Nikon D90 - what deal & lens?

[BluePurpleRed]

Hi all, hoping for some sage advice here. I have finally decided on a Nikon D90 as an Xmas present to myself. I have been borrowing my housemates D80 on and off for 2 years and it is high time I got one of my own.

I was thinking of getting this from Amazon

I know that getting 'good glass' is crucial so if anyone can recommend a better or cheaper deal they think would be appropriate that would be amazing. I want a Macro for watch and other photography and was thinking of the extension tubes, is this a mistake? Even as a stop gap till I have taken a few and got used to the kit?

[andy-xr]

If you were happy with the D80, see about getting hold of a second hand one. The D90 will be newer and in some areas better, but the old 80 was pretty decent.

Lenses...Tamron 90mm, 50mm 1.8 and something like the Sigma 18-50 2.8 could be picked up from what you'd save going D80 over D90

[dblack1]

D90 comes in 2 deals (from nikon) one is camera body only the other is with the 18-105 lens. So unless a company strikes up a deal with nikon (ie costco) your not gonna get a good deal with a packaged lens. so what u have linked too. You've probably linked to the best package deal (unless you plan on shooting something specific, then another lens might suit you better).

Edited by dblack1 on Wednesday 8th December 19:36

[Simpo Two]

BluePurpleRed said:

I want a Macro for watch and other photography and was thinking of the extension tubes, is this a mistake? Even as a stop gap till I have taken a few and got used to the kit?

Extension tubes are a relatively cheap of getting macro but most if not all will lose functionality between body and lens. The best solution is a proper macro (1:1) lens, and you can save some cash by getting a good s/h one.

[BluePurpleRed]

There is a D300 on TZ for £650, is this worth looking at? From my understanding its older than the D90 but the model above?

[james_tigerwoods]

A friend of mine has the D90 - he "won" it on one of those "bid" sites and saved himself quite a bit.

I've used it and the 18-105 lens is pretty good - the only thing I didn't like about it was its weight... But then again, I have a D40...

[BluePurpleRed]

james_tigerwoods said:

A friend of mine has the D90 - he "won" it on one of those "bid" sites and saved himself quite a bit.

I've used it and the 18-105 lens is pretty good - the only thing I didn't like about it was its weight... But then again, I have a D40...

Those sites are basically fruitmachines that instread of dropping quids they drop stuff after you have (statistically) put enough money in right? What I mean is the payout is < 100% of course so it is put luck what you get back from buying your bids?

On topic I think I will get a D90. The cloudscape out of the office right now has motivated me to get one.

[dblack1]

BluePurpleRed said:

There is a D300 on TZ for £650, is this worth looking at? From my understanding its older than the D90 but the model above?

dont know what TZ is. the D300 is similar to the D700 only it uses a FX sensor (same one as D90). I believe the D300 could shoot a high FPS too, but im not sure of that, It was replaced by the D300s (the S designates high FPS) but i dont believe the D300s actually shoots higher FPS. Im not sure on all of this, so this info might be wrong... I dont know how much a D300 is worth (they dont even make that one anymore) but the D300s is very costly.