Need some advice - thinking of buying a Nikon SLR

[Combat Fighter]

Hi there,

Finally I am in a position to be able to buy my first SLR camera. I really like the look of the Nikon D5100 when it first come out but a year on I am getting mixed thoughts and also considering getting the D7000 as it seems a little more professional than the D5100, plus I kind of like the fact the D7000 is better built and will be a bit more comfortable for my large hands. I do like the articulated screen on the D5100 though.

Which one would you get?

Being a newbie to photography I have been reading up and finding out about all the various lenses you can get but could really do with some advice on what seems to be good to get.

Obviously there are different lenses to suit different needs. I would like to be able to take some nice shots of nature/sports/fast moving stuff with some nice macro work. Plus also just general snapping where I go.

If I go down the D7000 route the kit lens is the 18-105mm which from what I can tell is not a bad lens considering its a kit one, would this suit my needs to get me going?

If I went down the D5100 route I would get the 18-55mm lens, not too sure about this one. I will say the D5100 does seem like better value for money in some ways.

I would really appreciate any advise you can give folks.

 

[Combat Fighter]

Well just got back from my local camera store and I really don't like the feel and size of the D5100 so that's definitely off the menu.

D7000 it is!

 

[Combat Fighter]

What are your thoughts on the 18-105mm kit lens. In the camera shop I visited earlier they said it's not bad for a kit lens and as I'm starting out it would be a good starting point.

What do you reckon?

 

[Combat Fighter]

i have a D7000 KIT, i had a D40 before

i went D40 for my first SLR to get used to it, and like you i have big hands, and i found it ok to use, nice cheap and cheerful first SLR, then i moved to the D7000 as i started to get to grips with the D7000, and now thinking of selling the D7000

Personally for a beginner the D7000 will be too advanced, its still too advanced for me really

Im not a total newbie to photography as I have used other peoples slr's and I would rather have a camera that had some features that were not familiar to me as that's the fun part learning about them. What I don't know I will pick up fast as its in my nature.

Would be boring for me if it's not challenging!

What are your thoughts on the d7000 kit lens?

 

[Combat Fighter]

fair enough

you could get a 5100, but personally id get the D7000

The D7000 is simply astonishing, its pack with features, and i love the dual memory card slot, thats a bonus

theres currently one for sale in MM,
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18424222

the lens is an upgrade from my old 18-55, does the same F/stop at 105 which is good

Well I would be very interested if the price is right

I wont have access to funds for a couple of weeks though.

 

[Combat Fighter]

Ken Rockwell -

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d7000.htm#compared

Interesting that he recommends buying the body on it's own and getting a 18-200mm + 35mm f/1.8 instead of getting the kit lens 18-105mm.

I probably will get this combo, albeit more expensive, especially brand new.

But I reckon I could get a bargain or two now as there are quite a few D7000 in A1 condition (I don't mind buying second hand) on the bay as quite a few are upgrading to the D800. So it's a good time for me to snatch a good deal on a D7000 and some lenses.

 

[Combat Fighter]

I bought a D5100 last week with the kit lens and an additional 35mm 1.8 lens. It is my first SLR but my father has a D80 which is much better built but bigger. So far I love it and the fold out screen is really useful. As a beginner, the D5100 seems like a good choice. I do however feel that I now need another lens with a bit more zoom - possibly the 55-200mm VR lens which I've seen for around £150.00. I also need a tripod and a nice case/bag.

It's not cheap this photography lark is it!

How are you finding the 35mm 1.8 lens?

Why Nikon? Have you considered the excellent Canon 60D? Similar spec to the D7000 and a flippy out screen.

For the record...I have the D7000 (18-105) before I get accused of being a Nikon fanboy

I have always had a soft spot for Nikon and after having a play in the shop with the D7000 I think it's a really nice camera and fits my large hands really well, I found it really comfortable to hold (unlike the D5100). After all it did not win camera of the year (2011) for nothing did it? lol

I do think I will try and find a really good deal on the bay for second hand D7000 as there are quite a few mint ones going at the moment due to people upgrading.

To go with it I will try and get a mint second hand if possible 35mm 1.8 lens and a 18-200mm lens. That should keep me busy for a while.

 

[Combat Fighter]

Does video matter to you?

If not then I definitely think Nikon is the way to go if you can afford their lenses which do tend to be more expensive than cannon, they are better optical quality and the bodies have better sensors, way better ISO performance.

Not so bothered about video really, pictures is where its at.

 

[Combat Fighter]

Why did you discount the D3200? I have heard that's an awesome camera.

If it's anything like the D5100 to hold then it will simply not be comfortable for my large hands. Plus it did look and feel a lot more cheap compared to the D7000.

The D7000 for me seems the best choice and I will be very happy to own one. Plus not to mention there seems to be some good deals floating around now (second hand) which is a plus.

Just need to make my mind up for sure which lenses to get. . .

 

[Combat Fighter]

It is their lowest end range model yea, but it's pretty much on par with the D5100/D7000 in terms of image quality.

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Image quality might be on par but D7000 wins hands down.

 

[Combat Fighter]

http://snapsort.com/

Yep thats the one.

Still the biggest thing for me apart from the extra semi-pro features is still the actual size of the D7000. After all it's got to be comfortable when you hold it!

 

[Combat Fighter]

i was looking for tht comparison earlier, i didnt get it from that website though!

now do the same again but the D7000 against the D5100

 

[Combat Fighter]

I'd get the D7000, it's always worth having the extra capabilities so you have a camera you can grow into and with. Don't underestimate stuff like the top LCD, magnesium alloy body, 100% viewfinder, twin SD card slots, 39 point AF, the list goes on. My trusty D50 is due to be replaced by a D7000 or maybe it's successor.

Yeah I still have my heart set on getting a D7000, just need to get all the pennies together (wont be too long though).

 

[Combat Fighter]

I would be tempted to wait for the full frame D7000!
http://www.cnet.com.au/is-this-the-nikon-d600-339340984.htm

How much is the D600 gonna be though? Probably quite a bit more than a D7000.

 

[Combat Fighter]

Interesting that the D600 was brought up in this thread, I'm still tempted to still get a D7000 though, but I will look around and see if I can get a good second hand one rather than buying a new one. There is quite a few on the bay (in mint condition) which I have kept an eye on now for over a week to see what they go for money wise and there are certainly some bargains to had. The same can be said for various lenses as well. One thing I know is there are quite a few going on there now (so getting one is not a problem) so I am wondering if people are selling them to gear up to the D600 when it's released?

Another question I have got is it best to avoid buying cameras/lenses from places like DigitalRev and ******* as from what I can tell these are grey imports so you wont get a Nikon warranty over here (correct me if I'm wrong)?