'good' starter dslr

[back alley]

i'm thinking of going into the nikon line...

been reading about the d90/80/70s/50/40x...

something good to be said about each...

if i found a good deal i think the d90 makes the most sense for a starter and maybe one of the others as a backup...i prefer to always have 2 bodies...

what are d90s going for these days (good/used)? and would you recommend one model over another?

 

[Brian Legge]

How much low light photography do you do? Do you care about pre-AI, unconverted lenses or autofocus with the older AF lenses?

The D90 is definitely a sweet spot in their line and worth looking at. Better low light performance than the earlier lenses but still a few year older (and thus cheaper) at this point. The D300s would be the next step up but it looks like they go for about ~$100-200 more.

I'd be careful about D70 era cameras. The shutter on mine is finally starting to go (likely loose rivets in the shutter blades). I don't know how common the failures are but these are definitely older cameras at this point.

It sounds like the D800 may be coming out soon? That could push the prices of other Nikon bodies down a bit.

 

[kxl]

Hi Joe -

I've been a Nikonista for as long as I can remember, and for me, one of the features that I look for in a Nikon DSLR is the ability to meter with manual focus lenses. That just opens up the possibilities to a whole bunch of very, very good AI/AIS lenses. If that criteria is high on your list, then I would recommend a low mileage D200 as a starter DSLR.

If you bascially want an auto-everything starter DSLR, then I would recommend starting with one of the newer consumer models like the D5100. With this, you'd still be able to mount an AI/AIS lens, but not meter, so you'd have to check the histogram.

Another option is to go with the NEX line, which, when used with adapters, can take many, many diffeerent lenses in different mounts. I have a NEX5 and have adapters for the M mount, F mount and FD mount.

Good luck!!!

 

[dave lackey]

They are all good and cheap, too. Whichever one you pick, get two. Seriously.

 

[back alley]

How much low light photography do you do? Do you care about pre-AI, unconverted lenses or autofocus with the older AF lenses?

The D90 is definitely a sweet spot in their line and worth looking at. Better low light performance than the earlier lenses but still a few year older (and thus cheaper) at this point. The D300s would be the next step up but it looks like they go for about ~$100-200 more.

I'd be careful about D70 era cameras. The shutter on mine is finally starting to go (likely loose rivets in the shutter blades). I don't know how common the failures are but these are definitely older cameras at this point.

It sounds like the D800 may be coming out soon? That could push the prices of other Nikon bodies down a bit.

not much low light...
just want af lenses...auto everything is why i would want a non rf camera
the d90 is very popular around here...
have not looked at the d300...yet!

 

[Brian Legge]

Basically, Nikon has had a few lines of lenses. The earlier AF line of lenses required a motor in the body of the camera. The later autofocus lenses had motors in the lens itself. As a result not all lenses with autofocus will autofocus on all bodies.

Compatibility info here:

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/compatibility-lens.htm#dslr

If you want to buy slightly older, cheaper AF lenses you may want to stick with bodies where they are compatible. If you want to meter with pre AI/AI/AIS lenses, you're looking at the D200 or D300 as the cheapest entry point for that line. The D300/s is still higher than it ought to be as Nikon should have has a successor out already but the flooding shut down factories, etc.

Frankly, at the moment, Canon may be a little stronger as they've done better keeping new cameras coming. I say this as a Nikon shooter who knows very little about Canons lineup. 🙂

Do you have any friends with SLRs? If so, I'd go with whatever system/line they use so sharing lenses or trying gear together is an option. Or pick based on ergonomics. Both Canon and Nikon have excellent SLR offerings.

 

[back alley]

the local flickr group must be about 90% d90 shooters.

 

[back alley]

i'm looking for a good/cheap way to go...prefer a dslr as opposed to a nex etc.
would likely end up with 2 or 3 primes or one cover it all zoom.

 

[akptc]

I bought the D90 when I needed a fast AF kit to cover my daughter's soccer and softball games. The kit comprises 18-105, 55-200, 35/1.8 and the older 50/1.8 lenses and I feel it covers most any situation I'd want to use it for. The D90 is a pleasure to handle, especially with the 35/1.8 - I used to carry this one-lens combo with me all the time (until Pentax K-5 came out 🙂). I tried my friends' D3100 and D5100 and still much prefer the D90.

 

[damien.murphy]

I would suggest a body that autofocuses with all lenses, not just lenses with built in motors, this means the D90 up. I would suggest a D90 over a D80, if only for the better high iso performance and dynamic range. I am a D80 owner, but would be very conscious of shooting it over iso 400, something I do not feel about my D300 which I believe has the same sensor/ performance as the D90.

I still find the D80/ D90 a bit big to bring with me a lot of places, and have a soft spot for an entry level body like the D3100 and a 35mm f1.8/ 50mm f1.4/ 50mm f1.8, if only for the size.

 

[fbf]

d90 all the way.

 

[Gerry M]

Joe,
I don't shoot much in low light, so my D80 and D200 have served me very well. I use the 18-70 AFS Nikkor, 17-50/2.8 Tamron (excellent lens) and a few others. All of this kit far exceeds my abilities as a photographer. I would stay with a body that uses AFS or screw drive lenses. So, D80-90, D200-300 are a lot of bang for the buck. For me, trying to stay with current technology is too expensive.
Gerry

 

[shadowfox]

I'd look for a used D200.
And don't forget to get the Nikon 35/1.8 DX to pair it with.

 

[Jamie Pillers]

One other interesting aspect to consider (and thus confuse things further), Joe: lens mount flange focal distance (FFD).

The Canon cameras have a significantly shorter FFD than Nikon, thus allowing Canon users to use MANY more non-native lenses via adapters. If you're someone that likes to try multiple brand lenses, Canon may be the way to go.

 

[back alley]

not really thinking about adapters and such...thinking more about af and maybe a longer lens.

 

[Chris101]

The 5100 is also a very popular starter DSLR in the Nikon line, and it has the latest sensor technology, and in-camera processing in it.

 

[kxl]

Going back to my earlier post, if you don't need AI/AIS lens compatibility and would prefer a DSLR (v. NEX), then I'd go with the D5100. Stay with the current technology (body and lenses).

 

[bigeye]

The D90 is old tech now. The D7000 or the D5100 are the choices.

It's about the lenses. If you want a simple uncommitted relationship with Nikon, the 5100 has the same sensor as the more expensive 7000, but doesn't include the screw-drive for older AF "D" lenses - you can only use late-model "G" lenses.

The 7000 also allows you to configure the camera to recognize old manual focus AI and AIS lenses. These are cheap and extraordinary lenses, so the 7000 is the only crop camera choice for me.

The problem with DSLRs is that the makers are splitting the market with 2 paths of lenses, DX (crop frame) and FX (full frame). Can you say, "market segmentation?". You buy into one or the other. But, the best stuff is on the FX side.

If you have a commitment to nikon, you'll want to go with the better FX lenses and endure this period of crop sensor nonsense as best you can, or just bite the bullet and get a full frame body and get it over with.

I got the D90 for my wife and it is an extraordinary camera (D7000/5100 is said to be even better), but choosing lenses is a pain if you want the good stuff. It came with a wholly adequate tele zoom, which is fast in action. But, some of my old AI-s lenses strikingly better. We use it as the family cam - fast and furious, and it does its job very well.

Someday, this digital stuff will get worked out and I'd like to have the glass set up for that time. The plan is to get good FX lenses from now on, shoot them on the D90 cropper and someday follow them with a full frame body. Life is too short for crumby glass.

(I just want a little Nikon FE with a full-frame sensor... Which is the equivalent in RF to a M7 with a ff sensor, which is the M9. Who says Leica is behind?)

- Charlie

 

[Tzelet]

D90 or D7000 would be my choice. I found the D5100 really painful to use, having to scroll through menus to change settings. The D7000 is a wonderful camera, a real joy to use.

 

[Paulbe]

joe--if you would consider Canon--my niece got a Rebel T3 for Christmas--with the 18-55 kit lens. The thing was a blast to use and about 1/2 the weight of my D300s--the Rebel took great photos, even with the built-in wink light--
But if you are really considering Nikon--the 5100 is great, too.
Good luck with your choice.