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Bigchaser

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I posted this in the Nikon D80/D70/D50/D40 forum, but only received 1 reply. Hopefully I will have more luck here, again thanks in advance.

First off I know this has been covered many times, however I feel I need to ask again.
This is my first post, so sorry if this is not posted in the correct forum.

I have enjoyed using my point and shoot digital camera, but feel its time to move on and make the move to a DSLR. I have never owned nor had experience with a SLR or DSLR before, but I’m keen and want to learn.

I guess I’ll use the camera mostly for landscapes but I also like to take photos while travelling so portrait and architecture will feature but sports will not. I know this is a wide range of subjects….

I figure probably the D80, 12-24mm f/4G IF DX and 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF DX VR???

As I will be new to the DSLR’s from what I understand the D80 will be more suited to me rather the D200 and the 2 lenses will cover a large range of situations.
I look forward to your comments and recommendations.

--
[email protected]
 
Sounds like you don't worry about money a lot, and in this case yes, this is a good setup. The long end of the 18-200 DX is not all that good though, but if this is not your major interest, this shouldn't be a big problem. You may want to add a 50/1.8 or 50/1.4 for portraits.

Basil
 
Well, at least the lens part is in the right forum :-)

You have to decide if you are comfortable with changing lenses... I cannot tell you that.

My initial reaction is: Strange mixture (enthusiast body, pro ultra wide angle, mediocre super zoom) - but not necessarily wrong. If you hate changing lenses, take most shots at 12-24 mm and do not care much about the long end and low light - you should be fine.

I am not exactly sure about your local pricing, but getting a D80, Tokina 12-24 or Sigma 10-20, Nikon 18-70 as kit lens (or 3rd party equivalents), and Nikon 70-300 VR should give you better image quality and range overall and still leave money for a decent flash (SB-800 or SB-600) and maybe a 50/1.8 prime.

Just an opinion of course.

Cheers,
Uwe
Bigchaser said:
I posted this in the Nikon D80/D70/D50/D40 forum, but only received
1 reply. Hopefully I will have more luck here, again thanks in
advance.

First off I know this has been covered many times, however I feel I
need to ask again.
This is my first post, so sorry if this is not posted in the
correct forum.
I have enjoyed using my point and shoot digital camera, but feel
its time to move on and make the move to a DSLR. I have never owned
nor had experience with a SLR or DSLR before, but I’m keen and want
to learn.
I guess I’ll use the camera mostly for landscapes but I also like
to take photos while travelling so portrait and architecture will
feature but sports will not. I know this is a wide range of
subjects….
I figure probably the D80, 12-24mm f/4G IF DX and 18-200mm
f/3.5-5.6G IF DX VR???
As I will be new to the DSLR’s from what I understand the D80 will
be more suited to me rather the D200 and the 2 lenses will cover a
large range of situations.
I look forward to your comments and recommendations.

--
[email protected]
Click to expand...
 
uwe_r said:
My initial reaction is: Strange mixture
Click to expand...
Thought that as well. But since he says he's interested primarily in landscapes, I guess the 12-24 DX is his "serious lens", while the 18-200 serves as a kind of "do all the rest in one" lens. Looking at it from that perspective, it works. I wouldn't chose that setup (I'd get Tokina 12-24 - Nikon 50/1.4 - Nikon 70-300 VR and fill the gap in the middle with a kit lens, either 18-70 DX or 18-135 DX), but that's up to him.

Basil
 
Thanks for your comments above.

Basil you are correct, money is not the big issue here. However I need to get the lens combo correct as I live and work in a remote part of Indonesia. No mail order here I’m afraid.

Uwe I would prefer not to change lenses too often, that’s why I suggested the two zoom lenses, but I’m open to suggestions.

I’m now a bit concerned by the comments about the 18 – 200 and low light.

How about a set up like this,
  • D80 18 – 135 Kit
  • Nikon 12 - 24
  • Nikon 18 - 135
  • Nikon 70 – 300 VR
Just 2% more expensive than my original, and then get the prime for portraits.

Comments please.

--
[email protected]
 
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