Another beginner needing help!

wigs

wigs

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phil
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Hi, ready to get my first dslr after having a bridge camera for the past 9 months. I really wnat to do star trails and slow shutter speed stuff. My bridge camera is a Nikon P100 and I've had a lend of a D3000 for the past 2 weeks. I feel comfortable with the menu system and I want to stay with Nikon.

I have read and re-read reviews from on here and other sites, but cannot decide between the D3100, D5000 or D5100.

The D3100 is a bargain at £399
D5000 is at £449 with bignorman at the minute
D5100 is a bit pricier at £569.

Basically, I would like a comparison of all three. The only worry I have is about the D5000 being 'older' technology. Is the D3100 a better camera than this?

I know the D5100 has had brilliant reviews and loads of people have said its an excellent one to start with. But I've heard a couple of negatives about the different menu system because of the hinge on the side (which is on the bottom of the D5000).

The price of the D5100 is as far as I'm willing to go for now, and I know that I could get and extra lens with the D3100 for similar money.

Grrrr I'm going round in circles here. Think I've settled on either a D5000 or D3100! Which to choose?

Sorry for the questions, and I know a lot of you have answered these before, so thanks in advance!
 
I wouldn't worry about the D5000 being older, it still has a very good sensor in it.

However, assuming your budget is £570 and given you want to shoot star trails I would get either of the cheaper options and spend the rest on a good tripod and a remote release.

I have a D3100 at work and it's a very nice camera and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone (I'd be happy to have it as a backup to my D700!).
 
''bignorman'' has been discussed here

did you know they are based in Gibraltar...:shake:

and the guarantee is theirs NOT Nikon - so ship to Gib for repairs.. No Thanks..:thumbsdown:
 
Hi Phillip, welcome to TP :wave:

dpreview have a really good comparison site (and good for a lot of other stuff).

You can do side-by-side comparisons of pretty much anything. For example
 
Thanks for the quick reply guys, I appreciate it. I currently have all 3 on the comparison page at dpreview.com. Guess I have more reading to do!

nawty, I already have a tripod, looking into an Apurture Timer release at the minute.

yardbent, about the warranty, does nikon not give you one when you register the product, in which case does it matter where you buy from, as long as its registered in your name?

If the warranty thing is an issue, I may just have to settle for my local Jessops.

I live in N.Ireland and camera shops are pretty few and far between. The North Antrim coast is half an hr away, with some great views. Its here that I want to do the star trails. I did a test in my back garden last night for the first time with my friends D3000, which is why I have finally decided to take the plunge away from my bridge camera.

Startrails.jpg
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I have just searched bignorman on here and the second page was worrying. It says bignorman removes the warranty card before sending out.
Does anyone know for sure about the Nikon warranty when an item is bought from bignorman?
 
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Well, unless you need the fold out screen I would probably stick with the D3100 which is a much nicer camera than the D3000.
 
My seventeen year old son has the D3100 and Nikkor 28-300VR, in fact I often use it as it's lighter than my DSLR, just do yourself a favour, when you buy tell thye shop you don't want the **** kit lens and that you want an offer on a decent lens, ok the kit one is fine but if you can afford more do it when handing over the cash, barter, I do on everything.

This is nice

http://www.jessops.com/online.store/products/75350/show.html

Though I would't shop from Jessops, or especially WEX, too OTT on price, do a deal with say Morris photo
 
JSER said:
My seventeen year old son has the D3100 and Nikkor 28-300VR, in fact I often use it as it's lighter than my DSLR, just do yourself a favour, when you buy tell thye shop you don't want the **** kit lens and that you want an offer on a decent lens, ok the kit one is fine but if you can afford more do it when handing over the cash, barter, I do on everything.

This is nice

http://www.jessops.com/online.store/products/75350/show.html

Though I would't shop from Jessops, or especially WEX, too OTT on price, do a deal with say Morris photo
Click to expand...

Hmm, I've had both the 18-55VR and the 18-105VR kit lenses and although I used the 18-105 more due to the added range the IQ is virtually identical between the two and the 18-55 has much less distortion at the wide angle.

For me the sensible thing to do would be to either just buy the kit with the 18-55 OR just get the body and buy the 18-105 second hand, you should be able to get one for around £120.
 
Thanks for the replies everybody. Went out after lunch today and came home with a D3100. Will use the extra money it would have cost for the D5100 to buy a couple of filters, maybe a 10 stop for daytime and a cable release.

I think I've made a wise choice, I just hope I'm not looking for 'more' in a few months time.
Cheers everyone
 
I'm currently a D3100 owner and very happy with it.

I know what you mean about the lack of decent camer shops here.
 
Hi Philip

I bought a d5100 back in july and love it. But then it was my first dslr so i have nothing to compare it too. I got the kit 18-55 lens and since bought a 55-300 too. I have found that they are more than adequate for my needs so far. I also bought a nikon infra red remote for around £10, very handy.
 
The D5100 is a very nice camera, nice to handle and the menu system is well laid out and clear.

I did appreciate the flip out screen when working on a tripod, as often I would be stood to the side or be higher than the camera, so instead of stooping down to see through the viewfinder, I would just hit the live view switch and alter the flip out screen so I could see it where ever I was stood.

I really liked it, the only reason I now have an upgrade is because I was able to get a D7000 at a very good price, else I would still have the D5100 now.
 
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