D3000

[Dan7357]

Hi Guys,

I have an old (3 years) Nikon D70 that I want to upgrade, I have put my name down for a D3000.

I am not great on SLR's more of a 'Auto Mode', point and shoot !

The reason I am going Nikon again is I have 2 Nikon Lens.

I am getting the D3000 for £380 ! I don't use a camera enough to spend anymore, Le Mans, and family holiday.

Is the D3000 a good unit ?

[d1d215]

level down from D70, but it's newer, the d3000. so that's a big plus for an average shooter.

[d1d215]

oh ! and don't forget that d3000 doesn't have built in motor for auto focus.

[Dan7357]

d1d215 said:

oh ! and don't forget that d3000 doesn't have built in motor for auto focus.

Does not have auto focus ???

[gary71]

Personally I'd be looking at a good second hand D90 at that price (or less!)

[d1d215]

Dan7357 said:

d1d215 said:

oh ! and don't forget that d3000 doesn't have built in motor for auto focus.

Does not have auto focus ???

you can only get autofocus with lenses that have built in motor in the lens. hope this makes sense .

if this was my money i wouldn't care about D70 vs D3000 but about which lens am I going to use.

so maybe tell us that !

[d1d215]

gary71 said:

Personally I'd be looking at a good second hand D90 at that price (or less!)

tell me where i can get a d90 for lets say - around 350 and if i get it i'll send you a cognac !

[Simpo Two]

Dan7357 said:

d1d215 said:

oh ! and don't forget that d3000 doesn't have built in motor for auto focus.

Does not have auto focus ???

No, it just needs AF-S lenses; which frankly is most of them these days.

[gary71]

80...90...

The numbers are close aren't they!!!

OK, so I meant D80

[d1d215]

sad ! . but i don't know how the OP would benefit from d80 if he has d70, almost the same IMHO. it's all about the lens.

[Dan7357]

I will check the lens this evening when I get home.

So am I getting this right, if the lens has AF-S the auto focus will work fine ?

Thanks for all the replies so far.

[Simpo Two]

Dan7357 said:

So am I getting this right, if the lens has AF-S the auto focus will work fine ?

Yep - if the lens says 'AF-S'. What the entry-level bodies lack is a screw-drive mechanism (for economy).

Note that 'AF-S' is also confusingly used by Nikon to designate single-lock auto-focus (as opposed to continuous, designated AF-C) - but that is to do with the body not the lens. You'll see this switch on the body of most models, near the lens release button - AF-S/AF-C/M.

[gary71]

d1d215 said:

sad ! . but i don't know how the OP would benefit from d80 if he has d70, almost the same IMHO. it's all about the lens.

I went from a D70 to a D80 and found it to be a big step forward, screen size, metering, controls etc

[d1d215]

gary71 said:

d1d215 said:

sad ! . but i don't know how the OP would benefit from d80 if he has d70, almost the same IMHO. it's all about the lens.

I went from a D70 to a D80 and found it to be a big step forward, screen size, metering, controls etc

of course there are benefits, but still - minor, small etc. except MP from 6.3 to 10.8 or something like that and if metering is better then that is really a plus.

[Dan7357]

Dan7357 said:

I will check the lens this evening when I get home.

So am I getting this right, if the lens has AF-S the auto focus will work fine ?

Thanks for all the replies so far.

Lens -

Nikon AF-S 55-200mm 1.4 5.6G ED
&
Nikon AF Nikkor - 28-100mm 1.3 5.6G

Both of the above work on auto focus on my D70

I hope they are fine for the D3000 (working again on auto focus)

Thanks

[d1d215]

I have a fealing that 28-100 won't .

[d1d215]

the other one - does it say AF-S NIKKOR 55-200 MM blah blah blah on the side of the lens ? can't remmember a 55-200 without a built in motor. so you should be able to have auto focus on d3000 with that one.

is the 28-100mm really light and with plastic mount ?

[Simpo Two]

Dan7357 said:

Nikon AF-S 55-200mm 1.4 5.6G ED
&
Nikon AF Nikkor - 28-100mm 1.3 5.6G

Both of the above work on auto focus on my D70

Indeed, but the D70 has a screw drive so will work with all lenses... look on the lens mount and you will see it. You won't see it on a D3000, which is why you need lenses marked 'AF-S'.

Edited by Simpo Two on Monday 17th May 20:48

[d1d215]

if I'm correct - this only means that your lens needs something better than d40, d40x, d3000 or d5000 to autofocus the lens.

[Dan7357]

Again, thank you for the replies.

As I have said I am not the best with SLR's, but love the pic quality.

The Lens's I have, will they only work with Nikon ?

I have £450 to spend (at John lewis) -

http://www.johnlewis.com/Electricals/Photography+_...

Again, Thanks.