Thread: New camera - where to start?

Agreed, though the lenses are Cosina and INA, but yes, I get your point.

Kodakman being as though you appear to stock good gear. I thought i would ask do you stock Nisi filters? I currently have cokin Z pro. But i would like to update to Nisi when money allows.

Originally Posted by Pickles2

DSLR is so much easier,..no calculations to be made in normal circumstances,...No exposure, speed, focussing, depth of field etc etc, the camera will do it all.
Bushie....My lenses are all M42,...yes they can be made to "work" but to nowhere the extent on auto settings etc that a digital lens will. To be honest, even the simplest of digital stuff, including our phone, gives very good images (can't believe how good the phone is), AND, I still have all of my images PRINTED to put in my album (s!)
Pickles.

I dont know the Pentax lenses, but with the old Nikon lenses a lot of even professional photographers seek out certain film camera lenses for digital as they work so well and give excellent results. A good all round Nikon lens to seek out for digital ia the film 28-105 lens. The quality was superb and now you can pick them up for peanuts online. I picked up a superb Nikon 80-200 film camera lens that is a 1500 dollar lens for 50 bucks.
Chris

Originally Posted by bacicat

Answers below in red.

Originally Posted by Bytemrk

Gav,

The questions I would be asking myself (some of which you have already answered) are:

• What is your budget? About $1000 to start with.
• Who will be using the camera? Just me
• Does size and weight matter to you? Not overly, no
• What sorts of images are you hoping to use it for? General scenery, low light/morning/evening and I like taking close ups of insects and birds.
• What will you do with your images? - Display them on line, Print them? Bit of both.
• Will you use it for movies as well as stills? Stills only, movies isn't a priority at all
• Will you be doing much low light work? Yes, plenty
• Do you want to have the ability to change lenses? Yes
• How rugged does it need to be?- will it be exposed to weather and dust at times? It will need to survive travelling with me in the 101.
• What sorts of focal lengths are you likely to want? How wide?.. How long? Close and narrow, to long and wide
• What sorts or accessories might you need? - tripod/flash/filters etc. Are they available for the camera I choose - at what cost? I have an ok tripod if the thread on new cameras hasn't changed, flash yes, filters maybe later as I get better

Gav this is where someone with a broader view of advantages of different brands can probably help the most.

However, if I was thinking of a Nikon based around those requirements:

Your budget is realistic and gives you quite a few options.

Low light to me means either the latest DX Bodies or FX. However, your budget will not get you into FX and your idea of low light may not be as dark as I am thinking - you will be blown away by what these things can do in low light.

I'd look at:

Option 1: New D3300 + 18-55 & 55-200 lenses.

Advantages : Cheap, you can afford a couple of lenses while staying latest tech.

Disadvantages: basic low end camera that you will likely grow out of. Not compatible with older Nikon Lenses

Option 2: New D5500 + 18-105mm lens

Advantages :Latest Tech, really good low light performance,

Disadvantages:Not compatible with older Nikon Lenses

Option 3: New D7000 + 18-105mm lens

Advantages :Better controls, compatible with all Nikon lenses back to 1977, Selling quite cheap as the D7100 and D7200 have both been released.

Disadvantages:Older technology than above. but still a great camera.

Option 4: Used D7000 + 16-85VR & 70-300VR lenses.

Advantages : Same advantages as above - but they sell 2nd hand very cheap, often with little use as people buy the new model. This leaves you more money to buy better lenses personally I prefer the 16-85 over the 18-105 and they are really undervalued on the second hand market. The 70-300VR is an excellent long lens compatible with FX in the future. You can also take advantage of a wide array of older Nikon lenses which the lower models cant use.

Disadvantages: Buying second hand is always going to have some risk.

You mention close ups of insects, none of the above lists a macro lens, however All 3 of my Macro lenses I picked up second hand...
AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G - (Second hand from a wedding photographer who was changing brands.)
Micro Nikkor 60mm f/2.8 AF-D - doubles as a great portrait lens (Second hand off eBay from Japan)
Micro Nikkor 55mm f/2.8 AIS - given to me by my dad from his Nikon F

Neither of the last two will work on the 3000 or 5000 ranges of Nikon DX bodies

However the 70-300 VR while not a macro lens, does OK on a D7000:


If it was me.. I'd be looking at Option 4....

However my focus (pardon the pun ) is all Nikon. You would be wise to look at the others too. Ron is right about Pentax dust and weather sealing - frankly its amazing, I watched a friend run his camera under a tap after a dog took a leak on it.... no on going problem!

Nice photo!

To add to this here is a recent photo i took a week ago using the 105 vr which Mark has also listed for insects


https://www.flickr.com/gp/137911068@N06/o7L292

Originally Posted by p38arover

Pentax legacy lenses fetch good money, still. K-mount lenses will click straight onto a modern Pentax DSLR. M42 lenses need an adapter. I have one for my cameras.

Yes, I'm aware of that,...., I was on the Pentax Forum for a while, and many of those guys held the old screw mount M42 lenses in high regard,...and yes, you're right, most likely they still do.
To be honest, I've lost a bit of interest, but I still enjoy taking a good shot, & I have been amazed how good Wifey's Canon is, and like I said, her phone is sensational,....so, good enough for me now.
To give you an example of some of the screw mount stuff I've got, and they're all the latest SMC series, I've got a 15mm Aspheric Wide Angle ( a fairly substantial piece of glass!),..super rare, with its original case, instructions etc etc,....and in mint condition!!
Pickles.

Hey, Gav, I'm more than happy with my D7000.
It's way more capable than me. I understand is has a half size sensor. I think it is good enough, actually better than what I was after.
I've not bothered to look into macro stuff as yet but here are a couple of pics:

A gecko on the wall a couple of nights ago:

My picture up there ^ was taken with a D7100