Advice Please.

[Kaiserdog 20]

Just about to venture into the world of Digital SLR's after resisting the temptation for years, I'm reasonably proficient with an old school SLR & have used many compact digital models, money as with most people is tight, my friend has suggested a Nikon D3100, I've checked the speck etc & I do like Nikon from past experience, any advice/ comments would be welcome thanks.

[Panna 68]

Yeah, you'd be fine with one. Spend more on the lenses, they are more important! I would maybe consider purchasing a second hand Nikon D300 (or D300s) with about 10.000-15.000 shots, you would be happy with that too, I can garantee that!

D300 (and D300s) may be a bit older model (and only available second hand), but more professional camera with more options, more buttons in order not to go to the menu everytime you want to change the smallest thing, higher frames per second (fps) and better built (for example weather proof and is also bigger, more massive body, fits LOT better to a man's hand. I used to take photos of fast moving dogs, I have just purchased a second D300 a month ago and I am happy with it. It had around 10.000 shots in it, but don't be afraid, they are tested for about 100.000 (or 150.000) and you like will not arrive to it in the coming 5 years.

Another good option (in my opinion better option then the D3100) is to have a Nikon D90. I think you can even buy it from the shop,but if you get it second hand, also good. It is also an older, but better built camera, then the D3100, similar to the D300 (and D300s) in build quality and services.

I put more coins into the lens, I have a Nikkor 70-200 f/2.8 VR I and a 50mm f/1.8.

For telezooom lens I would buy a Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G IF ED VR, or the Tamron 70-300mm f/4-5.6 SP Di VC USD. Both of these come with an imige stabilizer and are almost equally good on your future camera. (When purchasing lens, take care that the D3100 has no inner motor that moves the focus, so you have to buy lens with this AF motor inside. 99% of the newer lens have it.)

For a kit lense, I can recommend the 18-105mm, it is cheap and a good all rounder for family purposes. (Not really for taking pics of running dogs though.)

 

 

ATB,

 

Anna

[Kaiserdog 20]

Yeah, you'd be fine with one. Spend more on the lenses, they are more important! I would maybe consider purchasing a second hand Nikon D300 (or D300s) with about 10.000-15.000 shots, you would be happy with that too, I can garantee that!

D300 (and D300s) may be a bit older model (and only available second hand), but more professional camera with more options, more buttons in order not to go to the menu everytime you want to change the smallest thing, higher frames per second (fps) and better built (for example weather proof and is also bigger, more massive body, fits LOT better to a man's hand. I used to take photos of fast moving dogs, I have just purchased a second D300 a month ago and I am happy with it. It had around 10.000 shots in it, but don't be afraid, they are tested for about 100.000 (or 150.000) and you like will not arrive to it in the coming 5 years.

Another good option (in my opinion better option then the D3100) is to have a Nikon D90. I think you can even buy it from the shop,but if you get it second hand, also good. It is also an older, but better built camera, then the D3100, similar to the D300 (and D300s) in build quality and services.

I put more coins into the lens, I have a Nikkor 70-200 f/2.8 VR I and a 50mm f/1.8.

For telezooom lens I would buy a Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G IF ED VR, or the Tamron 70-300mm f/4-5.6 SP Di VC USD. Both of these come with an imige stabilizer and are almost equally good on your future camera. (When purchasing lens, take care that the D3100 has no inner motor that moves the focus, so you have to buy lens with this AF motor inside. 99% of the newer lens have it.)

For a kit lense, I can recommend the 18-105mm, it is cheap and a good all rounder for family purposes. (Not really for taking pics of running dogs though.)

 

 

ATB,

 

Anna

Thanks for the advice, I'll have a closer look at the other models that you sat might be more useful.

[Panna 68]

worth checking this site:

http://www.dpreview.com/products/compare/side-by-side?products=nikon_d3100&products=nikon_d300s&products=nikon_d90

 

and the cameras themselves separately too.

I would check for grip, the menu system in general (for some, the menu of Nikon is "weid", for some the menu of Canon is "weid") and which stands better in your hands.

 

 

ATB,

Anna

[Kaiserdog 20]

Thanks Anna, just had a look, useful & easy to compare spec, it'll be time soon to go out to buy one( next Mon ) so I've a week to narrow it down.

[Panna 68]

Also worth checking this link: photos taken with expensive gear recreated on a cheap DSLR http://petapixel.com/2014/08/23/cheap-shot-challenge-photos-taken-expensive-gear-recreated-cheap/

 

ps.: the Nikon D810 is a brand new camera (released about 1 month ago), the Nikon D40 was released in November 2006.

So I would not mind to have a bit older camera, they are still waaaaay better then what photographers had 20-40 years ago!

 

Let us know what you choose and bring us some of your first pics!

 

 

ATB,

 

 

Anna

[Kaiserdog 20]

Nice one, cheers Anna, a veritable mine of info! Don't worry after next week you'll know my final choice, & yes i will put some sample shots of the dogs/ ferrets & any other "victims" I can snap!