Topic: DSLR recomendations?

[maidencolorado]

This has probably been discussed dozens of times, so I won't claim to be original.  I'm looking for a DSLR for my wife for Christmas.  I'm leaning toward Nikon as we already have an old school (film) SLR and lenses, but I'm not dead set.  What I'm after is something fairly lightweight (she hates my camera as it is too heavy), around $1000 to $1200 (could include lens upgrades). 

We do a lot of nature photography and will be going to Yellowstone next year.  We also take pictures of our 2 girls (nearly 2 and 4 years old), the older is involved in some sports.  The largest we would be looking to have the pictures would be 8x10.

Thanks in advance

[eric.B]

A *very* broad question with many answers/opinions..   what lenses do you already have?   If you have lenses that will mount, consider the Nikon. 
I've allways agreed with the advice of building a camera system based on lenses, so if you already have a lens or two you think you might use, I might go that route.

Also.. If you went the route, you can pick up a used camera body so you spend a little less on that and pick up a real nice lens you might be able to use for a lifetime. 

for instance... If you already have a good all around lens, consider picking up a used Nikon body which will support a lens like this..

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/124669-GREY/Nikon_1986_80_200mm_f_2_8_ED_AF_D.html#accessories

This you can use for YEARS for all your daughters stuff in the future.  The lens, along with a good all around shorter zoom (say something like this..

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/300490-USA/Nikon_2147_17_55mm_f_2_8G_ED_IF_AF_S.html   )

you would be SET for a long time with occasional upgrades in camera bodies.. 

Of course, there are always other lens brands like sigma to consider...   

[Sanjay]

If you DO go Nikon, Keep in mind that the Nikon D40, D40x, and D60 will NOT support autofocusing of your old lenses, but they will still work.

D50, D70, D80, D90, D100, D200, D300, D700, D1h, D1x, D2h, D2x, D3 will all support autofocus on older lenses.

The bolded cameras should be within your budget used but are discontinued. 

Personally I would try to find a new D80 (freshly discontinued), with an 18-200mm VR lens.  Good all around walk around lens which should suffice for sports shots so long as they're outdoors. 

That should fit within your budget.   

Or if that is too much.

Buy this: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/541241-REG/Nikon_9483_D80_SLR_Digital_Camera.html
and then get the 55-200 VR lens for $225, you have the same focal length, 18-200 with great VR use.  The only thing this won't be great for is indoor super low light stuff.  For that you likely have an old lens like the 50mm 1.8 to use.

[maidencolorado]

Thanks for the feedback, especially the bit about the Nikons that will not support the autofocus of my existing lenses.  As far as what I've already got, yes, I do have a 50mm 1.8 and a 200mm 1.9.  I was looking into possibly upping to a 400mm 2.9 for my camera as well.

[Brian Skalinder]

FWIW, here's a similar thread I started a while back:  http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,100817.0.html

While it's discontinued, the Pentax K100D might suit your requirements.  Just one more option to consider.  As I think I note in the thread, I found it very helpful to hold the cameras in my hand and tinker in the store.  Ultimately, the Pentax K10D (successor to the K100D) just "felt right".

[jkmb]

My wife uses *our* D80 more than I do.  Can't get it out of her hands...  We probably should buy a 2nd body.  She is a semi-auto shooter and is quite comfortable with the camera.  The less expensive body has helped ease the cost of faster sharper glass.  That was the route we took.

[ozarkbilly]

I love my Nikon D40, which is my first foray into the DSLR world.  Very lightweight so I never get tired hauling it around.  As mentioned previously, there's no internal focus drive motor so AF is out unless the lens is AF-S or AF-I.  But I actually enjoy picking up older lenses and manual focusing since I am then compelled to pay more attention to composition.  Plus you can pick up some pretty fast glass for not a lot of dough, which is always nice.

[maidencolorado]

Since I can't +T anyone, I'll offer up a big thank you for the responses.  Looking forward to going out to try some of these out, helps to have a little more of an idea of what I'm looking at going in.

I found a local store that still has the Pentax K100D and the Nikon D80 as well.

[phanophish]

FWIW there ought to start being some great deals out there on D80s.  And D200s are selling for <$700.  It is a great camera.  I love my Nikons.  I'd also entertain looking at the D90, the movie mode is a nice bonus and the High ISO performance is closer to the D300, just a bit slower frame rate and a few less AF locations.

[phanophish]

Just found this...   VERY sexy.

http://www.reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?t=21835&page=3

RED   

[stirinthesauce]

that thing is bad ass!

[rastasean]

at least they are not worried about a depression/recession. Some of their products won't be released until 2010.

[Massive Dynamic]

If you DO go Nikon, Keep in mind that the Nikon D40, D40x, and D60 will NOT support autofocusing of your old lenses, but they will still work.

D50, D70, D80, D90, D100, D200, D300, D700, D1h, D1x, D2h, D2x, D3 will all support autofocus on older lenses.

The bolded cameras should be within your budget used but are discontinued. 

Personally I would try to find a new D80 (freshly discontinued), with an 18-200mm VR lens.  Good all around walk around lens which should suffice for sports shots so long as they're outdoors. 

That should fit within your budget.   

Or if that is too much.

Buy this: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/541241-REG/Nikon_9483_D80_SLR_Digital_Camera.html
and then get the 55-200 VR lens for $225, you have the same focal length, 18-200 with great VR use.  The only thing this won't be great for is indoor super low light stuff.  For that you likely have an old lens like the 50mm 1.8 to use.

I'm also considering a new digital camera, but haven't decided whether to get a small p/s that my wife and I would frequently use for pics of our 2 kids, or a Nikon DSLR that I could also use with my older MF AI-S lenses. I have 4 that get little use with my 20+y.o. FM-2n: 24/2.8, 35/2, 200/4macro, and a Tamron 80-200/2.8.

I've read that the D200 retains the most functionality with AI-S lenses, but it is a bit pricey (compared to a p/s), though I'm not sure I'm comfortable buying used. Some places are still selling new? I'd also have to buy a wider lens (DX-format) for indoor use. Is there a different model Nikon body anyone would recommend?

Also, with a DX camera, would my 200/f4 really be like a 300/4? Might get me back out in the field to do some more dragonfly photography.

[Sanjay]

I'm also considering a new digital camera, but haven't decided whether to get a small p/s that my wife and I would frequently use for pics of our 2 kids, or a Nikon DSLR that I could also use with my older MF AI-S lenses. I have 4 that get little use with my 20+y.o. FM-2n: 24/2.8, 35/2, 200/4macro, and a Tamron 80-200/2.8.

I've read that the D200 retains the most functionality with AI-S lenses, but it is a bit pricey (compared to a p/s), though I'm not sure I'm comfortable buying used. Some places are still selling new? I'd also have to buy a wider lens (DX-format) for indoor use. Is there a different model Nikon body anyone would recommend?

Also, with a DX camera, would my 200/f4 really be like a 300/4? Might get me back out in the field to do some more dragonfly photography.

A D200 or D300 and above would retain most functionality.  If a D200 is what you want I wouldn't hesitate to buy a used off KEH.com, B&H.com, or Fredmiranda.com (fredmiranda is the taperssection for digital photography) you can probably pick up a nice one from there for $700. 

Other bodies which might work well with lenses are D50, D70, D80 all discontinued and the D90.

DX lenses are 1.5x the focal length while retaining the same F stop values, so you are correct.