Buying first DSLR. Nikons

Brad0612

Brad0612

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Hi all, I'm looking to buy my first DSLR this christmas, as I've been getting tired of the film development costs, being a student haha.

The ones I'm interested in are the Nikon D3100 and the D90. I know they're a bit apart in the Nikon range, and I've done a fair bit of research on both cameras. I also know my way around a camera fairly well and have some experience with the Canon 450D, always on Manual mode, but I just like Nikons.

And I know about the D5100, but don't fancy it because it's too like the D3100 to justify and extra couple hundred quid and I don't like how the swivel screen deletes the buttons down the side of the screen.

Anyway, I've used my girlfriend's D3100 quite a bit and love it, but also used a mate's D80 which I also love. Now Jessops are offering the D90 for £600 I'm extremely tempted by this. But I don't know which to plump for.

So what would you do? Would I be better reaching to the top of my budget for the D90 with it's better lens etc. (I also like the little LCD info screen it has), or getting the D3100, which sort of does everything I need, and maybe getting an extra lens further down the line?

I should mention that I do a lot of street photography, and some landscapes, and like to carry my current camera most places I go.

Any second opinion would be fab, cheers! :)
 
Oh and something that I'm a little concerned about is weather sealing. I used the Canon 450D in wind and rain in Glasgow a few times and it was fine (when I returned it to college haha), although I believe it doesn't have any protecting or sealing. How would the above mentioned cameras cope in bad weather, and should I even worry about it?
 
What is your total budget for camera and lenses? I'd be inclined to buy a used D90 and spend the rest on glass.

You'll only get weather sealing on pro bodies and lenses.
 
Brad0612 said:
Oh and something that I'm a little concerned about is weather sealing. I used the Canon 450D in wind and rain in Glasgow a few times and it was fine (when I returned it to college haha), although I believe it doesn't have any protecting or sealing. How would the above mentioned cameras cope in bad weather, and should I even worry about it?
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None of the entry level cameras from Nikon (or Canon or anyone else come to that) are weather sealed, for that you need to step up a level to something like a used D300 which would be well within your budget these days and should leave enough change for something like a 50mm f/1.8 lens.
 
Based on choosing between 3100 and D90, I would say D90, you can use the 50mm F1.8 D which is a nice cheap prime to have to the collection.
 
D90 go get it!

Has a motor for older lenses, think its got video if that is required. Was a cut down d300.


Very good for a starter camera. You can grow into it and when ready upgrade to something better.

What glass are you considering to go with it?
 
i vote fort D90 as well. Someone mention the build in AF motor which is something handy to have to use old lens which is still very good and cheap as well.

i.e 50mm f1.8 prime and the nikon 80-200 f2.8 lens :)

Also the top LCD from the D90 will make changing setting faster as well, i use to use a D5000 and changing setting is pain in the butt, i.e iso, exposure, bracket, wb etc.

Now i got a D7000 and everything is in my hand without going into menu, i can concentrate on shooting instead of messing around manually changing settings lol.
 
Okay cheers everyone :)

For the moment I'm planning on using whatever lens comes with the camera until I learn more about lenses and decide what I want. D90 sounds like my best bet now, if it's got a motor for use with older lenses. I just hope it's available for that price come December, although I'm not scared of second hand at all. TBH it's the D90 I really want :)
 
Same here, I am after my first SLR. I have decided to try for a used D90. Seems to get good reviews.

Have you noticed how many D3100's are for sale on ebay? Most are only months old.
 
silure130 said:
Have you noticed how many D3100's are for sale on ebay? Most are only months old.
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I noticed this recently - couldn't believe how many there were.

I fancy that a lot of folks "upgraded" to the 3000/3100 from p&s cameras to get better images and very quickly found out that better images also require a better understanding of photography too.
 
To be honest I'm glad i had a D5000 as my first camera then expand my knowledge and lens collection for that camera. I've taking great portraits, sports and general landscape photo.

The D5000 serve me well for the last 2 years and i know alot more about photography and now i got D7000 and i just loving it :)
 
badboy1984 said:
To be honest I'm glad i had a D5000 as my first camera then expand my knowledge and lens collection for that camera. I've taking great portraits, sports and general landscape photo.

The D5000 serve me well for the last 2 years and i know alot more about photography and now i got D7000 and i just loving it :)
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Exactly what I did, was a great route into the hobby and now all I need is some fast glass :thumbs:

D90 is a great camera. Might be worth looking in the classifieds though for a D300 as they aren't too expensive second hand and are apparently awesome.
 
If you are doing street then the main lenses tend to be 28 & 35 (OK HCB used mainly 50 but wider lenses were not easy to come by then!), but you need to allow for the 1.5X crop so 20 & 24 would seem the closest lens equivalents. The problem is these lenses are ironically far more expensive than the equivalents for a full frame shooter.

If I was starting from scratch on a budget I would also look at micro four thirds (eg GF1, EP1) and even classic digital compacts like the Ricoh GRDIII.
 
Thanks! I'm thinking my budget might allow for a second hand D90, I shall keep an eye on the Bay and also the classifieds in here, once I've posted 25 times haha.
 
D90 would be my choice too. I would love to own one of those
 
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buy your girlfriend the D7000 (so christmas for her sorted and you'll be in her good books for ages) and have her D3100 for yourself.
 
tim_uk said:
buy your girlfriend the D7000 (so christmas for her sorted and you'll be in her good books for ages) and have her D3100 for yourself.
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I like......
 
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