Help - Chosing a new Nikon!

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Kookieshell

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Shell
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I'm new in guys & gals so please go easy on me.

I am in the market for a new camera and cannot decide on the following:

I know I want a Nikon but am torn between a few:

D300s
D300
D90
D700

I know they are quite different cameras and that the D300 has no "idiot modes" unlike the D90. I am using the camera for pleasure and work (but not as a photographer, just photos for my website). I am not a semi-pro but I want a really awesome camera that won't be beyond me if that makes sense?

I currently have a G10 which is small and compact but it is time to progress to a big girls camera!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks everyone for your time. :)
 
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A mint used D300 would be the best choice if you have the money (D90 cheaper) and don't want video (included with D300s).

HTH
 
you could start off with a D40 see if you like it, I think there's one for sale in the classified section :exit:

but naa D90 will be a nice camera to start off with
 
D40 great starter digital dslr and certainly would be "fit for purpose"

D90 another step up and a fantastic camera, with many features and qualities that will ensure you get the most out of your photography.

Of course, knowing your budget would make thing easier, as you'll also want to figure in costs of lens, software and various other bits and bobs.
 
I can put it through my business so anything up to £1500 is okay. I think maybe the D700 would be too expensive to be honest.

I have been told the D90 is a great little camera and would be a good starting point to be honest. I have no idea what sort of lenses I would need to get started. Any tips?

:)
 
I have a D90, I have owned a D300, but found it a bit big for generla shooting. Its more of a pro camera.. The D90 uses a lot of the same features of the D300..
 
They're all good.... if you start with a cheaper body and some great glass then you can always trade the body up, I'd sooner have a D40 with some top class glass than a D700 with budget lenses. (oh and I think someone has a D60 for sale in the classifieds :) )
 
Personally, I think the D90 would be more than sufficent for your needs.

If you buy the D90 kit, with the 18-105mm vr lens (£770 at digital depot), you'll have a great camera with an excellent walkabout lens, which will allow you to cover quite a good focal range. You can then decide, in due course, which other lens you might need, zoom, wide, etc.

This will also leave you plenty of cash for software and other bits of kit.
 
:agree:
D90 with 18-105 kit lens. Maybe an external flash as well eg SB-600
This makes a nice starter kit to get you comfortable with.

Oh and loads of space on your computer to store all the photos taken :D
 
I would go for a D90 too. You will probably find it will easily cover your needs in the ways of photography for now.
 
Not said what type of pictures are being taken? Reading the thread as "a better camera = better pictures", not always the case as we all know . . . ?

Although, 'if you know a bit of what you are doing', a DSLR will be better than a G10 . . . ??? Decent glass, entry level body = magic . . . What type of lens . . . full circle . . . what sort of pictures at you taking?
 
I think that a D90 would be best then based on what you've all said.

I have found a deal on Jessops:

http://www.jessops.com/online.store/products/77130/show.html

Nikon D90 Twin Nikon Lens 8GB and Bag Kit
Nikon D90 + 18-105mm VR lens
Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 VR lens
Centon DSLR Bag
8GB High Speed SDHC Card

for £1259.00 - Is this a good deal or will a bundle with the one 18-105mm VR lens suffice?

Do I need to buy a lot of extra software for this camera?

Sorry for all the questions, I'm a bit of a newbie! :)
 
CJS said:
Although, 'if you know a bit of what you are doing', a DSLR will be better than a G10 . . . ??? Decent glass, entry level body = magic . . . What type of lens . . . full circle . . . what sort of pictures at you taking?
Click to expand...

Know what i'm doing to some extent! The G10 is a great little camera but i'm after something a little bit more professional, better depth of field and better in fast ISO which the G10 isn't IMO. I also find it a little bit slow in terms of shutter lag at times.

I don;t know what a full circle lens is i'm afraid. :help:
 
Seems a decent deal, but I'd be tempted to shop around.

Might be worth contacted Stuart, from digital depot, to see if they can beat this deal.
(Stuart is member of TP, so you can initially drop him a private message.)

Regarding software, you can go from free bundled software right up to silly money software (well for me at least :lol:)

Lightroom 3 is highly regarded and would retail over £200, but I think you can download a trial (30 days) version.
 
Oh yes, I have heard of Lightroom. I'm happy to pay for software up to the £200. I have Photoshop Elements and Iphoto (which isn't really software I guess).

Do you think the 2 lenses in this bundle are useful or will one just be sat around never being used initially?

Not sure how to PM people or even find them on here. Could you PM him asking him to message me? :) Would be a great help.
 
Kookieshell said:
Know what i'm doing to some extent! The G10 is a great little camera but i'm after something a little bit more professional, better depth of field and better in fast ISO which the G10 isn't IMO. I also find it a little bit slow in terms of shutter lag at times.

I don;t know what a full circle lens is i'm afraid. :help:
Click to expand...

. . . 'come full circle' . . . on the question?

Sounds like you do know where this will lead . . . its just that the question was not asked?

Enjoy your new kit, and yes, a D90 is a good starting point . . . IMHO :thumbs:

CJS

PS, not so sure about Light Room??? I got very confused with it, but then I'm a computer numpty!!! I use Elements 7, shoot in JPG/RAW, view the jpg's and then do any adjustments to my liking on the RAW file Elements plugin.
 
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Kookieshell said:
I think that a D90 would be best then based on what you've all said.

I have found a deal on Jessops:

http://www.jessops.com/online.store/products/77130/show.html

Nikon D90 Twin Nikon Lens 8GB and Bag Kit
Nikon D90 + 18-105mm VR lens
Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 VR lens
Centon DSLR Bag
8GB High Speed SDHC Card

for £1259.00 - Is this a good deal or will a bundle with the one 18-105mm VR lens suffice?

Do I need to buy a lot of extra software for this camera?

Sorry for all the questions, I'm a bit of a newbie! :)
Click to expand...

My thoughts are as follows:
1) Nikon D90 + 18-105mm VR kit lens
2) Couple of 4Gb SDHC cards rather than a single 8Gb. (Not putting all images in one basket to say)
3) A Lowepro Fastpack 200 backpack - stores you camera, lenses and doesn't scream 'camera-bag' (discreet) and also space for sandwiches :)
4) A Nikon flash like SB-600.
5) Software area - you can use GIMP for any post-processing. Its free and quite good. I've not used lightroom yet.

The Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 VR lens with the bundle is good but will you be using it? I've found that the standard kit lens is sufficient for most purposes.. instead you can spend the balance later on a lens you're more likely to use.
 
Mike.P said:
Aren't there a couple of new models being announced in a couple of weeks?
D90 replacement looks interesting if the rumoured specs are correct.
Click to expand...

Yes the rumours for the new D7000 (if that's what it will be called) make very good reading. We'll know on the 15th September.

Even with the introduction of the D7000, the D90 will still remain a well regarded camera and I believe, will still be able to maintain it's price, as it will sit nicely between the D5000 and the D7000.

I was torn between buying a D90 and waiting for the D7000, but I'm immensely happy that I choose to get the D90 ( probably could not afford the D7000 anyway :'( )
 
johnnypanic said:
Yes the rumours for the new D7000 (if that's what it will be called) make very good reading. We'll know on the 15th September.

Even with the introduction of the D7000, the D90 will still remain a well regarded camera and I believe, will still be able to maintain it's price, as it will sit nicely between the D5000 and the D7000.

I was torn between buying a D90 and waiting for the D7000, but I'm immensely happy that I choose to get the D90 ( probably could not afford the D7000 anyway :'( )
Click to expand...

It will be interesting to see what the new model comes in at . . . and what it does to the D90 price . . . I'm teetering on a 90??? I have a 5000, needed the swivel screen, but also now have a G1, light, compact and convenient with its swivel screen, works like a compact for me. So, I might be tempted to move on, trade the 5000 and go to a 90 or 7000??? to accommodate a further lens purchase that I have in mind?
 
A D90 would be fine for you, it's a fantastic camera.

It does feel like a toy though in comparison to my recently purchased D700, that's nothing against the D90 (which I still love), it's just heaping praise on the D700 which has to be one of the best camera's on the market today.
 
Dman said:
A D90 would be fine for you, it's a fantastic camera.

It does feel like a toy though in comparison to my recently purchased D700, that's nothing against the D90 (which I still love), it's just heaping praise on the D700 which has to be one of the best camera's on the market today.
Click to expand...

Just read there is a rumored 'new' D700 . . . called 'D700X' to be announced along with the new D90 to be called 'D7000' . . . all gets very confusing . . . :thinking:

However the New D7000 is said to have a 3" 92' swivel screen? That will do it for me!!! and my dodgy knee:lol:

Maybe for sale? . . . one lightly used D5000 . . . :naughty:

CJS
 
The D700 is a fantastic bit of kit but if you want to get any reach then you will be sorely disappointed unless you invest in at least 300mm +. A lot of people who move from crop to FF do miss the extra reach that crop cameras provide (for example wildlife and motorsport or just taking a shot with a remote subject) so I would definitely take into acount this before doing the switch.
 
Rafiki said:
:agree:
D90 with 18-105 kit lens. Maybe an external flash as well eg SB-600
This makes a nice starter kit to get you comfortable with.

Oh and loads of space on your computer to store all the photos taken :D
Click to expand...

Yeah, this is a pretty good starter kit yet still a very capable camera. A lot of friends have gone this route and are very happy.
 
Kookieshell said:
Oh yes, I have heard of Lightroom. I'm happy to pay for software up to the £200. I have Photoshop Elements and Iphoto (which isn't really software I guess).

Do you think the 2 lenses in this bundle are useful or will one just be sat around never being used initially?

Not sure how to PM people or even find them on here. Could you PM him asking him to message me? :) Would be a great help.
Click to expand...

If you have iPhoto are you an Apple user ? If you are, Aperture 3 is also very good (it's equivalent to Lightroom). I do all my processing in Aperture and find it very good (some examples are in my Flickr account).

For lenses it depends what you are going to do. As many have said here, the D90 is a great camera and the 18-105VR is a good starting lens. My suggestion would be not to spend all your money at once - Start with the 18-105 and use it to discover what types of photography you enjoy most. Then you can decide on a more dedicated (and suited) lens from there.
 
Put down another vote for the D90 with 18-105mm - with a budget of £1500 that leaves you with some more money to play with on lenses, flash or whatever takes your fancy.
 
Wow, you have all been so helpful! Thanks a million. I think the D90 would be the best choice then.

I think I agree with one of the posters when they say just get one with a 10-105mm lens and just get used to that for now and become accustomed with the camera. I can always buy lenses at a later date (which I'm sure I'll buy many of!)

I have found the Camera for sale on Dixons : http://www.dixons.co.uk/gbuk/nikon-...tml?srcid=369&xtor=AL-63&srcid=369&xtor=AL-63

It's only £765.00 including Delivery. I haven;t managed to find anything cheaper to be honest and really don't want to purchase from eBay as it may not be the real deal or may be imported. I'd rather buy from a genuine retailer who can back me up with a guarantee.

Anyone know any other shops I ought to be looking in that may offer me a better deal?

Thanks again, you've all been lovely. :)
 
^ Ooooh, Jessops discount codes! Me likey.

Thing is they are still not as cheap as Amazon but at least if I buy in Jessops I can get the after sales report if anything happens. :)
 
Kookieshell said:
^ Ooooh, Jessops discount codes! Me likey.

Thing is they are still not as cheap as Amazon but at least if I buy in Jessops I can get the after sales report if anything happens. :)
Click to expand...

erm Jessops codes exclude SLRs and Lenses :rules::)

According to the camerapricebuster link, Dixons is showing as the same price as Amazon at £765.70. If you've got a Dixons near you, might be worth going there and walking out with your camera kit ... :shrug:
 
hi,
take alook at park cameras and see what bundles they will do you bought my stuff from them and it arrived next day free delivery and very good after sales

Gaz
 
Rafiki said:
erm Jessops codes exclude SLRs and Lenses :rules::)

According to the camerapricebuster link, Dixons is showing as the same price as Amazon at £765.70. If you've got a Dixons near you, might be worth going there and walking out with your camera kit ... :shrug:
Click to expand...

You can however use Quidco - I got 40 quid cashback for a 24-70mm at the web discount price directly from store.
 
Try posting on the Digital Depot "Nikon Deals" thread. He is a member on here and will do his best to give you the best deal on all the Nikon kit.
 
razor777 said:
You can however use Quidco - I got 40 quid cashback for a 24-70mm at the web discount price directly from store.
Click to expand...

Forgot about Quidco completely DOH!
 
Rafiki said:
Forgot about Quidco completely DOH!
Click to expand...

I know its a pain isn't it ? :D

I'm constantly forgetting to use Quidco and I shudder to think how much cash back I've missed out because I didnt check to see if the retailer existed on Quidco first. Still, this year so far made 292 quid so cant complain too much.
 
Rafiki said:
erm Jessops codes exclude SLRs and Lenses :rules::)

According to the camerapricebuster link, Dixons is showing as the same price as Amazon at £765.70. If you've got a Dixons near you, might be worth going there and walking out with your camera kit ... :shrug:
Click to expand...

I put the camera through the checkout and if gave me the £30 discount on the camera and the lens so it takes into account the bundle. I am sure if you tried buying a lens on it's own it wouldn't let you do it, though.

Dixons is web only now, there are no Dixons retail stores I believe, just Currys but they run separately.

Will look at Quidco also to see what best nag for my buck I can get. Hubby's friend is a big cheese as Jesspos so maybe we can get a better deal that advertised. :thumbs:
 
:-O Quidco don't offer the deal against the D90 just so you all know if you wanted to buy. :(
 
Yes they do, what is excluded is the 5% discount code and 4% cash back.

However you can use the 4% cash back for a web exclusive deal that can be picked up at store.

edited to add:

(Quidco statement)
£40.51 from Jessops paid on 14 Aug 10
 
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