First DSLR camera and lens advice

Soldato
Joined
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Location
Stockport / Manchester
Looking at getting my first DSLR and was hoping to get a bit of advice.

I used to have SLR cameras back in the day when I did photography at college, so I know the basics but I've not used one for years and never a digital one (apart from messing in shops and with friends cameras). My housemate is interested too so I've agreed to go halfs with him to spread the cost a little. Basically with this in mind I've limited my search to the lower end models so that I'm not basically throwing money away.

The camera will be used for a range of things including indoor and night time shots as well as longer range scenery type stuff. Can't see either of us getting into macros or anything like that.

With this in mind I've decided on a Nikon as they are good in low light and we both like the physical feel of them (ie holding/using it etc) and a friend has one so there is a chance to borrow stuff.

But which one? Currently looking at the D5100 and D3200, both of which seem to produce similar results. The D5100 has slightly better image quality in certain situations as well as having a movable screen, it's also slightly cheaper. But I'm currently swinging towards the D3200 simply because it's newer and has a noobie mode which will help my housemate. Oh and I've got to admit the red version looks awesome! Which one would you go for any why?

I'd be getting either with their standard kit lens and I've also been looking for ones to get a bit closer to things too. The Nikon 55-200mm f/4.-5.6 AFS DX VR or Nikon AF-S 55-300mm f4.5-5.6 G ED VR seem reasonably price wise and have decent enough reviews. I especially like the 55-200mm as it's tiny! Which would be best? Any alternatives? Will be buying from Jessops so has to be something they sell!

Any advice would be appreciated!
 
I can't offer much advice on Nikon as I'm a Canon user, for my sins. Although a mate has just started out, and he was looking at the D5100 which is a VERY good camera. If you can stretch your budget, get the D7000, if not the D5100 is definitely the way to go from your options.

Someone with more Nikon knowledge will have to answer the rest though, sorry. I know nothing regarding the lenses, other than what I've been told in my thread on these forums "body ponderings".
 
Why are you only buying from Jessops?

Anyway, a D7000 would be my recommendation (don't know if Jessops stock it).
Also, don't like the idea of going halfs, I would never do that.

P.s. Red camera bodies look cheap and tacky to me. I would never buy one, so if there are many others like me, red may hurt it's resale value.
 
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Why are you only buying from Jessops?

Anyway, a D7000 would be my recommendation (don't know if Jessops stock it).
Also, don't like the idea of going halfs, I would never do that.

Because I've got a discount voucher and also they are offering 10 months interest free at the moment. Plus I can go in store and pick it up rather than waiting for it to arrive damaged in the mail :)

I don't have a problem going halfs with him at all.

Can't stretch to a D7000 money wise, I think it would be better to get a 2nd lens and some accessories. Besides it's overkill for what we need anyway.
 
Fair enough :) Just thought I'd mention it incase you hadn't looked. My mate was getting the 5100, but the spec of the 7000 for the cost increase is very appealing, so he went with the D7000. I'll be honest, I'm still pondering getting one with a 24-70 at some point as I can't afford Canons £2300 :D

Incidentally Amazon have the D7000 for £724 which is dead cheap! Cor, that and a 24-70 at less than the price of Canons 24-70. Damn, that's tempting.
 
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@Op
Actually it's better to get some decent lens, than a second lens. You want to shoot indoors with slow glass, that's not going to get you very pleasing images. Your going to be forced to use the crappy flash. If you use the crappy flash + slow lenses, you might as well get a decent point and shoot.

I'v never purchased any camera hardware from a store like Jessops. This has saved me £xxx's.

If I was you, I'd stretch to a D7000 and 35mm 1.8g to start off with.
Still don't like the idea of going halfs, it's not something I would ever do.
 
Jessops have the worst customer service in the world. Might be an exaggeration but when I ordered my Canon 60D it was hell. They couldn't tell me anything. Not when it was due in, not when they got stock of the other items I was waiting for, if the local high street shop was stocking the items, nothing.

Incidentally, the 100mm macro lens I just got was with Jessops, only due to them using a finance company, and having 0% finance, otherwise I would go with WEX, but they have silly finance offerings. I didn't get ANY emails regarding my order other than it was placed. The only reason I knew it was coming is because the delivery company contacted me!
 
As said, I cannot stretch to a D7000 and don't really want to either. It's just too much money for what I'm trying to achieve. When compared to the models I'm looking at (£400-£500 vs £750) that extra £250-350 is a 2nd lens and some accessories. I don't have an issue going halfs, forget I mentioned it :)

As for the lens, the two I've mentioned have good reviews and seem decent enough for the usage I'd be after. As said, I will be taking a mixture of different photos, so I'm going to have to find a lens that suits that and is very flexible, hence me looking at telephoto lens which gives me a large range of options when combined with the kit lens. Also I don't really want a prime as I want to experiment to find out my style etc. I can always get one later when I get more into it if I find that's what I need.

I'm only using them as I have a discount voucher, will probably want to make use of the 0% finance and want to pick it up in store as they are a 2 min drive away :)
 
Jessops have the worst customer service in the world. Might be an exaggeration but when I ordered my Canon 60D it was hell. They couldn't tell me anything. Not when it was due in, not when they got stock of the other items I was waiting for, if the local high street shop was stocking the items, nothing.

Incidentally, the 100mm macro lens I just got was with Jessops, only due to them using a finance company, and having 0% finance, otherwise I would go with WEX, but they have silly finance offerings. I didn't get ANY emails regarding my order other than it was placed. The only reason I knew it was coming is because the delivery company contacted me!

Depends entirely on the shop and the staff. I work in Jessops and I can tell you for sure that you can check when an item is due in if it's not in the warehouse, and the staff should know their weekly delivery dates. You can check if other stores have the item in but it does involve knowing their store code, which most staff won't know off hand; if you ask them to look it up, they should be able to go out the back and find it out.

Depends on the staff though, you get some tools no matter where you work.
 
Really struggling to decide between the D3200 and D5100! Even harder trying to decide which lens!

Why is everything I decide to buy so difficult :p lol
 
The 5100 with 18-105 kit is decently priced now too, fyi.

I was just looking at that actually, looks like a bargain to be honest. Might be a cheaper temporary solution to buying a 2nd lens for now until I decide the route I want to go.
 
Hovering over the buy button on a D5100 with 18-105mm VR lens, Manfrotto Carbon Fibre Tripod 732CY-A3RC1 and a random bag. Hmmm... what to do?! lol
 
Just wanted to thank everyone for the advice. Went for a D5100 with 18-105mm VR kit lens for now. Really enjoying it so far. Just posted these in post your pics thread!


Here's my first actually reasonable photo with my new D5100. Loving it so far, but a hell of a lot to learn! One thing I've learnt... it's REALLY hard to photo a black cat in a dark room!!!


Cat by Think85, on Flickr

Also learnt that taking a photo of a cat outside while it wants to run away and kill a bird is even harder...


Penis goes where?! by Think85, on Flickr

And that taking photos of fish less than an inch long through dirty glass is even harder still!!!


Fish! by Think85, on Flickr
 
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