What Digital SLR - sorry

[CoffeeTreat]

cornet said:

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

+1 and shoot in Raw + JPG

[Blown2CV]

i really love photography. I wish i could learn properly as largely it's self-taught and experimental. I am not just an auto-mode numpty, but i could do with decent tutelage. I did sign up to an online course but it wasn't the most engaging.

[Gad-Westy]

damianmkv said:

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

This is pretty much my own school of thought as well. The very best sensors now offer incredible dynamic range, great noise handling and superb resolution. But how often do we need any of those things? The dynamic range side is particularly useful in landscape photography but there have always been alternative solutions to capture all the details. Good high iso noise handling is brilliant if you shoot hand held a lot in low light. 24mp is great too if you have the equipment and technique to resolve it but I'm not sure a lens exists that can actually render 24mp on a crop sensor.

Good lenses are good lenses in all circumstances, so I'd always spend on that first. Its not to say that if you have the money, you should go for a good body as well of course....

[Blown2CV]

thanks for all your advice. In the end went with (all second-hand):

Nikon d7000 body
Nikkor 35mm f/1.8
Nikkor 17-85mm f/3.5-5.6
Tamron 70-300mm f/4-5.6

Just need a bigger bag now! Also to work out all the extra switches and features on the body!!

[Gad-Westy]

Blown2CV said:

thanks for all your advice. In the end went with (all second-hand):

Nikon d7000 body
Nikkor 35mm f/1.8
Nikkor 17-85mm f/3.5-5.6
Tamron 70-300mm f/4-5.6

Just need a bigger bag now! Also to work out all the extra switches and features on the body!!

Nice work. A good selection there. Assume you meant 16-85?

[GravelBen]

Nice combination, good choice.

[Blown2CV]

Gad-Westy said:

Blown2CV said:

thanks for all your advice. In the end went with (all second-hand):

Nikon d7000 body
Nikkor 35mm f/1.8
Nikkor 17-85mm f/3.5-5.6
Tamron 70-300mm f/4-5.6

Just need a bigger bag now! Also to work out all the extra switches and features on the body!!

Nice work. A good selection there. Assume you meant 16-85?

yea that's it

[Blown2CV]

Incidentally it was in total pretty much on the nose budget-wise. The body doesn't feel used as such even though it's had a few thousand shutter actuations. Did have to get a strap (assumed wrongly that it came with the body), and a shoe cap, and twin 32Gb SD cards... OK maybe a touch over budget but in the ballpark

The 35mm lens has turned up, and after having a play in the garden with some of the leaves falling from the trees I can confirm it's just in a different league to the outgoing camera. Awesome! Thanks for your help everyone.

[Simpo Two]

Blown2CV said:

Did have to get a strap (assumed wrongly that it came with the body)

It should do - the last owner must have kept it or damaged it beyond saleability.

[rich888]

Blown2CV said:

thanks for all your advice. In the end went with (all second-hand):

Nikon d7000 body
Nikkor 35mm f/1.8
Nikkor 17-85mm f/3.5-5.6
Tamron 70-300mm f/4-5.6

Just need a bigger bag now! Also to work out all the extra switches and features on the body!!

How are you getting on with your choice of camera and lenses because I'm actually looking for a decent quality DSLR, and having read the many replies on this forum and various internet reviews, the Nikon D7000 does seem to be hitting all the right notes in terms of fair price, reliability and quality of image.

[V8Wagon]

I'm also hankering after a new DSLR and agree that the D7000 ticks all the boxes. I've made the mistake though of over researching it and been suckered into believing the Internet tales of focussing problems with it. I'd also be interested to hear how you get on.

I've never had a camera before that would need 'servicing' either.

[Blown2CV]

rich888 said:

Blown2CV said:

thanks for all your advice. In the end went with (all second-hand):

Nikon d7000 body
Nikkor 35mm f/1.8
Nikkor 17-85mm f/3.5-5.6
Tamron 70-300mm f/4-5.6

Just need a bigger bag now! Also to work out all the extra switches and features on the body!!

How are you getting on with your choice of camera and lenses because I'm actually looking for a decent quality DSLR, and having read the many replies on this forum and various internet reviews, the Nikon D7000 does seem to be hitting all the right notes in terms of fair price, reliability and quality of image.

it's very very good indeed. the quality and feature set kind of blows my old D90 away. It's around twice as complex however, which means i have some learning to do but it's finding the time at the moment. Even given that, the photos that the body and lenses are turning out are noticeably better, probably far better really. I'd highly recommend to be honest, very happy with the choices.

[rich888]

Blown2CV said:

rich888 said:

Blown2CV said:

thanks for all your advice. In the end went with (all second-hand):

Nikon d7000 body
Nikkor 35mm f/1.8
Nikkor 17-85mm f/3.5-5.6
Tamron 70-300mm f/4-5.6

Just need a bigger bag now! Also to work out all the extra switches and features on the body!!

How are you getting on with your choice of camera and lenses because I'm actually looking for a decent quality DSLR, and having read the many replies on this forum and various internet reviews, the Nikon D7000 does seem to be hitting all the right notes in terms of fair price, reliability and quality of image.

it's very very good indeed. the quality and feature set kind of blows my old D90 away. It's around twice as complex however, which means i have some learning to do but it's finding the time at the moment. Even given that, the photos that the body and lenses are turning out are noticeably better, probably far better really. I'd highly recommend to be honest, very happy with the choices.

Thanks for the update and am pleased that you are getting some good results with the D7000 even if there are more complex options to overcome. I purchased a Sony RX100 compact camera in October which I'm well pleased with for taking general family photographs and car meets, etc, but I've seen some fantastic telephoto pics of the moon, and at the other end of the scale some awesome macro pics, and I really would like to have a go without breaking the bank - or end up sleeping with the dog when the wife reads the credit card statement and says how much!!! Christmas is coming so I have a valid excuse in my own mind ouch!

[Blown2CV]

rich888 said:

Blown2CV said:

rich888 said:

Blown2CV said:

thanks for all your advice. In the end went with (all second-hand):

Nikon d7000 body
Nikkor 35mm f/1.8
Nikkor 17-85mm f/3.5-5.6
Tamron 70-300mm f/4-5.6

Just need a bigger bag now! Also to work out all the extra switches and features on the body!!

How are you getting on with your choice of camera and lenses because I'm actually looking for a decent quality DSLR, and having read the many replies on this forum and various internet reviews, the Nikon D7000 does seem to be hitting all the right notes in terms of fair price, reliability and quality of image.

it's very very good indeed. the quality and feature set kind of blows my old D90 away. It's around twice as complex however, which means i have some learning to do but it's finding the time at the moment. Even given that, the photos that the body and lenses are turning out are noticeably better, probably far better really. I'd highly recommend to be honest, very happy with the choices.

Thanks for the update and am pleased that you are getting some good results with the D7000 even if there are more complex options to overcome. I purchased a Sony RX100 compact camera in October which I'm well pleased with for taking general family photographs and car meets, etc, but I've seen some fantastic telephoto pics of the moon, and at the other end of the scale some awesome macro pics, and I really would like to have a go without breaking the bank - or end up sleeping with the dog when the wife reads the credit card statement and says how much!!! Christmas is coming so I have a valid excuse in my own mind ouch!

i think if you're excited and interested by photography, then although it's not essential to get yourself an SLR, in many ways it's a natural progression. It's possible to pick up an OK second hand body and kit lens for maybe £200, and you'll be amazed at the quality of shots you can create relatively easily. Of course you can always sell it without losing too much money if you decide it's not for you. That said it probably doesn't replace your compact. There's definitely still a place for it, esp if like me you've just had to buy a bigger camera bag to lug the expanding collection of SLR gear around!

[rich888]

Blown2CV said:

rich888 said:

Blown2CV said:

rich888 said:

Blown2CV said:

thanks for all your advice. In the end went with (all second-hand):

Nikon d7000 body
Nikkor 35mm f/1.8
Nikkor 17-85mm f/3.5-5.6
Tamron 70-300mm f/4-5.6

Just need a bigger bag now! Also to work out all the extra switches and features on the body!!

How are you getting on with your choice of camera and lenses because I'm actually looking for a decent quality DSLR, and having read the many replies on this forum and various internet reviews, the Nikon D7000 does seem to be hitting all the right notes in terms of fair price, reliability and quality of image.

it's very very good indeed. the quality and feature set kind of blows my old D90 away. It's around twice as complex however, which means i have some learning to do but it's finding the time at the moment. Even given that, the photos that the body and lenses are turning out are noticeably better, probably far better really. I'd highly recommend to be honest, very happy with the choices.

Thanks for the update and am pleased that you are getting some good results with the D7000 even if there are more complex options to overcome. I purchased a Sony RX100 compact camera in October which I'm well pleased with for taking general family photographs and car meets, etc, but I've seen some fantastic telephoto pics of the moon, and at the other end of the scale some awesome macro pics, and I really would like to have a go without breaking the bank - or end up sleeping with the dog when the wife reads the credit card statement and says how much!!! Christmas is coming so I have a valid excuse in my own mind ouch!

i think if you're excited and interested by photography, then although it's not essential to get yourself an SLR, in many ways it's a natural progression. It's possible to pick up an OK second hand body and kit lens for maybe £200, and you'll be amazed at the quality of shots you can create relatively easily. Of course you can always sell it without losing too much money if you decide it's not for you. That said it probably doesn't replace your compact. There's definitely still a place for it, esp if like me you've just had to buy a bigger camera bag to lug the expanding collection of SLR gear around!

I'm not entirely a newbie in photography, was well into photography in the mid 1980s with the supercar test-days at Goodwood, and used a 35mm Canon AE1, then advanced to the Canon A1, with various lenses including a 70-210 lens, before being distracted by the joy of car ownership and everything that came with it (the bills, the women, the expense of it all) before embarking on home ownership, at which point the SLR cameras were consigned to the scrap bin due to a total lack of funds!

And so the desire for taking photographs was laid to rest for many years...

Fast forward 30 years or more till the birth of my first child in 2010 which reignited my interest in photography after relying on my iPhone for pics of the birth (well not literally), only to discover just how poor quality the pics were, so went out to JL and purchased a Canon S100 which I thought was a very good compact camera that I was far more likely to carry around than the SLR from previous years.

And I had been very happy with the Canon S100, and have been saving up to buy a 5D3, well that was until earlier this year when the S100 failed with the now well known lens error failure message, and that is when, after waiting for nearly 7 weeks with still no sign of repair, I gave up and purchased the Sony RX100.

Have been a very loyal Canon customer for over 30 years and have purchased plenty of their cameras over this period, and though I can't say on here how disgusted I am with Canon after-sales service, will merely say I'm now looking at a Nikon DSLR...

[Blown2CV]

the nikon/canon thing is quite a religious divide it would appear from talking to some photography enthusiasts... personally it's just whatever feels and works best, and as you say aftercare etc. Good luck with it.

[budfox]

Never had an issue with my D7000 with focussing or anything else. A superb camera and the perfect partner for my D700.

FX Primes all the way for me:

24mm f2.8 AF-D
35mm f2 AF-D
50mm f1.4 AF-S
85mm f1.8 AF-D

I do also have the excellent 18-70mm kit lens, but never use it. Just don't like slower glass or zooms.