Digital SLRs and 2nd hand lenses.

[Tycho]

The missus said the magic words last week "I think we should get a Digital SLR"! Bingo, the budget is about £300 - £400 ish.

Can the digi SLRs take older SLR lenses? I have a local photo shop which sells 2nd hand lenses which seem quite cheap.

Any views on the Nikon D40 or D60? Maybe the Olympus E410?

Edited by Tycho on Wednesday 28th May 14:40

[havoc]

Short answer: Yes, usually.

Long answer: Depends on the D-SLR and the older lens how compatible they are, particularly the automatic functions (exposure, aperture...).

Also, the lens is probably the key part about getting really good photos (cheap lens = may as well buy a very good D-compact), so don't skimp on the quality - 2nd hand isn't a problem though.

[toohuge]

If you buy Nikon (i did) expect higher prices for lenses and accessories than most other brands. Compatibilty is usually pretty good the few things that may change are auto focus and the more advanced light nmetering functions.

[Tycho]

Thanks for the advice guys. Better get reading up on the contenders... Spending the wifes monthly bonus will be fun!

[GetCarter]

Nikon and Canon are the market leaders. Stick with them IMHO. If you buy the D40, buy the D40x.

[VxDuncan]

Digi SLR's can be quite hard on older lenses - flaws like chromatic abberation (purple fringing round highlights) and ghosting can be more pronounced. Modern lenses are coated to help reduce this (ie sigmas "DG" coatings)

Most (sub £1500) Digital SLRs have a crop factor - so the effective focal lens isn't the same as in 35mm film. You may therefore find a wide angle film lens isn't wide enough on digital, ie 18mm is similar to 28mm on 35mm. The flip side is that lenses appear longer on digtal so have more "reach"

D40/D40x (and possibly D60) don't have focus motos built in so can only use AFS nikon lenses with the motor built in. IMO this is a serious disadvantage if you want to buy SH lenses, as most won't be AFS. Sigma HSM will also work. If you go Nikon and plan on buying several lenses over time you really need the D80 as a minimum.

There are less issues with canon SH lenses, though older sigmas may not be fully compatible.

[Simpo Two]

I'd strongly recommend you choose a DSLR and kit lens combo for starters. Trying to make do with older lenses which were never designed for that camera can only set you back and lose functionality. If you're happy to use it on manual everything and learn from the ground up, that's fine, but you probably don't want to do that. The physical fit is one thing (the Nikon F mount has been around since about 1958) but modern bodies have an awful lot of electronic trickery and they like to talk to the lenses.

[miniman]

A Canon 350D would be perfect, if only you could find someone selling one at a price that would give you enough left over to spend on a nice lens.


;)

Edited by miniman on Wednesday 28th May 16:01

[havoc]

miniman said:

A Canon 350D would be perfect, if only you could find someone selling one at a price that would give you enough left over to spend on a nice lens.


;)

Edited by miniman on Wednesday 28th May 16:01

:cough:

I'll be shifting my 20D soon...lovely camera, just needs the dust cleaning off the sensor regularly (I think it's a common Canon problem with their non-self-clean D-SLRs) and I'm a lazy git!

[Tycho]

miniman said:

A Canon 350D would be perfect, if only you could find someone selling one at a price that would give you enough left over to spend on a nice lens.


;)

Edited by miniman on Wednesday 28th May 16:01

Unfortunately the wife gets £50 in Supercheques if they reach their monthly targets so it isn't in cash.... Good thing is that we can use John Lewis to get the kit.