Worth upgrading from D3000?

[Brawler]

Yes. But like I say, if the act of turning the dial moves the camera enough that you can do an HDR from it, you really need a better tripod. One trick you can try is weighing down the tripod. Find something heavy you can attach to the bottom of the tripod. My newer one has a hook and I just hook my camera bag over it - sturdy enough to sustain a fairly strong breeze. On a cheapy you may have to DIY it a bit.

With regards to high ISO. You have a slow lens. Get a fast 50 - you'll be able to shoot with lower ISO.

good advice, thanks.

 

[koffiejunkie]

Unfortunately the Nikon fast 50 doesn't work on the entry-level bodies/bodies without internal focussing motors.

That's a bit vague (and wrong). The f/1.8 doesn't autofocus. But it does work - I've shot with one on a D40. the f/1.4 is also a fast 50 (faster even) and works on all the Nikons, with AF. That's why I recommended it.

Tripod(s), heads, flashes . . . and then there are primes . . . new bodies . . .

Like I said, at *some* point.

 

[noxibox]

That said, there are area's that I feel I need that the entry level D3000 doesn't do so well like high ISO noise

Are you sure you're going to get better results from another camera?

My understanding is that Nikon lean toward less noise reduction in favour of increased detail, but there is nothing stopping you from applying more noise reduction in post-processing.

 

[PostmanPot]

That's a bit vague (and wrong). The f/1.8 doesn't autofocus. But it does work - I've shot with one on a D40. the f/1.4 is also a fast 50 (faster even) and works on all the Nikons, with AF. That's why I recommended it.

Whoops, that's what I meant. No AF.

F50 1.4 is pricey - I would be inclined to spend the extra R2.5k on a better body with internal motors and the cheaper F50 1.8.

 

[koffiejunkie]

F50 1.4 is pricey - I would be inclined to spend the extra R2.5k on a better body with internal motors and the cheaper F50 1.8.

Both Nikon's 1.4 models are cheaper than the Canon 1.4, but yeah, good point

 

[bwana]

Both Nikon's 1.4 models are cheaper than the Canon 1.4, but yeah, good point

Not by much and canon's f/1.8 is cheaper than nikon's. Still - if I'd known then what I do now I would have gone straight for the 1.4.