Advise for Purchase for Dad (D300 vs D90)

[diediealsomustdive]

i think the BEST way to choose is... bring your dad to the shop.
let he hold and play with the cam...

i was having the same problem as u.. D90 or D300...
but after i tried on D300.... i leave D90 alone.

personal preference really.
end of the day it's your dad who is going to use it

1 man meat might be another poison

just my 2 cts

While that may be the best approach, it has a tendency to skew the choice to the better camera. 'cos you'll feel the shutter release, the fps, the view finder, etc.

Just as you've experienced, when taking this approach esp if cash is not an issue, the better camera wins. And the weight of the camera won't feature that much in 15 min of playing at the shop. It will after a 1-day hike.

I think it is better to rationalize what you want for your dad and what he wants, then go to the shop. Fine if you want to make the final decision there, but think through first, not go and play first. Guarantee you'll buy D300 if you play first then decide.

The price difference can be used to fund a SB-900, 50mm f/1.8, 60mm f/2.8 micro, etc. You choose a more solid camera with less accessories or a less solid camera with more accessories that may equally be capable for his needs may actually be more fun.

I know deep inside me I wanted a D700 but I can get (some of) SB-800, MB-D10, 60mm f/2.8micro, 105mm f/2.8 micro if I get the D300, and the rest is history.

 

[kero89]

FYI, lowest price update for ur reference

as of today

D300 body @ $1980 incl GST with Free EX180 bag

D90 Body @ $1360 incl GST with Free 4GB SDHC card

finally see a official <2k D300 body ;p

 

[NormanTan]

erm.. jus asking does ur father know abomut this website? if he does come to this website, is there any more surprize?

 

[asdfg]

His father may not know his son's user name on the forum. I mean his name is the user name but I don't think of all things in the world the TS would be worried about the father coming to the forum and finding out.

 

[jtchoy]

erm.. jus asking does ur father know abomut this website? if he does come to this website, is there any more surprize?

Is it meant to be a surprise in the first place? Maybe not...

 

[NormanTan]

him yea... thats possible:bsmilie:

ok what if his dad know his user name? any more surprizE?

 

[NormanTan]

Is it meant to be a surprise in the first place? Maybe not...

ok jtchoy.. u solved the riddle

 

[chongcl]

err... that's a good point perhaps dad does come in here! But then again, most advise suggest that it is risky to buy without consult so there shouldn't be a problem....

 

[chongcl]

Just as you've experienced, when taking this approach esp if cash is not an issue, the better camera wins. And the weight of the camera won't feature that much in 15 min of playing at the shop. It will after a 1-day hike.

I think it is better to rationalize what you want for your dad and what he wants, then go to the shop. Fine if you want to make the final decision there, but think through first, not go and play first. Guarantee you'll buy D300 if you play first then decide.

Thank you very much. I intend to do this. I am going showing him the brochures for both cameras, HIGHLIGHT the weight diff and the pros and cons and then take him to the shop. I am concerned about the cumulative weight as you suggested. He doesn't take nature photography but he does walk around town a lot on Sundays taking urban landscapes or old churches...

He tends to use non-prime lens. He is sharing with my wife the 10.5 fisheye, Tokina12-24, 18-70, 24-120VR, old 70-300, Tokina 100Macro, the Sigma 50-500 HSM.

I am probably selling the bigma to fund this purchase for him since wifey and him found it impossible to use this lens due to the weight. To use this they will have to lug around a tripod and monopod and they just found it a nice lens but laziness gets in their way of using it.

BTW, what do all the bros mean when they called me TS? Just curious.. have no clue.

Kero_ thanx for the price update! Maybe even a new one will be within reach. Is that from Cathay?

 

[giantcanopy]

BTW, what do all the bros mean when they called me TS? Just curious.. have no clue.

TS = Thread Starter

U have a family that shares ur passion! Very nice.

Ryan

 

[chongcl]

Oh haha thanx! Should have figured this out on my own. Actually, oddly enough, even thougjh I the one who's posting here, Dad and Wifey are the avide photographers... I am kind of shoot only if it is auto and not very often too at that...

 

[giantcanopy]

Oh haha thanx! Should have figured this out on my own. Actually, oddly enough, even thougjh I the one who's posting here, Dad and Wifey are the avide photographers... I am kind of shoot only if it is auto and not very often too at that...

Arh. I would have shot a documentary out of all my holidays overseas if not because my wife issin too patient with what I am doing huhurh. U r so lucky brudder.

Get which ever model I am sure your dad will be overjoyed. Although speaking from a slant of someone who is so tech savy and into photography, if u present the specs of both to him, he would probably love the D300 a little bit more. I am just guessing.

Best of luck

Ryan

 

[edthesped]

chongcl, I just purchased a D300 with the 18-200mm AF-S DX VR from Costco for $1999 + tax. They also have a D90 kit with 2 lenses for $1400. If you're a Costco member it may not be a bad way to go. I'm coming from a 20D and am wondering if I should have purchased the D90 instead of the D300 hence my search to find decent comparisons between the 2.

Good luck!

 

[Henessy]

chongcl, I just purchased a D300 with the 18-200mm AF-S DX VR from Costco for $1999 + tax. They also have a D90 kit with 2 lenses for $1400. If you're a Costco member it may not be a bad way to go. I'm coming from a 20D and am wondering if I should have purchased the D90 instead of the D300 hence my search to find decent comparisons between the 2.

Good luck!

Hi, is your price in SGD or USD?

 

[Fotophilic]

If possible, d300. Really. Ability to meter with AIS (old, maunal focus), etc lenses is a good feature. Built is also better, viewfinder also better. But whether or not these "better" warrants $600++ is questionable.

Both D90 and D300 are good. Either one is fine. With less $ spend if u get the D90, u can use that $ to buy lenses/flashes, or even bring him (and whole family) out for a good meal.

Depends on ur father, if I have a kid (in future) like u, i'll be very happy even if he/she just buy me a D40.

 

[Fotophilic]

chongcl, I just purchased a D300 with the 18-200mm AF-S DX VR from Costco for $1999 + tax. They also have a D90 kit with 2 lenses for $1400. If you're a Costco member it may not be a bad way to go. I'm coming from a 20D and am wondering if I should have purchased the D90 instead of the D300 hence my search to find decent comparisons between the 2.

Good luck!

don't think this is in Singapore dollars.

 

[soeypixels]

FYI, lowest price update for ur reference

as of today

D300 body @ $1980 incl GST with Free EX180 bag

D90 Body @ $1360 incl GST with Free 4GB SDHC card

finally see a official <2k D300 body ;p

wah...
from which shop... very tempting :sweatsm:

 

[chongcl]

Hi everyone,

Just to provide closures to all the nice people here who helped made my life a lot easier, Dad has chosen and it is... the D300! Turns out that he liked the build so much that the additional weight isn't a factor at all. I showed him the comparison from NikonUSA between the D90 and D300 and he particularly liked the AF and how much more souped up the White Balance is on the D300. For those of you who are interested in seeing how your camera match up with other models in the Nikon line here is the document:

http://http://nikonusa.com/Assets/Common-Assets/PDF/DSLR_Compare.pdf

I would have uploaded the PDF but I didn't know how to do so. It gives a really detailed breakdown of different Nikon cameras (from D3 to D40) and how they stacked up against each other. From there it was quite evident that while the CMOS chip might be the same, additional chips such those handling the TTL or White Balance is vastly different.

In any case, dad liked the specs of the D300 and then we went down to Harvey Norman to scout it out (not to buy), and he is really impressed by the build quality and the functions. Me? I am secretly pleased as I am rather partial to cameras with the magnesium/metal body. Reminded me of the good old days when cameras were all made from these materials when I was a kid.

But seriously, thank you all. All your advices really do made a huge difference. Thanx!

Oh I believe EdtheSped's quote are in USD or CDN$ because Costco only have branches in North America. But thank you very much for trying to give me a heads-up!

cheers
cl

 

[edthesped]

Sorry guys, I obviously didn't check what country you guys were in as the posted price is for Costco in North America. I opted for the D300 as an upgrade to my aging 20D. For me this is a huge leap as I have a lot of Canon gear to unload now.

 

[chongcl]

No probs. But thank you for trying to help! :c)

I figured it out when I saw Costco!