greg_SA
Expert Member
I think the Nikon 18-55mm kit lens is great, and it is a bargain at R1200 
-
Join the MyBroadband community
South Africa’s biggest forum. Discuss, discover, and connect with thousands of members.
-
Question of the Day: If you were buying a TV today, which brand would you choose?
Do I really need an SLR camera?
- Thread starter MisterBigglesworth
- Start date
PostmanPot
Honorary Master
I think the Nikon 18-55mm kit lens is great, and it is a bargain at R1200
+1
ldmelsa
Executive Member
those have stellar optical performance
Nice gift.So I got the D3000 + twin VR lens bundle for the g/f from Makro. Hopefully she takes the time to learn to use the SLR properly
Are you a Nikon user too?
You nikon shooters are lucky then.
From what I've read the current Nikon kit lenses are better than you'd expect for what they cost; better in the optical department than what Canon offers. Otherwise the Nikon 18-55 rotates at the front and has to be switched to manual for manual focussing just like the Canon one. The 55-200 doesn't rotate at the front, but also doesn't have full-time manual focussing.
You can take good pictures on a simple camera, but where point and shoot cameras are typically a big failure is ease of access to manual controls. Manually focussing and zooming with knobs and buttons is just not the same.
Having a field of view equivalent to a 600mm lens on a 35mm camera is not really the same thing as having a real 600mm lens.
You can take good pictures on a simple camera, but where point and shoot cameras are typically a big failure is ease of access to manual controls. Manually focussing and zooming with knobs and buttons is just not the same.
No, we have an old Canon P&S, so this is a new experience for her
koffiejunkie
Executive Member
+1 - the G9 has all the manual controls that my DSLR has (lacks some of the automatic ones, frustratingly) but it's a lot more cumbersome to use them.
ldmelsa
Executive Member
my Canon 18-55II (non-IS) is just as good
greg_SA
Expert Member
So I got the D3000 + twin VR lens bundle for the g/f from Makro. Hopefully she takes the time to learn to use the SLR properly
You might have gotten a 1 day course for free from Nikon with that kit? Check inside... otherwise I would buy a basic book on photography (maybe someone here can recommend one).
I did a lot of reading online to get tips on photo composition and playing with depth of field, and lighting (i.e. where should the sun be for a certain effect) etc I didn't know about these things before I got my DSLR - I used to just point and shoot
As a regular somewhat reluctant user of that lens I would disagree. There's plenty wrong with that lens.
Whether the IS version is any better - well - I'm still undecided about that.
ldmelsa
Executive Member
donderhaas
Active Member
So there's been great feedback regarding what SLR camera is good to buy, so far a lot of canon supporters, I only see a few Nikon supporters coming out now.
So to the Nikon supporters - What SLR Nikon do you suggest (D5000? any good)
So to the Nikon supporters - What SLR Nikon do you suggest (D5000? any good)
Naks
Honorary Master
- Joined
- Jun 3, 2009
- Messages
- 10,058
- Reaction score
- 5,986
When I was buying 2 yrs ago, it was either the D80 or the D40. I took both for a test drive, with various lenses.
Eventually I settled for the D40 simply because I could hold it in one hand for extended periods of time, and change settings quickly on the fly with one hand (I take lots of pics while driving on gravel roads/4x4 tracks), and bang for buck, it was spot on for me.
So try out a couple of bodies & see how it feels to hold it and change settings on the fly.
donderhaas
Active Member
Hmmm, good advice thanks. I'm in the process of looking to buy one, still have a few months before I actually make the plunge so I'm doing a bit of extensive homework.
So far I am convinced on the Canon 450d, which seems to be solid. My other option is the Nikon D5000?
greg_SA
Expert Member
When I went shopping for a DSLR, I was convinced I would buy a Canon.
I went to a store and played with all the cameras for a long time, and left with the Nikon D40. It is nice and compact, and worked best for me. I suggest you do the same
I went to a store and played with all the cameras for a long time, and left with the Nikon D40. It is nice and compact, and worked best for me. I suggest you do the same
PostmanPot
Honorary Master
D40's size is a winner! And its menus are very helpful (information button) and easy to follow for beginners. Perhaps the D3000 also uses this intuitive menu system?
No offence but, like the Canon 350/400, the D40 is an antique. Why buy something that has been discontinued?
EDIT - unless the newer consumer level Nikons arent up to scratch?
Why, it would probably cost more to repair than to replace. Besides, thats assuming the barrel distortion, vignetting, and CA isnt the norm.
Last edited:
PostmanPot
Honorary Master
I don't think they're available new any more (perhaps locally only), so I couldn't recommend it, unless bought second-hand. I was echoing what greg_SA said about the D40's size. It may be old and discontinued, but it can still take similar pics to most Nikon DX cameras at a fraction of the cost, size and weight.
As a beginner, I would think the D3000 + VR kit lens is a good deal. I see it does have the intuitive menu for beginners which is nice. As well as a better sensor than the D40/D60, and a better AF system. D40 is limited to 3 points, one of it's biggest downfalls for me.
ldmelsa
Executive Member
And is better in many respects. The only thing that I've got against the D40 is that its exposure meter (same as 40x/60) is not has good as the D90's. How good is the exposure meter on the D3000? I don't know, but the screen has improved (not that the D40's screen is not accurate - just lower rez). You lose the 1/500th flash sync though. I wish my D90 had 1/500sec flash sync speed. One of the main reasons to get the D40 over the D60/D3000. If the D3000 has a better exposure meter, get that instead.