Just looked at Andysnap's pics of various birds and I love them. I am assuming he used his 70-300VR which is a lens I am saving hard to get (not easy on a pension), however, my local dealer has a used Nikon D80 for sale and I dont know whether to trade in my D50, but then I still woudn't have a 70-300. Puddleduck says go for the lens every time and he knows what he is talking about, but I wondered what anyone else thinks, ( it's only opinions based on experience I'm looking for , I dont expect anyone to tell me what to do)
70-300 versus D80
- Thread starter madmardle
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- robert
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Shout yourself the D80 Ken. To much hype is pushed at glass. A nice D80 will do more for you than a flash 300
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- Paul
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Looking at the you kit bag I'd say go with the glass if your not printing large images, i used to use a 70-300VR and for the price there is nothing in the same league.
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- Dave
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Sorry, I totally disagree, it is all about glass, the d50 will still produce excellent images with good glass, personally I would get the lens and keep your d50.
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- Luke
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+1 for the lens
In this instance i would very much push you towards the D80, the D80 is not just a step up from the D50 its a massive bloody leap.
I will justify my opinion with this.
Used D80 = 200 -240,
Used 70-300vr = 300 - 325
Used D50 = 150
Lets say you have £325 for the 70-300 VR, so buying the D80 at £240 leaves you £85 left over, selling the D50 for £150 gives you £235 to put towards that 70-300mm at a later date.
Makes sense to me.
I will justify my opinion with this.
Used D80 = 200 -240,
Used 70-300vr = 300 - 325
Used D50 = 150
Lets say you have £325 for the 70-300 VR, so buying the D80 at £240 leaves you £85 left over, selling the D50 for £150 gives you £235 to put towards that 70-300mm at a later date.
Makes sense to me.
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D50 is an absolute cracker, it goes beautifully with my old 600 AIS. 
Glass matters more than body.
Glass matters more than body.
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I have to disagree, glass is far more important than the body it is bolted too. Apart from the odd bell and whistle I doubt you'd notice a huge difference between the 50 and the 80, I had both at the same time and was happy to chose the D50 over the D80 if needed.
davekiddle
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Get the lens. I don't think you'll see a massive image quality difference by getting the D80, but you will see an image improvement by getting the 70-300VR 
Thanks everyone, I'm more confused than ever now, CraigF makes a good point, however the dealer in question is looking for £349, can D80s really be bought for £200-£240? I haven,t updated my bag on here yet, I recently bought a Nikon 18-135 ( from the same dealer incidentally) so the Tamron 55-200 is surplus to requirements, as is the kit 18-55 although I will probably keep that in case I do change the D50.
Again, thanks everone for taking the trouble to answer.
Ken
Again, thanks everone for taking the trouble to answer.
Ken
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Get the lens for sure it would sit very nicely on the D50 and is one of the first lenses I got for my D50 when I had it.
Regards
Nigel
Regards
Nigel
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- Tom
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I have both a D80 and 70-300mm VR. The fact is the D80 is dated, whereas the 70-300mm VR is not. Get a D80 and it's value will plummet in the next few years, get the lens and the value won't drop as much. Also like others said, if you want to do wildlife photography you need a lens at least this long.
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I have to agree with most of the posts on this thread. I had a D80 (cracking camera), still have access to 2 D50's (also cracking cameras) and I still own the 70-300VRII.
I've shot birds of prey and motorsports with the 70-300 on a D80 and D300 and apart from the incrase in resolution (as well as many other benfits of course), you still get excellent shots with the lens regardless of which camera I've used it on. This certanly holds true of the D50 as well.
Go with the glass and as previously mentioned, possibly look at selling the D50 with the Tamron 50-200mm and put that towards a D80 when the time is right.
Although, to throw an alternative into the mix, if you were looking at £350 for a D80, I'd forget that and pop another £50 on the table and get a good used D200 off the classified forums.
Believe me, the D200 is a much nicer camera than the D80!
HTH
Paul C
I've shot birds of prey and motorsports with the 70-300 on a D80 and D300 and apart from the incrase in resolution (as well as many other benfits of course), you still get excellent shots with the lens regardless of which camera I've used it on. This certanly holds true of the D50 as well.
Go with the glass and as previously mentioned, possibly look at selling the D50 with the Tamron 50-200mm and put that towards a D80 when the time is right.
Although, to throw an alternative into the mix, if you were looking at £350 for a D80, I'd forget that and pop another £50 on the table and get a good used D200 off the classified forums.
Believe me, the D200 is a much nicer camera than the D80!
HTH
Paul C