The NIKON Thread (Talk About Nikon Stuff here)

[Poohblah]

Originally Posted by rhythmdevils

well i am going to buy a D3 soon. Either that, or a D3x when it comes out. But im not sure I need the megapixels, and I am assuming that high iso performance will be sacrificed when the photo-sites or whatever are smaller. anyone have any thoughts?

And also, I found the D3 for sale for around 2,500 dollars! but i feel really sketchy about the merchant. there's two of them actually. what do you all think?

WildDigital.com - Nikon D3, 12.4 Megapixel, Interchangeable Lens, SLR, Digital Camera

Nikon D3 (Body Only) (Nikon-25434) - Compare Prices at ShopCartUSA.com

that's cheaper than the D700 yikes.

if you want a $2500 D3, get a D700. that deal is most certainly not legit.

for that matter, if you have $2500 and want a full frame nikon, get an F100 and use the $2000+ you saved on film and processing.

[rhythmdevils]

Originally Posted by Poohblah

if you want a $2500 D3, get a D700. that deal is most certainly not legit.

for that matter, if you have $2500 and want a full frame nikon, get an F100 and use the $2000+ you saved on film and processing.

I have a Hasselblad

And I am completely devoted to film. But commercial work doesn't lend itself to well to all the work that goes into film. I gotta be able to have images ready the day I shoot. And the D3 is the first camera Ive seen that can contend with film- and the low light sensitivity is just dreamy.

I don't want a D700 because, silly as it might seem, it doesn't have the in-finder crop to 4x5 aspect ratio that the D3 has. That crop alone is worth the extra to me, no joke! i guess im a purist

[rhythmdevils]

Originally Posted by lan

Question, do you even need the camera you are considering getting?

what do you mean? The eos1ds is not mine. I just get to use it frequently.

[Poohblah]

Originally Posted by rhythmdevils

I have a Hasselblad

i'm assuming you can't afford a digital back for it, then?

[rhythmdevils]

Originally Posted by Poohblah

i'm assuming you can't afford a digital back for it, then?

yeah but i can't imagine anything greater than hearing that "ka-chunk" (the sound of the hasselblad's big mirror slaming up and shutter opening) and then having a 40 megapixel digital image from it.

[dj_mocok]

D3? Heck, if you can afford it, why not?

Or ask StuartR and see if he wanna sell his D3 and then he can finally get a D700 because it's lighter.

[Hayduke]

How good or bad is the kit 18-135 lens that comes with the D80?

I figure someone here will have used it.

I wasn't planning to buy a camera for several more months, but that timescale has been accelerated a bit. I'm buying one this week (maybe even today). I can spend up to about $1100, but I'd prefer to spend less

I've narrowed it down to the D80 kit, the D60 kit or the rebel Xsi kit.
I know kit lenses suck compared to higher end glass, but This is the only way I can see to get something usable immediately within my budget.

I'm going on a backpacking trip next week, and I thought I was going to borrow a Rebel XT, but that's not looking good. I was saving this money to spend more later on, but I think it's enough to get me something to start with. I'll buy more lenses later and, after I have a few nice lenses, eventually upgrade the body.

I was undecided between Canon and Nikon (still am a little), but there is one difference that is really swaying my decision. I know it's a dumb reason, but I prefer the direction Nikon zooms "twist". With the Canon I've borrowed recently, I keep twisting the wrong way to zoom. The first thing I noticed when I tested a Nikon at the shop was that it works the "correct" way :P At least it operates the way that is intuitive for me. It may sound like a minor thing, but it's something I keep thinking about.

SO any advice on that D80 kit lens? Or how about opinions on D80 vs D60?

I'm aware the D60 can't auto focus lenses without a motor. I'm not sure how big a deal that is though. My intention is to only buy lenses that are "full size". I don't want to buy any of the lenses that only work on DX bodies so that I can upgrade to a FX body down the road and use the same lenses.

Hopefully I'll get some good responses quickly, as I was planning to go shopping on my lunch hour

[ozz]

I went with the D-80 last year with the kit lens 18-135 and never looked
back and now it can be had for hundreds cheaper.As for Canon Nikon
buy the one that feels right in your hand as they are built slightly
different also from model to model.Use the compare feature on the web
site for each model thats what I did and came to the conclusion that the
D-80 would allow me some room to grow should I take this hobby more
serious.

[Hayduke]

Originally Posted by ozz

I went with the D-80 last year with the kit lens 18-135 and never looked
back and now it can be had for hundreds cheaper.As for Canon Nikon
buy the one that feels right in your hand as they are built slightly
different also from model to model.Use the compare feature on the web
site for each model thats what I did and came to the conclusion that the
D-80 would allow me some room to grow should I take this hobby more
serious.

yay an answer! hehe I'm almost decided on the D80. I like the sensor cleaning feature of the D60 and Rebel Xsi, but I'm not sure if that's more a gimmik then useful.

I think right now my remaining concern is the reviews say the D80s high ISO performance isn't as good as the Canons. I do like to shoot low light and high f-stop, so that could be an issue.

Ritz camera (the only shop in my smallish town) has a D80 kit with what looks like the same lens as the D60 kit. It's a 18-55 VR lens.

They also have a kit with a D60 and 2 lenses. One is the 18-55 VR and it also comes with a 55-200. I really like this kit because these 2 lenses would cover pretty much everything I want. They probably aren't great lenses though, and they probably won't work when I eventually get an FX body.

I hate this. I'm feeling pressured because I need to purchase the camera asap and I don't want to regret the choice I make. The worst part is I really can only get something from Ritz. I'm not sure I can get anything shipped to me by Wednesday, and if I did get it Wednesday, that really wouldn't give me any time to play with it before I go backpacking (we are entering The Canyon on Thursday morning).

[bigshot]

You can get a D40 at Amazon with both an 18-55 and a 55-200 for $663. That is a pretty nice little kit for that price. Add a fast prime like the 50mm 1.4 to that for $314 and you're set for just about anything for under a grand. Great deal.

See ya
Steve