Confusing myself

[swordjo]

Hi guys,

Well i'm looking to move back into owning a Nikon DSLR again (have owned a D40,D80 and D200 in the past), having sold my GF1 and 20mm lens.

Now here is where the dilemma begins for me. I'm 100% sure that my first lens purchase is going to be a Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 as I do love a good portrait and cheeky candid. I'm torn between bodies. Would love a D300 or D90 but feel i'm thinking far too much about the body I WANT instead of what I really NEED. Now I'm a 100% hobby tog and feel I may benefit from an older body (cheaper) and some nice glass. I've been reading about the differences between my old D80/D200 and the more modern D90 but am struggling to justify the extra few hundred quid difference between buying myself a 2nd hand D80 and a 2nd hand or new D90. The money I save will get me a lovely 50mm f1.4 lens..... but do you think i'm being a bit naive in thinking that some nice lenses are going to make up for the lack of ultra modern tech?

PS Video recording is of no interest to me

thanks,

Jonathan

 

[Flash In The Pan]

There's a huge jump between the old D200/D80 models and the D300/D90 replacements and the D300 especially is dropping in value quite sharply now, so you may find it's worth looking at one of those. Failing that a Fuji S5 Pro (unless you shoot sports) might be a better choice for the same sort of money as a D200.

If you want to try the 50mm f/1.4 / S5 combo let me know.....

 

[swordjo]

Cheers Graham,

The used D300's are still hitting the £600/£650 mark (which I know isn't alot for the spec) but feel it might just be a little too much for me at the moment when a D80 can be picked up for £250ish.

I had thought about the S5 as I've heard people rave about it for a portrait camera (I never shoot sports). Is this not the same kind of tech and from the same era as the D80? I'm really confusing myself, as I know i got some great shots out of my D80 and some great ones out the D200, but don't want to feel like i'm shooting myself in the foot by buyer older tech... keep talking me into the D300 though

 

[Flash In The Pan]

Cheers Graham,

The used D300's are still hitting the £600/£650 mark

I let mine go for a lot less and I reckon they'll slip below £500 shortly

I had thought about the S5 as I've heard people rave about it for a portrait camera (I never shoot sports). Is this not the same kind of tech and from the same era as the D80?

Put it this way, I had a D300 and an S5, I kept the S5 and sold the D300......

 

[ecniv]

I have the d300 - well worth the money.
Never tried the s5 though so might be worth hiring them for a weekend?
Try them both out. I think they use the same lenses so you may be able to hire that too.

Which 50mm f1.4 are you looking at ? the d or the g version? Any on the classifieds here or ebay ?

 

[Tracer]

If you are interested mainly in portraiture then the D200/D80 will do you just fine. For 'cheeky candids' though you may want to use higher ISOs, in which case the the D300/D90 are better. However if you didn't find that a problem in the past then get the older bodies and use the money saved on really nice glass.

For low-light or action photography a newer body would make more sense, but if that is not where your interest lies then I don't think you need one even though you might want one .

 

[swordjo]

Cheers guys, i'm still swaying towards a gripped D80 with the 50mm f/1.4 (not seen any in particular lens wise but i'd say i'll be going to the D version just for the cost difference).

Spent a good hour or 2 looking over the S5 last night (videos and looking on flickr at the S5/50mm f1.4 combo) and really do like the look of it, but again I can get a D80 and lens for the price of a body no doubt. Think I may just go for the D80 just now and if I feel I want to move on to a newer body in a few months I won't lose alot of money on it.

 

[swordjo]

Managed to pick up a bargain D80 (£200 ) to tide me over until I can talk myself into spending some money on a D300. Now for a nice 50mm f/1.4 , couple of FITP's flashes and a soft box