~£1000 budget for DSLR + Lenses

Aod said:
thats exactly what i do. never served me ill.
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That what I do 99% of the time. Im confused by the need for 51 points on the D300/D3. I can see me getting a D300, going ooooh... woooooowww at the 51 points, then a few shots later going back to the centre point.
 
Messiah Khan said:
That what I do 99% of the time. Im confused by the need for 51 points on the D300/D3. I can see me getting a D300, going ooooh... woooooowww at the 51 points, then a few shots later going back to the centre point.
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next thing you know they'll be fitting G90 GPUs to DSLRs so that they can accurately judge the correct AF setting from the 40,000 AF sensor points.


:D
 
Messiah Khan said:
That what I do 99% of the time. Im confused by the need for 51 points on the D300/D3. I can see me getting a D300, going ooooh... woooooowww at the 51 points, then a few shots later going back to the centre point.
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I'm guessing it needs that many points for the movement and shape focus tracking features, which apparently work really well. I have to say the D300 sounds better and better the more I read about it.
 
Two options...

Nikon D80 with 18-70mm lens for about £600 (you can get the 55-200mm DX VR later if you want for under £150!!!!)
Or, just get the D80 with the Nikon 18-200 VR lens, for about £900.

I plan on looking at these two options myself..
 
Nikon D80 + 18-70 + 70-300 VR. It'll be roughly as much as the D80 + 18-200 combination, and you'll cover a wider focal range. Only downside is that it isn't all in one, but I'd rather have that combo since changing lenses isn't that time consuming.
 
have a rummage on egay for a bargain.

i picked my 20D up for peanuts (by the time i sold my old 300D it cost me about £100). then have a shufty at sigmas 70-200 f2.8 and 18-50 f2.8. not cheap but you may be able to find a good used example.
 
GTRacer said:
Nikon D80 + 18-70 + 70-300 VR. It'll be roughly as much as the D80 + 18-200 combination, and you'll cover a wider focal range. Only downside is that it isn't all in one, but I'd rather have that combo since changing lenses isn't that time consuming.
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Or to save money & weight the 18-70 & 55-200 VR :)

I'm sure some reviews have stated that 18-200 VR gives better images usually than the 18-70mm! :eek:

EDIT: A buyers comment on a tropical competitor site:-

This lens is a lot better than it should be given it's range. I have compared my 18-70(Which I was happy with) with this lens and cannot believe the results.
Mine is made is Thailand. Not only is the 18-200 sharper at all comparable lengths but the distortion at 18mm is less on the 18-200 lens than the 18-70. In fact when printed out at A4 size and measured with a ruler the 18-200mm lens has 25% less distortion at 18mm than the 18-70. I am using a Nikon D70 and the sharpness and contrast is better. Maybe I have just been lucky. I can see no reason to keep my 18-70.
 
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Ok, well I've more or less settled on two camera's now. I've been to try out the Nikon D80, D40X & Canon EOS 400D.

While I liked the build of the D80, if I want other bits then it's out of my price range.

So this leaves the D40X and the 400D.
Having tried both, I'm happy with the feel of them, I can't decide between them though!

help!
Price range they're roughly the same.

Is lense availability good for the D40X? I had one shop tell me it would only fit certain lenses (where the D80 would fit all Nikon/Sigma/Tamron)
 
Rob200sx said:
Ok, well I've more or less settled on two camera's now. I've been to try out the Nikon D80, D40X & Canon EOS 400D.

While I liked the build of the D80, if I want other bits then it's out of my price range.

So this leaves the D40X and the 400D.
Having tried both, I'm happy with the feel of them, I can't decide between them though!

help!
Price range they're roughly the same.

Is lense availability good for the D40X? I had one shop tell me it would only fit certain lenses (where the D80 would fit all Nikon/Sigma/Tamron)
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It's the choice that many of us face.... Nikon or Canon at a particular price point.

I think that the consenus is that Canon just have the edge on sensor image quality at this price point, but to be honest it's not really worth worrying too much about, and many people go for the Nikon as it has a slightly higher spec.

The D40x lacks the AF couple for lenses that lack an internal focus motor, whether that matters depends on whether you will want/get those lenses.

Personally at this pricepoint I'd go for the Canon as it has the Vibrating sensor to try and keep it a bit cleaner, and I like Canons and half a shelf full of kit. :)

stay away from the dark side (even though I really want a D300....)
 
I looked at that one, plus the Pentax K10D which are more or less the same camera but decided against them, mainly due to features and functionality compared to the Canon/Nikon.

Based on the above and having tried them, I'm 90% going with the Canon at this stage. :)
 
Rob200sx said:
I looked at that one, plus the Pentax K10D which are more or less the same camera but decided against them, mainly due to features and functionality compared to the Canon/Nikon.

Based on the above and having tried them, I'm 90% going with the Canon at this stage. :)
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So Canon is winning on features/quality for money... That would be the reason I'd get it. What lens(es) would you get for it?
 
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I won't take the easy way out and suggest loads of excellent L lenses.

We have the 400D and the 18-55 Kit lens, which is a bit dissapointing. I also have a 40D and 17-85 kit lens, and the results are mixed.

We have 2 24-85's which have good results, but are not wide enough to consider as an all day carry around lens.

We also have a 10-20 Sigma, and I'm not convinced mine is a good as other people's (though perhaps my standards are higher).

I would try the the new 18-55 IS, by all reports, it is a good lens. If you want to start to use real photographic skills, then a fast prime is essential, most recommend the 50 1.8, and I'd go with this (mine's an old mk1 version, it's excellent though makes a racket when focusing), though it's a bit long on a 1.6x format. A fast 35mm lens is an option, though it's not as an attrative option price wise.

Personally i'm saving for the 17-55 f2.8 IS, as it's a reasonable range and is reportedly excellent.

Honestly, without succumbing to the kit frenzy most of us get, I'd stick with one lens for a while (ideally, the 50mm 1.8) and learn your trade for a few months. After that, you'd know what the next lens will be. You'll know if you want a longer or wider lens.
 
Rob200sx said:
So, for ~1000 what could I get, to include the camera itself plus either/or telephoto + macro lenses?
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I don't like to spend good money on anything other than excellent kit.

If I were in your position, I would buy the lightly used EOS 5D that was mentioned in another thread this week and a nifty 50.

And then save up for the next lens.

Andrew
 
aztechnology said:
Again, to compare these two cameras would not be a fair comparison.
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:confused:

400D
10MP
3FPS
100-1600ISO
9AF Points
2.5" Screen
No weather sealing

D80
10MP
3FPS
100-1600ISO (3200 Boost)
11AF Points
2.5" Screen
No weather sealing

Pretty damn similar in specs imo, the only thing i would agree with is that the D80 has far superior handling than the 400D.
 
Bit of a dilema then! Seems like you've narrowed your choice to either a Nikon D40x or a Canon Eos 400D. Both have similar specs and both perform very well in many of the reviews on the Net and in mags. Furthermore, you seem to like the handling of both. Equally, you can buy a good range of lenses for either camera from Canon, Nikon, Sigma or Tamron to go with whichever model you choose. Personally don't think there is a right or wrong decision on this one however, having just jumped ship from Canon (film SLR) to a Nikon D80 I would recommend Nikon :D.

To influence your decision though, I would be more inclined to look for the best overall package I could find for the money i.e. body and lens(es) rather than deciding on Canon or Nikon first. I would then make a decision and stick with. It is difficult and I agonised over months before deciding on my D80 and 18-200. I also spent long enough trying to decide whether to get a 70mm Sigma macro or a 10-20mm Sigma wide angle last week so even once you have decided on your camera I'm sure you will have many more agonising thought processes to go through as you expand your kit in the future!! Best of luck.
 
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