New to SLRs - Nikon D50 - What lens(es)
Discussion
Hi All,
I've loved taking pictures for years and I'm thinking of getting a digital SLR before a friends wedding and my return trip to LeMans this year.
I've been looking at the Nikon D50, I've done loads of reading and have a fair idea of the principles behind proper photography (UKBobs thread helped do some cementing) and think it's the best camera for my budget and what I plan on using it for, I've always found that the point and shoot cameras don't let me do what I want (manual focusing / long exposure times / control of depth of field etc).
My question is, I want to get the SLR, but realistically won't be able to afford a really good lens to go with it at first (I'd love a 20D and 100-400 IS lens). I was going to try and find a bundle with the 18-55mm kit and hopefully a longer lens possibly the 55-200 or the 70-300 (g-series) but I have heard the standard 15-55mm lens isn't that good and the same for the others.
I guess my question is will this still be a good first step? I'd probably look at getting a faster zoom lens when funds permit but that may be a while. Or should I try and get something like the body and 18-70mm lens and make do until I can afford a really good zoom?
I've also just found the D50 Kit with the 18-55mm lens for £379.99, do you guys think it's worth buying this and seeing how I get on? Maybe getting the 70-300mm lens to play with too?
Argh, there's too many decisions about this, to give you an idea of what I'm after I really liked my girlfriends Fuji S5500 zoom but the shutter delay annoyed the hell out of me and you couldn't really do long exposures for arty night shots or manual focusing.
I'm also wondering when people are comparing lens and SLRs with each other is it a safe bet that even with the 70-300mm g series lens I'll be getting better quality pics than something like the S5500?
Sorry for all the incoherent questions...
Cheers,
Ben.
I've loved taking pictures for years and I'm thinking of getting a digital SLR before a friends wedding and my return trip to LeMans this year.
I've been looking at the Nikon D50, I've done loads of reading and have a fair idea of the principles behind proper photography (UKBobs thread helped do some cementing) and think it's the best camera for my budget and what I plan on using it for, I've always found that the point and shoot cameras don't let me do what I want (manual focusing / long exposure times / control of depth of field etc).
My question is, I want to get the SLR, but realistically won't be able to afford a really good lens to go with it at first (I'd love a 20D and 100-400 IS lens). I was going to try and find a bundle with the 18-55mm kit and hopefully a longer lens possibly the 55-200 or the 70-300 (g-series) but I have heard the standard 15-55mm lens isn't that good and the same for the others.
I guess my question is will this still be a good first step? I'd probably look at getting a faster zoom lens when funds permit but that may be a while. Or should I try and get something like the body and 18-70mm lens and make do until I can afford a really good zoom?
I've also just found the D50 Kit with the 18-55mm lens for £379.99, do you guys think it's worth buying this and seeing how I get on? Maybe getting the 70-300mm lens to play with too?
Argh, there's too many decisions about this, to give you an idea of what I'm after I really liked my girlfriends Fuji S5500 zoom but the shutter delay annoyed the hell out of me and you couldn't really do long exposures for arty night shots or manual focusing.
I'm also wondering when people are comparing lens and SLRs with each other is it a safe bet that even with the 70-300mm g series lens I'll be getting better quality pics than something like the S5500?
Sorry for all the incoherent questions...
Cheers,
Ben.
angrys3owner said:
I'm also wondering when people are comparing lens and SLRs with each other is it a safe bet that even with the 70-300mm g series lens I'll be getting better quality pics than something like the S5500?
Without a doubt. I went S602 > D70 with cheapo lens and was very impressed.
A bloke I work with has been looking at the same thing and is tempted by a bundle at Park Cameras with the Nikon 28-200 to get himself started. Looks pretty reasonable.
There will always be something 'better' if you spend more money; that's the nature of the beast. But whether you *need* better, or will *notice any practical difference* in your type of work, or *can afford it* - these help to work out where on the ladder is the best place for you at this point in your photographic career.
I think the D50 would be an excellent first DSLR; the price is excellent and in terms of performance and features it's not far short of the D70s. There will be lots to learn and lots to experiment with and only when you want to do something that it can't, is the time to worry about spending more money.
As you're alreday discovering, lenses make a lot of difference, and this is an area you can expand as needs and wallet allow. I think you'll be fine with the 18-55 or 18-70 for starters; I keep the 18-70 on my D70 as my 'default' lens.
Don't be dazzled by other's talk of fast lenses, VR, 100-400 etc, and feel that you must have these things in order to take good photographs. That's something you can consider later if you decide you need them to advance. The great thing about an SLR system is that it expands as your skills do.
I think the D50 would be an excellent first DSLR; the price is excellent and in terms of performance and features it's not far short of the D70s. There will be lots to learn and lots to experiment with and only when you want to do something that it can't, is the time to worry about spending more money.
As you're alreday discovering, lenses make a lot of difference, and this is an area you can expand as needs and wallet allow. I think you'll be fine with the 18-55 or 18-70 for starters; I keep the 18-70 on my D70 as my 'default' lens.
Don't be dazzled by other's talk of fast lenses, VR, 100-400 etc, and feel that you must have these things in order to take good photographs. That's something you can consider later if you decide you need them to advance. The great thing about an SLR system is that it expands as your skills do.
Thanks for all the replies chaps, to answer the question about how much I want to spend, as little as possible but I no longer see the point in getting another point and shoot, I'd rather start getting into SLRs and want the flexibility they offer.
I think I'll be going for the D50 with 15-55mm Kit and seeing how I get on, I've also seen the very cheap 70-300mm nikkor lens which also seems a good starting point (as others have said i can always sell it on ebay again if it's that bad!).
Has anyone ordered any lenses off ebay from the sellers in Hong Kong? Did you get a bill from customs?
I think I'll be going for the D50 with 15-55mm Kit and seeing how I get on, I've also seen the very cheap 70-300mm nikkor lens which also seems a good starting point (as others have said i can always sell it on ebay again if it's that bad!).
Has anyone ordered any lenses off ebay from the sellers in Hong Kong? Did you get a bill from customs?
angrys3owner said:
Has anyone ordered any lenses off ebay from the sellers in Hong Kong? Did you get a bill from customs?
Several from here (including me) - didn't get a bill from C&E... worked out well.
If you can afford the 70-300 ED rather than the G it's better. (eg...Below ED)
Steve
Customs can catch up with you (they have me) and it can be several weeks later, people like fed-ex typically deal with it and send you an invoice, that'll be the first you hear, the bloke with the box won't know about it. Budget for it and be ready to pay, even if you use a seller with a guarantee, you'll have to pay first.
Nice pic Steve, I'll have to see what I can afford, I think the main thing is I'll get the camera and the 18-55 kit and start having a play.
So how much is import duty then if I did get got? I take it there are brokers fees etc too? I probably wouldn't buy anything too expensive just some of it does seem good valuve but if there's going to be 30% on top then it's more expensive than some websites in the UK.
So how much is import duty then if I did get got? I take it there are brokers fees etc too? I probably wouldn't buy anything too expensive just some of it does seem good valuve but if there's going to be 30% on top then it's more expensive than some websites in the UK.
I've paid C&E various amounts on musical gear... they just seem to make it up. To be honest, I'd look very carefully at the deals you can get in the UK which on cheap(ish) equipment may make HK not worth the wait, hassle etc.
By the way... why so angry S3?
(I just sold an Audi ... which was starting to disintegrate - although I had thrashed the guts out of it for 15 months).
By the way... why so angry S3?
(I just sold an Audi ... which was starting to disintegrate - although I had thrashed the guts out of it for 15 months).
GetCarter said:
By the way... why so angry S3?
(I just sold an Audi ... which was starting to disintegrate - although I had thrashed the guts out of it for 15 months).
I think the main reason (and the reason for joining up with that name) was the engine and turbo went at just over 60,000 miles which was nice, and I've had tack rods, airflow sensors, coilpacks and most recently the steering rack fail on the bloody thing - if I didn't like it so much it would have gone a long time ago - I'm sure I've missed some stuff too but that's the highlights!
I know people with much more reliable TVRs which makes me wet myself as I bought the car because it was the sensible reliable choice.
angrys3owner said:
Argh, there's too many decisions about this, to give you an idea of what I'm after I really liked my girlfriends Fuji S5500 zoom but the shutter delay annoyed the hell out of me and you couldn't really do long exposures for arty night shots or manual focusing.
I'm also wondering when people are comparing lens and SLRs with each other is it a safe bet that even with the 70-300mm g series lens I'll be getting better quality pics than something like the S5500?
I have an S5500 as well, I find theres very little shutter delay if I focus it (hold button halfway down) before shooting, however you can't really do that for spontaneous shots. max exposure is 15 seconds in manual mode, which I've found ok for night shots if theres a bit of light around.
I think my biggest complaint about it is having to hold the zoom buttons and wait for it to catch up, a manual zoom ring would be much better. it couls also do with an image stabiliser.
a possible wild-card option for you could be the fuji S9500. 8Mp compared to the S5500's 4Mp, with 28-300 (iirc) equivalent zoom (manual zoom ring), image stabiliser, most manual functions but is not an SLR. haven't tried one to know about shutter delays however, and I guess an SLR will still have superior optics.
the advantage of a non-SLR to me is that you can take reasonable quality video with it as well (640x480 @ 30fps with sound on the S5500), as far as I'm aware SLR's can't take video yet.
this may not actually help, but its an alternative idea anyway.
angrys3owner said:Hey, we'll have none of that sort of talk
There's always a TVR S3 of course...?
True but I don't like them, I think when I get around to owning a TVR it'll be a Cerb, T350 or Tuscan but need space for two cars before that happens.
..now, speaking on lenses I've got the Nikkor 70-300G lens. Really cheap and perfect for my level of skill.
Here's a photo taken with it (only one to hand, scaled down, not brilliant...in fact doesn't really tell you anything useful about the lens at all
) 
Thanks again for the replies, I did think about the S9500 as an option, but for the money I'd rather get a real SLR even after reading very good things about the S9500. I found the shutter deley even when focused on the S5500 was pants but I was trying to follow a LeMan car so I guess it was rather extreme also hated the time between wanting to take a pic with the camera being off and the camera actually letting you take a photo which doesn't seem to be a problem with the SLRs.
Thanks for posting the pic up page3, I guess it confirms what I've been thinking even a cheap SLR with a cheap lens is going to be good enough for what I want and a great place to start.
I'll hopefully be able to buy it in the next month and will have to post some pics when I get it.
edited to make make sense!
>> Edited by angrys3owner on Wednesday 15th March 12:24
Thanks for posting the pic up page3, I guess it confirms what I've been thinking even a cheap SLR with a cheap lens is going to be good enough for what I want and a great place to start.
I'll hopefully be able to buy it in the next month and will have to post some pics when I get it.
edited to make make sense!
>> Edited by angrys3owner on Wednesday 15th March 12:24
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