About to take the plunge...

[Chappers.]

After an unexpected windfall, it looks like I might be able to get myself a new dSLR camera tomorrow instead of having to wait another couple of months.

Firstly, many thanks to those that gave me some advice when I was enquiring between a D90 or a D200. Obviously after reading all the advice, I've decided to ignore most of it and have come to the conclusion that the D90 will be the more suitable camera for me and my (very low) level of skill - a couple of weeks playing with a D200 has also shown that it is far too professional for me and would be off-putting.

So, a D90 with the 18-105 kit lens is beckoning. Any advice on what else I could do with purchasing at the same time? I know that the store are usually quite good at doing a deal if you are buying the camera etc, so would rather get a little off things now instead of paying full price for bits in another month or so.

And dare I ask if there is anyone think that a Canon would be a better option and if so, why? (I like to invite controversy )

 

[Photodiva]

Get some memory cards, a spare battery perhaps. As far as Nikon over Canon I think its a case of (1) what feels right to you (2) what your mates have, cos if you have the same system you can at least try out other lenses before buying your own!

 

[Gazamonk]

Couldn't agree more Carol the Canon/Nikon debate always strikes me as pointless posturing. Look through any gallery of images taken with any make of camera and you will come across some incredible work. The most important thing is a half inch behind the camera. Point number 2 gets a big thumbs up as well.

 

[cambsno]

I have a spare battery I got with my grip but never use either. A D90 battery will last ages, unless you are planning to be the main tog at a wedding, or plan to be somewhere remote for days. So if its just average use, dont bother with a battery.

2 essentials - lenspen and a rocket blower. Be aware that the same Sandisk 4gb (i think) cards are £16 or so Amazon, and £45 Jessops, so if buying from Jessops you will be paying well over the odds!

If you have a few quid, look at a 50mm lens, or a sb600 flash!

 

[tijuana taxi]

As far as Nikon over Canon I think its a case of (1) what feels right to you (2) what your mates have, cos if you have the same system you can at least try out other lenses before buying your own

I have a Canon with some half decent lenses, my daughter wants to buy a DSLR and it makes perfect sense that I ensure she gets a
Nikon or Pentax or Sony or anything that means she can't borrow all my stuff (only joking, well sort of anyway)

 

[Chappers.]

Thanks for the input.

I'm sorted for memory cards - I seem to have amassed a fair collection over the past couple of years for various reasons.

I know that the battery will last quite a while, but I might invest in a spare anyway, I'm the sort of person that would end up with one dying just as I found that shot of a lifetime! Apart from that, I think a decent camera bag may be in order - saves it being banged about in the back of an old Land Rover too much, anything else can be added as and when I feel the need.

I added the Canon/Nikon question as an afterthought, I haven't really looked seriously at the Canon for the simple reason that a couple of mates already have Nikon's and so there is the chance for borrowing lenses, hence deciding on one from that manufacturer.

 

[angstmann]

I'd be inclined to go with the D90 but forego the kit lens and perhaps grab something like the Nikkor 35mm f1.8 lens. I got myself a D5000 about 18 months ago - the kit lens (like most of them) isn't great and I have hardly used it. Grabbed myself the 35mm f1.8 and haven't looked back.

Obviously it depends what sort of shots you are looking at taking, but if you are just starting in photography, a fixed focal length lens like the one I've mentioned will teach you a lot more than a kit zoom will. Just my opinion of course I now can't shift the kit lens for love nor money - just no demand for them - so it stays in my bag for the odd occasion that I need something wider than 35mm.

 

[boliston]

After an unexpected windfall, it looks like I might be able to get myself a new dSLR camera tomorrow instead of having to wait another couple of months.

Firstly, many thanks to those that gave me some advice when I was enquiring between a D90 or a D200. Obviously after reading all the advice, I've decided to ignore most of it and have come to the conclusion that the D90 will be the more suitable camera for me and my (very low) level of skill - a couple of weeks playing with a D200 has also shown that it is far too professional for me and would be off-putting....

What is it about the D200 that you did not like?

It still has the same "auto" modes as the D90 (auto, aperture priority & shutter priority) - the only difference is that is does not have the pointless "scene" modes which don't really do anything very useful apart from adding "features" from a marketing point of view.

 

[justinitus]

Personally, I'd go with the D90 & 18-105vr kit - I has that and found the lens to be a very good general purpose lens for the money. If funds allow, I'd add a 35mm f1.8 lens (@£160ish new or £130ish used on here). I'd definitely get a rocket blower (Giottos is good) and a lens pen. Maybe a spare battery if your anything like me!

I think Bestbuy are doing a deal on the D90 kit at the mo.

 

[justinitus]

Bestbuy are £679 then an extra 10% off if you go through Quidco

 

[Chappers.]

boliston - I very good friend has lent me a D200 which I've been trying to get to grips with for a couple of weeks. I think that it is too technical for my skill level at the moment, and many of the shots that I'm taking are unusable. I don't want to spend a lot of money on a camera that I don't enjoy using. I've also had a (albeit brief) play with a D90, and it seems more "right" in my hands, and for my level, the scene modes are a bonus - I don't plan on relying on them for ever, but it will be a camera that gets used for more or less everything and until I get more practice I'd need to lug around my FZ-28 at the same time if I got the D200 for fear of missing normal shots.

justinitus - I'm looking at getting the 18-105 kit. I think that as a starter kit it will be fine. A further lens will be out of budget at the moment, however I do plan on investing in either a 50mm or 35mm lens in the near future. The eventual plan (at the moment) will be to swap the kit lens and get the Nikkor 18-200 VR lens as a walkabout lens which will cover most of what I plan to do, however I also plan eventually on trying to do some more landscapes so a wide angle lens may make an appearance at some point (all of this is way off in the future at the moment though).
Please excuse my ignorance when I ask what a lens pen and a rocket blower are?

 

[andyred]

And dare I ask if there is anyone think that a Canon would be a better option and if so, why? (I like to invite controversy )

boliston - I very good friend has lent me a D200 which I've been trying to get to grips with for a couple of weeks. I think that it is too technical for my skill level at the moment, and many of the shots that I'm taking are unusable. I don't want to spend a lot of money on a camera that I don't enjoy using. I've also had a (albeit brief) play with a D90, and it seems more "right" in my hands, and for my level, the scene modes are a bonus - I don't plan on relying on them for ever, but it will be a camera that gets used for more or less everything and until I get more practice I'd need to lug around my FZ-28 at the same time if I got the D200 for fear of missing normal shots.?

In answer to your initial question - no don't think there would be a better Canon model for you. It sounds like you have some very good friends who have leant you equipment and as they are Nikon users it would make sense to me that you go with Nikon, having the option for direct help and the possibilty of borrowing / using another lens.

And don't forget, you like how the D90 feels in your hands and that is one of the most important factors.

 

[justinitus]

justinitus - I'm looking at getting the 18-105 kit. I think that as a starter kit it will be fine. A further lens will be out of budget at the moment, however I do plan on investing in either a 50mm or 35mm lens in the near future. The eventual plan (at the moment) will be to swap the kit lens and get the Nikkor 18-200 VR lens as a walkabout lens which will cover most of what I plan to do, however I also plan eventually on trying to do some more landscapes so a wide angle lens may make an appearance at some point (all of this is way off in the future at the moment though).
Please excuse my ignorance when I ask what a lens pen and a rocket blower are?

Apologies - a lens pen looks like a pen but one end is a retractable brush for removing dust and dirt from camera and lens, the other end has a carbon pad that is great for cleaning lenses and filters without smearing. A rocket blower looks like a mini rugby ball with a long nozzle on one end and you squeeze it to blow dust away from sensors and the like.

I had the D90 kit and truly loved it, its not too basic that you'll be upgrading after a few months of learning and not too advanced as to frustrate you. IMO its a great camera for someone who wants to learn seriously and above all it can take some fabulous images.

Again this is just my opinion based on my own experiences, but I had both the 18-105VR and 18-200VR. The 18-105 gave me some great images but I wanted more reach in one lens, so I got the 18-200VR. The 18-200 had a bit more distortion but more importantly I never felt the images were quite as good as the 18-105. The 18-200 is but better built, but the trade off of convenience for image quality never made me happy. It wasn't a big difference, but I wished I had gone the 2-lens route and got a 55-200VR or 70-300VR to complement my 18-105VR instead of having just the 18-200VR.

Best idea may be to practice practice practice with the 18-105VR and when you know where you're wanting to head with your photography you can invest from there.

 

[Chappers.]

Thanks for that - I think I was after a bit of reassurance about my final decision. I've done quite a bit of research into the D90/D200 (and other Nikon's) before deciding that the D90 was the correct choice for me. I think asking about a Canon was a few last minute nerves setting in before I go out and spend a large amount of money on a new camera body (and system).

 

[Chappers.]

justinitus - again, thankyou. A very informative reply and greatly appreciated. As I said earlier, my initial plans are to eventually get the 18-200 Nikkor lens, however I think that there will be a lot to learn and explore with the standard kit lens. As you have said, it may well be that when I get more used to everything I decide that I want something completely different to my initial plans.

In the mean time, I can see that my mate may well have to keep a close eye on some of his lenses while I am anywhere near his place

 

[alexhcowley]

Personally, I'd go with the D90 & 18-105vr kit - I has that and found the lens to be a very good general purpose lens for the money. If funds allow, I'd add a 35mm f1.8 lens (@£160ish new or £130ish used on here). I'd definitely get a rocket blower (Giottos is good) and a lens pen. Maybe a spare battery if your anything like me!

Always, always have at least one spare battery. Batteries, like anything else, fail at inconvenient times.

 

[ecniv]

Depending on the pictures you want to take depends what lens you should get. If you like macro, have a look at tubes; also check the soft tents for putting items in and getting soft light over them. Portraits you might want a soft box for the flash gun, poss a stand too.

I think that jessops do the 35mm 1.8g for 170 and would work well on the d90 (as previously posted earlier). Rocket blower and a padded bag. Perhaps an optical lens cloth (like ones for glasses).

Other lenses I can recommend:
11-16 tokina f2.8 - ultra wide great for landscapes and buildings... and cars
30mm sigma f1.4 - low light and almost the same as your eye. but if you go for the 35mm don't bother with this.
105mm micro (nikkor) - macro lens (x3 optical equivalent on normal shots... 1:1 macro ratio)
50mm f1.4d - small light. Perhaps a little close, but nice bokeh at f1.4-2 and crisp at f4

Others I have used:
18-200 vr mki - as a starting lens useful, gets a bit of zoom, goes nice n wide. However, compared to the 105mm it was very soft (at least mine was).

Others I would like to try/buy:
20mm f2.8 - slots inbetween the 50mm and the 11-16mm for those odd occasions
80-400mm tokina or 50-500mm sigma - zoomy lens for wildlife/birds/moon
180mm sigma (macro 1:1)
tilt and shift - just cos I like the pictures people post
lensbaby composer - creative edge to pictures

Hope you get the d90 and a lens or two and enjoy them