1000D vs. D3000 for newbie

[BigAl-sa]

Right. Thanks for the advice.
But lenses like Tamron etc. Won't they work on both, the Canon and Nikon?

No. They have different lens mounts.

Something you should also consider is that the lower end Nikons have a different focus mechanism to their bigger brothers, so not all Nikon lenses are compatible with the cheaper Nikon cameras.

 

[binkybozo]

that orms deal on the nikon does not include the vr lens. if you say your left hand causes the shakes and it is really bad then you might want to consider a vr lens. if it not bad then then you will be just fine without the vr. my hands tend to shake a bit and my non vr photos turned out just fine with my 18-55. the lens is pretty small so if you can go without the vr do it, it will save you money which you can spend on memory, a better bag, etc.

most nikon lenses including some old film lenses will fit onto the d3000 but you will lose the auto focus function and metering with some of those. you need to look for a nikon lens that says AF-S before it will auto focus and meter with a d3000 or even a d5000. the tamron and sigma lenses for nikon cameras will work with the d3000 but you need to look for a lens that has a built in focus motor before you get auto focus.

if you are on a limited budget have you thought about going second hand? outdoor photo has a nice selection, as does the nikon shop (www.nikonshop.co.za, check out the kata bags as well), i even think orms has a second hand section in shop but not online, not 100% sure about orms but you could call and ask.

 

[iDenTiTy]

Wow, thanks guys. Alot.

Some seriously handy advice.
I am always a bit sceptical on second hand goods - just don't know what could go wrong, making the guy sell....

So now I have a little problem...
It seems that the 'for noobs' D3000 isn't as lens friendly as the higher models?
The Canon 1000D doesn't have as big a problem with lenses, does it?

How important is the VR in the lenses/cameras? Surely the shorter the lens-thing, the less an issue vibration is? (I'm not THAT bad).

 

[bwana]

The Canon 1000D doesn't have as big a problem with lenses, does it?

It has it's own problems - you get EF lenses which fit on all the dslr bodies and you get EF-s which only fit on those with a APS-c sensor (crop bodies).

How important is the VR in the lenses/cameras? Surely the shorter the lens-thing, the less an issue vibration is? (I'm not THAT bad).

I wouldnt worry too much about IS/VR on a kit lens.

 

[iDenTiTy]

bwana,

How long do you own a camera for?
For example, I've heard that it's the lenses, where the investment lies, not necessarily the body. With that in mind, how long do you own a specific body for, before upgrading it?

 

[bwana]

bwana,

How long do you own a camera for?
For example, I've heard that it's the lenses, where the investment lies, not necessarily the body. With that in mind, how long do you own a specific body for, before upgrading it?

I've got four bodies ATM but even so I still regularly use my first dslr that I got about four years ago. I agree though, you invest more in the glass than the body.

 

[undesign]

I know you said you can't up the budget, but I saw the Canon 450D at Game last week for approx. R6,500 including 18-55mm kit lens + another zoom lens (I can't remember the focal range). That's a pretty sweet deal imo.

 

[bwana]

I know you said you can't up the budget, but I saw the Canon 450D at Game last week for approx. R6,500 including 18-55mm kit lens + another zoom lens (I can't remember the focal range). That's a pretty sweet deal imo.

Should be less imo since the 450D has been put out to pasture.

 

[undesign]

Should be less imo since the 450D has been put out to pasture.

I suppose, and you'll soon see specials everywhere - I'm guessing from end-Mar when the 550D is released and pricelists updated. On the other hand, if you deduct R1,500 for the second lens you get with the 450D, it works out to R5,000 for camera and kit lens. That's not bad, especially versus the 1000D's price.

 

[iDenTiTy]

The Nikon shop has a D60 + 15-55mm (?) lens kit for under R5k.
Though, they also have the D3000 + VR kit for R4600.

Hmm. Choices..

 

[noxibox]

It seems that the 'for noobs' D3000 isn't as lens friendly as the higher models?

I wouldn't worry about it. There are plenty of lenses fully compatible with the camera. The issue is blown out of proportion.

VR is nice to have, but you don't have to have it.

 

[bwana]

I wouldn't worry about it. There are plenty of lenses fully compatible with the camera. The issue is blown out of proportion.

VR is nice to have, but you don't have to have it.

Does the D3000 have AEB?

 

[PostmanPot]

Does the D3000 have AEB?

No.

 

[Brawler]

VR helps with long exposures but you should be using a tripod for that anyway.

Don't go for D60 - It is old and EOL and lesser specced than D3000.

 

[bwana]

No.

I find that a curious omission.

 

[iDenTiTy]

Well, I went to Sandton to have a look and here are my findings...

B&H Photo
Spoke to a guy called Martin. He was very helpful and informative. He suggested the Nikon. The simple reason was that, if I had a problem, there are Nikon agents in SA that can help me out. He also stated that the purchase came with a training course.
He said that lenses were not a problem, as SA has a whole range of Nikkor lenses available. He quoted a price of R 5499.99.
When I asked about the live view on the Canon, he said it was more of a gimmick, as the viewfinder is where the action is, and is more accurate.

Etkinds
Guy called Leon. Useless. He said immediately that the Canon was undoubtedly better. He said it works with all lenses, and has a CMOS chip. When I asked the technical difference between CMOS and CCD - based cameras, he couldn't. He d
said he just knows CMOS is better. He quoted R 5200 for the Canon, and R 5600 for the Nikon.

Cameraland
Spoke to Mark. He was helpful and said both cameras are pretty much scratch. He suggested the Nikon because of the training, and ease of use. Though, he said the Canon has live view, which he likes.

All salesmen, except for Leon at Etkinds, said that both are equally good. One being better in one area, the better in another area.

I felt both cameras. I must admit, the Nikon does feel more comfortable. Feels a bit sturdier..
Though, Martin at B&H recons the Nikon is made of a polymer that the glock is made of. Takes 'shooting' to a new level.... lol.

The more I research, the more things I learn about each camera.
Just wish there were more specials around end of March...


Web links: B&H - www.bhphoto.co.za
Etkinds - www.etkinds.co.za (account suspended..)
Camera Land - www.cameralandsandton.co.za

 

[binkybozo]

i agree, the training is just a gimmick really. i took the training course from nikon and really did not learn anything new...for me the training is for folks that do not want to read the manual. i have learned a lot from forums and blogs etc on the net so don't let the training be a big selling point for you.

as for upgrades on the body, it really all depends on what kind of photography you do and how much in depth you get into photography. it may be an entry level is all you will really want but then again if you really start to get into photography you will find yourself out growing the entry level quickly.

 

[Pooky]

Well, I went to Sandton to have a look and here are my findings...

I would also say that the Nikon and Canon are both on a par. I also agree with you that the Nikon feels sturdier, it is nice to hold.

In terms of the lenses that come with the cameras, they are basic, but also I reckon on a par.

I would say the only entry level type DSLR brand that come with fairly remarkable kit lenses would be Olympus.

 

[Brawler]

As a noob I found the Nikon course helpful.

Of course info is available on the internet but it really is a bonus to have a pro explain things to you properly.

 

[iDenTiTy]

This is going to sound super ghey...

Coming from an ancient Sony DSC snap cam thing, how does one hold a SLR?
It feels weird using one hand to hold and push the button, where does the other one go?