Nikon D5100 First Purchase

hopeful_builder · 3 Jul 2012 at 14:27

found a Nikon D5100 Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm VR and 55-200mm VR Twin Lens Kit for £593 is this a good deal?

Its from a very well known a reputable seller here in the UK (not sure if I'm allowed to mention them?)

anyway, I've been looking at purchasing my first DSLR For quite some time and this seems to fit the bill. Are the lenses included with this good all rounders?

hopeful_builder · 3 Jul 2012 at 14:36

oh sorry, missed out what I would like to use it for.

I do a lot of work for bands, so would like to take HD video and take the odd photo too.

fenderbass86 · 3 Jul 2012 at 21:07

I have this camera, had it for about 9 months. It's fantastic for beginners, the kit lens is decent and the 55-200mm isn't too shabby either. For band work, if you're going to be shooting in dark conditions, you should look at a fast prime lens, a 35mm or 50mm f1.8 or better.

Here's a couple of examples my sister took of me in my band during the day (they're slightly overexposed when I converted them to JPEG's). Both are used with the 55-200mm, the first at 55mm, the second at 200mm.

http://postimage.org/image/qaxcuvu9z/

http://postimage.org/image/z25syuf9x/

The only thing I consider to be a downside is that it has no built in focus motor. This isn't a problem if you prefer manual focus. Mine didn't come with the 55-200mm, that was bought seperately.

hopeful_builder · 3 Jul 2012 at 22:50

Thanks for your reply mate, great pics and nice Warwick too

So is it a good deal with them lenses I said? There seems to be a massive price difference when I search for them on google

fenderbass86 · 4 Jul 2012 at 07:32

I think it's a great deal! I bought mine second hand (3 months old) with the kit lens for £540. The 55-200mm lens is a further £150, there aor there abouts. So yes, i'd say it's a good deal!

alexthecheese · 4 Jul 2012 at 10:54

I got one about 6 weeks ago, and I love it. Really dinky little thing, but gives excellent quality photos.

I've got a 35mm f/1.8, which is brilliant, the 18-105mm which is really sharp, and a 70-200mm 2.8 which is also excellent. Still getting used to that lens though, the others I don't really need to think about and get great photos.

The video quality is pretty damn good, really, even if it's not rated quite as highly as the Canon 550D.

Also bear in mind that grips are crappy, you need a naff cable to link them to the camera, so it looks rubbish, and the only batteries that seem to be available are the official ones are £40+, rather than 2 for £20 or less, which you seem to get on the Canon. Might not be that great, but as spares I'm sure they're worth having. Guess it shows how many more 550D's they sell than the Nikon's.

I got the D5100 for £450 and then got £50 cashback. Got the 35mm for £110 2nd hand & Jessops price matched a local camera store to get me the 18-105mm for £180.

alexthecheese · 4 Jul 2012 at 11:18

Couple of photos that I'm reasonably proud of:

Blurrrr by Alex Bayes, on Flickr

@ Hylands Park by Alex Bayes, on Flickr

An Exception · 4 Jul 2012 at 11:21

alexthecheese said:
I got one about 6 weeks ago, and I love it. Really dinky little thing, but gives excellent quality photos.

I've got a 35mm f/1.8, which is brilliant, the 18-105mm which is really sharp, and a 70-200mm 2.8 which is also excellent. Still getting used to that lens though, the others I don't really need to think about and get great photos.

The video quality is pretty damn good, really, even if it's not rated quite as highly as the Canon 550D.

Also bear in mind that grips are crappy, you need a naff cable to link them to the camera, so it looks rubbish, and the only batteries that seem to be available are the official ones are £40+, rather than 2 for £20 or less, which you seem to get on the Canon. Might not be that great, but as spares I'm sure they're worth having. Guess it shows how many more 550D's they sell than the Nikon's.

I got the D5100 for £450 and then got £50 cashback. Got the 35mm for £110 2nd hand & Jessops price matched a local camera store to get me the 18-105mm for £180.

The batteries are simply not as good as genuine ones. They don't communicate to the camera the level of charge, so you will be shooting when your camera suddenly stops without warning. If I remember correctly, this issue has actually locked up a few shutters...

hopeful_builder · 5 Jul 2012 at 12:43

Thanks for all your replies

Fantastic photos too!

with regards batteries, I always buy genuine anyway. In my experience cheaper batteries for anything always turn out ****, low capacity and just generally die after a year or 2. I don't mind paying £40 for something if I know its gonna work.

I read a review regarding the new 3200 and it appears similar specs as this model now!? seen it for £520 brand new, plus it appears to be 24mp ! what would you do???

An Exception · 5 Jul 2012 at 12:50

I would find the extra money and buy this. AMAZING camera.

hopeful_builder · 5 Jul 2012 at 15:09

An Exception said:
I would find the extra money and buy this. AMAZING camera.

may I ask why please?

An Exception · 5 Jul 2012 at 15:26

Too much to list, but it has countless more features, easier and more pleasurable to use.
It has the same sensor as in the D5100, no other Nikon crop sensor can match it's dynamic range, only the D800 has now surpassed it. ISO performance is also good.

Personally I wouldn't be blinded by 24mp, it's usually noobs who make this mistake. Put simply, it 'can' reduce ISO performance. It has a much higher pixel density than a D800, so the lenses you put on the camera will be unlikely to take advantage of the extra resolution, even expensive lenses. It will take at least until you stop your aperture down to F5.6 or F8 until the lens stands a chance of actually resolving all that detail.

hopeful_builder · 5 Jul 2012 at 15:30

thanks

now ive searched for that d7000 out and about it seems very highly rated.

Think I'm gonna save for another week or so in that case! I want to this once, and do it well.

Hxc · 5 Jul 2012 at 15:31

The D5100 is a perfectly good camera for a first user, will be better than most people start with.

Worth considering the 5100 with the 18-105 kit unless you want the zoom, you can get it for about £570 now.

An Exception · 5 Jul 2012 at 15:36

hopeful_builder said:
thanks

now ive searched for that d7000 out and about it seems very highly rated.

Think I'm gonna save for another week or so in that case! I want to this once, and do it well.

Tbh if you get bitten by the photography bug like most people tend to, I doubt it would take long before you wanted something more substantial if you got a D5100. It's a good cam and great value for money, but the D7000 is also good value for money considering how much better it is. So if you can afford the extra, I'd pay it instead of loosing money upgrading down the road.

Also before you buy any lenses it might be worth letting people know what you like to shoot so they can give you some recommendations...

hopeful_builder · 5 Jul 2012 at 16:25

An Exception said:
Also before you buy any lenses it might be worth letting people know what you like to shoot so they can give you some recommendations...

Initially I will be doing a lot of work for local bands. I already film them, and create dvds and audio Cd's for promotional use.

I like to take photos for them, and possibly even take videos using this camera.
Oh on that subject, is it possible to connect an external mic to the D7000? I seen a cannon that had this feature, and also a level meter/monitor (perfect for filming bands!)