£700ish new or old
Discussion
Fancy buying a new camera some point this year, want a DSLR style with a good choice of zoom .. 20mm to 250-300mm or so. I realise I could probably get a D70 for that money but only with the standard lens .. the extra lens takes it well out of my price range. However I'm currently spolit by the 7x zoom (250mm equiv) on my Dimage 5 and wouldn't want any less.
If I get something second hand, and probably not off ebay unless of course I could go and check it, what sort of kit should I be looking for?
If I get something second hand, and probably not off ebay unless of course I could go and check it, what sort of kit should I be looking for?
john_p said:
Fancy buying a new camera some point this year, want a DSLR style with a good choice of zoom .. 20mm to 250-300mm or so. I realise I could probably get a D70 for that money but only with the standard lens .. the extra lens takes it well out of my price range. However I'm currently spolit by the 7x zoom (250mm equiv) on my Dimage 5 and wouldn't want any less.
If I get something second hand, and probably not off ebay unless of course I could go and check it, what sort of kit should I be looking for?
Bear in mind that the greater the zoom ratio, the more the compromise in terms of quality and maximum aperture. DSLRs are stonking things but one of their great benefits is that you can change lenses! That's because there's no such thing as a one-size-fits-all lens - you're paying for quality, control and upgradeabilty rather than just convenience. The 18-70 lens that comes with the D70 is very good, and it's commonly paired with a 70-300. However, if you're really averse to changing lenses, you could buy it body-only and get a Nikkor or Sigma 28-200. I've also heard that Sigma have just launched an 18-200 (but you'll be down to f6.3 at 200mm).
Or you could get the D70 + 18-70 and see how you get on: if you don't want it there'll be no problem selling it.
Yeah I didn't think I'd get a one size fits all lens, I was expecting to have to get a 20-70 or so and then another lens that would go up to 300. As buying this new would take a D70 over my price range, just wondering if looking at slightly older kit, second hand would work. Or is it too much of a risk?
I am in the same position, I am used to having 8x zoom on my Coolpix5700 a standard DSLR kit (D70+ 18-70mm) is OK but to add a good zoom takes me well over.
Some good advice was given on this thread.
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=154077&f=109&h=0
Some good advice was given on this thread.
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=154077&f=109&h=0
Granted this goes slightly above your budget, but taking into account the £100 cashback that nikon are doing on the D70 kit, why not get the 18-70 kit and add a 70-300G lens for £89 from Warehouse express.
It's not a great lens but it gives you a longer lens (because it's effectively a 105-450mm when on a D70 body)
at a cheap price
It's not a great lens but it gives you a longer lens (because it's effectively a 105-450mm when on a D70 body)
at a cheap price
john_p said:
just wondering if looking at slightly older kit, second hand would work. Or is it too much of a risk?
I have no qualms buying second hand lenses if they're in excellent condition. I recently got a Nikkor Micro 60mm f2.8 via eBay and it's as new.
Bear in mind that it's unusual to go out and buy an entire SLR kit all in one go - people normally add bits as requirements and budget allow. If you have to get everything brand new on Day One you could be compromising on what you could get if you staggered the purchases a bit.
If yuo have to fill 18 - 300 immediately, I've seen the 70-300 G sell for as little as £35 - as mentioned above, it doesn't win prizes for performance but it will cover that range, and you can't deny it's great value!
_Dobbo_ said:
Granted this goes slightly above your budget, but taking into account the £100 cashback that nikon are doing on the D70 kit, why not get the 18-70 kit and add a 70-300G lens for £89 from Warehouse express.
I've been tempted by the G lens for VMax.
The salesman said "if you drop it... bin it", but its still got the zoom and its not a bad lens... cheap!
I'm probably going to go with a 50mm f1.8 instead for some arty farty shots.
rico said:
I've been tempted by the G lens for VMax.
The salesman said "if you drop it... bin it", but its still got the zoom and its not a bad lens... cheap!
I'm probably going to go with a 50mm f1.8 instead for some arty farty shots.
There seem to be a few longish lenses like that on the warehouse express site, all for under or around £150, such as the Tamron AF 70-300 LD Macro 1:2 f4-5.6 for £99, or the Sigma 28-300mm F3.5-6.3 Aspherical Macro for £169...
I must say I'm tempted, but I do wonder if I'd be better off buying second hand on ebay...
Ahh ok I thought the 70-300 lenses would be a lot more expensive than that.
Just remembered car insurance is due so I'll be putting this off a little while
but I will certainly pop over to a camera shop and have a play with a D70 when the time arrives
18-70 seems like a useful lens, my dimage 5 only goes back to 35mm (equiv) and although I have a semi-fisheye converter it's not ideal. In fact, I'd say getting decent wide-angle is one of my main reasons for upgrading ..
When you keep mentioning f/ numbers on lenses, what does that mean? As in, is it a maximum or minimum aperture on that lens? Again, not something I need to worry about on my camera atm.. I just set aperture to whatever I want and it works!
>> Edited by john_p on Tuesday 15th February 15:39
Just remembered car insurance is due so I'll be putting this off a little while
but I will certainly pop over to a camera shop and have a play with a D70 when the time arrives 18-70 seems like a useful lens, my dimage 5 only goes back to 35mm (equiv) and although I have a semi-fisheye converter it's not ideal. In fact, I'd say getting decent wide-angle is one of my main reasons for upgrading ..
When you keep mentioning f/ numbers on lenses, what does that mean? As in, is it a maximum or minimum aperture on that lens? Again, not something I need to worry about on my camera atm.. I just set aperture to whatever I want and it works!
>> Edited by john_p on Tuesday 15th February 15:39
john_p said:
18-70 seems like a useful lens
Yep, every mm at the wide-angle end is significant, and can be expensive to fill otherwise. (eg 12-24 = £££!)
john_p said:
When you keep mentioning f/ numbers on lenses, what does that mean? As in, is it a maximum or minimum aperture on that lens?
On any lens. Somebody cleverer than me can do the maths, but all you need to know is that a low f-number is a big aperture and vice versa. So f2.8, for example, is good for low light and shallow depth of field, and the reverse, eg f16, does the opposite.
>> Edited by simpo two on Tuesday 15th February 15:47
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