired but even their worst offering will make any compact look like a beer bottle. The most important difference between the brands is ergonomics, which means the best way to choose is to find a bricks and mortar store which keeps them all and try them out. A great camera should get out of the way and let you take the photograph, so it should be comfortable to hold and use. Obviously different people have different size and shape hands, so while my Pentax K10D is the most comfortable camera Ive ever used, you may not like it, a larger Nikon may fit your hand better.
On the other hand if you just want an automatic snappy camera with a bit more oomph, bridge cameras are your friends. Serious used to have a really nice Panasonic Lumix with a ~12x optical zoom. These are cheaper, smaller and lighter than DSLRs but they lack the interchangable lenses and the ultimate control of a system camera.
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Any camera can take awesome pictures Sam, its up to the photographer not the equipment. If its the camera you want to be awesome rather than the pictures perhaps a Leica M9 (http://www.adorama.com/LCM9B.html)?
When he said he didnt want to spend 700 bucks on a camera, I suspect he imagined that number might go down rather than up.
Haha quote of the month.
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Any camera can take awesome pictures Sam, its up to the photographer not the equipment. If its the camera you want to be awesome rather than the pictures perhaps a Leica M9 (http://www.adorama.com/LCM9B.html)?
The D40 is recommended because it is cheap and easy to use and gives very good results, whilst allowing you to have more control as you learn more. Anything more expensive just has bigger quicker controls really.
The D40 is discontinued ?
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In Europe yes. Most stores in US still have it from what I can see.
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I just ordered the D3000. A replacement for the D40. Check it out, tell me your thoughts (I can still cancel if I need to).;
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Well Ive owned and still use the D40 so I know its good. I havent seen a D3000 although I have used all the Nikon dslrs up to the D700. At the risk of being called a Ken Rockwell fanboy I might risk linking you to his opinion of the D3000 here (http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d3000.htm). Youll have to make up your own mind about how many pinches of salt to take, but at the end of the day the D3000 will still be a good camera....
It looks as if the 3000 is hamstrung by a cheaper processor, so in your shoes I would buy the dearer 5000, any thing better will be over $1000 inc lens(s).
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:stupid:
what he said. I dont know the Nikon model range well, but it looks a competant if rather basic camera from the spec sheet. 10MP with no live view or video implies to me that it could well be the same sensor as is in my K10D, I know Nikon used that sensor in several cameras at one point. If so then it should perform well.
With an SLR the image quality is 90% lens and 10% body/post processing, and the Nikon mount will give you plenty of options for good lenses to strap on the front. Their kit lenses are better than Canons so should give you a good start.
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So you think I should get the D5000 ?
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Yes, sort of, but only because the D3000 appears to be compromised to keep costs down.
If you dont want to pay $700 for the D5000, Id still say get the D40. You seem to be put off by the fact that Nikon are discontinuing it - you should be aware that the camera makers are turning over their digital models every two years - so in 2 years or less the D3000/5000 will be discontinued too, just not as good value as the D40. There is more depreciation in camera values than Ford Scorpios. You could spend the money saved on bigger and better lenses like the 18-200 zoom, which is fantastic.
Things I have found frustrating in digi cameras, compact or slr, are slow processing speed, slow reaction to controls, and small piddly viewfinders or displays. The one thing these cameras can do that film cant is allow you to take a picture and straight away check if its wrong, shaky, too dark, etc. Anything that gets in the way of that frustrates. Its more important than the absolute image quality of the camera because if if you get simple things wrong youll never get to that quality. The better cameras do all of the above better. Dont forget, its not the camera that takes the picture but the photographer exercising his technique and skill. What sensor is in the camera doesnt matter because beyond a certain point, every modern camera gives good technical image quality - this has nothing to do with how good your pictures are. I could have the best Java programming manual in the world and I still wouldnt be able to do it;)
So on that basis is the better processor of the D5000 worth the extra $200? It has other important things like the colour fringe correction of the newer better Nikons, and better high ISO quality (for pics in low light). Never mind the video or the flippy screen, these are salesroom features.
Crucially, will the extra money help you take better pics than the D3000 or the D40? No, because thats up to how much you know about driving your camera, and the D40 will get you the same results. The real next step up is the D90, because it has a much bigger rear screen and much faster reaction to scrolling controls, with dedicated buttons for the useful adjustments.
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I went for the 5000 in the end and it arrived yesterday. Now begins the learning curve since I know nothing.
http://picasaweb.google.com/samspade79/20091128#
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Cant recommend Ken Rockwell enough. Great site for the basics, also has a specific user guide for the D5000. Really helps to grasp the basics in a no nonsense way, lets you get one with working out how to take decent photos.
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d5000/users-guide/index.htm
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As someone on here posted before you can find some good tips on the following site:
http://www.geofflawrence.com/photography_tutorials.htm
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I went for the 5000 in the end and it arrived yesterday. Now begins the learning curve since I know nothing.
Use Manual exposure only - youll thank me for it. ;)
PS: I take delivery of my TWO Nikon D3X (http://www.europe-nikon.com/product/en_GB/products/broad/1726/overview.html) bodies, plus a boat-load of lenses next week! :P
:cheers:
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I take it youre not paying for them then? -)
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(http://lh4.ggpht.com/_ZV_KKwcwvOY/SxFkkAcOMTI/AAAAAAAAd5g/xI0OjMtDpBg/s800/DSC_0069.JPG)
You can get stronger colours than this by setting the picture control to vivid, in shooting menu, picture control and adjust from standard. You can make it even wilder if you want.
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I take it youre not paying for them then? -)
eavens, no - that would be insane!
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I went for the 5000 in the end and it arrived yesterday. Now begins the learning curve since I know nothing.
Use Manual exposure only - youll thank me for it. ;)
PS: I take delivery of my TWO Nikon D3X (http://www.europe-nikon.com/product/en_GB/products/broad/1726/overview.html) bodies, plus a boat-load of lenses next week! :P
:cheers:
and where do you live again?
when are you next out of the house?
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Hes down the gym necking steroids and pumping iron so he can carry it all. -)