Nikon or not Nikon?

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shrimpdragon

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Amanda
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Hi, new user here, I have had an SLR before, film that is, but have been using a compact for a few years now.
Now I fancy a DSLR. Been looking at the Sony A230 but I think it's too dear for me used models seem few & far between. Then I bumped into the Nikon D50 a 'good entry level camera' probably just what I need.
What's the verdict.
Oh yes will have to be a used one with as many extras as poss.:bonk:
 
That's all up to you. The Camera that is best suited to you is the best to go for. Have you handled one? See if you are comftorble with it.
 
YOU have to buy what suits YOU best. This applies to price, how the camera feels when YOU hold it and the nature of the control layout.
Never buy what someone else has bought soley on their recommendation.

Welcome to TP as well:)
 
Handling is 99.9% of the buying decision I think. IQ is academic if you buy a camera that feels wrong in your hand.

The D50 is old tech but still more than useable if you're just getting into photography. It's a good step up in fact, better than a compact, because you can buy into a series of lenses.

The D70/70s gets good reviews too - it's a little larger - and there are plenty on the used market. The D80 is even better, a yummy little number.

The Sony is around the £330 mark with a lens, am I right? That's pretty good but I'm sue you can get an equivalent Nikon camera on ebay for much less: seen one body-only for £155 plus P&P

Also, have a look in the for sale section to see what's about. :)

EDIT; here's one in the for sale section....
 
currys and pcworld was selling a D80 and a kit lens for like 337 recently

i went to get one as a back up all gone
 
Buy a cheap Nikon camera for now, then spend all your money on good Nikon glassware.
Then, when you can afford to, upgrade to a better Nikon Camera.

Or do the same with a Canon equivalent...seriously...it's the right thing to do - the two market leaders are the market leaders for very good reasons - their products are the best.
 
I have a d80 and a fuji s5 pro and they are both awesome bodies i find. I find the fuji a little better on skin tones, but your paying the difference.

Whatever you get check out ebay as i had my nikon for about £150 less. Just make sure you pay through paypal ha
 
Arkady said:
Buy a cheap Nikon camera for now, then spend all your money on good Nikon glassware.
Then, when you can afford to, upgrade to a better Nikon Camera.

Or do the same with a Canon equivalent...seriously...it's the right thing to do - the two market leaders are the market leaders for very good reasons - their products are the best.
Click to expand...

:plusone:

This is GOOD advice. Lenses do not loose much in value and can actually appreciate. Bodies will loose value as soon as you open the box. Get the body that does what you need and spend the rest on glass. It is the glass that is responsible for the image not the body. Yes some bodies are better than others but a cheap body with a good lens will beat a good body with a rubbish lens.

I chose Nikon because I really liked the "AFS 105mm f/2.8 micro" and because I went into Wilkinson's Cameras and had a play with the D200 and the Canon equivalent (sorry can't remember what it was now 40D or something like that). I just preferred the layout of the controls on the Nikon and it just sort of fit.
 
The D50 is a good place to start. I still think some of my favourites were taken with my D50.

It seems a tad more solid than the current entry Nikons and has the auto focus in the body.
 
the D50 is a great place to start (i did ;) ), and will leave you with quite a bit to spend on lenses, especially since you'll be able to use all the old 'screwdriver focus' lenses which more recent entry-level nikons can't deal with.
 
I started off with a Sony A300, it was and still is a great little camera. TBH I probably would be still using it right now or ever upgraded to a better model Sony if the Nikon D3 didnt come along at the right price.

But as Arkady says, get good glass for whatever camera you choose.
 
i've had a nikon d40 and then to a sony a300

the d50 being older still a good setup, but i think the a230 would be a better choice
 
I love my D50...it is a great camera, I used it for all sorts from motorsport to wildlife...but have moved on to a 300s, thing is all my lens work with both and it gave great results. The D50 fitted my hands perfectly and is really light weight....

but go and try tis the only way!

Plenty of good ones on ebay!
 
shrimpdragon said:
.
Now I fancy a DSLR. Been looking at the Sony A230 but I think it's too dear for me used models seem few & far between. Then I bumped into the Nikon D50 a 'good entry level camera' probably just what I need. :
Click to expand...
Sony now have cashback on the A230 for the next few months (in fairness all the manufacturers have promotions for the Xmas buying season). You may be able to find an A200 even cheaper though & quite a few people would say that the A230 isn't technically any better in IQ terms just smaller, lighter etc.

The D50 is quite an old body now & of course the A200/A230 outpoint it in terms of MP, in-body IS, in-body wireless flash controller etc.

handle them all, make up your mind & then see what kind of deals you can find.
 
Having owned both Nikon and Canon there are both very good brands each having their own advantages over the other. Best answer really is to go to a brick and mortar shop - try both brands and see which one 'feels right' for you .
 
If you can find somewhere with both a D70 and a D50 in their 2nd hand stock, try them both for size. They produce very similar images (IIRC, they use the same sensor) but do handle quite differently. Both have body based AF so can use all Nikon fit AF lenses with the only major differences (apart from size) being that the D70 uses CF cards while the D50 uses SD and the D70 has a depth of field preview facility.

You'll be wanting a lens to go with it and for the price, the Nikon 18-70 lens that came with D70 kits is pretty hard to beat. The 18-55 lenses that came with D50s aren't quite as good but are still worth having if the 18-70 is too expensive or not available.
 
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