Camera and lenses for my boss?

[Willy S]

Hi all,

My boss asked me to help him choose a system (camera, lenses, flash etc) for him. He shoots mainly basketball and his family. I´m going to recommend a SB-800 but I don´t know which camera or lenses would suit him best. What focal lengths do you recommend for basketball?

I think I would just recommend a D40 or D40x for him but then the lens selection is limited. I was maybe thinking of the Tamron 28-75 2.8 as a one lens solution in the beginning, but it won´t AF with D40(x). How expensive gear would he need to get good results?

 

[PHXAZCRAIG]

How serious is he?

What kind of budget?

I'm thinking if he wants to shoot basketball, unless he's on the court, the lens you suggested doesn't have the reach he'll need. Perhaps a 70-200VR would be better for him. But that leaves him with a lens that's not suited well to family shots, as it's not wide enough.

18-200VR has the range he may need, but not necessarily speed or IQ. (IQ is going to be fine if he doesn't print above 8x10, and in many cases will be fine above that).

Without knowing a budget range, it's really hard to suggest much about Nikons since the price can vary so widely.

Personally, I'd tell him to get a D300, an SB-800, a 17-55F2.8 (Nikon) and a 70-200VR (Nikon). See if he has the budget for that, and go from there.

 

[tienhai]

Suggest him a D3 with
17-35 for family & SB-800
70-200VR for basketball (indoor/ outdoor) & family (portrait/ candid)

If 70-200 on D3 not long enough to reach for basketball (indoor) sometimes, ask him get more a 400 2.8 if he can afford.

 

[Chas B]

D40x or D60,
with
70-200mm f/2.8 AF-S VR, 24-70mm f/2.8, no flash;

-or-

70-200mm f/2.8 AF-S VR, 16-85mm AF-S VR, SB-400.

He needs a fast telephoto for b-ball, no flash. The 16-85mm is slower, SB-400 is fine for indoors or fill.

If the budget is larger, go with a D300.