First DSLR, need your advise please!

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First DSLR, need your advise please!

(13 posts) (8 voices)

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kasper5150

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Joined: May '09
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hi all!
just signed up
i'm 42, and from rome italy.
i'm still going around shooting with my loved FM2, so you guys can go ahead and lol, HAHAHA!
(i know/hope most of you wont)
however i am obliged to face the facts, and want to get myself my very first DSLR.
i was thinking about the D90 with a "do-it-all" 18-200 lens (for now), what do you think?
are there rumors about it's replacement? (D95 or similar?)
being a motor-cycle rider, the LV function will come very handy to me during my trips.

but since i have a few AI lenses that are not usable with the D90, i was tempted to getting the D60 instead (limited budget), and eventually wait for an affordable FX.

Your advise please!!!
Thx in advance all

Posted 4 years ago #
tai

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No laughs here, I shoot with my FE all the time. AI lenses are usable with the D90, but won't meter at all. You can just shoot manually, and adjust your settings by checking the resulting images. Alternatively, you could get a D200 for around $600 which would give you similar image quality to the D60, but meter with your AI lenses. If budget is less of a concern, the D300 will meter with your AI lenses, and give you similar quality to the D90.

As for the affordable FX, that will be some time. The larger sensor size costs much more to manufacture than the DX sensor size.

Posted 4 years ago #
ricktoyota

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Joined: May '09
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There probably will not be a replacement for the D90 for quite a while since it's still one of the newer Nikon DSLRs. It does look like Nikon is starting to discontinue some of the older cameras like the D200 and D300 and adding some new cameras like the D5000 (another consideration for you if your budget is a concern). There should be some good deals out their for the D300. If the video option found on the D90 is not as important to you, I would look at the D300. It would be a good investment like your FM2 and should give you years of use. Like Tai mentioned, it will work with your AI lenses.

FX format cameras will still be more expensive, at lease for the next few years, but the advantage is that the size of the format will be closer to the 35mm that you're use to with your FM2. Those it's expensive, with some luck and patience, there are good deals to be found on a used D700 in top condition. Like the D300 in the DX format, it would be a good investment and give you many years of use.

Posted 4 years ago #
Willis

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Kasper,

It sounds like you are on the right track. If you've got some older lenses, you will need at least a D90 to use Autofocus with them. I also think that the D90 is Nikon's most compelling price\feature combination available right now (although I liked it a lot more when it was selling for $800 like it was last December).

As far as the 18-200... you will get mixed reviews. I think its an excellent lens for the amount of versatility it offers. It truly does it all. The only problem is it doesn't do anything perfectly. It isn't as sharp as other zooms that cover a narrower zoom range. It isn't as fast as the prime lenses. And it simply can't hold a candle to nikon's pro-level glass (of course you would need about $6000 to cover the same zoom range.... so theres that). If all you want to do is make pictures, this is the lens to own. Sure there is sharper glass out there that costs less, but you will miss out on a lot of shots because your focal length won't be right. Sharpness is mostly an afterthought when you look at photos. If you look real closely, you will find flaws on even the best lenses. Composition is what matters the most, and the 18-200 allows you to compose more shots than any other lens I am aware of.

Posted 4 years ago #
heartyfisher

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LOL LOL LOL .. Sob Sob.. wished I had a FM2.. saw one in the shop the other day cost 700 !!! darn!

get the D300. Forget the AI lenses. I have a wonderful 50mm Ais but because the DSLR sensor reflects light you get lots of Ghosts images from most of the old lenses... You can always keep them for film but they don't preform as well in a DSLR. Get the 16-85vr. You will be amazed! Use your old AIS for old times sake.. but they will look different unless you get the D700.

Posted 4 years ago #
tai

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I've not had any ghosting issues flare up do to using a DSLR vs. film on any of my AIS lenses. I use them constantly and without problem. I don't have the 50mm AIS though, my 50mm is an older Nikkor-S f/1.4 AI'D

Posted 4 years ago #
NSXType-R

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Hey, I have a FM2 too. It's my dad's, and I still need to learn, but I have shot a roll of film so far. Came back crappy, but to my defense it was already expired.

I would go with a D90. It should be enough, but if you do want the pro body, go for the D300.

Willis, I doubt he has lenses that autofocus- the FM2 doesn't have a motor. Then again, I'm not sure of what lenses he has.

Posted 4 years ago #
mb

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Nothing much to add here except that I prefer 16-85 image quality to 18-200, but 18-200 is more useful all around.

Posted 4 years ago #
heartyfisher

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@ tai : I am very pleased with my 50mm in most circumstances but it does produce better images on film than on DSLR... Notice the reflected images of teh hot spots in my picture below..

Posted 4 years ago #
tai

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@heartyfisher, wow, that's pretty bad. I haven't seen any difference with my 50mm on film vs. digital. I'm glad I have the one I have!

Posted 4 years ago #
nau

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off the topic a bit .. it might be something wrong with yr lens
I use 50mm 1.4 all the time and have never seen anything like that

d90 is a good choice and as Wills mentioned 18-200 is one of the best lenses all around HOWEVER its not perfect for anything
so if you in to something in particular (portraits \ nature....) might want to get special lens for that

Posted 4 years ago #
heartyfisher

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@nau : Totally agree. i have the 18-200 vr Its good at everything. if you want sharp images then stop it to around f10 to f16 .. really after using for a while you will find the focal length you like best and the kind of images you like to take but are unable to do it with the 18-200 vr. then you get specialized lenses for those situations...

ps: i dont think there is anything wrong with my 50mm lens .. not anything that it can be fixed :-)

its a great little lense

Posted 4 years ago #
heartyfisher

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Posted 4 years ago #