Thread: Nikon advice wanted

Originally Posted by dm_td5

I've got a feeling that the D3000 is probably supplied to the retailer as a packaged kit with the two lenses.

Appears that way. Possibly a Christmas marketing push from Nikon Australia. Every Nikon dealer in Brisbane has them on special at around the same price allowing for added sweeteners like carry case, tripod, extra battery.

Yo can buy the D3000 with only the 18-55 lens for $750-$800, yet the list price of 55-200 lens, around $1100, is greater than the D3000 with two lenses package. You go figure it out. Someone is practicing some shonky marketing here, or the goods are drastically over-priced to start with.

Originally Posted by Brian Hjelm

Someone is practicing some shonky marketing here, or the goods are drastically over-priced to start with.

Probably Nikon Australia



Martyn

Originally Posted by scrambler

Brian, Had you considered a Pentax? I have an older Pentax K100D with 6MP which takes decent photos, came with a Sigma lens for about $600, and I believe you can get the current versions with up to 15MP for about the same money (I bought 2 years ago).

I use a fair few Practika/ Pentax lenses with the camera because a) I'm a Luddite and b) you get a lot more lens for your dollars with old prime lenses than with new zooms.

The Praktica screw to Pentax K adapters are cheap and have no lens elements to degrade the picture. ALL Pentax lenses, including screw mount, will work with the Pentax digital bodies, but with some limitations (and these will apply to Nikon adapters as well, or more so):
Screw mount lenses can be used with MANUAL aperture and STOP-DOWN metering only (but autoexposure will deal with whatever you offer the camera through the lens)

Manual-focus lenses (including all screw-mount lenses) need manual focussing BUT the focus confirmation (autofocus indicator) will light when focus is correct (according to the camera).

You do know that now the Iron Curtain is well and truly down you can get Practicas on evilbay/ internet for about $100 including postage, fully reconditioned from reputable sellers?

Bear in mind that you will get a reduced field of view (but equal depth of focus) from your lens on a Pentax digital or a prosumer Nikon body. Multiply the lens focal length by 1.5 for the 35mm equivialent:
400mm gives 600mm equivalent view
28mm gives 42mm equivalent view
50mm gives 75mm view.

I use a 28mm as my "standard" lens on a digital and wouldn't recommend a zoom with 28-105 unless you normally find yourself swapping 50mm/90mm/150mm on your Practica. If you EVER use wide angle, get a zoom down to 18mm (27 equivalent) minimum.

IMHO.

Thanks, I am now having a look at Pentax "K". As well as the Novoflex 400, I have an old Sun pistol grip power zoom lens which I would like to keep using. If I can use my old screw mount lenses on the "K" then it will probably get the vote. You are correct when you say there is good value to be had buying accessory lenses from auctions, Weekend Shopper, or thief bay. I regularly see top brand film cameras with a number of lenses go through auctions for a paltry fraction of what they must have cost. Yet cheap point and shoot digital cameras sell for almost new price at the same auction. Whatever is new, fashionable, and in demand gets the consumer dollar.

I was seriously considering the Pentaz Kx but could not find a screw mount to bayonet adaptor anywhere. Pentax have not made them for yonks and after-market suppliers no longer show them in their catalogues. I wanted to be able to use a couple of screw mount lenses I have. General opinion around camera shops is that the adaptors are no longer made. I would have to have found a couple second-hand. The Nikon D3000 package with 18-55 and 55-200 lenses was the best deal in my opinion, so I now have a Nikon.

I was really surprised to find a sales assistant in a camera shop to whom I was describing one of the lenses I wished to keep using, who doubted me when I told him it was manual focus and manual aperture. He had never heard of such a thing anfd did not believe such existed. He appeared to be in his thirties and claimed many years experience. I had to tell him that I had been using such lenses longer than he had been on the planet.

Try B&H Photography in the states

General Brand | Pentax-K Body to Universal Lens Adapter | ABPKS

Pentax K mount to 42mm screw

I have a couple of them they work fine, (got them from somewhere in Melbourne about 18 months ago) try to avoid the ones that sit proud of the mount as you cant focus to infinity

or locally

https://www.crkennedy.com.au/pentax/...php?q=node/166

Martyn

Welcome to the Nikon club Brian

It's like owning a Land Rover and being bagged about it by all the Toyota owners - just substitute Toyota with the word Canon.

Originally Posted by dm_td5

Welcome to the Nikon club Brian

It's like owning a Land Rover and being bagged about it by all the Toyota owners - just substitute Toyota with the word Canon.

Actually owning a Minolta system is more like owning a Land Rover. Everyone else has Canons (Toyota) and Nikons (Nissans) or something new and wrong like a Panasonic Leica (BMW X5?). You don't feel the need to explain why you are still using Minolta. They just wouldn't get it. Meanwhile your camera company is bought and sold every other year.

Originally Posted by dm_td5

Welcome to the Nikon club Brian

It's like owning a Land Rover and being bagged about it by all the Toyota owners - just substitute Toyota with the word Canon.

Until you sit down and start comparing the two and then there is the sudden realisation by the Canon owner that the Nikon is just so much better.

Originally Posted by werdan

Actually owning a Minolta system is more like owning a Land Rover. Everyone else has Canons (Toyota) and Nikons (Nissans) or something new and wrong like a Panasonic Leica (BMW X5?). You don't feel the need to explain why you are still using Minolta. They just wouldn't get it. Meanwhile your camera company is bought and sold every other year.

...or something new and wrong like Sony who bought out Minolta photographics for their lenses

Cheers
JLo