buying a DSLR, please help!

Post by **ReachHigh** » Wed Dec 27, 2006 11:45 am

http://www.nikonusa.com/template.php?ca ... ctNr=25420

what are the thoughts on the new D40 for somebody starting out with DSLR?

Post by **Legion** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 3:34 pm

Any thoughts on D80 versus D200? Worth the money for a n00b?

Post by **flashmaster** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 3:42 pm

Go with canon. They're way ahead of the game. As a nikon owner I'm starting to contemplate it. But if you must go nikon buy the less expensive body as it's already out of date. and spend it on good glass.

Post by **chester** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 5:06 pm

D300 is the way to go.

Post by **Alan Evil** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 5:44 pm

Has anyone used the new 18mm-200mm Nikon lense? It's amazingly light and short when at 18mm. Are the lenses still the same legendary quality despite being built for the much smaller digital receptor? I've looked through one and was impressed but I haven't had a chance to compare it.

Post by **Wes** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 6:10 pm

I have heard some good stuff about the new super zooms, but they are not fast enough for what I do. I have three lenses to get from 16 - 200, and the are heavy and pricey for sure. But the are also 2.8 and canon "L" quality. Photography is all about trade offs, I guess.

chester, does that mean you are going back to Nikon? And you are looking to sell your canon gear nice and cheap?

I want to get a p/s digital, something small like canon s3 is, just to carry around, as dslr with grip and big lens and flash is not easy or low key to bring anywhere with you...

Post by **Alan Evil** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 6:16 pm

It seems like one of those tiny Canon or Nikon 4megapixel point and shoots would be perfect and they're tiny and just so cheap these days. Seems I saw a tiny Nikon for $80 the other day.

Post by **neuroshock** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 7:50 pm

Wes wrote:I want to get a p/s digital, something small like canon s3 is, just to carry around, as dslr with grip and big lens and flash is not easy or low key to bring anywhere with you...

I've been wanting to take a closer look at the new Canon G9.

- 35mm-210mm f/2.8-4.8 IS (35mm equivalent)
- hot shoe for external flash (tho, if i have the point-and-shoot on me instead of the SLR, i probably won't have a Speedlite on me either)
- decently low noise up to ISO 200
- RAW (CR2) file format
- 4.2"x2.8"x1.7" & 9.4oz

Post by **IndyRick** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 5:17 pm

Alan Evil wrote:Has anyone used the new 18mm-200mm Nikon lense? It's amazingly light and short when at 18mm. Are the lenses still the same legendary quality despite being built for the much smaller digital receptor? I've looked through one and was impressed but I haven't had a chance to compare it.

I have that lens. I like the vibration reduction feature the best. I think the manual says that you can shoot two eV stops lower than a normal lens and not get blur. I'm really, really new to the whole dSLR thing, so I'm not the best judge of what works well.

Check out this guy's opinion....

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/18200.htm

Post by **neuroshock** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 6:11 pm

IndyRick wrote:I have that lens. I like the vibration reduction feature the best. I think the manual says that you can shoot two eV stops lower than a normal lens and not get blur. I'm really, really new to the whole dSLR thing, so I'm not the best judge of what works well.

just pointing out to be clear...

with IS(canon)/VR(nikon) you can shoot properly exposed photos up to 2-3 stops slower with good technique. however, whatever settings you end up at will still need to be quick enough to stop blur.

i.e. taking a photo of a parked car at 1/8sec @ 16mm can be fine. taking a photo of a flying helicopter at 1/30sec @ 85mm will still get blurred rotor blades, regardless.

the way i look at it is, i hope the IS will be enough to offset any movement from hand-holding my camera but i still need enough light to make the shot i want.