Nikon Body for £300 - thoughts please

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Al
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Hello all

My very soon to be sister-in law would like to get a DSLR for my brother as a wedding\birthday present.

She has £300 to spend on the body, and the rest of the family will then get a lens with about £200-£300.

She has a Nikon D90, which he has used and likes but is out of budget. However I think a Nikon would the way forwards as he will be familiar with layout etc but most importantly if they both get into it more they can share lenses going forwards (she only has one at present).

I have looked at the D3000 which seems to be the only one new in budget. I don't know much about Nikon but it appears this will only focus with AF-S lenses - is this much of an issue in reality? I have noted you we could get the kit lens for an extra £40 with the body so might do that.

The D80 looks like it could be had second hand for under £300 so that will be my recommendation as I believe that will auto-focus with anything, as well as being more similar in feel to the D90, unless you think otherwise.

So in conclusion:
D3000 + 18-55VR + 55-200 - Possible
D3000 + 18-55V + 70-300 - Possible but a bit pricey new
D3000 + please suggest <£300 general walkout lens something like the Canon 28-135IS would be great

Or just get the D80?

Type of photography, at this stage I think will be a bit of everything until he found what he enjoyed, though they will be going on Safari for their Honeymoon so any lenses with a bit of reach would be great.

I'm open so suggestions \ comments etc \ being told I got it all wrong.

Thanks

Al
 
Just my opinion (that may be shared by others and may not!). Avoid the lower end models without the in body AF motor. OK, more and more AF-S lenses (and equivalents) are available but not so many have trickled down to the SH market so far. A 2nd hand D90 (or even D80) is IMO a far better investment and will allow the owner to use any Nikon fit AF lens, be it AF-S or screw driven.

Add in the cost of a fast 50mm to the cost of a body and there's not a huge gap between the D90 and the D5000. Source the D90 2nd hand (and the lens) and the gap's even narrower (and may be in the D90's favour.)
 
Wilkinson's have a D5000 Lens Kit (18-105mm VR) for just over the £600 if you were to join the budgets together.

ABC has D3000 with same lens for £469.

Alternatively (if you can stretch) D5000 with 18-55 VR (£465) for brother & 55-200 VR (£165) for brother & sister to share which is £30 over budget.
http://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/cat4.html

I've not used any of them so can't comment on quality of said products.
 
Nod said:
Just my opinion (that may be shared by others and may not!). Avoid the lower end models without the in body AF motor. OK, more and more AF-S lenses (and equivalents) are available but not so many have trickled down to the SH market so far. A 2nd hand D90 (or even D80) is IMO a far better investment and will allow the owner to use any Nikon fit AF lens, be it AF-S or screw driven.

Add in the cost of a fast 50mm to the cost of a body and there's not a huge gap between the D90 and the D5000. Source the D90 2nd hand (and the lens) and the gap's even narrower (and may be in the D90's favour.)
Click to expand...

Thanks for the feedback, D80/90 look a good option, I was wondering about the AF-S lenses.
 
matt2martin said:
Wilkinson's have a D5000 Lens Kit (18-105mm VR) for just over the £600 if you were to join the budgets together.

ABC has D3000 with same lens for £469.

Alternatively (if you can stretch) D5000 with 18-55 VR (£465) for brother & 55-200 VR (£165) for brother & sister to share which is £30 over budget.
http://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/cat4.html

I've not used any of them so can't comment on quality of said products.
Click to expand...

D5000, not considered that one, will have a look. Combining budgets makes most sense, time to try and get all parties to agree to that.
 
does it necessary has to be nikon ?

blast ! the sony a450 has gone up again :( it used to be 299 now it's 420 . :(
 
Lovely D90 available HERE which is in excellent condition, with a low shutter count, and 18-70mm lens which is better than the one it came with :)
 
Biased . . . . I have a D5000 . . . for which I traded a D90!!! I prefer the 5000. I dot expect anyone to agree with this, but dont get to hung up on the non motorised body. It will pan out in a year or two, just like when Nikon started the no aperture ring on their lenses.

If you are a purist, an anorak, like collecting and spending money on lenses, then its a D80 minimum. For simple enjoyment, I have never had so much as I do with the 5000 . . . Just my view?

Want so some simple sample pics I took in London last week:

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=249118

I'm no David Baily, as you can see, but the 5000 plus a decent lens goes a long way . . . :thumbs:

CJS
 
TG. said:
Lovely D90 available HERE which is in excellent condition, with a low shutter count, and 18-70mm lens which is better than the one it came with :)
Click to expand...

Read up Tel, someone's already done you that favour :P
 
Starastin said:
does it necessary has to be nikon ?

blast ! the sony a450 has gone up again :( it used to be 299 now it's 420 . :(
Click to expand...

Nikon, he won't get to try it beforehand, and I think it makes sense in this scenario as he has tried one, but had forgotten about that Comet deal, will keep an eye out and camera price bust and see if anything special comes up :thumbs:
 
CJS said:
Biased . . . . I have a D5000 . . . for which I traded a D90!!! I prefer the 5000. I dot expect anyone to agree with this, but dont get to hung up on the non motorised body. It will pan out in a year or two, just like when Nikon started the no aperture ring on their lenses.

If you are a purist, an anorak, like collecting and spending money on lenses, then its a D80 minimum. For simple enjoyment, I have never had so much as I do with the 5000 . . . Just my view?

Want so some simple sample pics I took in London last week:

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=249118

I'm no David Baily, as you can see, but the 5000 plus a decent lens goes a long way . . . :thumbs:

CJS
Click to expand...

Thanks, I'll have a look into the D5000. Problem I have is I have been banned from speaking to my brother about it, which is making it all the harder!
 
CJS said:
I'm no David Baily, as you can see, but the 5000 plus a decent lens goes a long way . . . :thumbs:
Click to expand...

They may have just as good image quality but that's where the similarity ends, the D90 has more features, and a far better menu system, and as has already been said can auto focus all the lenses available to it ;)
 
TG. said:
They may have just as good image quality but that's where the similarity ends, the D90 has more features, and a far better menu system, and as has already been said can auto focus all the lenses available to it ;)
Click to expand...

As I said, I dont expect to be agreed with, however, I have compared the two directly . . . you would be surprised how close the menus are where it matters ;) yes, 'lenses' could be an issue to some, its a personal thing . . . I enjoy taking photos and making the best of that 'similar image quality' :shrug:

CJS
 
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