Fair Question

[sweetbutterfy1973]

I have to admit, my head is spinning. How do you choose a camera and lens for the first time? I have done so much reading here , there and everywhere!!! So, it isnt like I am not doing my homework.

Each time I think I have made up my mind, I read something else and then I am all confused again.

This was my decision last night but now of course, after being told on forums to buy the D7000, I am nore confused than ever.

D90 instead of the D7000
85mm 1.4 instead of the 50 mm 1.4
35 mm 1.8
Sb 700

But then I kept getting told to buy the D7000 instead of the D90. If I buy the D7000 then I cant afford the 85mm 1.4.

I should tell anyone who reads this my main use for the camera will be portraits. Then also, I have 3 kids, so I would want to be able to use the camera outside this summer. I wouldnt be using it for sports. mostly portraits indoors.

Really, I know there is no perfect answer. But it makes it hard for a first-timer to make up their mind. I dont have the "technical" knowledge yet so I am just relying on people's opinons and reviews. But it really can make you feell crazy!!!

Please tell me how I can finally make up my mind and be at peace with my choice! Right now I am not looking to go pro or anything....it is just for my enjoyment and learning...although if I learn how to take great pics I may want to get paid down the road. But it isnt somthing I would do right now. I am just anxious to learn. i cant learn until I buy the camera. And I cant buy the camera until I make up my mind about which camera and which lens!!! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh

Thank you ...

 

[jumpingjack]

Really, I know there is no perfect answer. But it makes it hard for a first-timer to make up their mind. I dont have the "technical" knowledge yet so I am just relying on people's opinons and reviews. But it really can make you feell crazy!!!

I have been where you are. The problem is you end up getting sucked into specifications and analysis paralysis.

As a first timer without the technical knowledge a D7000 in my opinion will blow your head off and is complete overkill. Yes at the advanced end it has a lot of options but right now those options will serve to hinder you and not help.

Look at the D5100 which has the same sensor as the D7000 and it has more than enough manaul options for you to learn before you "need" more.

The money you save on the camera (around £200 her in the UK) put towards a better quality lens than the kit lens that comes with the D5100, although I hear that isn't bad.

With my D5100 I havea Nikon 16-85 lens, a 35mm f1.8 for low light and the compact and tiny SB-400 compact flash. For me it is a quality and great set up.

Hope that helps.

 

[Mako2011]

I have to admit, my head is spinning. How do you choose a camera and lens for the first time?

Really, I know there is no perfect answer. But it makes it hard for a first-timer to make up their mind. I dont have the "technical" knowledge

Right now I am not looking to go pro or anything....it is just for my enjoyment and learning.... I am just anxious to learn. i cant learn until I buy the camera.

From reading the above, it appears this may be your first DSLR. If that is the case, you mighty be better served buying the D5100 and the 18-105mm kit lens. Add a good basic book or two and work with that for a year then re-evaluate. Neither the D90 nor the D7K was really designed for beginners and can lead to frustration. No disrespect intended. Good Luck.

 

[Jack Hogan]

How do you choose a camera and lens for the first time?

... my main use for the camera will be portraits. Then also, I have 3 kids, so I would want to be able to use the camera outside this summer.

The D7000 is outstanding and, if this is your first time, I suggest you get the kit lens (18-105 or even 18-55), even if you always shoot portraits of your kids indoors - you'll find it very limiting otherwise. In the 18-35mm range the kit lenses are comparatively as sharp as the expensive primes you were looking at. With the primes, you do get the benefit of extra wide apertures, but they are not very sharp there. So in the end you will eventually most likely want a flash for indoor and evening use.

As others have mentioned, you may also want to take a look at the D5100, which has similar performance, is cheaper and is targeted squarely at your corner.

Jack

PS Stay away from the 85mm, unless you live in a ballroom or like only the type of photography found in 1960's spaghetti westerns

 

[Hansa Yindee]

.
Good advise on the camera body as they will come and go.
Put your extra money into education, join a club too.

As your skills grow your understanding of lighting and good
glass will start to come into play.
--
Jon in Thailand

http://www.flickr.com/photos/af2899/
.

 

[Patco]

I have to admit, my head is spinning. How do you choose a camera and lens for the first time?

Really, I know there is no perfect answer. But it makes it hard for a first-timer to make up their mind. I dont have the "technical" knowledge

Right now I am not looking to go pro or anything....it is just for my enjoyment and learning.... I am just anxious to learn. i cant learn until I buy the camera.

From reading the above, it appears this may be your first DSLR. If that is the case, you mighty be better served buying the D5100 and the 18-105mm kit lens. Add a good basic book or two and work with that for a year then re-evaluate. Neither the D90 nor the D7K was really designed for beginners and can lead to frustration. No disrespect intended. Good Luck.

While the D90 & D7000 can be more challenging to use, they both have enough auto features and Scene modes which make it no more complicated to use than the D5100.

When and if the user wants to take more control over the photographic process, he or she can explore the 'extras' found in the D90/D7000 at their own pace.

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

 

[jumpingjack]

The problem you are going to have is that by asking here you are going to get different opinions which will only contribute to more head spinning.

Order both from Amazon. Try them both out. Keep the one you like and send the other back for a refund.

Problem solved.

 

[jumpingjack]

Send them both back for a full refund and buy the one you like cheaper elsewhere.

 

[tatanka]

From reading the above, it appears this may be your first DSLR. If that is the case, you mighty be better served buying the D5100 and the 18-105mm kit lens. Add a good basic book or two and work with that for a year then re-evaluate. Neither the D90 nor the D7K was really designed for beginners and can lead to frustration. No disrespect intended. Good Luck.

I'll echo what Mako says here. The D90 is a great camera, but is starting to get a little long in the tooth. The D5100 will serve you well for a long time, and by the time you know all the ins and outs, you'll have either decided that the 5100 is all you need, or you'll know a lot more about what you want.

The 18-55 kit lens would be a little short to my thinking but in general, I'd go with a zoom first -- they're a lot more versatile (more bang for the buck) and the Nikon kit zooms are quite good generally. The 5100 body with the 18-105VR would be a great combination.

 

[sweetbutterfy1973]

you are so right. I am more confused than ever. I was trying to impress my hubby by doing so much research and not buying impulsively. You have NO idea how many hours I have spent on the computer and at the store trying to make a decision.

My head is going to explode. I was advised NOT to buy the 5100. And told to buy the D7000 and also that the D7000 is too much for a beginner and the D90 is perfect....Oh dear....really now...

What's a girl without a camera to do??? I just sold my camera and need one!

 

[Cytokine]

I would stick with the D7000 and the 50 1.4. AFS or D, for the price you have near state of the art camera and lens. The 50mm 1.4D was used to test the D3x on this forum.

As stated above it will take you from beginner to wherever you want to go. The choice of lenses you have is enormous and unlike D5100 it has a screw drive like the pro cameras. This means you can use all of those lovely second hand pro-lenses that you can sometimes find at really good prices. Don't be afraid to buy second hand from places like MPB Photograhic.

A camera has to become an extension of your arm so learn with the camera you want to live with.

You will make mistakes and from these you will learn. Set camera to aperture priority and then make sure your speed stays at a speed you can hand hold. Use different apertures and see the effect they have on depth of field. Use different speeds to freeze or blur action.

Shoot Raw and you have good editorial control of your photos. (Don't under estimate the value of RAW). Test the camera in the store if possible and don't buy if box is open already.

Be aware that opened up the 50mm at f1.4 and 1.6 have paper thin DOF Use F5.6 or f8 for max sharpness and F10 + for everything in sharp focus.

You could buy any lens and in the future, you can chop and change but the 50mm will give you a taste of what a good Nikon lens will do, and teach you DOF.

Enjoy the Journey with its ups and downs

John

 

[Reilly Diefenbach]

Agreed, there's no way you should buy three year old technology in this digital world, especially if a better pic is available from the D5100 for less money.

 

[jonikon]

I own a D7000 and find it is an superb camera in the right hands (like mine ), but I would not recommend it to anyone who has not had at least two years experience with shooting RAW with a DSLR. IMO, the D7000 is just too much camera for a beginner, and will likely lead to misuse and frustration, as is evident from reading this forum. I suggest you look at the 3100 or D5100 instead.

Best regards,
Jon

 

[Reilly Diefenbach]

Truth be told, you could buy any of these and get great pictures. Isn't it nice to not be able to make a mistake? The D7000 and the D5100 do put out a somewhat better picture, though. The grain (noise) is so low they look a lot like full frame at low ISOs.

 

[Mako2011]

you are so right. I am more confused than ever. I was trying to impress my hubby by doing so much research and not buying impulsively. You have NO idea how many hours I have spent on the computer and at the store trying to make a decision.

My head is going to explode. I was advised NOT to buy the 5100. And told to buy the D7000 and also that the D7000 is too much for a beginner and the D90 is perfect....Oh dear....really now...

What's a girl without a camera to do??? I just sold my camera and need one!

jumpingjack has been where you are. Learn from one who has actually traveled the road. Get the D5100 with 18-105mm VR. Get one good book. Read the manual from front to back with camera in hand. Be patient. Do not visit this forum again until you have taken 2000 pictures. Below is a book suggestion. It's good, cheap, and simple. Good Luck.

http://www.amazon.com/Exposure-Snapshots-Great-Jeff-Revell/dp/0321741293/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1304953840&sr=8-1

 

[jumpingjack]

Sound advice and of the two go for the D5100. I've had both. The D3100 is a great camera for the price. However the benefits of the D5100 in my view makes the D3100 just a little too basic.

For example, if you are interested in HDR at all the D3100 has no bracketing feature which I think is a fundamental feature for a modern DSLR. There are other reasons as I have mentioned in my other post on this thread.

 

[jtsmith]

Having the same issue in the opposite direction trying to find the best dumb downed PnS camera with professional results; which is just as crazy if not more...

Don't freak out. You will be pleased with either the D7000 or the D5100.

Don't wait too long or you will be facing the D8000 or the D6100 question of the day...

Jump in....

J T

 

[JCB123]

Hi

Lenses (good lenses) are a long term investment. The D7000 will be history soon enough.

The 85mm f1.4 is a top notch lens good for portaits on any Dx or Fx Nikon camera or at any time in the forseeable future.

The D90 is perfectly capable for portrait work. It is more than capable of capturing memorable images of your children as they grow up.

The D7K has advantages for sports and High ISO - you don't need these for portait work.

Does this help ?

Regards
John

 

[binary_eye]

But then I kept getting told to buy the D7000 instead of the D90. If I buy the D7000 then I cant afford the 85mm 1.4.

Which 85/1.4 are you referring to? The old version or the new? Just trying to get an idea of your budget.

I should tell anyone who reads this my main use for the camera will be portraits. Then also, I have 3 kids, so I would want to be able to use the camera outside this summer. I wouldnt be using it for sports. mostly portraits indoors.

Can you define "portrait"? The word means different things to different people. Are you referring to the typical posed, head and shoulder shot? Or do you simply mean photos of people, candid or posed?

 

[dom33]

Hi

Lenses (good lenses) are a long term investment. The D7000 will be history soon enough.

The 85mm f1.4 is a top notch lens good for portaits on any Dx or Fx Nikon camera or at any time in the forseeable future.

The D90 is perfectly capable for portrait work. It is more than capable of capturing memorable images of your children as they grow up.

The D7K has advantages for sports and High ISO - you don't need these for portait work.

Does this help ?

Regards
John

I agree completely. Also, I would trade a D7000 for a D90 AND an 85mm f1.4 in a millisecond! (the OP said that going with a D7000, she would not be able to afford an 85mm f1.4)