Thread: Looking to buy DLSR

If your looking at Nikon I would defiantly go the D90 over the D60...

the D90 is an upgraded version of the D80 which I have...I have been seriously happy with this camera, I have no doubt that I will out grow it at some stage but am defiantly in not any hurry to do so
the D80 was hailed as a very good entry level amateur photography camera and will have everything you need so I cant see why you would be happy with a 90

If you don't want to pay the bux of a 90 then get an 80! smaller sensor but still 10.2 and no video but if your not after the video then it doesn't matter

Obivoulsy the body plays a big part but its the lenses you get that REALLY MATTER

Hmm
Nikon are generally the cream of the crop.
Canon is a bit cheaper and currently probably leader in innovation and has great range of functions.
I used both for a long time as a professional photographer.
Problem with Digital is that technology is making such leaps that in two years yours will be a antique.
Do not just chase the pixels as the software in the camera that records the information and of course the lens(glass) is very important.

Set yourself a budget and go play with them. Take some pics and see which programs you find easy to use.
The nikkor 18-200 is a great all rounder and probably all you ever need.
i used it for a while and did not want to give it back.
the thing to remember is weight, DSLR is heavt, the more you pay the better they are and the heavier usually.

Some may call me a tight arse but when I purchased my last digital camera I got a budget D40 Nikon with a 18 to 55 lens. At the time it was a budget camera that would handle all the work I wanted to do. I had good look at the features of the camera and decide wether you realy need them or just want them because its the lastest fad. I puchased the first 2 digital cameras in tassie ( the retailer ring me up and gave me the first one in the state for a 14 day trial), they were Kodak dc40's. My first DSLR cost me about $3500 to set up and it was 1.6 mega pixals. Also owned 4 other digital compacts over the time and still carry a compact in the console.
So check out the d40 nikon, good basic camera
cheers
blaze

I have the D90 with the 18-200mm lens, Awsome. The photo's are briliant the usability is briliant and battery usage in great all round a great camera. I couldn't recomend anything else.
Some Nikon Shot's:








Cheers,

Originally Posted by JohnR

I have the D90 with the 18-200mm lens, Awsome. The photo's are briliant the usability is briliant and battery usage in great all round a great camera. I couldn't recomend anything else.
Some Nikon Shot's:








Cheers,

Nice pics there Johnr.

I'm a canon fan but i dont think you can go wrong with any of the top 4/5 brands ,if its in the budget spend extra on the lenses.

Before recommending a camera i would like to ask you what will be the application.
I am asking that because if you are going to do landscaping or birds/wildlife then the criteria for selecting a equipment are:

1) top quality lens
2) top quality tripod
3) camera body.
Note: If you are going to do avian photography a flash is must together with the Better Beamer (you can have a look at this accessories HERE

For general purpose the Nikon D90 is very good and you can use it with a wide selection of lens.

The old Canons are better than the new models until all the problems are fixed.

If you are considering birds/wild life the best package will be the old model of Canon 40D which is al most as good as the superseded Nikon D200. I think that they are still available for about $ 1.100
The reason why I recommend the Canon for this application is because you can get the excellent Canon 300 f/4 IS and have a package heaps cheaper than the Nikon.

If the above is not your application then my pick is the excellent Nikon D300 as a first option and if it is to expensive then the D90.
Nikkor lens are very good and there are some third party lens that are excellent as well. For my landscaping I use the Tokina 12-24 f/4 which is as good as the Nikkor f4 for a third of the money.

Have a look THIS site which is one of the best regarding lens reviews.

Cheers

COuldn't have put it better!

I'd go with what's been said by Chucaro and the others. I'll also add one other thing - ergonomics. You are going to use it, so you need to be comfortable holding it and using it. Nikon is usually considered superior in overall ergonomics to Canon. But all the same hold a few and see what you think.

Agree with Chucaro and DM.

Mostly :-)

The new Canons are fine. I own two of the latest.

When you buy a DSLR you are buying into a system of which the body is merely one component, and not necessarily the most expensive. So Canon or Nikon are the two choices for serious photogs. You can take fine pix with either. To start out put your money into lenses rather than bodies. The exception would be if you must do a lot of action then you'll want something with a high frame rate and thus may have to go for cheaper lenses. I would err on the side of cheaper body more expensive lens. Think of it as buying a Discovery 3 then running it on bald retreads, as opposed to a Discovery II on your choice of perfect tyre.

Budget also for a good bag, second battery, at least two memory cards (high speed ones), cleaning kit, a polarising filter, and spare lenscaps. As with 4WD your budget should not be entirely spent on the car (read camera body).

If you opt for Canon then the 40D is better than the 50D, I considering changing over but decided against it.

Megapixels; anything over 7 is fine.

Good luck.