What Digital SLR - sorry

[Blown2CV]

I realise this is probably asked every third post, but that makes it harder to read unfortunately... sorry.

I am selling my 6ish year old Nikon D60 with kit lens which I bought second-hand as a beginner 'teach myself' camera and I'm ready for the next step. Doesn't have to be a wildly more expensive step up, but would be interested to know where to go next. I photograph lots of landscapes but also people on occasion. Basically I'd class myself as lower intermediate. I reckon on a budget of maybe £600 ish for the body and lens, but it would be good to have a more flexible lens than the basic 18-55. I've seen the Nikon 5300, but the bundles seem to vary hugely in content and price.

Some help and advice would be great please

thanks

[Simpo Two]

If the lens is the stumbling block you only need a new lens

[Blown2CV]

Simpo Two said:

If the lens is the stumbling block you only need a new lens

no, the D60 has taken a complete battering and has a couple of issues. It's a workhorse but it's been sold as ready for a refurb!

[MysteryLemon]

Buy a d5100/d7000 body and spend a few hundred on a decent lens.

[cornet]

If you can push the budget slightly then I'd get a D7000 with 18-105mm lens.

Will give you easier/quicker access to controls over the D60/D5300 which is what sells that camera for me.

Of course if you ever only intend to shoot in auto then go for the D5300

[Gad-Westy]

It's nice spending other people's money so here's my stab at it. I would always put more emphasis on lenses rather than the camera.

All prices from MPB for good, guaranteed used gear.

Nikon 18-70 £79 (highly underrated lens, a great walk around)
Nikon 50mm 1.8 £74 (will work well for portraits and general low light stuff)
Tamron 70-300 VC £204 (Superb telephoto that will also work well for portraits outdoors)
Nikon D90 £249 (modern enough without paying a daft premium for the latest gadgets)

I've gone £6 over budget but maybe you can haggle a little!

In all seriousness though, to me the above will offer you far more options and output quality than simply buying the latest tech camera and kit lens and paying through the nose for it.

[Mr Will]

Gad-Westy said:

It's nice spending other people's money so here's my stab at it. I would always put more emphasis on lenses rather than the camera.

All prices from MPB for good, guaranteed used gear.

Nikon 18-70 £79 (highly underrated lens, a great walk around)
Nikon 50mm 1.8 £74 (will work well for portraits and general low light stuff)
Tamron 70-300 VC £204 (Superb telephoto that will also work well for portraits outdoors)
Nikon D90 £249 (modern enough without paying a daft premium for the latest gadgets)

I've gone £6 over budget but maybe you can haggle a little!

In all seriousness though, to me the above will offer you far more options and output quality than simply buying the latest tech camera and kit lens and paying through the nose for it.

Looks like a pretty good list. Only thing I'd change would be to swap the telephoto for a wide-angle since the OP shoots a lot of landscapes.

[Blown2CV]

this is all great stuff, thanks so far!

[Gad-Westy]

Mr Will said:

Looks like a pretty good list. Only thing I'd change would be to swap the telephoto for a wide-angle since the OP shoots a lot of landscapes.

The 18-70 offers wide angle. I've never been a fan of going much wider than that for landscapes but if an ultra wide is needed a Sigma 10-20 could probably be substituted in for not too much more £.

[Mr Will]

Gad-Westy said:

Mr Will said:

Looks like a pretty good list. Only thing I'd change would be to swap the telephoto for a wide-angle since the OP shoots a lot of landscapes.

The 18-70 offers wide angle. I've never been a fan of going much wider than that for landscapes but if an ultra wide is needed a Sigma 10-20 could probably be substituted in for not too much more £.

~28mm equivalent is not particularly wide. It would do if you aren't a regular wide-angle shooter but considering that the OP has said he shoots a lot of landscapes and has not mentioned anything that would require a telephoto, I think it would be a better way to spend the money here.

[Gad-Westy]

Mr Will said:

Gad-Westy said:

Mr Will said:

Looks like a pretty good list. Only thing I'd change would be to swap the telephoto for a wide-angle since the OP shoots a lot of landscapes.

The 18-70 offers wide angle. I've never been a fan of going much wider than that for landscapes but if an ultra wide is needed a Sigma 10-20 could probably be substituted in for not too much more £.

~28mm equivalent is not particularly wide. It would do if you aren't a regular wide-angle shooter but considering that the OP has said he shoots a lot of landscapes and has not mentioned anything that would require a telephoto, I think it would be a better way to spend the money here.

Fair enough, it all comes down to personal preference of course. I quite like a telephoto for landscapes and use my 70-200 more than my 18-35 (on full frame) though 50mm and 28mm primes get the most usage for landscapes. If the OP is a wide angle kind of guy though, I have noticed the odd Tokina 11-16 popping up on ebay for very reasonable prices these days. Loved my one of those when I used DX.

[Blown2CV]

I'm hearing pre-owned decent spec body and spend more on lenses. Gotcha.

[Simpo Two]

There's nothing wrong with s/h lenses either - and they won't depreciate like bodies do.

[Gemm]

Blown2CV said:

I'm hearing pre-owned decent spec body and spend more on lenses. Gotcha.

Personally, I'd rather go for a new body + 2nd hand lens(es).

[Blown2CV]

Gemm said:

Blown2CV said:

I'm hearing pre-owned decent spec body and spend more on lenses. Gotcha.

Personally, I'd rather go for a new body + 2nd hand lens(es).

i might just go for second-hand everything!

[ManFromDelmonte]

Blown2CV said:

i might just go for second-hand everything!

I would.

I don't know how much D7000s are now but that would be a great body

[damianmkv]

theres a couple of d7000 on TP - one is £320 I think, one is c£360..

great camera BUT not a great step up in terms of IQ from the d3100 etc. Functionality, yes as the d3100 doesn't have a BIM so you'd need AF-S lenses if you went entry level

[cornet]

damianmkv said:

theres a couple of d7000 on TP - one is £320 I think, one is c£360..

great camera BUT not a great step up in terms of IQ from the d3100 etc. Functionality, yes as the d3100 doesn't have a BIM so you'd need AF-S lenses if you went entry level

Depends on what you define by 'IQ'

The D7000 has an extra 2.6EV of dynamic range, better low light performance and higher colour depth.


If going 2nd hand then I'd still go for the D7000 + 18.105mm and get yourself a 50mm 1.8. Run with that setup for a while and see how you find it. You might find, like me, that you love the 50mm 1.8 and want more primes rather than zooms

[eltawater]

It also means that the OP can opt for non motor versions of lenses such as the Tokina 11-16mm and save a few bob

[damianmkv]

cornet said:

Depends on what you define by 'IQ'

The D7000 has an extra 2.6EV of dynamic range, better low light performance and higher colour depth.


If going 2nd hand then I'd still go for the D7000 + 18.105mm and get yourself a 50mm 1.8. Run with that setup for a while and see how you find it. You might find, like me, that you love the 50mm 1.8 and want more primes rather than zooms

I was just talking in terms of my experience - I was expecting big things when I upgraded. In reality, you'd be hard pushed to see the difference unless you're printing big.

I agree with the primes - it's a slippery slope once you go down that path. I've just got an 85mm 1.8g and it's awesome