Camera help

ruthwebb

ruthwebb

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ruth
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Hi guys. Which would you recommend. The nikon d800 or nikon d600 with 24-85mm lens kit???
 
It comes with the lens(d600). I have a d5100 at the min but I want a better camera. :)
 
People recommending cameras before we know what she needs it for and what she photographs is not very helpful.

Ruth, what kind of work do you produce, and what do you do with it? D you print big? D you prefer a smaller, lighter camera, or a bigger heavier camera?


Sorry for typos... Using the iPad... Auto correct etc.
 
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It may also be prudent to ask you to clarify what you mean by a 'better' camera. In what ways is your current camera not doing what you would like? By knowing that, it might be possible to recommend one of the options you have highlighted.
 
A better camera wont make you a better photographer..

Just wanna throw that out before you spend any money.
 
Good point. If you want a better camera because you feel your photos aren't good enough, a new camera is not the answer.
 
Hi guys. I take photos of kids mainly. I have seen alot of photographers that take photos and there are clear even without a tripod x
 
ruthwebb said:
Hi guys. I take photos of kids mainly. I have seen alot of photographers that take photos and there are clear even without a tripod x
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Your D5100 is easily capable of taking sharp photographs without a tripod. You need to ensure that you have enough light to use a fast shutter speed is all. Are you using the camera on manual? If not, try using Shutter Priority (S) and set the fastest speed you can.

I'm afraid though, that while you have seen excellent, sharp photos from people without using a tripod, they may well also have good knowledge of the subject, and lots of experience.

At what level are you at technically?
 
@pookeyhead thanks for your help. I am teaching myself untill I start college in September. I really enjoy it and I have taken some good shots but I want to be a bit more advanced in photography.
 
@pookeyhead. Thank you. Really helps when there's people on here that will help. We're not all brilliant at photography and that's why I am willing to learn x
 
Hi Ruth. Another option is to upgrade your glass. I don't know what you're currently using, but moving away from a kit lens can made a huge difference.
 
ruthwebb said:
Hi guys. I take photos of kids mainly. I have seen alot of photographers that take photos and there are clear even without a tripod x
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You can take clear and sharp photo's with any gear; technique first, then quality glass, then a better camera body would be the order of priority. That said, kit lenses really show their weaknesses at this time of year when it's so dark all the time.

If you jump to a D800 and put cheap glass on it and don't improve your technique - you've completely wasted your money. You'll still get the same standard of picture, you'll just have massive files to show for them.

I've no idea how limiting the d5100 is, but I guarantee that a 35mm 1.4 and a 2.8 std zoom will improve your photography more than a new camera. And learning from your mistakes will improve it even more.
 
Phil V said:
I've no idea how limiting the d5100 is, but I guarantee that a 35mm 1.4 and a 2.8 std zoom will improve your photography more than a new camera. And learning from your mistakes will improve it even more.
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Owning a d5100 for more than a year, the camera itself isn't that limiting. It has excellent low noise at high iso, when you consider the sensor size and cost of the camera. Clearly, it isn't up to the standards of the big FF boys, but it is a fine camera for indoor (without a flash) photography. The biggest two things that improved my shots over the last year was firstly a fast prime (Nikor 35mm f1.8, at about £150 so very good value) and secondly the realisation that high-iso shots with a little noise are preferable to blurred or underexposed shots, as modern noise reduction software is actually quite good.

My advice would be, as a fellow d5100 owner, is to buy a £150 fast prime (35mm or 50mm) for next to no money, crank up the iso (or, shutter priority to something fast with auto-iso), and experiment before spending £££ on a new body.

The only limiting factor of the d5100 is some of the more advanced features can only be accessed via the menu, and there are no "custom" set-ups on the top dial (which are present on the d7000, for example). But these are relatively minor and shouldn't affect anyone's abilities to take sharp shots. The d5100 is a very decent camera for the money!
 
Phil V said:
You can take clear and sharp photo's with any gear; technique first, then quality glass, then a better camera body would be the order of priority. That said, kit lenses really show their weaknesses at this time of year when it's so dark all the time.

If you jump to a D800 and put cheap glass on it and don't improve your technique - you've completely wasted your money. You'll still get the same standard of picture, you'll just have massive files to show for them.

I've no idea how limiting the d5100 is, but I guarantee that a 35mm 1.4 and a 2.8 std zoom will improve your photography more than a new camera. And learning from your mistakes will improve it even more.
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I'm getting fed up of agreeing with Phil V all the time :D

But yes - the camera you have is good enough, the lenses and your technique are where you're going wrong

Putting a kit lens on a D600 and moreso a D800 is like dropping a small diesel engine into a Ferrari body, you are just not going to get the performance you're hoping for; but dropping a Ferrari engine into a Mondeo would certainly up performance of an already good car

Where technique comes in is that you still need to be a good driver to get the best out of anything :)

Dave
 
ruthwebb said:
Hi guys. I take photos of kids mainly. I have seen alot of photographers that take photos and there are clear even without a tripod x
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Here is a shot of my son, using a d5100 and 35mm f1.8, indoors in relatively low light, no flash or tripod.


Here is one taken with the kit lens (18-55) in slightly better light, but nonetheless shows that what you have can take sharp shots.


Crank up the iso, choose a fast-ish shutter (eg 1/200 or more) and experiment!
 
@sunnysideup hey. I am using an 18-55mm lens on my nikon d5100 which is the VR kit I got with it. X
 
Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR Lens
 
NO NO NO NO........

Do not spend money to help you take better pictures, the camera will HELP you take better pictures.

Ruth, you are in the run before you can walk mode, Your camera is up to the job, you are up to the job, you just need to combine the two!

Spend money on training/glass/beer/training. Teaching yourself is all well and good, but without the opionions of your fellow photographers, you are teaching yourself your own habbits.

Slow down, learn, improve, build, develop, master, move on.

Phil.
 
Thanks Phil. Just need someone to sit down with me and help me. It's hard to find someone that will. It's lovely getting the advice off here but I learn better when shown. Do you think the
Lens I put above is ok ^^^ as I defo need a new one
 
Read this review (or one of many to be found on google):
http://www.dpreview.com/lensreviews/nikon-af-s-18-300mm-3p5-5p6-vr

In particular:
"Ultimately, when assessing a superzoom like the 18-300mm, it's always important to understand the compromises that inevitably have to be made with a lens that offers such extreme range. It's never going to match a pair of lenses covering the same range for image quality, but that's not really the point; the question is whether the convenience of carrying one lens that you never have to change makes up for this. It you really need the widest zoom range in a single lens, that's exactly what it offers. But overall we're not convinced the 18-300mm offers sufficient advantages to justify the size and price premium over its main competitors."

So, that lens (as rightly pointed out in the review) is about compromise. If your photography is walking about, taking photos at the different extremes of focal length in one shoot, then it could be perfect for you if you don't want to keep changing lenses. If your photography doesn't regularly flit between wide angle to zoom, then maybe it isn't the lens for you - you would get better performance from a 70-300, for example, for less money.

I would work out what it is you want to take photos of, then buy the lens (or other kit) according to your needs.
 
I have lots of lens's, my goto lens is a tamron 18-50 2.8. they all have different jobs ;)

What do you need help with? I may be able to meet up and go through some stuff.
 
DG Phototraining said:
I'm getting fed up of agreeing with Phil V all the time :D

But yes - the camera you have is good enough, the lenses and your technique are where you're going wrong

Putting a kit lens on a D600 and moreso a D800 is like dropping a small diesel engine into a Ferrari body, you are just not going to get the performance you're hoping for; but dropping a Ferrari engine into a Mondeo would certainly up performance of an already good car

Where technique comes in is that you still need to be a good driver to get the best out of anything :)

Dave
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You usually just ignore me when I say something you disagree with;)
 
ruthwebb said:
Thanks Phil. Just need someone to sit down with me and help me. It's hard to find someone that will. It's lovely getting the advice off here but I learn better when shown. Do you think the
Lens I put above is ok ^^^ as I defo need a new one
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God no! :nono:

Think about other areas of life:

What car would you want for a blast round a race track?

What car would you want to take your mates to a festival?

What car would you want for nipping round town?

3 different cars for different jobs.

Lots of people suggested a single focal length lens (35mm):thumbs:.

That super zoom is trying to do the work of about 9 lenses, what's the chance it'll do anything well?
If you want a zoom, get an 18-55 (ish) 2.8. It won't have the reach, but it'll be sharper and much nicer to use.
But the 35mm is a must have. I wish Canon did one.
 
I could be wrong but I think only the first one will fit your camera!!

If you have money, get over to the classifieds, there are 1 or 2 35mm going for around the £110 mark!!

Seriously the best bit if kit I have bought sofar is the 50mm 1.8g!! It's razor sharp even in low light!
 
Is it only the nikkor ones that will fit ?? So you don't think the first one will be any good ??
 
The others are for the Nikon 1 system. Only the first one will fit.
 
Just go and buy the Nikon 35mm f/1.8 if you really must buy something.

Your issue is technique, not gear, but a Lens like the above will allow you to shoot in low light with a faster shutter speed and will help develop your technique.
 
ruthwebb said:
Hi guys. I take photos of kids mainly. I have seen alot of photographers that take photos and there are clear even without a tripod x
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If you want to take photos of kids that are moving about etc, you need a fast lens (lower f number) to keep the shutter speed up!

That first lens will still be good but will not really keep the shutter speeds down due to the! Why spend £1009 when you can spend £150 for the 35mm and have way more fun!! Just think of all that lovely bokeh!! Mmmmm
 
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Try this:
http://www.jessops.com/online.store...ikon/af-s-35mm-f1-8-g-dx-lens-76070/show.html

There are plenty of other suppliers, all around the £150 mark. Expect to pay £120 second hand (not worth it IMHO for this lens). Best lens I bought so far (currently have the kit 18-55mm, a 55-200mm VR and the 35mm f1.8 ), especially for taking photos of the kids....

I really wouldn't spend £1k on a lens yet. Practice, learn and make an informed decision in a year....
 
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shaunyshaun1234 said:
If you want to take photos of kids that are moving about etc, you need a fast lens (lower f number) to keep the shutter speed down!
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You mean up.. surely.


I used to use the 35mm f1.8G when I had a D7000 and it's a fantastic lens. Pin sharp, even wide open, and the fast f1.8 max aperture means you can shoot in very low light.
 
Pookeyhead said:
You mean up.. surely.

I used to use the 35mm f1.8G when I had a D7000 and it's a fantastic lens. Pin sharp, even wide open, and the fast f1.8 max aperture means you can shoot in very low light.
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Correct! And corrected!

Thanks
 
Hi Ruth.

Seems like you've been given some great advice to stay with your current camera and learn more techniques etc. I can't recommend this enough.

As for kit- when you reach a high enough level you will make anything work and still produce great images.

Every lens has a purpose and will outshine others when it is used for that purpose however: for now, get used to ISO, shutter speed, aperture, lighting and mainly how to get the most light in for the maximum shutter speed you can get away with.

When you feel you are getting great images with what you have, a better lens will allow YOU to produce better results.

After owning a spectrum of different lenses, my current bag consists of my D7000, 18-200, 50mm f1.8 and a set of extension rings.

For most things I use my 18-200 and for low light I grab my 50. That's it and I make it work. I don't get caught up too much with too many different lenses as I feel my current level allows me to produce nice images from what I have...and it also challenges me creatively when I don't have "the best lens for the job" :)

Try bouncing your pop up flash indoors to make the kit lens work inside! Set it to the highest power and in manual mode, have your hand direct the flash up to a ceiling. The light will then 'bounce' from the ceiling onto your subject and allow you to use lower ISO and faster shutter speeds. See- you don't even need to buy a flash unit when you know how ;)
 
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