New Camera equipment help

[paddy27]

Am hoping for a bit of advice here.

Am getting a Christmas bonus this year from work and some of it, no more than £1000, is going on new camera equipment.

I have a Nikon F80 at the moment with a couple of okish lenses and Nikon SB280 flash gun.

Am wondering what to duy in the digital market.

Am thinking an D80 with Nikon AF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6G IF ED at around £250 & Nikon AF-S VR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED Lens at around £320.
Am thinking i need a new flashgun as well as mine apparently doesn't work properly with the digital Nikons!
Anyone got any other ideas or opinions on what to get. Not bothered if its second hand or new. Most of my equipment has been second hand over the years.

Any help would be great.

Cheers

Andrew

PS If anyone wants my old equipment let me know, will put an add up soon i expect.

[Simpo Two]

If you don't need fast lenses then that seems a decent combination (or maybe consider the 18-70 instead of 18-135; it's faster and probably has less distortion).

However yes, you should get a fully compatible flash - SB600 would probably suit your needs.

[beano500]

What would you like to take pictures of? People, places, landscapes, sports, close-ups?

Do you fancy having the flexibility for video? (D90)

Good call taking on something that somebody else has depreciated a bit.

Are you including tripod(or monopod) in your budget - could be a big factor in getting good results.

PS If you want secondhand Nikon, you might browse the Nikonians for-sale-in-the-EU forum...


www.nikonians.org and:
http://www.nikonians.org/forums/dcboard.php?az=sho...

Edited by beano500 on Wednesday 24th September 12:36

[paddy27]

Hadn't seen that lens. Looks like a much better idea. Thanks.

[paddy27]

beano500 said:

What would you like to take pictures of? People, places, landscapes, sports, close-ups?

Do you fancy having the flexibility for video? (D90)

Good call taking on something that somebody else has depreciated a bit.

Are you including tripod(or monopod) in your budget - could be a big factor in getting good results.

PS If you want secondhand Nikon, you might browse the Nikonians for-sale-in-the-EU forum...


www.nikonians.org and:
http://www.nikonians.org/forums/dcboard.php?az=sho...

Edited by beano500 on Wednesday 24th September 12:36

Would taking photos of Landscapes, people and some close up stuff if i can as well. Already got a couple of tripods so am ok there.
Not bothered at all about video, just photos for me.
I'll have a look at the links.

[beano500]

You could compare a secondhand D200 to the D80. Until you jump to the D300 (out of budget) I expect the results would be similar but you might like one more than the other.

I think it might stretch your budget, but the 16-85mm might be worth a look for the quality and extra it would give you at the wide end for landscape.

55-200mm is another possibility for the telephoto end.

I would consider (possibly at a later stage) adding a 60mm Micro lens for close up and portraiture (AF-S version if you can stretch, but the D version is abundant on the s/h market).

SB600/800 can be had secondhand, but I've been caught out by an ebay purchase where the ad listed all the supplied accessories, and the seller didn't have them - just a thought.


For slightly premium secondhand, but assured quality and service: Grays

[paddy27]

Cheers Beano, just checked the price of the 16-85! Ouch, a very good lens though so will keep it in mind.

I know Grays, very helpful and a very nice shop to have a wander in as well.

[lowdrag]

Yes, perhaps it isn't what you are thinking about, but I just traded in my D2X plus 17/55, all in good condition except the sensor needed a clean, all boxes and papers and receipts, and got just over £1,000 for it. I had taken several quotes for a D3 and 24/70 to replace it and all quotes were in the same ballpark. If second hand doesn't bother youy then look around and you'll end up with superb equipment which I, and others, paid a fortune for two years back.