Nikon DSLR for under £1000

[IWantAVolvo]

I've owned a Nikon D40x for nearly 4 years now, I'm on about 60-70k clicks, it’s served me well but I recently have had 2 lens failures. The first one was the original 18-55 lens that died in January this year, bought a 18-70 (I think) Nikon branded one used off Ebay for a bit over £100 but that’s just poop'ed itself too. Lens won’t turn freely.

Borrowed a friends D90 over the weekend and although it just seems like a slightly newer and more advanced D40x it’s made me want something else.


Criteria:

Budget is £1000 max. Ideally I want something a lot less than that as this is my savings for an MX5. Would prefer Nikon but if there’s a better/cheaper Canon then I'll consider it.

A decent upgrade from my D40x

Possibly second hand if it works out a lot cheaper.

Need to include a general use lens such as another 18-55 or similar.




Don’t get too technical on me as I don’t know that side of cameras, just the picture taking side!


Thanks for any help you may be able to give

[james_tigerwoods]

D3100 sounds like your best bet - I went from a D40 (not the X) to a D3100. A good step up without a huge step up in cost...

There's a few D3100 posts on here already which might help

[IWantAVolvo]

james_tigerwoods said:

D3100 sounds like your best bet - I went from a D40 (not the X) to a D3100. A good step up without a huge step up in cost...

There's a few D3100 posts on here already which might help

Thank you, thats what I need, some suggestions as to which camera's and then I can tootle off and do my own research

[james_tigerwoods]

IWantAVolvo said:

Thank you, thats what I need, some suggestions as to which camera's and then I can tootle off and do my own research

My sarcasm sensor is in overdrive there - I would have linked to PH threads, but PH search is down and the google search function is a world of st...

[IWantAVolvo]

james_tigerwoods said:

IWantAVolvo said:

Thank you, thats what I need, some suggestions as to which camera's and then I can tootle off and do my own research

My sarcasm sensor is in overdrive there - I would have linked to PH threads, but PH search is down and the google search function is a world of st...

Ahah no! Really there wasn't any sarcasm in it. (this is sounding even more sarcastic isn't it? bugger!)


I've done a bit of browsing, Jessops seem to do a 10 month interest free finance on their cameras (with a 25% deposit). That would make things a lot better for me as I could still afford an MX5 but get a camera that I desperately want as mines only been broke 2 days and I'm already missing it badly.


D7000 looks like a nicer step up though, £900 gets one with a 18-105 VR lens too. Something like £225 down then £70 a month for 10months.



I dont seem to know anything about the specs though so I'm just looking at wider ISO ranges and more FPS

[Ari]

D7000 here, love it! When I was looking last year with a similar budget to yours the D7000 stood out as the one to have.

There was a thread very recently about these I think.

EDIT:

Here you go.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[IWantAVolvo]

Just read that thread!


D7000 seems like the one for me with the 18-105

£225 deposit
£67 for 9 months


Only annoying bit is they dont do home delivery on that item so i'd have to do a 80 mile round trip and take a half day off work. Unless they'll send it to the branch local to me.

[steve2]

I went from a D90 to the D7000 and am very impressed with it,
I use Talk Photography a lot as there is a specific thread just on the D7000 on there

[alock]

IWantAVolvo said:

I dont seem to know anything about the specs though so I'm just looking at wider ISO ranges and more FPS

I'm far from being an expert, but that sounds like me when I bought my first DSLR. I would have been happy with a compact camera but wanted an instant shutter so bought a D3100. The intention was to never buy anything other than the kit lense.

I recently succumbed and bought a fast prime lense (35mm f1.8). Wow, why didn't I do this years ago. Almost every picture I take comes out looking fabulous. I can't see myself ever putting the kit lense back on.

Invest in one or more good lenses. You don't have to spend alot of money, just buy the right ones.

[IWantAVolvo]

35mm so is that a fixed zoom?

I will get another lens at some point but a generic 18-105 will suit me until then

[milk2sugars]

What about the new D3200? Or even the D7000

[IWantAVolvo]

Well I've reserved a Nikon D7000 with the 18-105 lens.


Collecting and paying for it tomorrow following a 80mile round trip.


Excited

[milk2sugars]

Enjoy! Make good use of the HD video ability too!

[LocoBlade]

Watch out for the Jessops 10 Months Interest Free, it may be variable depending on the store but I went in to the Basingstoke branch to buy a D5100 (about £500 worth) but having thought we'd sealed the deal, the manager flatly refused to give it to me on interest free unless I bought a vastly overpriced £60 bundle of accessories with it. I ended up walking out and bought it elsewhere.

Edited by LocoBlade on Tuesday 11th September 00:19

[IWantAVolvo]

Annoyingly I've just found out that Jessops only do the finance for people over 21, I'm 20.

Fart.



I do have the cash to pay but considering I'll be paying in full now I've looked at other places selling them. And came across one selling with a 18-55 & 55-300 lens for roughly the same price. Would I be better with two lens's or the single 18-105?

[Gad-Westy]

The one with two lenses sounds like better value however... The 18-105 is quite a lot better than the 18-55 (build quality mainly). If that is the lens you'd use most, I'd still be temped by 18-105 kit. That said, how about buying the camera body only picking up a used 18-70 from someone like MPB.

[IWantAVolvo]

Gad-Westy said:

The one with two lenses sounds like better value however... The 18-105 is quite a lot better than the 18-55 (build quality mainly). If that is the lens you'd use most, I'd still be temped by 18-105 kit. That said, how about buying the camera body only picking up a used 18-70 from someone like MPB.

At the moment I'm thinking of sticking with the 18-105 lens package as I still have my Nikon D40x with a 70-300 lens for those long range shots.

[38911]

Avoid Jessops like the plague. They are over-priced, rude and utterly incompetent. They do not deserve to be in business IMO.

Amazon are selling the D7000 with an 18-105 kit for £850
or the D3200 with 18-55 for under £500

Two very different cameras - both very good.

The 3200 has class-leading resolution (24mp) - stunning for the price.
The 7000 is a bit bigger and has more technical capability (e.g. dual SD cards, faster FPS, more AF points) as well as having a larger viewfinder and having better quality components (pentaprism, mag-alloy body etc).

[Mermaid]

A used D700?

[wainy]

I have had the D7000 for a couple of months now and have added the 1.4 50mm G lens - to be honest I am using it more than the kit lens and getting better pictures from it. Still use the kit one where zoom is required.