Originally Posted by WhatMACHI
Mocok, mind if i get ur msn? I wouldnt mind having a chat bout this lol ill pm my msn over if u like
Originally Posted by WhatMACHI
Ok, i went into a few stores today, and spoke with some of the guys there. And ive deceded to stay away from the D40. So thats one thing off my mind :P
D50 it'll be :P Now since im getting my camera overseas, so its a bit cheaper, are there any lenses that you guys recommend to start a basic setup? I suppose if my gf is gona buy in HK i may as well get the cheaper lenses while i can.
So far i would suppose:
D50 Body
50mm 1.8 AF
I don't have MSN. and I was going to tell you the short answer - "D50"
;but since you yourself already figured out that D50 is better, so the next logical thing for me to do is by confusing you even further by asking you to also consider whether or not to get D70s or D80 instead, lol.
But seriously, D50 is good enough already. Where are you going to get it and how much it costs? (including postage) (or is your girlfriend gonna buy one for you from HK?)
You can get a new
D70s body for AUS$ 935 here. How much cheaper can you get for D50 from that overseas seller?
One thing you really have to consider about buying cameras from overseas is, be prepared to have lots of hassle when you have problem with the camera. (eg. camera faulty after you received it, Nikon Australia won't repair it, etc). Sending it back to overseas dealer will cost you both money and time.
The first camera I got got a group (around 5-6) bright pixels forming a cross pattern right around in the middle of the screen. They were bright green. Apparently bright/dark pixels are quite common problems, but some are not so obvious, people don't really care or don't really notice it.
(My brother's D200 got a cross-patterned dark pixels, but since it's really not noticeable in "real life", I decided not to inform him and let him be at peace and enjoy his camera)
But mine was so bright and sat around the centre of the screen, so it was obvious on most of the pictures I took.
So I took it back the next working day to the shop, and got a replacement straight away, no problem. So say if you got this from overseas, this thing would annoy the hell out of you.
I think if the difference is no more than $150, I'd get a local one if I were you.
About lens, in most circumstances I'd prefer to buy used (even overseas since lenses in general possess less possible problems compared to bodies) and just be a little bit patient and careful to wait for the "right" used lens to come around. You just need to find a lens whose owner is selling it because he/she rarely use it or doesn't like it, not because there's something wrong with it.
About the lens, 18-70mm or 50mm, both are great lenses, and both can be your main and only lens for awhile depending on your shooting style and circumstances.
But even if you got 18-70mm first, the 50mm is really a must have lens for Nikon. It's so cheap and considering what you can create with it, it's a steal.
Did some math for you:
Option A:
D70s (new) + 50mm AFD 1.8 (new)
= 935 + 200 = $1,135 = very happy shooter
Option B:
D70s (new) + 18-70mm (new)
= $1,335 = very happy shooter
Option C:
D70s (new) + 18-70mm (used)
= 935 + 300 = $1,235 = very happy shooter
But then, if you can get a bargain for D50, by all means just get a D50, and then maybe with the spare money you can buy both lenses.
PS: But if you have the 18-70mm and going to get 85mm 1.8, you can skip the 50mm 1.8
)
. I'm been testing ISO and shutter times for hours so far 
. I'm new to SLR photography 
.
