Annual DWEB DSLR holiday thread

[Lucasd2002]

It's time for the annual DWEB - 'what kind of DSLR stuff do I buy?' thread.

Possibly doing a DSLR for Christmas - flipped a coin and chose Nikon D5100 (plus, I have good memories of my grandfather using Nikon).

I understand that I'm a shitty photographer and need to learn how to take pictures etc.

The real issue is glass, of course. I was thinking of starting out with 35mm f/1.8G AF-S and a 70-300mm f/4.5 - 5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR.

Maybe I've been reading Ken Rockwell's site too much. It seems like he knows his shit, but I'm not a photographer.

 

[KngTgr]

I got the 3100 last year, should have waited for the 5100, I'm going to get a 18-200 this year. Ken Rockwell rocks

 

[road1will]

I just picked up the D5100 and 70-300mm lens a few months ago. Great camera and lens. Havent used it much but am taking the kids to Disney this week and hope to spend more time using the camera.

FWIW, best buy had a great deal on this kit when i got it, and i paid right around $1,000 for the camera, lens, and a cheap bag.

 

[KngTgr]

FWIW, best buy had a great deal on this kit when i got it, and i paid right around $1,000 for the camera, lens, and a cheap bag.

That's close to what I paid for my 3100 a year ago, including the extended warranty, I also got the 35mm f1.8, and a SB-600 (some times I think I should have gotten the 400, some others I don't)

 

[AU_88]

Costco has the D5100 kit for $950 after $300 rebate if that's what you decide to go with. There may be better deals out there, but I've had great service from Costco including exchanging a Keurig almost a year after I got it.

 

[road1will]

Costco has the D5100 kit for $950 after $300 rebate if that's what you decide to go with. There may be better deals out there, but I've had great service from Costco including exchanging a Keurig almost a year after I got it.

Did your keurig start sporadically making a half a cup, sometimes a full cup, and sometimes nothing at all?

 

[AU_88]

Did your keurig start sporadically making a half a cup, sometimes a full cup, and sometimes nothing at all?

Yes. Took it back to Costco and swapped it right out.

 

[Lucasd2002]

So, are the 35 and the 70-300 that I mentioned in the original post a good combo?

 

[LR Max]

Get the 18-55mm lens with the kit then some sort of zoom. Like a 55-200 or the 70-300. So that or the 18-200mm. I've got a 1st gen 18-200 and pretty much use it for everything. It stays on my D300 almost exclusively. Also the 18-200 is an AWESOME off roading lens. ONLY GET NIKON LENSES!! Well, I take that back, I've only had good luck with genuine nikon lenses so that is what I recommend.

Yes, primes are pimptacular but for someone who is starting out, I feel like a "do all in one turn" kinda deal is better. Yes, it is more expensive. You get what you paid for. Or get onto KEH.com and buy a used lens. Whichever.

So either one of those lens setups. Now get an external flash. A used SB-600 (assuming the prices came down, last I checked everyone wanted +$10 over MSRP) will be fine. Learn how to bounce it off the ceiling. This is a good technique that will help you.

You notice I keep saying "buy used". Most of my stuff is used. Its fine. Except for camera bodies, everything will last as long as it isn't damaged by hitting or whatever. Camera bodies are fine as long as the shutter actuations aren't high. Even then, $250 puts a new shutter in it so, whatever.

BUY GOOD MEMORY CARDS. I use Sandisk (there are other brands out there but this is what I recommend because they've been good to me), get fast and ~8gb cards. Get a number of 8gb cards. That way if one goes down, you have others. Also if you do a little bit of shooting and leave a card a home you have 2~3 others in your bag. Why do you need fast memory cards? Because the smaller cameras don't have a large buffer in them. When you start shooting RAW, your card can prevent you from shooting because the buffer is full. This is brings on negative emotions.

 

[kennith]

My D80 was severely damaged recently. The lens is trashed, and the top screen displays nonsense.

As for me, my next expensive camera has got to be something that can take my kind of beating. My supplementary Panasonic Lumix ZS8 has been outstanding as a stand-in, though.

Cheers,

Kennith

 

[KngTgr]

I would not get the 55-200, well I actually bought it' despite Ken Rockwell's recommendation, and it turned out to be TOO slow, I hated it, so returned it the next day, that's why I am saving for the 18-200, the 35 is not expensive at all, and allows you to take pictures wo flash in very low light conditions.
In my opinion the perfect set of lenses would be the do it all 18-200 and the 35, you might want to get an external flash also, I use my sb600 even in daylight, it is amazing the difference between no flash and fill light.

 

[KngTgr]

I forgot to mention that I find the sb600 a tad too big sometimes, I might also get the 400 for every day use

 

[LR Max]

I would not get the 55-200, well I actually bought it' despite Ken Rockwell's recommendation, and it turned out to be TOO slow, I hated it.

Out of curiosity, when you say slow, I assume it didn't have wide enough aperture for you? Or was the AF slow?

 

[Mike_Rupp]

I'll echo everyone's comments regarding the 18-200 Nikon. It's a wonderful all in one lens. Of course professionals are going to poo poo the lens. It's the Discovery of lenses. It does it all, not none of it perfectly.

I had the 18-55 when I first bought my body. It is a good cheap lens.

You could also argue that someone who is just starting out should get a prime lens. A prime lens will force you to move around and compose pictures instead of just zooming out or in. You realize that sometimes moving over a few feet in one direction will make a much better composition.

 

[Lucasd2002]

The reason I am thinking about the 35mm prime is that I will use the camera for indoor family photos with varying amounts of light. Yes, I know indoor family photos aren't badass photography art.

The 70-300 seems like a good quality zoom that will focus quickly and work well for action shots outdoors. My thought was that I can fill the gap (x<70) later as I see fit.

 

[LR Max]

The reason I am thinking about the 35mm prime is that I will use the camera for indoor family photos with varying amounts of light. Yes, I know indoor family photos aren't badass photography art.

If that is what you want, just get a flash to bounce of the ceiling. You'll have zoom, depth of field, and everything will look crisp.

Problem solved.

 

[leeawalden]

Ok. My girlfriend has been wanting a dslr for a while and I was going to buy her one until I lost her point and shoot. IF I were to decide a dlsr is there anything wrong with a D3000? Guy selling a kit and has all the original stuff for 450$. I know it's a few years old but neither of us are professionals.

Looking at getting a canon 300 powershot and underwater case for diving.

 

[KngTgr]

Out of curiosity, when you say slow, I assume it didn't have wide enough aperture for you? Or was the AF slow?

AF was way too slow, I have not tried the 18-200 in person, but I read that it is much faster.

 

[knewsom]

I'll echo everyone's comments regarding the 18-200 Nikon. It's a wonderful all in one lens. Of course professionals are going to poo poo the lens. It's the Discovery of lenses. It does it all, not none of it perfectly.

I had the 18-55 when I first bought my body. It is a good cheap lens.

You could also argue that someone who is just starting out should get a prime lens. A prime lens will force you to move around and compose pictures instead of just zooming out or in. You realize that sometimes moving over a few feet in one direction will make a much better composition.

I can't agree with this enough. Shoot with primes - it's what I learned on, and still often shoot with. I'm no amazing photographer or anything, but I definitely think I learned a LOT by starting with primes.

I've been eyeing a D7100 myself, and the 18-200 as well. Very drool-worthy. Then there's also the Sony A77... not a true SLR, but blimey, that thing looks INCREDIBLE.

 

[Two Cold Soakers]

Some consumer Nikon DSLRs, including the 5100, have no on-board focus motor. It makes the body smaller and lighter, but require Nikon's AF-S lenses - those that have the focus motor in the lens. This means fewer new and used compatible lenses are available and those lenses are generally more expensive.

Pony up the extra cash up front to get away from the AF-S lenses. AF-S is good glass, but an "AF-S only" body restricts your auto-focus lens choices.

The pro bodies have a focus motor. They will autofocus and meter with many more available lenses.