Help me decide ....please!!!

[Sleepy]

I've been saving hard for my first DSLR.

I have decided on a NIKON. (I have used SLR Nikons and have always been happy with them)

I thought the D60 would be a good entry level camera and, as mentioned here, is somewhat of a "Discovery 3" of cameras.

A wise person advised me that I wouldn't regret stepping up one level. They suggested the D80 (very few of them around new now) so I also had a look at the D90 - which was lovely too.

The next armchair expert tells me, "don't buy a D90 - get the D300 - you wont regret it."

Next I'll be mortgaging the house and getting a D3X.................

I am putting aside all the money I used to spend on smoking so I really don't mind spending a few grand however I also don't want to overdo it.

Will the D90 satisfy a hobby amateur or should I keep saving the extra for the D300?

Advice please

[dullbird]

depending on how much you want to get into it a D90 would suit you fine...I think you will find there are a few D80 users on here myself included..the D90 is a upgraded version of this with full frame and video.

the D300 is a much much more superior camera if you can afford it great if you have no idea how to go about using all its multiple functions and dont have the time to go and learn it all, what's the point!

In saying that if buying a more expensive top of the range camera is one of two things more of an achievement in regards to your giving up smoking and a higher goal to set your self to make sure you really do give up the definitely go for the D300


Dont you just love the answers that don't actually give you a "buy that one"

[dullbird]

Actually thinking of it

Buy a D90 and spend what you would of spent on a D300 and buy a really really good lense!! THEN if you really get into your photography you can upgrade to the 300 and take your really really good lense with you!

There you go is that a better answer

[bblaze]

went through this delemar myself about 9 months ago, I ended up going with the nikon d40
Very entry level, only 6 something mega pixels, lots of features I dont use. Can still print a picture upto a4 size with no dramas
more mega pixel will give you larger print and the better camera will have more features and control
BUT
do you really need them
Happy with my d40
cheers
blaze

[Sleepy]

the D300 is a much much more superior camera if you can afford it great if you have no idea how to go about using all its multiple functions and dont have the time to go and learn it all, what's the point!

In saying that if buying a more expensive top of the range camera is one of two things more of an achievement in regards to your giving up smoking and a higher goal to set your self to make sure you really do give up the definitely go for the D300

Actually thinking of it

Buy a D90 and spend what you would of spent on a D300 and buy a really really good lense!! T

Yes I must admit the higher goal does make the non-smoking easier. Nonetheless I think you have nailed it DB - spend the money on some decent lenses - by the time I get the hang of the D90 there will be a D400 to upgrade to

So next question. What lens? I imagine I'll mostly be doing landscapes, shots of Land Rovers, indoor/outdoor family shots.

[slt]

D60 and D300 are about to get replaced with newer models (and should be available for a bargain once those are released, so depends what your time frame is). D90 is nice of course, and it's a good 'serious' starter camera, with the latest gimmicks, such as video. Unless you already have lenses, you might want it with the 18-105 AF-S DX as a kit.

slt

[DeanoH]

This could be a huge can of worms you've opened here.

There is no doubt a Nikon D 'anything' is a great camera. SWMBO handed off her old Nikoon CoolPix 5700 (non DSLR) to me when she got her D80 which by the way she is very happy with. But ask yourself what sort of photographs do you want to take and what do you want to do with them when you've taken them. This more than anything will determine if you need a camera of this type.

There's a lot of hype about DSLR's and I'm game to put in two bobs worth.

Does the camera fit well into your hand(s), are the buttons simple to find and understand and are they easy to use, does it use a proprietary memory card (ie Sony memory stick, great camera lousy media,or have Sony finally dumped it?), does it use proprietary battery(s) and not say , rechargeable AA's and is this important to you. And probably one of the most ignored criteria, is the menu system intuitive and easy to work through. This is one area that I find Nikon fails miserably. It's no use having a great camera like the Dxx if its just too bloody hard to use to it's best. Do you want and need all the facilities it offers, or does it just make it harder to use. I find my old Kodak 3MP camera an absolute dream to use as its got a useable menu system. All this before you even think about MegaPixels.

In short, do you really want and need a complex machine when a simple one will do ?


Deano.

[dullbird]

Dont listen to him GO THE DSLR!!

YOU WONT REGRET IT.........I didn't

[Sleepy]

Ahh yes I like worms - Used to breed them you know - Had about 12,000 African wrigglers - But that's another story.

Yes a DSLR is a bit of a MLC toy. I loved photography as a teenager and spent lots of time and money on the hobby. But in those days I carried around a light meter and had to shoot judiciously because of the extreme cost of developing transparencies.

Life goes on, you get married, have kids, buy Land Rovers, and have leave this hobby behind. I have a nice Canon happy snap (A40?) and it takes a nice enough shot. But since DB has started up this Camera Corner thread I realise how fun a hobby it is. There are some very talented people who post here. Their inspiration has whetted my creative whistle.

Sooo, yes I could probably make do with my happy snappy and I really am not sure what I will use the DSLR for but it will certainly be another excuse to jump in the Land Rover and go for a drive and have fun!

[slt]

Dont listen to him GO THE DSLR!!

YOU WONT REGRET IT.........I didn't

+1

DSLRs allow for way more creativity. P&S cameras are limited by their sensor size, they are 'noisy' and you will have limited control over 'depth of field'. You're also stuck with the lens (a lens that's a jack of all trades but master of none). If you want to take snapshots get a P&S (where I'd recommend Canon and Panasonic models rather than Nikon). If you want to be creative, get a DSLR and a decent lens to start with.