Camera purchase advice requested

[Mick_Marsh]

My little Fuji happy snap $99 K-mart special is failing. I need to replace it. I found it difficult to use anyway. I always had trouble with the autofocus.
I thought, with the sales on at the moment, it might be a good time to buy one.
I'm after a Nikon DSLR. I want one that will take photos of the bug eating my olive trees and that Landrover sitting in the far end of the paddock. I don't mind if I have to change lenses to do it.
Any recommendations and why?

Oh, and I want the ability to focus manually.

[Land Rover Widow]

Do you have a budget?

I have the D90 but I am not sure it's still available

[superquag]

I think his budget is in excess of $99....

Understand your feelings, I've chucked a FUJI mini-SLR-ish looking thing...same reasons.

Being facetious, I'd suggest a raid on Cash Convertors, pick up an old-fashioned FILM SLR with additional lenses to suit your needs... use slide film...scan the results into your desktop, - and you're back with everyone else in the digital enviroment.

Much slower, but you really do think & plan before each button-push !!!

[Sleepy]

What's your budget Mick?

I spent about 2 grand on my D90 and very happy with it.
There are a lot of cameras in between that take good shots though. I bought (sorry Santa brought) one of these for my daughter.

Nikon Coolpix L120 14MP Digital Still Camera (Black) | Digital Cameras, Digital Still Cameras : JB HI-FI

Takes a very respectable photo too. 21x optical will get the other end of the paddock and macro option will get your bugs.

[Mick_Marsh]

I think his budget is in excess of $99....

Understand your feelings, I've chucked a FUJI mini-SLR-ish looking thing...same reasons.

Being facetious, I'd suggest a raid on Cash Convertors, pick up an old-fashioned FILM SLR with additional lenses to suit your needs... use slide film...scan the results into your desktop, - and you're back with everyone else in the digital enviroment.

Much slower, but you really do think & plan before each button-push !!!

I know what you mean. I have a Bronica ETRS medium format. It takes beautiful photographs. Fairly easy to use as well. There is one thing I am trying to work out how to use on it, the time exposure using a shutter release cable. The shutter doesn't close when I release the cable.
I also have a couple of Yashica FX-D's which are 35mm SLR's. I hahe a motor drive and several lenses for them. I don't use them much anymore as I love the Bronica.

This new camera will be for instant gratification. I can take photo's of Landrovers, Mercs and other interesting vehicles or things from a distance or really close up and share them with you lot that night.

[Mick_Marsh]

What's your budget Mick?

I spent about 2 grand on my D90 and very happy with it.
There are a lot of cameras in between that take good shots though. I bought (sorry Santa brought) one of these for my daughter.

Nikon Coolpix L120 14MP Digital Still Camera (Black) | Digital Cameras, Digital Still Cameras : JB HI-FI

Takes a very repectable photo too. 21x optical will get the other end of the paddock and macro option will get your bugs.

Budget! Budget?
When you collect old Mercs and 101's, that word very quickly becomes meaningless.

$2k sounds ok. I'm after quality hence I'm looking at Nikon.
I'm also looking at having perhaps two or three lenses. I remember using a 500mm mirror lens on a Nikon F3 (not mine) many years ago and being suitably impressed.

[Land Rover Widow]

2k...hmm ok then maybe this
Nikon D5100 16.2mp DSLR 'twin"VR"Kit" - Digital Cameras - JB Hi-Fi - Smashing Prices!

and a 50mm 1.4d which here you can get at a camera store for about $450...a 1.4G is closer to $900, a 50mm 1.8 is about $200 I think?

Depends on if you want kit lenses or are happy to just get a body and one maybe two lenses? The other options would be the D7000 or a D3100 I guess.

[Mick_Marsh]

2k...hmm ok then maybe this
Nikon D5100 16.2mp DSLR 'twin"VR"Kit" - Digital Cameras - JB Hi-Fi - Smashing Prices!

and a 50mm 1.4d which here you can get at a camera store for about $450...a 1.4G is closer to $900, a 50mm 1.8 is about $200 I think?

Depends on if you want kit lenses or are happy to just get a body and one maybe two lenses? The other options would be the D7000 or a D3100 I guess.

Thanks Sarah,
VR (vibration reduction) sounds like a good feature to have. Anyone know if it works?
18-55mm and 55-300mm sounds good.
I think I'll be popping off to JB tomorrow. Use that $30 gift card I got for christmas.

[lewy]

no next to zilch about camera's,but if i did i think these are cheap for canon.
http://www.kogan.com.au/shop/nikon-d...ns-vr-18-55mm/

[Sleepy]

This is what I got. Went for the 18 - 200 lens.

Nikon D90 + 18-200mm VR | Nikon Digital SLR Cameras | Ted's Camera Stores - Ted's Cameras

(Ted's aren't cheap, so you'll get it for less if you shop around)

Yes the VR seems to work. (Either that or I am super steady)

Of course the Nikon/Canon argument may well appear. It's a bit like Holden/Ford argument. Just depends what you like.

The D90 is due to be replaced, (or perhaps already has?) but still a great camera and lots of after market bits available.