First DSLR help

[Jake Lewis]

Hi all,

After a few good years with my Panasonic FZ45 Bridge camera with 24x optical zoom, I feel it's time for a change, I need something with a bit more potential for getting images onto Airliners.net and planepictures.net for example.

So, I'm open to any suggestions that anybody might have... Preferably no more than £320 for the camera.

I'm currently eyeing up the Nikon D3100 and then possibly getting a second hand 70-300mm lens on top of the body, any good?

Jake

[casper]

Any DSLR will be an improvement over a bridge camera. The D3100 gets quite a good review
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond3100

But remember the better quality lens you can afford will ultimately improve the picture more.

[Jake Lewis]

Thanks Michael, presumably the best lens to get would be a lens made by the camera manufacturer, yeah?

[Paultojo]

Thanks Michael, presumably the best lens to get would be a lens made by the camera manufacturer, yeah?

How much of a budget have you ? I went second hand for all of my kit until I was in a position to get new kit, you really do get what you pay for with camera gear

Paul

[Jake Lewis]

Thanks Michael, presumably the best lens to get would be a lens made by the camera manufacturer, yeah?

How much of a budget have you ? I went second hand for all of my kit until I was in a position to get new kit, you really do get what you pay for with camera gear

Paul

Really wouldn't like to be going much higher than £300 for the camera itself, and around £100 for a goodish lens, can go 'slightly' higher on both but would like to get something around that budget!

[CH53E]

Thanks Michael, presumably the best lens to get would be a lens made by the camera manufacturer, yeah?

How much of a budget have you ? I went second hand for all of my kit until I was in a position to get new kit, you really do get what you pay for with camera gear

Paul

Really wouldn't like to be going much higher than £300 for the camera itself, and around £100 for a goodish lens, can go 'slightly' higher on both but would like to get something around that budget!

Look for one of those deals in Currys etc - you could get a beginner body plus a 55-300mm Nikon lens for a little more than you are planning to spend.Second hand 70-300mm lenses still sell for nearly £400 i think.

[CH53E]

D3100 £289
http://www.wexphotographic.com/buy-nikon-d3100-digital-slr-with-18-55mm-vr-lens/p1522131

55-300 £279
http://www.wexphotographic.com/buy-nikon-55-300mm-f4-5-5-6-g-af-s-dx-vr-lens/p1522140

2nd Hand 70-300 £349
http://www.wexphotographic.com/buy-used-nikon-70-300mm-f4-5-5-6-g-af-s-vr-if-ed-lens/p1540963

70-300 £439
http://www.wexphotographic.com/buy-nikon-70-300mm-f4-5-5-6-g-af-s-vr-if-ed-lens/p1014102

Can't see a bundle anywhere that doesn't include the 18-55 - this brings the price up a wee bit more than you maybe want to go.I would save another bit and get a new 70-300 (it's up to you though!)There's always the Canon equivalent to consider as well.

[smudge]

In general lens terms I used to be a 'zoom guy' but realised that for 99% of shots I was using them at full extension, so started selling them off and buying primes instead.  Generally primes are lighter, sharper and more robust than zooms.  With fewer bits to break once they're 20 years old and long out of warranty!

A good spread I find is a 35 or 40 mm for walkabout, a fast 85 mm for events and weddings, and a long prime like a 400 mm for airshows. 

Throw a 1.4x teleconverter in the bag ( and perhaps a cheap macro extension tube )  and you should have most general use covered for fewer than than 2 kg, reasonable for foot-powered trips.

[CH53E]

In general lens terms I used to be a 'zoom guy' but realised that for 99% of shots I was using them at full extension, so started selling them off and buying primes instead.  Generally primes are lighter, sharper and more robust than zooms.  With fewer bits to break once they're 20 years old and long out of warranty!

A good spread I find is a 35 or 40 mm for walkabout, a fast 85 mm for events and weddings, and a long prime like a 400 mm for airshows. 

Throw a 1.4x teleconverter in the bag ( and perhaps a cheap macro extension tube )  and you should have most general use covered for fewer than than 2 kg, reasonable for foot-powered trips.

Don't forget we're working with a budget of around £400 here 

[Jake Lewis]

Cheers for the advice and suggestions everyone - has anyone every had any experiences with CEX and buying cameras and equipment there, second hand, their prices are quite resonable:

http://uk.webuy.com/search/index.php?stext=*&section=&catid=950&category_name=cameras%20-%20digital%20slr?mode=buy

Nikon Nikkor AF 70-300mm f4-5.6 Lens for £88 2nd hand:

http://uk.webuy.com/product.php?sku=SLENSNIK703004562A

Currently looking at the D3100 - Anything similar or slightly better, for a similar price on the market anyone?

[Dave]

See here for a list of relieable websites selling the Nikon D3100. Prices are as low as £235.99 from Bristol Camera's.


As for the lens, this is where you do not want to be skimping on money. The more you have to spend on the lens the better. Lenses tend to retain their value over time where as camera bodies depreciate quick over time as they are updated more often.


A few options come to mind.


Nikon 55-300mm VR (with stabilisation) - £229.99


Sigma 70-300mm OS (again with stabilisation) - £242.99


Sigma 70-300m Macro (more suited to close up photography but useable for aviation) - £99.99




If it's any help, the Canon alternative would be the Canon 1100D at around £240.

[Jake Lewis]

Thanks Dave for the advice and links:

Good bitta' research is going to need to be done before I purchase, don't want to make the wrong decision, so I'm currently looking at the D3100 or 1100D and a good lens on top that.

Where is best for second hand gear at resonable prices?

[hammerhead]

I'd also suggest going to a camera shop and trying out each camera that your thinking of buying and see how they feel in your hands as some people find one cameras setup might suit them over another....

[Jake Lewis]

Think I'm going to settle for the Nikon D3200 with 18-55mm VR lens kit, then getting a longer lens after Christmas during the sales, if they even go on sale that is...

http://www.digitalrev.com/product/nikon-d3200-kit-with-18/MTAwMDc3Mg_A_A

Is 4 FPS good enough for aviation? And would a 55-200mm(1) do for City and Aldergrove or would I be better off with the 300mm?(2)

(1) http://www.digitalrev.com/product/nikon-af-s-55-200mm/MTkzMA_A_A
(2) http://www.wexphotographic.com/buy-sigma-70-300mm-f4-5-6-macro-dg-lens-nikon-fit/p1008570?cm_mmc=googlebase-extension-_-camera-lenses-_-nikon-fit-_-sigma-70-300mm-f4-5-6-macro-dg-lens-nikon-fit_1008570&utm_source=googlebase-extension&gclid=coez37usxlkcfbhitaodst4aua

[Jake Lewis]

Jake did you try amazon.com
alan

Yeah Alan, checked everywhere, £319 is cheapest I've found so far and that comes with the 18-55mm lens kit, I think it's a reasonable price to pay for an entry level DSLR!

[Angry Turnip]

I have the Nikon 55-200mm VR Lens and I can highly recommend it-actually gives you 82.5mm to 300mm equivalent,so it should meet your needs.

[CH53E]

Think I'm going to settle for the Nikon D3200 with 18-55mm VR lens kit, then getting a longer lens after Christmas during the sales, if they even go on sale that is...

http://www.digitalrev.com/product/nikon-d3200-kit-with-18/MTAwMDc3Mg_A_A

Is 4 FPS good enough for aviation? And would a 55-200mm(1) do for City and Aldergrove or would I be better off with the 300mm?(2)

(1) http://www.digitalrev.com/product/nikon-af-s-55-200mm/MTkzMA_A_A
(2) http://www.wexphotographic.com/buy-sigma-70-300mm-f4-5-6-macro-dg-lens-nikon-fit/p1008570?cm_mmc=googlebase-extension-_-camera-lenses-_-nikon-fit-_-sigma-70-300mm-f4-5-6-macro-dg-lens-nikon-fit_1008570&utm_source=googlebase-extension&gclid=coez37usxlkcfbhitaodst4aua

You will be buying a 'grey import' with no UK warranty,so if any problems develop i think you will be dealing with a Hong Kong based outfit.

[casper]

Have you tried ebay for second hand equipment?

[Jake Lewis]

I have the Nikon 55-200mm VR Lens and I can highly recommend it-actually gives you 82.5mm to 300mm equivalent,so it should meet your needs.

Thanks AT, will probably end up getting it in the end, reading some reviews of it and it seems like a great lens for the price!

Think I'm going to settle for the Nikon D3200 with 18-55mm VR lens kit, then getting a longer lens after Christmas during the sales, if they even go on sale that is...

http://www.digitalrev.com/product/nikon-d3200-kit-with-18/MTAwMDc3Mg_A_A

Is 4 FPS good enough for aviation? And would a 55-200mm(1) do for City and Aldergrove or would I be better off with the 300mm?(2)

(1) http://www.digitalrev.com/product/nikon-af-s-55-200mm/MTkzMA_A_A
(2) http://www.wexphotographic.com/buy-sigma-70-300mm-f4-5-6-macro-dg-lens-nikon-fit/p1008570?cm_mmc=googlebase-extension-_-camera-lenses-_-nikon-fit-_-sigma-70-300mm-f4-5-6-macro-dg-lens-nikon-fit_1008570&utm_source=googlebase-extension&gclid=coez37usxlkcfbhitaodst4aua

You will be buying a 'grey import' with no UK warranty,so if any problems develop i think you will be dealing with a Hong Kong based outfit.

Yeah, I'm aware, I did have a look at the reviews for digitalrev, and they are all pretty good, infact, most of them are giving them 5*'s, and also had a look at what warranty comes with it - The standard one year warrant just, so if anything goes wrong you can send it to Nikon I presume. P&P is included in that price which is good!

Have you tried ebay for second hand equipment?

Had a look on eBay Casper, but to quite honest, the second hand camera kit isn't going for much less than that D3200 new for £319 off digitalrev, I'd rather just pay the little bit extra to get the camera new! As for lens', I'll probably just get them off ebay 2nd hand!

Thanks all for comments and suggestions.