I want to buy a new digital camera and need advice

[Camerafan]

I want to buy a new digital camera and need advice

I have an old 35 mm camera but it uses photographic film. My old camera has a wide angle lens and a 200 mm lens. I wish to buy a new camera which is 35 mm and which is digital. I want a new digital camera as good as or better than my old photograph film camera.

Do any readers have any recommendations?

I am looking for the following:

Powerful optical zoom lens (equivalent or better than 200 mm)
Wide angle lens
Big memory card (I take many photographs)
Battery chargers
Tripod
Flash/external flash
HD movie capability
Microphone in camera
3 - 10 pictures per second
Good quality pictures (perhaps 14 megapixels or more)

Should I have a digital camera with electronic or optical viewfinder - which is better?
Which shop should I buy the digital camera from?
Can I get weatherproof digital camera?
Can I get insurance for a digital camera - insurance against theft and/or damage? Where do I get that insurance from?
Will the 200 mm and wide angle lenses on my old photograph film camera work on my new digital camera?

I hope someone reading this can help with advice.

Thank you.

 

[POAH]

Budget?

 

[Camerafan]

Budget?

Thank you for your reply, POAH.

Budget - up to £1000 (less than £700 if possible).

If I have to cut back on what I want I will to remain in budget. The main thing is I need a digital 35 mm camera to match the capabilities of my old photograph film camera which has wide angle and 200 m lenses.

I've got a tripod, by the way, but I do not know if it could be used with a new 35 mm digital camera.

 

[Ady N]

Details of existing camera/lenses?

 

[Camerafan]

Details of existing camera/lenses?

Thank you for your reply Ady N.

It is a 35 mm Nikon camera with a wide angle lens and a 200 m zoom lens. It is not digital.

I have just looked for it but am not sure where it is at the moment so cannot give you the exact model number. It is very old. I should have the model number later.

 

[Ady N]

Thank you for your reply Ady N.

It is a 35 mm Nikon camera with a wide angle lens and a 200 m zoom lens. It is not digital.

I have just looked for it but am not sure where it is at the moment so cannot give you the exact model number. It is very old. I should have the model number later.

You should be able to use the older Nikon lenses with the latest Nikon DSLR bodies so this may start you on the Nikon path. You will need to properly ID the lenses you have. Best Nikon bet within budget is the D7000 body which should leave you with approx £200 for other 'bits' such as memory cards, etc. take a look at the spec on this body and see what you think.

 

[TCR4x4]

You'll struggle get a 35mm equivilent body for your budget. The only options that might come close are the Canon 5D and the Nikon D700. Neither of those offer HD video, and the D700 is "only" 12 MP (not that it matters one jot)

You'll have to learn to live with a smaller sensor and just get used to which lenses replicate the field of view you are after.

Almost all DSLR's have optical viewfinders, yes the more expensive pro bodies are weathersealed, yes you can get insurance, just google camera insurance. Loads of companies provide cover

 

[Camerafan]

You should be able to use the older Nikon lenses with the latest Nikon DSLR bodies so this may start you on the Nikon path. You will need to properly ID the lenses you have. Best Nikon bet within budget is the D7000 body which should leave you with approx £200 for other 'bits' such as memory cards, etc. take a look at the spec on this body and see what you think.

Thank you for your reply, Ady.

I have looked at the full product details in the article on the link you have kindly provided (in posting number six to this thread). It does not mention that the camera has a microphone; nor the number of pictures per second it takes. It looks like a good camera - one which I would be interested in buying if my Nikon lenses will work on it. My Nikon lenses (which are over twenty years old) are: Nikon AF Nikon 70 - 210 mm and Nikon AF Nikkor 24 - 50 mm.

Forgive me, but what does ID the lenses mean (words used in the quote above). Do you mean I should try out my old lenses on a digital Nikon camera body in a camera shop?

 

[heidfirst]

Forgive me, but what does ID the lenses mean (words used in the quote above).

he means that you should properly identify exactly which lenses your existing ones are.

 

[Camerafan]

You'll struggle get a 35mm equivilent body for your budget.

Thank you for your reply TCR4x4 and for the link.

If it is too expensive to include HD video in the camera I will just buy an HD video camera separately. I can easily be flexible on that.

I got my old Nikon camera (which uses photographic film) just over 20 years ago for about £400 - £500. That included the lenses I refer to in my last posting to this thread (posting number eight). I wonder how much would the equivalent digital Nikon camera cost today I would like to buy a digital camera which can take 3 or more pictures per second. I will probably buy a Nikon digital camera if my Nikon lenses (mentioned in my last posting to this thread) will work on it.

 

[Camerafan]

...he means that you should properly identify exactly which lenses your existing ones are.

Right. Thank you for your reply heidfirst.

The lenses I have on my old Nikon camera are the Nikon AF Nikkor (70 - 210 mm - 1:4-5.6) and the AF Nikkor 24-50mm (1:3.3-4.5).

 

[Camerafan]

Does anyone know what I should ask for when I buy a camera regarding zoom - do I ask for 200 mm (which is what I want) I do I go for optical zoom instead?

What is the optical zoom equivalent of 200m zoom?

 

[gfinlayson]

Your 70-210 and 24-50 will both autofocus on a D7000. They may be old lenses, but optically they're pretty good.

The D7000 is a DX (crop sensor body) so effective focal length is 1.5x that of the lens. You may need to invest in a wider angle lens in the future as 24mm on your wide angle will look like 36mm.

It has a 100% coverage optical viewfinder, built in mic, shoots HD video, has 16.2 MP, 39 point AF, shoots 6 FPS and is currently Nikon's most advanced DX camera. It has a small built in flash which can also function in commander mode with external Nikon flashes, and gas a hotshoe to fit an external flash. Image quality is excellent and you can shoot fairly comfortably up to about ISO 3200 with it if you expose properly. For web display and small prints ISO 6400 is usable with care.

 

[gfinlayson]

PS while not weatherproof, the D7000 is reasonably weather sealed, so a bit of rain won't kill it....,

 

[Camerafan]

gfinlayson wrote: Your 70-210 and 24-50 will both autofocus on a D7000. They may be old lenses, but optically they're pretty good.

That is good to know. Thank you for that advice ginlayson. So if I buy a Nikon D7000 then I probably have the lenses I need (at least for now). If my Nikon lenses will work on a new digital Nikon camera then my next camera will be a Nikon.

gfinlayson wrote: The D7000 is a DX (crop sensor body) so effective focal length is 1.5x that of the lens.

Although a keen photographer I do not have a great knowledge of digital photography so I am not quite sure what all of the above means.

gfinlayson wrote: You may need to invest in a wider angle lens in the future as 24mm on your wide angle will look like 36mm.

What Nikon wide angle lens would you recommend please? I may not buy it immediately but I know your advice is good so will get one a bit later on.

gfinlayson wrote of the Nikon D7000: It has a 100% coverage optical viewfinder, built in mic, shoots HD video, has 16.2 MP....

That's all very good and I am grateful, gfinlayson, for your advice on this. I am increasingly interested in this camera.

gfinlayson wrote of the Nikon D7000: ...you can shoot fairly comfortably up to about ISO 3200 with it if you expose properly. For web display and small prints ISO 6400 is usable with care.

I know that ISO has something to do with film speed but am not sure about 3200, nor 6400. Perhaps you might be kind to tell me a little more about this gfinlayson. Thank you.

I wonder if the Nikon D7000 camera will fit onto my camera tripod. Do digital cameras fit on some but not all tripods?

 

[Camerafan]

PS while not weatherproof, the D7000 is reasonably weather sealed, so a bit of rain won't kill it....,

I have a small pocket-sized digital camera the viewfinder of which appears to have been permanently damaged by usage in a light rainfall.

If I get a new digital SLR 35 mm camera will the guarantee cover it from possible rain damage?

What is the equivalent in optical zoom to a 70 mm - 210 mm lens.

 

[Camerafan]

PS while not weatherproof, the D7000 is reasonably weather sealed, so a bit of rain won't kill it....,

Just a couple of further questions - if you could help me I would be very grateful, gfinlayson.

The article on the link below about the Nikon D7000 refers to: 2 x SD, SDHC, SDXC - dual SD card slots with SDXC compatibility.

Does this mean that the D7000 can use three different types of memory card - SD, SDHC and SDXC? My present digital camera (a small pocket camera) appears to be able to use only one kind of memory card.

The article referred to above is here (the article has a link in to another page with further details about the Nikon D7000):

http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/nikon-...t.html?srcid=369&xtor=AL-1&cmpid=aff~Skimbit~

 

[Ady N]

I have a small pocket-sized digital camera the viewfinder of which appears to have been permanently damaged by usage in a light rainfall.

If I get a new digital SLR 35 mm camera will the guarantee cover it from possible rain damage?

What is the equivalent in optical zoom to a 70 mm - 210 mm lens.

If it does get damaged due to water ingress your guarantee will not cover it. You have to be sensible in the rain and if heavy rain use a plastic camera jacket to protect it.

70-210 would be like having a 105-315 on your existing 35mm camera.

The tripod should be OK unless it is some sort of obscure fitting - screws into a threaded hole on the base of the body.

There is a full review of the camera here:
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d7000.htm

 

[gfinlayson]

ISO is a measure of the sensitivity of a film/sensor to light. The most common 'fast' film was ISO 400 or ASA 400. ISO 3200 is 8 times more sensitive to light or 3 stops faster than ISO 400.

A crop sensor is 24 x 16 mm. A full frame sensor is 36 x 24 mm. For a given focal length, a crop sensor has a narrower field of view by a factor of 1.5, so in effect it behaves like a focal length 1.5x longer. A 200mm lens gets you as close as a 300mm lens on a full frame camera.

The D7000 accepts SD cards, and has two slots which can be configured in a number of ways. SDHC and SDXC are just higher capacity firms of SD.

The standard tripod thread is 1/4" 20 TPI. The standard camera tripod socket is 1/4" 20 TPI, so unless you have a very unusual tripod, it will fit the D7000. There is also a larger 3/8" x 16 TPI thread for tripods, but it is almost exclusively used on large, expensive, heavy duty tripods.

 

[Camerafan]

Ady N wrote: If it does get damaged due to water ingress your guarantee will not cover it. You have to be sensible in the rain and if heavy rain use a plastic camera jacket to protect it.

I shall have to buy insurance to cover possible damage to the camera.

I have a small pocket-sized digital camera the viewfinder of which appears to have been damaged by a light rainfall while I was out taking some photographs.

Ady N wrote: The tripod should be OK unless it is some sort of obscure fitting - screws into a threaded hole on the base of the body.

Thank you for letting me know this Ady.

 

[Camerafan]

gfinlayson wrote: ISO is a measure of the sensitivity of a film/sensor to light. The most common 'fast' film was ISO 400 or ASA 400. ISO 3200 is 8 times more sensitive to light or 3 stops faster than ISO 400.

Thank you for explaining this to me gfinlayson. I used to use ASA 400 quite often.

gfinlayson wrote: A crop sensor is 24 x 16 mm. A full frame sensor is 36 x 24 mm. For a given focal length, a crop sensor has a narrower field of view by a factor of 1.5, so in effect it behaves like a focal length 1.5x longer. A 200mm lens gets you as close as a 300mm lens on a full frame camera.

Thank you for explaining this to me gfinlayson.

gfinlayson wrote: The D7000 accepts SD cards, and has two slots which can be configured in a number of ways. SDHC and SDXC are just higher capacity firms of SD.

I shall have to buy a very big memory card as I do a lot of photography.

gfinlayson wrote: The standard tripod thread is 1/4" 20 TPI. The standard camera tripod socket is 1/4" 20 TPI, so unless you have a very unusual tripod, it will fit the D7000.

I will try my new camera out on the tripod. If it doesn't fit on the tripod I shall have to purchase a new one.

The tripod does not have a bag so I assume if I am going to take it out I shall have to buy a special bag for it.

 

[gfinlayson]

I shall have to buy a very big memory card as I do a lot of photography.

Rather than buying one very large memory card, it's more sensible to buy a number of smaller ones. If a card fails, you stand to lose less, and it gives more manageable chunks to deal with when copying to a PC for editing/backing up.

Also don't be persuaded to buy the exceedingly fast and expensive cards. The D7000's buffer has a maximum data transfer rate of around 25MB/s. There's no real benefit to spending more on a really fast card, other than slightly faster download to a PC if your card reader can keep up.

I use the Sandisk 30MB/s Class 10 cards. They're no slower on the camera than the 95MB/s UHS-1 cards and cost much less. Buy cards from a reputable manufacturer (Sandisk or Lexar) and from a reputable seller to avoid fakes.

I normally carry 6 to 8 16 GB cards with me at any time. I shoot in RAW with slot 2 set to backup. This gives me about 640 images per pair of cards with full backup. With 8 cards, that's around 2500 photos. That is a lot of photos.

Look around on line for cards, there are lots of good deals to be had. Memory has never been cheaper....

 

[Camerafan]

I am thinking of buying the Nikon D5100. However, the Wikipedia review (link below) says that there is no autofocus motor and that fully automatic autofocus requires a lens with an integrated autofocus monitor. I am no expert on digital photography so perhaps someone might be kind enough to explain to me what that means.

Autofocus is also referred to in the kenrockwell.com article (link below).

A couple of the articles below seem to suggest that the Nikon D5100 might not be able to do night shots in colour when using the HD video facility.

I need a new digital SLR which can do the following:

HD video in colour day or night
Microphone built in
At least 3 fps
Zoom lens to at least 200 mm

I am prepared to buy an HD camera separately if it works out cheaper or more practical to do so.

I have a Nikon F401s but want to buy a new digital SLR.

I have an AF Nikkor 24 – 50 mm lens and a Nikon AF Nikkor 70 – 210 mm lens. I would like to use them on a new Nikon digital SLR but have been advised that it might be better to buy new lenses.

Any advice on the Nikon D5100 would be appreciated. Does anyone reading this know of a camera (Nikon or other brand) which does autofocus and the other things I refer to above? Do I need autofocus?

Thank you for reading this.

The links referred to above are below:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond5100

http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Nikon_D5100/

http://www.photographyblog.com/reviews/nikon_d5100_review/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikon_D5100

http://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/dslr/d5100/

http://www.squidoo.com/nikond5100

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d5100.htm

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/D5100/D5100A.HTM

 

[Camerafan]

Rather than buying one very large memory card, it's more sensible to buy a number of smaller ones. If a card fails, you stand to lose less.....There's no real benefit to spending more on a really fast card, other than slightly faster download to a PC if your card reader can keep up....I normally carry 6 to 8 16 GB cards with me at any time. I shoot in RAW with slot 2 set to backup. This gives me about 640 images per pair of cards with full backup. With 8 cards, that's around 2500 photos. That is a lot of photos.....Look around on line for cards, there are lots of good deals to be had. Memory has never been cheaper....

Thank you for your advice gfinlayson. I will take your advice, of course, and will get a few memory cards instead of one big one. I will try to get most of them online as you suggest.

 

[TCR4x4]

All lower end Nikon bodies do not have an autofocus motor, they instead rely on the lens they use to perform that function. All Nikon lenses designated AF-S have this motor inbuilt, so you can autofocus with them.

Yes the camera records HD video in colour.

The lenses you currently own will not autofocus with a D5100..

Its a great camera, and peforms pretty much all the functions you ask.

 

[Camerafan]

TCR4x4 wrote: All lower end Nikon bodies do not have an autofocus motor, they instead rely on the lens they use to perform that function. All Nikon lenses designated AF-S have this motor inbuilt, so you can autofocus with them.

Thank your for your prompt and helpful reply TCR4x4.

So do I need autofocus? I assume that if there is no autofocus I just have to manually adjust the lens to get it into focus?

TCR4x4 wrote: Yes the camera records HD video in colour.

Unless I have read a couple of the articles (on the links given in my posting number 23 to this thread) the camera will do not colour HD video at night. If that is the case, then it might be better if I buy a DSLR which does not have HD at all - and buy an HD digital video camera separately. What do you think?

TCR4x4 wrote: The lenses you currently own will not autofocus with a D5100.

Should I buy just the camera body only and use my existing lenses on the new camera even though they will not autofocus? Someone advised me to get new lenses. What is your view please?

TCR4x4 wrote regarding the Nikon D5100: It's a great camera....

It looks that way but I want a DSLR which definitely does night HD video. If I cannot find one within the price range I am thinking of, then I met get a DSLR without HD video and buy an HD video camera which can do night video recordings.

 

[weybourne]

I haven't read all the links you gave - far too much to search for the reference you make, but don't expect too much of any camera in respect of night-time 'colour-vision' - our eyes can't do that and nor can purpose built night-time video cameras. There's only so much that can be done with limited light.

 

[gfinlayson]

Your current lenses are perfectly adequate for a D7000. I have owned and used the 70-210 on both a D700 and a D7000.

The D5100 won't autofocus with your current lenses. It also lacks many of the dedicated function buttons of the D7000 and requires frequent access to the menu to change settings.

If you go with the 5100, you'll have to buy new AF-S lenses to have autofocus. With the D7000, you'll be able to keep your existing lenses and have a better camera.

 

[TCR4x4]

Go onto YouTube.com and type in the search "Nikon d5100 night video test". I think you will find it clearly does do colour video a night, within the realms of what the sensor can see.

Only you can answer if you need autofocus. I'd say yes you so, but many do without it. I myself have one manual focus only lens, and it's not that hard to get to grips with.
As for getting new lenses, if you buy a body with a kit lens, you can try both. You won't get much money selling your existing one, so you might as well keep them.

 

[TCR4x4]

I think I see where the confusion lies. The d5100 has a video mode called night vision. This is indeed black and white only, however you can film in colour as normal in any lighting situation.

 

[Camerafan]

I haven't read all the links you gave - far too much to search for the reference you make, but don't expect too much of any camera in respect of night-time 'colour-vision' - our eyes can't do that and nor can purpose built night-time video cameras. There's only so much that can be done with limited light.

Thank you for your reply, Weybourne. Of course, I was not expecting anyone to read through all the articles on the links gave. I included them just in case someone wanted a quick browse.

I shall take your advice, of course, regarding night vision HD video.

 

[Camerafan]

The lenses you currently own will not autofocus with a D5100..

I am told that they will autofocus on a Nikon D7000.

It seems that it might be better to spend more on a D7000 if I can use my Nikon lenses on it rather than get another Nikon DSLR - possibly for less money - if I have to then spend extra on new lenses.

 

[TCR4x4]

I am told that they will autofocus on a Nikon D7000.

It seems that it might be better to spend more on a D7000 if I can use my Nikon lenses on it rather than get another Nikon DSLR - possibly for less money - if I have to then spend extra on new lenses.

Yes they will focus on the d7000 as that has the motor built in. Your call as to which option to take. If you are happy to spend a little extra on a d7000 then go for it.

 

[Camerafan]

gfinlayson wrote: Your current lenses are perfectly adequate for a D7000. I have owned and used the 70-210 on both a D700 and a D7000.

Excellent news - since my lenses will autofocus on the D7000 I am now thinking of getting one.

gfinlayson wrote: The D5100 won't autofocus with your current lenses. It also lacks many of the dedicated function buttons of the D7000 and requires frequent access to the menu to change settings.

I would rather get a D7000 than buy a D5100 if I have to then spend more on getting new lenses.

gfinlayson wrote: If you go with the 5100, you'll have to buy new AF-S lenses to have autofocus. With the D7000, you'll be able to keep your existing lenses and have a better camera.

I cannot thank you enough for your advice on this gfinlayson. I am seriously thinking of buying a D7000 in the next few days as my first DSLR.

 

[weybourne]

One thing to add about manual vs. auto-focussing: older film cameras had focussing screens designed for manual focussing, usually of the 'split-screen' type but DSLRs come with plain focussing screens (as standard) - much harder to manually focus with - especially with eyes that are 20 years older. If the technology is there - you might as well get it/use it. I've never met anyone who leaves the AF permanently switched off - I've met a few who leave it permanently switched on.

 

[Camerafan]

Yes they will focus on the d7000 as that has the motor built in. Your call as to which option to take. If you are happy to spend a little extra on a d7000 then go for it.

Thank for your reply TCR4x4. I don't want to spend any more than I have to on a camera - but I would rather pay extra if I can use my existing Nikon lenses fully and get a better camera at the same time (i.e. the D7000).

Many people - who know far more than I do about digital photography - seem to be praising the D7000. It is getting very good internet reviews too, I see.

 

[Camerafan]

One thing to add about manual vs. auto-focussing: older film cameras had focussing screens designed for manual focussing, usually of the 'split-screen' type but DSLRs come with plain focussing screens (as standard) - much harder to manually focus with - especially with eyes that are 20 years older. If the technology is there - you might as well get it/use it. I've never met anyone who leaves the AF permanently switched off - I've met a few who leave it permanently switched on.

So the Nikon D7000 has this technology? If it does - I might well go for it. I must get a new DSLR over the next two or three days, so your views and opinions on this are important and your replies much appreciated by me, weybourne.

 

[weybourne]

So the Nikon D7000 has this technology? If it does - I might well go for it. I must get a new DSLR over the next two or three days, so your views and opinions on this are important and your replies much appreciated by me, weybourne.

The technology is the internal auto-focussing motor that the D7000 has which will allow your current lenses (that do not have their own built-in auto-focus motor) to auto-focus ('AF') as per Tom's (TCR4x4) posts above.

 

[Camerafan]

Camerafan wrote: So the Nikon D7000 has this technology? If it does - I might well go for it. I must get a new DSLR over the next two or three days, so your views and opinions on this are important and your replies much appreciated by me, weybourne.

weybourne wrote: The technology is the internal auto-focussing motor that the D7000 has which will allow your current lenses (that do not have their own built-in auto-focus motor) to auto-focus ('AF') as per Tom's (TCR4x4) posts above.

Thank you for confirming this, weybourne. I just want to be sure before I buy such an expensive item.

I cannot thank you enough for your advice on this, weybourne. I now have a shortlist of four Nikon cameras - the D7000, the D90, the D3200 and the D5100. I have to decide in the next couple of days which one to buy.

 

[weybourne]

To be honest, in respect to my comment about the D7000, I wasn't confirming but reiterating what had already been said. Nikons are not my forté - I'll leave it to the Nikon experts to confirm it.