Equipment First time D-SLR buyer - choices\thoughts?

[Podge4]

In the next couple of months i am considering getting a DSLR and have a couple of ideas but am still thinking. My first thoughts have been towards the Nikon D3000, i've had a feel of it and quite like it. The other i've been thinking of is to save up a little more for the Nikon D5000, both have had good reviews from what i've read but there are a couple of things that i've read with them, that wouldn't necessarily put me off but would like some advice on.

The D3000 doesn't have Liveview but the D5000 does, is that much of an issue or not?

And neither of them have image stabilization, so use VR lenses for that job.

Both reviews http://www.whatdigitalcamera.com/equ...cts%5B%5D=1126 seem pretty good, and What digital Camera mag says the D3000 is one of the best entry dslr's around.

Does or has anyone used either??

[JazzXP]

I have a D5000 and I love it. I kind of half wish I had have spent the extra on the D90 though (could have bought a cheaper 50mm AF lens rather than having to buy AF-S along with commander mode for flashes).

That said, the adjustable screen is nice for getting weird angles on photos (such as very low down, or above your head).

Can't really comment on the D3000 though.

[Senny]

I had the choice of a D3000 or a D5000. I decided to go for a D3000, I just wanted something to get me started. I'm not to bothered about liveview and it has pretty much everything else I want/need on it. Good camera for the money.

[Sifter3000]

Looked into this a month or so ago for a friend, and a lot of the reviews I read were a bit harsh on the D3000 compared to the D5000; that said, I think cheap Nikon dSLRs are excellent - I'm still using my D40 three years on and it's a really terrific camera. You can always look at the next model up and think "wish I'd saved for that", but in reality, The D5000 has what a first time dSLR user needs - it's light and compact so isn't scary/a pain to carry with you, and the 18-55 kit lens is also very good for the money.

[Podge4]

Originally Posted by Sifter3000

You can always look at the next model up and think "wish I'd saved for that"

I've been looking at a video review and a few of the videos recorded on the D5000 on youtube and i admit the D3000 does look good but i would be thinking i should have gone for the D5000. I'm going to look into it a bit more but i am aiming now towards the D5000. Any other thoughts would be welcome.

One other thing. The lens that comes with it as a pack i think is a 18mm-55mm vr lens and is a pretty good lens (from what i've read). I would like to get a more telephoto one eventually, would it be worth just getting the body and getting a better lens (i don't know a great deal about lens')? Im just thinking of money in the long run, would it be worth investing in a longer focal range lens at the begining or get used to the bundled one first?

[teamtd11]

depending where you are you could look into a canon rebel xs/ 1000D, if you look around enough you can catch them for just under £300 or even cheaper in $, mine was about £250 (thats with the 18-55 IS kit lens) from newegg after converting. review http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneos1000d/

though if your set on Nikon then ignore all of that

[Sifter3000]

Originally Posted by Podge4

One other thing. The lens that comes with it as a pack i think is a 18mm-55mm vr lens and is a pretty good lens (from what i've read). I would like to get a more telephoto one eventually, would it be worth just getting the body and getting a better lens (i don't know a great deal about lens')? Im just thinking of money in the long run, would it be worth investing in a longer focal range lens at the begining or get used to the bundled one first?

I got my D40 with the older 18-55 - it lacked VR but I think that's the only difference - and after two years, upgraded to the 18-200 VR (which I took all the pix in this thread with). It's a great lens, but it's about £550, ie the same price on its own as the D5000 w/ 18-55, and the 18-55 offers a decent amount of zoom and sharpness (here is a shot I took with it when I first bought the camera); it's certainly a good lens to learn with, and it's also very light and small, so you'll find yourself using it a lot, which is a good thing.

The main argument for getting the 18-55 is that if you look at what you save when you buy the D5000 body only, it's not much - the 18-55 is heavily discounted in the kit.

[JazzXP]

The 18-55 is pretty good for a kit lens. I bought my D5000 in a twin lens kit which came with a 55-200 which compliments it nicely. That's good to get you started. I've since bought a 50mm f/1.4 for low light/DoF and to learn primes, but the cheaper 35mm f/1.8 would suit you well also. I'd suggest that for further down the track though.

[atanum141]

I bought the D5000 on release. The kit lens is very good compared to the kit lens on my D40. i was walking past Jessops today and they had a wondeful offer for the standard D5000 with 18-55 VR, Tamron 77-300(sumthing around those lines) Memory card and bag for £699. Thats a great offer compard to the £650 i paid for mine.

If i didn't have the money at the time I would still go for the D3000, All reviewers say its the perfect startup camera with plenty of options to add on kit. The Liveview on the D5000 is great but it has it limitations and TBH ive only used it a handful of times but that's not the case with the Vari-screen.

[Podge4]

Originally Posted by teamtd11

depending where you are you could look into a canon rebel xs/ 1000D

I have been lookin at that one too, it was compared to the D3000 in a mag, both about the same.

I think i have decided now tho. I think i may go for the D5000 kit, and use the 18-55mm lens to get used to it and get back up to speed with iso' and f metering stuff. I used that on the nikon Coolpix 990 i have, until it broke as i was cleaning it (it was a good few old and had a hell of a lot of use.) At a later point I will consider a flash gun too, i do use my camera for events and gigs (not often at moment as i only use a Casio Exilim EX-Z1080, it takes good pics but not that versitial on manual settings), what would be good to look out for on them.

p.s. thx for all the help guys

[veato]

Just to go against the grain of Nikon/Canon; some of the Sony, Pentax and Olympus cameras are good value at the 'begginer' end of the market and have features you might not find on the similar priced market leaders such as built-in VR/IS. That said if you want to start investing into a system for the future so you can keep hold of the glass and just upgrade the body then Nikon/Canon have more options in that respect.

[teamtd11]

http://www.cameralabs.com/buyers_gui...get_DSLR.shtml

[Vers]

Just for the hell of it...
http://www.measy.com/quiz/category/dslrs

[Podge4]

Originally Posted by Vers

Just for the hell of it...
http://www.measy.com/quiz/category/dslrs

just done this and the Canon Rebel T1i was 1st and the D5000 was second, thx for the other thoughts ppl

[JazzXP]

Originally Posted by Vers

Just for the hell of it...
http://www.measy.com/quiz/category/dslrs

Problem with that site is it purely looks at features. It doesn't compare the quality of the photos, in which the D5000 (on http://dxomark.com/index.php/eng/Ins...s.-Nikon-D5000) scores about 2/3 of a stop better in terms of noise, dynamic range and colour depth.

I think your best bet will be going into a store, holding both, and see which one feels better in your hands.

[Silver51]

Have a look at the Pentax K-x.

In body image stabilizing, live view et al. The kit lens is lightweight but serviceable but as the body is compatible with every K mount lens ever made there's plenty to chose from. Otherwise, there's the K20D or K7 if you're wanting an upgrade path, or Star glass if lenses are your thing.

Just sayin'.

[cybergenics]

Argos have the Olympus E-420 for 299, if you are in the UK. Its a bargain. Personally I think the only thing this camera lacks is Image Stabilisation. Now that isn't as bad as it sounds, the lens is comes with is a 14-42mm but investing in the Zuiko Pancake 25mm will provide plenty of versatility with the option of using both.

I think that the low end D-SLR's by Olympus have the edge over Nikon / Canon, the old thing about Olympus and the quality of its 'blues' is quite true.

The other plus of the 420 is its still the worlds smallest and lightest D-SLR, for a beginner moving from point and shoot and clarity and depth of the images you can get will knock your socks off (with some practice).

Once you get into the more exotic price range, Olympus still have plenty to offer, my main camera is an E-30.

[Vers]

Originally Posted by JazzXP

Problem with that site is it purely looks at features. It doesn't compare the quality of the photos, in which the D5000 (on http://dxomark.com/index.php/eng/Ins...s.-Nikon-D5000) scores about 2/3 of a stop better in terms of noise, dynamic range and colour depth.

I think your best bet will be going into a store, holding both, and see which one feels better in your hands.

DXO is an absolute joke and should not be used to make purchase decisions. The fact that they measure the sensor output only, and not the camera system as a whole is a major flaw. And FWIW measy, which does not only cover features, is pretty accurate, as simplistic as it is. Obviously it shouldn't be the only source, but it will help narrow things down.

And one last thing, I bet I could shoot a subject or scene with both the D5000 and the T1i using the same framing, settings and lighting using comparable glass and no one here would be able to tell the difference in print.

[Vers]

Also keep in mind that going with Sony, Pentax, Oly or any other smaller DSLR manufacturer will not offer a great range of lenses from both first and third party lens manufacturers. Sticking with Nikon and Canon will give you a greater range of options and generally at lower price points. Do your research on the camera system as a whole, rather than just the body.

[Jumeira_Johnny]

Originally Posted by Vers

DXO is an absolute joke and should not be used to make purchase decisions. The fact that they measure the sensor output only, and not the camera system as a whole is a major flaw.

Not to mention, they do not publish how they measure, which makes it hard to judge. Not that I'm all the caring about the details, I look at the finished image; those that do like to be able to replicate the technical tests. And with DXO you can't. So take them with a large dose of salt. Particularly when it comes to color, I'm told.