I'm buying 3 cameras!

Well, I have this great dilemma. Read the whole story here:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1022&message=39005859

In a nutshell, our very small high school has a newspaper and yearbook and currently only one D40x to go between them, so I pleaded for money and received the go ahead to purchase 3 cameras for a max cost of $1500. Yeah, I'm shopping used. If you read the other thread, I was thinking about getting a Pentax K-x, Oly E-620, and Pani GH1--just for different strengths and the used prices on these are fantastic. I've been wisely guided to stay within one (maybe 2) systems so I'm now really looking into Nikon since we have the D40x with kit lens.

In addition, a fine person on the Oly Talk Forum donated an E-330 and some cash. Wow! So now I'm thinking Oly for the newspaper and Nikon for the yearbook.

In my research I've found that anything below the D90 doesn't focus older AF lenses. The D90 + lens kit is still pretty pricey used--I certainly can't get 2 for $1000. Otherwise a used D5000, D5100 or a new D3100 might fit our smallish budget. Maybe a used D90, used D5100 plus our D40x for the yearbook and an Oly E-620 double lens kit ($500) with the E-330 for the newspaper?

What do you think?

Best,
Seth

--
What if the hokey pokey really is what it's all about?

--
wallygoots.smugmug.com
wallygoots.blogspot.com

SirSeth said:

In my research I've found that anything below the D90 doesn't focus older AF lenses.

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The D50, D70, D70s, D80 (& D100) can all focus AF/AF-D lenses.

sillyconguru said:

SirSeth said:

In my research I've found that anything below the D90 doesn't focus older AF lenses.

Click to expand...

The D50, D70, D70s, D80 (& D100) can all focus AF/AF-D lenses.

Click to expand...

Thank you! The D90 really does swallow up too much of my budget even used. (So does the D5100, but the D5000 is in the price range to get 3 cameras for $1500). How are the D70s and D80 IQ compared with the D40x? I'm guessing that the older cameras will not handle the high ISO that the newer cameras can easily handle. Outdoor shots would be fine though. Is that about right?

Cheers,
Seth

--
What if the hokey pokey really is what it's all about?

--
wallygoots.smugmug.com
wallygoots.blogspot.com

SirSeth said:

How are the D70s and D80 IQ compared with the D40x?

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I believe that the D80 and D40x share the same sensor.

If you are willing to split up the system so it really has no backup between the cameras( bad idea) why not put a notice in the school web site or whatever asking for donations of old idle gear? Otherwise get a couple used D40's and equip each with a general purpose kit zoom and a 35mm 1.8. Add a SB600, used, to the mix and an umbrella/stand for portraits. Newspapers do not need much res anyway. If one of the shooters is skilled they can produce plenty of quality publishable images. If they can't there is no reason to waste any money on the project.
--
Stan
St Petersburg Russia

The D3000 has fallen in price to about the $500 range with the 18-55 VR kit lens. This may just make a good enough student shooter with a 10mp sensor. Not the latest & greatest but a slight upgrade from the D40.

If the D80 is the same sensor as the D40x, then I may as well shop in that direction since it will fit the 50mm f1.8 (non-AFS). These are cheap and good lenses for low light. This would make up a little for ISO that isn't as good. The AFS primes are a bit more expensive, but could do the job if I could score great prices on used D40x or D3000 bodies.

Cheers,
Seth

--
What if the hokey pokey really is what it's all about?

--
wallygoots.smugmug.com
wallygoots.blogspot.com

If you are buyng DSLRs I would stick with one brand. It gives you more lens flexibility and if something breaks you have better backup options. You want to consider one Nikon body that has a focus motor(D70, D80 and I think D50).

You should get one camera that has HD video. Or maybe even an HD video camera.

Do they all need to be DSLRs?

Ask for donations? Even simple P&S cameras can be useful. You could issue every reporter a camera. No need for them to wait for a photographer to cover a story.

It would also have been my suggestion to get more D40s. They are/were nice cameras and there is an advantage to having all cameras the same in this situation. I also endorse the ide of a SB800 - I can hardly imagine a newspaper type scenario without decent flash - and no, a so-called 'fast' lens is not an alternative to good flash.

David

spbStan said:

Otherwise get a couple used D40's and equip each with a general purpose kit zoom and a 35mm 1.8. Add a SB600, used, to the mix and an umbrella/stand for portraits.

Click to expand...

SirSeth said:

Well, I have this great dilemma. Read the whole story here:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1022&message=39005859

In a nutshell, our very small high school has a newspaper and yearbook and currently only one D40x to go between them, so I pleaded for money and received the go ahead to purchase 3 cameras for a max cost of $1500. Yeah, I'm shopping used. If you read the other thread, I was thinking about getting a Pentax K-x, Oly E-620, and Pani GH1--just for different strengths and the used prices on these are fantastic. I've been wisely guided to stay within one (maybe 2) systems so I'm now really looking into Nikon since we have the D40x with kit lens.

In addition, a fine person on the Oly Talk Forum donated an E-330 and some cash. Wow! So now I'm thinking Oly for the newspaper and Nikon for the yearbook.

In my research I've found that anything below the D90 doesn't focus older AF lenses. The D90 + lens kit is still pretty pricey used--I certainly can't get 2 for $1000. Otherwise a used D5000, D5100 or a new D3100 might fit our smallish budget. Maybe a used D90, used D5100 plus our D40x for the yearbook and an Oly E-620 double lens kit ($500) with the E-330 for the newspaper?

What do you think?

Click to expand...

Any dealer worth his salt will give you a handsome discount when buying 3 cameras/DSLR kits, but you will probably still have to ask. If you don't ask, you don't get. Cheek goes a long way.

David Lal said:

It would also have been my suggestion to get more D40s. They are/were nice cameras and there is an advantage to having all cameras the same in this situation. I also endorse the ide of a SB800 - I can hardly imagine a newspaper type scenario without decent flash - and no, a so-called 'fast' lens is not an alternative to good flash.

David

spbStan said:

Otherwise get a couple used D40's and equip each with a general purpose kit zoom and a 35mm 1.8. Add a SB600, used, to the mix and an umbrella/stand for portraits.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

I think D40's would be the ticket. Less than $500 used. Can produce very good jpegs SOOC.

http://www.keh.com/camera/Nikon-Digital-Camera-Outfits/1/sku-DN019990903180?r=FE

I haven't used a D40x, but have used the D70s and D80. I would go with the D80 and avoid the D70s because I found the D70s required more adjustments and post processing. It is also larger and heavier. The D80 has been criticized for blowing highlights, but I haven't found that to be a problem for me. You can get the D80 (no video) pretty reasonably now. Otherwise, you might want to consider the D3000/5000 or D3100/D5100. Ask yourself if you want one or two cameras that can also take video, if you want to teach this to the students. That would influence the model also.
--

"Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think."
— A.A. Milne

Same sensor:

"Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think."
— A.A. Milne

sillyconguru said:

SirSeth said:

How are the D70s and D80 IQ compared with the D40x?

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

sillyconguru said:

I believe that the D80 and D40x share the same sensor.

Click to expand...

The D60 & D3000 also have the same (or very similar) sensor.
The D200 has a 4 channel version of that 10.2MP sensor.

--
Patco
A photograph is more than a bunch of pixels

Can you use all three at the same time..

--
EJW

My recommendation is to stay all within the same brand for everything. This helps with changing out the lenses and accessories like batteries and flashes.

Get refurbished D60's. They have the same sensor as your current D40x, take the same accessories and batteries. They also have a dust buster and a rangefinder system that is helpful. Alternately the D3000 and D40x are both good and can be found very cheaply.

Next up is lenses. Get the kit lenses 18-55 VR for each camera. Then get a 55-200 VR as this does portraits very well and can do some light sports action. Your low light lens should be the 50 f/1.8 G or the 35 f/1.8 G.

If you have any money to spare, get an SB400 and or SB600. The 400 is fine up to about 30 ft, which covers most indoor situations. Perhaps one of each.

Last, look at Adorama, KEH.com, or fleabay and get at least one old MF prime. The Nikkor 105 f/2.5 pre-AI is very good. You could use this to teach your students about focus and composition using the rangefinder.

--
Catallaxy

May I suggest you get the d-80. While the d-40 or d-60 are fine camera's they don't give much room to grow. You can find great d-80 for under 400 a piece on craigslist. And forget the 18-55 since you are a school and thus the learning experience every photographer should learn how to use a standard prime. The 38mm f.18 is a great lens and cheap and a fantastic lens for portrait and the 18-55 not so much.

p.s. Used third party lens could be an interesting option.

Patco said:

The D60 & D3000 also have the same (or very similar) sensor.
The D200 has a 4 channel version of that 10.2MP sensor.

Click to expand...

I thought that the D60 had the same sensor and knew about the D200's variant. I didn't know that the D3000 also used the same chip, thanks for that.

Do NOT buy different systems for your school if you have such a small budget. That's simply asking for trouble and needlessly complicates things, both for any digital workflow, people operating the cameras, etc - a very foolish decision!

Keep it simple - one brand, whoever you go with.

--
JL Smith
http://jl-smith.smugmug.com

jl_smith said:

Do NOT buy different systems for your school if you have such a small budget. That's simply asking for trouble and needlessly complicates things, both for any digital workflow, people operating the cameras, etc - a very foolish decision!

Keep it simple - one brand, whoever you go with.

Click to expand...

Agree and want to add: do not buy more than 1 kit zoom like 18-55. Instead get the 35 and 50 or some other sane combination.

One 18-55 may still be desired because there will be situations one may just want to do few snaps fast enough - it will be a shame if your principal will ask: why didn't you cover this or that event at 100%, didn't we give you enough money for that? and you will have to say - cannot switch (prime) lenses fast enough, so all shots are either long or middle focused.

Nik