Hello. I am new here and have a question about DSLRs for my budding photographer daughter

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OldFashioned

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Greg
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Hello everyone.

My daughter (12) recently discovered my wife's Nikon N65 up in our loft. She is very keen to try her hand with photography. We have a Nikkor AF 28-80mm 1:3.3-5.6 G lens (please tell me if there is a better way to identify the lens) on it.

We were looking to get me daughter a DSLR so she can see the results of her pictures immediately and because film and developing are so expensive.

I've had a look on Amazon and they have a Nikon D90 body only for £139, which is in our price range. There is also the D3200 for £149

I was hoping for some advice on:
  1. Are these decent cameras for a beginner?
  2. Would anyone happen to know if the lens we have already would fit either of these camera bodies?
  3. Could anyone recommend an OK beginner camera which our existing lens would work with.
We don't/can't spend a lot and we don't really know if she'll get into photography. But we'd like to be able to encourage her interest without breaking the bank.

Thank you for your time everyone.

-Greg
 
Go for the D3200, it's a great little camera and your 28-80 will work well with it. :)
 
Either camera will work with that lens, however as both cameras are apsc or half frame the field of view (without getting overly complex guys ;)) is going to mean the lens will effectively have a 42-120 range which isn’t particularly wide.

Of the two cameras the D90 was a semi pro camera and well respected back in its day, that would be my choice as it has better physical controls whereas the D3200 is entry level so less features but has a better sensor and is more modern.
 
Sky said:
Exactly - entry level. The kid is 12 years old . . .
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And therefore would probably benefit from some form of Auto Focus capability.

Which rules the D3200 out with that lens.
 
OldFashioned said:
Hey guys, thanks for the replies. I have purchased a D3200. I guess I'll be visiting this forum in the future as my daughter and I explore her new hobby.

Thanks again.
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It might be worth seeing if you can return the camera in exchange for the D90 IF you want to use the older lens. Otherwise consider lookng for and 18-55 kit lens for £40-£50:

Used Nikon AF-S Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 (4*) | 101413| London Camera Exchange -Guildford

Used Nikon AF-S Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 (4*) | 101413 | London Camera Exchange - Guildford | To buy or for more information visit Guildford or call 01483 504040
www.lcegroup.co.uk

Used Nikon 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AF-P| London Camera Exchange -Newcastle

Used Nikon 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AF-P | London Camera Exchange - Newcastle | To buy or for more information visit Newcastle or call 0191 213 0060
www.lcegroup.co.uk

Used Nikon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6G AF-P| London Camera Exchange -Newcastle

Used Nikon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6G AF-P | London Camera Exchange - Newcastle | To buy or for more information visit Newcastle or call 0191 213 0060
www.lcegroup.co.uk
 
Haven't had much experience of Nikon, but I would completely agree with the need for auto focus to work well.

I'm not sure that a 12 year old needs an "entry level" camera, in fact I would consider it not a good idea.

I have a grand daughter (13) who uses a Canon 2000D and only uses manual, and I have a son (12) who has a 450D, 550D, 100D and last September tried a Panasonic G5, then a month ago took over my G7, and can use the G9 without any issues. He uses all modes (PASM) and often exposure compensation. He loves the Canons, but has found he gets far less out of focus or blurred images with Panasonic, but how simple or complex the cameras are to use makes no difference to him, and he changes between them as if they were all the same.
He plays around and tries different things more than my granddaughter, gets more bad photos, but also more good ones :)
The only comment he makes is when one can't do something as easily or quickly as another.

If it was said that some one of retirement age who hasn't used a camera before needs an entry level camera, I would agree, but not today's 12 year olds :)
All cameras can be used in simpler modes, and entry level cameras may end up being limiting.

Let her learn the basics of PAS first, then composition all by going out and taking photos
 
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Sky said:
Exactly - entry level. The kid is 12 years old . . .
Click to expand...
There's no such thing as an entry level camera!!

I may get this tattoo'd on my forehead.

'Entry level' doesn't mean 'more suitable for beginners', it means, there's features missing which ensures the consumer will need to upgrade. It's economics 101, 'entry level' means a product aimed at newcomers to the market.

The 'easiest' camera to use is one which has all the important functions readily available - which is often what's missing in 'entry level' cameras.

Meanwhile the OP has missed out on vital information that means they now have to buy a lens suitable for the wrong camera.

Definitely a bad day at the office for TP here. If we can't give accurate advice to someone, what use are we?
 
DemiLion said:
And therefore would probably benefit from some form of Auto Focus capability.

Which rules the D3200 out with that lens.
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Why? It's a G lens so doesn't need the camera to have a focussing motor.
 
I suspect it's one of the old plastic fantastic lenses from before the gelded series.
Snapsh0t said:
? It's a G lens so doesn't need the camera to have a focussing motor.
Click to expand...
 
Sky said:
Go for the D3200, it's a great little camera and your 28-80 will work well with it. :)
Click to expand...


Except for autofocus. The lens needs a body with an AF motor to drive the AF. The OP will need an AF-S lens for the D 3200.

On the plus side, a reasonable AF-S lens isn't going to break the bank.
 
ancient_mariner said:
I suspect it's one of the old plastic fantastic lenses from before the gelded series.
Click to expand...

Nod said:
Except for autofocus. The lens needs a body with an AF motor to drive the AF. The OP will need an AF-S lens for the D 3200.

On the plus side, a reasonable AF-S lens isn't going to break the bank.
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The OP has clearly said his lens is a G model so why won't this work with a D3200? Unless my memory is totally faulty, G lenses have built-in focussing motors so don't need one in the camera.
 
Snapsh0t said:
The OP has clearly said his lens is a G model so why won't this work with a D3200? Unless my memory is totally faulty, G lenses have built-in focussing motors so don't need one in the camera.
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Not quite... Nikon made 2 iirc g series lenses that are AF only and not AF-S.

I have one at home, it's all plastic, including lens mount too.

This is the lens the op has: https://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/28-80mm-g.htm
 
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I had the same lens as a kit lens with my F65 (same camera as the OP's N65 but a different model designation) and know it's screw driven.
 
OldFashioned said:
I have purchased a D3200. I guess I'll be visiting this forum in the future as my daughter and I explore her new hobby.
Click to expand...

A good choice Greg, it will suit her well. (y)

There's nothing wrong with her using manual focus on your old 28-80 to get her started, it will teach her how focussing works. The camera will also allow her to use it manually so she can discover how shutter speed and aperture works. It will of course, also work in full automatic mode if she doesn't want to learn those to start with.

If you want to add an auto focussing lens, these can be picked up very cheaply - the 'kit' lens for this camera is the AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55 f/3.5-5.6G VR and these can be picked up for £30.00 to £50.00 quite easily.

Good luck, I'm sure she'll love it. :)
 
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Phil V said:
There's no such thing as an entry level camera!!

I may get this tattoo'd on my forehead.

'Entry level' doesn't mean 'more suitable for beginners', it means, there's features missing which ensures the consumer will need to upgrade. It's economics 101, 'entry level' means a product aimed at newcomers to the market.

The 'easiest' camera to use is one which has all the important functions readily available - which is often what's missing in 'entry level' cameras.

Meanwhile the OP has missed out on vital information that means they now have to buy a lens suitable for the wrong camera.

Definitely a bad day at the office for TP here. If we can't give accurate advice to someone, what use are we?
Click to expand...
100% This. My wife bought an "entry level" Fuji X-T100 a few years ago and it's a complete nightmare to use. Just changing the AF point requires you to dig into a menu as there are so many physical controls missing. It's much harder to use than my X-T4.
 
Phil V said:
There's no such thing as an entry level camera!!

I may get this tattoo'd on my forehead.

'Entry level' doesn't mean 'more suitable for beginners', it means, there's features missing which ensures the consumer will need to upgrade. It's economics 101, 'entry level' means a product aimed at newcomers to the market.
Click to expand...
I agree with this sentiment. I’ve wasted so much money over the years eventually upgrading to a “pro model” which in reality I could have used from the start. Even this “pro model” has full auto settings and semi auto settings, the only thing that’s missing is the horrible picture settings that some have such as the painting setting that turns your photo into a watercolour etc. That being said I do like the miniature/diorama setting ;)
 
RichardC27 said:
100% This. My wife bought an "entry level" Fuji X-T100 a few years ago and it's a complete nightmare to use. Just changing the AF point requires you to dig into a menu as there are so many physical controls missing. It's much harder to use than my X-T4.
Click to expand...

A little time spent setting a camera up to suit the user may save a lot of frustration later on.
 
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@OldFashioned we are your friends of course, but don't forget Google and YouTube. I hope you all get to enjoy the new kit and enjoy the journey.
 
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