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d80 18-135 vs d50 18-200

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hea

hea

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I want my first DSLR
which pack is better ?

D80 + 18-135 lens kit = $1,300
or
D50 ($550) + 18-200VR lens ($800) = $1,300
 
Interesting choice, do you get 48% more zoom or get 67% more pixels? Mathematically it's a no brainer, you can take a pic at 135mm and crop to the equivalent of 200mm and still have pixels to spare. So the vote goes to the D80 with the cheaper lens. This is contrary to what I tell me people which is to invest in glass not bodies as glass stays constant in price, bodies drop in price as new models come out.
 
better build quality, probably better IQ than 18-135

18-200 is great choice if you don't want to shoot pictures for a few months (until you get the lens)
 
Hi Carl,

Personally, I am a "no-brainer" when it comes to math. So I'm very curious how one figures out the focal length/pixels/crop equation. I'm very satisfied with my D50/18-200VR combo, but am naturally curious about the D80 as an upgrade, perhaps down the road.

Specifically, how far would the extra MPs extend a 200mm lens with a crop of equivalent quality. Or put another way, with the D50's 6.1 MP, how much longer than 200mm can one crop without losing IQ.

Somehow I'm guessing there is not such a clear-cut answer. I do hope I'm making some sense with my question. Thanks to all, in advance, for any illumination on the topic!

Best regards,
Barry
Carl Buellwinkle said:
Interesting choice, do you get 48% more zoom or get 67% more
pixels? Mathematically it's a no brainer, you can take a pic at
135mm and crop to the equivalent of 200mm and still have pixels to
spare. So the vote goes to the D80 with the cheaper lens. This is
contrary to what I tell me people which is to invest in glass not
bodies as glass stays constant in price, bodies drop in price as
new models come out.
Click to expand...
--
I invite you to visit http://barryphoto.smugmug.com/
 
D50 ($550) + 18-200VR lens ($800) = $1,300
--
If it looks good shoot it.
Nikon D-50
Nikon SB600
Nikkor18-70mm
Nikkor 18-55mm
Nikkor 50mm 1.8D
Sigma 70-300mm APO DG
 
I went with the D80/18-55 combo, with the 18-200 VR on order. This way I get to play with my D80 while I wait for my eventual walk around lens. A little more costly than your examples, but I think the VF/LCD/10MP enhancements will be worth it in the long haul. I don't plan on upgrading bodies for a good long while, so it makes my first DSLR decision even easier.

--
~ Suddenly I See ~
 
I agree - D80 + 18-200VR is a GREAT combo. (I own it) I would still get the D80 and the 18-70 is a solid performer combined with the Sigma 70-200MM 2.8 for similar $$$ Unless you are a complete newbie, get the D80 over the D50 or you will always be itching to upgrade, just learning. the D50 is a fine choice IMHO Regards, JSPEN
 
If you plan to spend time/money/effort to become a better photographer than buy the most camera you can afford with the lens you want.

If you want good pictures and a good camera and don't want to become intensely immersed in photography, buy the least expensive camera. I am not saying the D50 is an inferior camera. If photography is not going to become an intense hobby, then don't spend the extra money on a camera with capabilities that you will never use. Buy the best value--D50 and 18-200 vr lens and SB 600.
--
D 8 0, D 7 0, 1 8 - 7 0, 5 0 f 1.4, 1 0 5 mm V R,
S B 6 0 0, 1 8 - 2 0 0 V R, N V, N C, P S E 4
 
... who:
(1) Has just a passing interest in photography
(2) Likes to take social and vacation shots
(3) Prints 96.51% of pictures in 4 x 6 format
(4) Hates sitting in front of a computer staring at pixels 100%
(5) Doesn't like debating image quality on forums
(6) Won't spend money getting more lenses in the near future
(7) Don't like to mess around with too many camera settings
(8) Prefers to just hand the memory card over to the photo shop for printing
(9) Is not really too sure what a 0.4 sec mirror-up delay is useful for

(10) Is crazy for great zoom range and flexibility ( http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1034&message=19931972 )

... then I'd enthusiastically recommend the D50 + 18-200 VR., no doubt, no ifs or buts, and no guilt. And you'd be so happy with my suggestion - until your next equipment lust rears its ugly head :-)

This is always the way to decide which combo to get. Do a profile of yourself, needs, wants, likes, dislikes, future expansion plans, photographic inclinations, and then go find the equipment that best fits that profile. Good luck with your decision.
hea said:
I want my first DSLR
which pack is better ?

D80 + 18-135 lens kit = $1,300
or
D50 ($550) + 18-200VR lens ($800) = $1,300
Click to expand...
--
Regards, David Chin
(D.7.0. & C.P.4.5.0.0.)

Nikon D80 Links:
http://www.nikond80links.com
http://www.pbase.com/dlcmh/nikon_d80_sneak_pictures

Links to all my other sites:
http://www.flickr.com/people/davidchinphoto
 
It's just a matter of how many MP you need for a good image. So if you are satisfied that a 6MP picture is a good as it's going to get for you on say an 8x10, then the extra 4MP of the D80 doesn't buy you anything other than you can crop down from 10MP to 6MP without losing IQ, hence your 200mm telephoto picture would crop up to what you would have gotten with about a 320mm lens. Also consider that many people never blowup past what they post on the web or 5x7" and reality you can get a pretty nice print with a 3MP picture on a dyesub printer or photo lab.
barrnet said:
Specifically, how far would the extra MPs extend a 200mm lens with
a crop of equivalent quality. Or put another way, with the D50's
6.1 MP, how much longer than 200mm can one crop without losing IQ.

Somehow I'm guessing there is not such a clear-cut answer. I do
hope I'm making some sense with my question. Thanks to all, in
advance, for any illumination on the topic!

Best regards,
Barry
Carl Buellwinkle said:
Interesting choice, do you get 48% more zoom or get 67% more
pixels? Mathematically it's a no brainer, you can take a pic at
135mm and crop to the equivalent of 200mm and still have pixels to
spare. So the vote goes to the D80 with the cheaper lens. This is
contrary to what I tell me people which is to invest in glass not
bodies as glass stays constant in price, bodies drop in price as
new models come out.
Click to expand...
--
I invite you to visit http://barryphoto.smugmug.com/
Click to expand...
 
Well wrote, i find myself in that same boat. Wish i could afford the 18-200 and the wait time to get the dang thing.
 
I was kinda in the same boat. I chose the D80 with the 18-135mm. But I'm getting the 18-200mm for the extra zoom but more importantly the VRII. Selling the 18-135mm on ebay or classifieds. the 18-135mm IS a very nice lens though.
 
David, that's about the most sensible reply I've ever read to this perrennial question. I feel like we should all bookmark it, and just click a link to it whenever anybody asks what lens to buy!
--
All the best,
Kit
Please see my pictures at
http://www.parazz.com/albums/kithg
 
check on the 18-135 discussion here and see the ken rockwell site. Sharp and contrasty, fast AF, but distorted. Note that the 18-70 distorts heavily wide open.
 
If you can afford the cost of the 18-200 its a no brainer, heck, get the d80 w/ 18-200.

The problem the majority of users here may face is that they simply cannot afford a lens that expensive initially, ontop of the body (yes i know glass is more important, but how many people at a hobbyist level spend more on a lens than a body(£5-800 for the d70s/d80).

Another problem most people, like myself, find with the 18-200 is . . . not being able to find it in stock.

I dno't want to save a few £ and get an ebay one, sans warranty. Which means being without a lens for unknown months. To me that would have a larger impact on my shots!

I know this has been covered before, but i just wish people would stop telling hobbyists/consumers to sit and wait for a lens indefinately that nowhere has in stock; some of us didn't preorder 1/2 a year ago and have only owned a dslr for a few months.

If you're serious enough to want the 18-200, personally, i'd get the d80 18-135 for now, pre-order the 18-200, and start shooting today. Sell your 135 when the shiney 200 arrives.
Just my $0.02 / £0.01
(I await a flaming as is usual on this forum)
--
http://flickr.com/photos/daveyr
 
I've got the 18-135 and its got strengths and weaknesses. Please search the forums here or see ken rockwell's site. Getting it as part of the D80 kit is good value for money.

The 18-200 is the best walkaround and versatile lens but its more expensive than the 18-70 or 18-55. If you know you want it , get it straightaway and skip the 18-135.

However, you could go with a kit lens and identify your needs after plenty shooting first. For example, the money saved on the 18-200 could go towards the 12-24 if that fits your needs better.
 
How about a D80 and the 18-70.....seems like a better and more traditional match to me over the 18-135 which is essentially just another super zoom - one that appears quite mediocre at best.

I love this concept for comparison though.

How about a D70 with the 70-200VR
-or-
The D80 with the 80-200f2.8

--
http://www.ianz28.smugmug.com

 
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