Camera Advice Needed

Alan said:
D5000 for 500 pounds(R6000) from the U.K as opposed to R8000 here. I'm thinking of getting it now with the Christmas sales on. However I'll only get it here in April( maybe earlier). My friend in the U.K who will buy it for me can give the camera a run through it's paces there to check for faults.

The more I think about it the less I'm inclined to go through with it :(
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Another option might be to use someone like Coza1Digital. Although I have never bought from him he seems to have been given great ratings and also provides new products with a USA warranty which he assists with should any issues be encountered. His prices seem less on average than buying local products and seem to be legally imported. His current price on the Nikon D5000 kit is for instance R6995 (not sure if it was the same kit as you referred to above).
http://www.bidorbuy.co.za/item/18016761/Nikon_D5000_12_3_MP_DX_with_18_55mm_f_3_5_5_6G_VR_Lens.html
 
I'd spend more just to avoid ever doing business with the scam haven that is BoB. Maybe if the management was more proactive dealing with scammers (there have been plenty enough threads here to indicate they haven't been) I'd feel otherwise.
 
bwana said:
I'd spend more just to avoid ever doing business with the scam haven that is BoB. Maybe if the management was more proactive dealing with scammers (there have been plenty enough threads here to indicate they haven't been) I'd feel otherwise.
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Agreed that BoB has a lot of scammers - there are however some very reputable sellers as well. If you are careful it is not that difficult to avoid being scammed.

AFAIK this link is the same person : (not via BoB)
http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showpost.php?p=2568466&postcount=39
 
I am selling a used D200 with a Nikon 35-70mm f/2.8 AF-D lens for R8,000. I don't think you can do much better than that for the money.

PM me if you are interested.

BTW, Nikon is a much bigger, more backwards compatible system than Canon. The newer low end bodies are ironically more backwards compatible than the higher spec D90/80/70/50 series, meaning that you can mount more lenses on them. You do lose metering and auto focus with them when using older lenses, but as you progress your photographic learning you will find this less of an issue.

There are some really good Nikon communities out there, including this one: www.nikongear.com. :)
 
mikef said:
Another option might be to use someone like Coza1Digital. Although I have never bought from him he seems to have been given great ratings and also provides new products with a USA warranty which he assists with should any issues be encountered. His prices seem less on average than buying local products and seem to be legally imported. His current price on the Nikon D5000 kit is for instance R6995 (not sure if it was the same kit as you referred to above).
http://www.bidorbuy.co.za/item/18016761/Nikon_D5000_12_3_MP_DX_with_18_55mm_f_3_5_5_6G_VR_Lens.html
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Thanks
 
Cool, so I went for the 500D after all. So far very happy. Bought the wrong memory card for the full HD video recording - too slow apparently.
Would like to get some lenses sometime - FishEye, Macro, 700mZoom.
What are the sigma lenses like? I see they quite a bit cheaper than the canon lenses. Also, anyone selling second hand flashes? Cant get my head around spending 2k + on a flash...
 
DylanHaskin said:
Cool, so I went for the 500D after all. So far very happy. Bought the wrong memory card for the full HD video recording - too slow apparently.
Would like to get some lenses sometime - FishEye, Macro, 700mZoom.
What are the sigma lenses like? I see they quite a bit cheaper than the canon lenses. Also, anyone selling second hand flashes? Cant get my head around spending 2k + on a flash...
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I've got three sigma lenses, and a sigma flash, and I've more than happy with them them all. I recently bought a Sigma 24-70 that I think is sharper than the canon version.

Why not get yourself the canon 50mm f/1.8.
 
R2k is cheap for a flash. A good flash will run you upwards of R5k. :)

Sigma make some good glass, but they also make some really bad stuff too. Sample variation is always an issue with this brand. What you want to do is try before you buy (if possible).

A couple of very good lenses from Sigma include the 15-30mm EX and the 30mm 1.4 (the latter has an almost cult following). I also use the 24-60mm 2.8 EX which is very sharp, but like some other Sigma wide angles it suffers from flare and chromatic aberrations if pointed towards a strong light source.
 
Sigma makes a 105mm 2.8 macro lens for close ups, but the better option is the Tamron 90mm 2.8 Macro, which is not only excellent for macro work, but is also a superb portrait lens with the creamiest bokeh you ever saw. :)
 
Pixual said:
R2k is cheap for a flash. A good flash will run you upwards of R5k. :)

Sigma make some good glass, but they also make some really bad stuff too. Sample variation is always an issue with this brand. What you want to do is try before you buy (if possible).

A couple of very good lenses from Sigma include the 15-30mm EX and the 30mm 1.4 (the latter has an almost cult following). I also use the 24-60mm 2.8 EX which is very sharp, but like some other Sigma wide angles it suffers from flare and chromatic aberrations if pointed towards a strong light source.
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Ya I do realize I've stepped into an expensive hobby, filled with lot's of "I want that"... Thanks for advise on lens - I'll def shop around a lot before I buy. Do you know of a good 2nd hand camera shop?
 
DylanHaskin said:
Is that a macro lens?

I'm looking for lens for extreme close-ups, and then also a zoom lens

The lens that came with is 18-55mm
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lol - no - it can be but it's not designed for macro work. I've been putting off getting a macro lens for years now - maybe one day. What it is, is an incredibly sharp, very fast, and relatively inexpensive 50mm lens.
 
DylanHaskin said:
Ya I do realize I've stepped into an expensive hobby, filled with lot's of "I want that"... Thanks for advise on lens - I'll def shop around a lot before I buy. Do you know of a good 2nd hand camera shop?
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I usually troll the classifieds on outdoorphoto.co.za, Gumtree and bidorbuy. Always bargains to be had on those sites.
 
Pixual said:
R2k is cheap for a flash. A good flash will run you upwards of R5k. :)
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Only because they seem to be way overpriced in SA. If anything I find photographic accessories are even more of a rip off than cameras and lenses in this country.
 
mikef said:
Only because they seem to be way overpriced in SA. If anything I find photographic accessories are even more of a rip off than cameras and lenses in this country.
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No argument from me on that count... I'm looking seriously at starting my own importing business specialising in pro Nikon equipment, new and used.
 
Flickr page is up. I'm new to this - constructive criticism welcome!
Just uploaded 4 photo's for now.
 
I'm really curious about the story behind the picture of the bathroom... :D

I like the flower and the tortoise. Really nice shots!
 
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