Which Model best for beginner?

[lotus188]

either get a D90 or a D5000 if $$$ is not a issue & you know that you are serious into photo shooting & do take note that you will suffer a economy lost; if you buy something at a lower range, and later you decided to upgrade. if possible try to play with various models before making a commitment.

as for lens, kit lens are pretty good for beginner.
you may also wish to invest in a dry cabinet.

 

[hookonclassic]

Can anyone advice for a beginner to get a cam? Which model best for beginner? Thanks

This is a very common question posted by a beginner and appears many times in the forum.

Any camera, even an old but perfectly functioning film camera (non-digital) is good for beginner photography. Whereas, a digital one can get you to see the result and experience with different settings for effect much more conveniently. Unless your question is confined to "Which Nikon digital SLR camera body is good for beginner?" since you have posted this question in Nikon Forum.

Please define your needs and take the systematic approach.

1) What is the "initial budget" you are prepared to fork out for the "initial basic camera gear"?
- less than SGD 1000
- SGD 1000 to 2000
- SGD 3000 to 5000
- money is no issue :bigeyes:
I said "Initial" because once you are in it, and if you enjoy, you will crave for more and more...that is why people selling for upgrade and wanted the best he/she can afford.

Bear in mind you need to define the items you are buying "initially" for the said budget. The bare basic is one body with a lens to take picture. :bsmilie:

To define what you need, you need to know what do you like to photograph?

2) What do you like to photograph?
- causal travel / family shots
- sport / fast action events
- fashion / portrait
- architecture / landscape
- street photography
- macro (still / nature)
- underwater

Different subject require different kind of gears and therefore further define what camera type, lenses, flash, tripod, filters......etc.... you need.

3) Define your "initial camera gear" with the help of experienced CS members.

3) Can you accept second-hand, perfect functioning gear? This will help you stretch the $$$.

I believe if you can define the above, there are many experienced CS members to help you suggest the type or format (Medium format, 35mm film, half-frame DX digital, full-frame FX digital), type of camera (compact, SLR, RF, etc), brand (Nikon, Canon, Olympus, Leica and many other etc...), model, type of lens (wide angle, standard, tele, etc..) and accessories you need.

Go get a camera and start enjoy the world of photography. Cheers.

 

[nice1888]

the best part is, you could probably have held another camera and the feeling might be just as great.

i feel great when i take a good picture, not when i hold an expensive camera. :bsmilie:

I agree with your statement. I need to take good picture to justify my cost. However, for example. Even though I can't handle a F1 car but if I can drive it slowly for one round in the circuit. You know that kind of feeling is so... shiok. :bsmilie:

looks like we have an equipment junkie here...

Yeah, you are right.

Ha, i experienced that (50 bucks left) too. Jus that i am not as crazy to go till d700. Not till i know the limits of my D80 (my first DSLR too). Not saying that u are crazy, perhaps passion?

Thank you for your understanding. Yeah, passion is the right word.

You student or NS boy issit? okay what.

But remember, its the lens and flash which is the bottleneck.

Nope, I am in my 40 years old with a 6 years old daughter. So is not okay. I know is not right spending like that. Don't copy me.
My career and financially actually not too bad. I am in Manager level. Just that due to some complicated reason. I am broke for a period of few years (need to pay a few loan). What earn all goes to the bank. When one day i realise i don't have nice picture of my daughter for the past 5 years. Then I decided to invest in a good camera to compensate her. With this Nikon D300, I have took a few thousands of nice picture of her in a year. When I hear good comments from friends & relatives of the nice picture I have took for her, my hearts telling me : "worth it".

 

[fatdoi]

I agree with your statement. I need to take good picture to justify my cost. However, for example. Even though I can't handle a F1 car but if I can drive it slowly for one round in the circuit. You know that kind of feeling is so... shiok. :bsmilie:



Yeah, you are right.




Thank you for your understanding. Yeah, passion is the right word.




Nope, I am in my 40 years old with a 6 years old daughter. So is not okay. I know is not right spending like that. Don't copy me.
My career and financially actually not too bad. I am in Manager level. Just that due to some complicated reason. I am broke for a period of few years (need to pay a few loan). What earn all goes to the bank. When one day i realise i don't have nice picture of my daughter for the past 5 years. Then I decided to invest in a good camera to compensate her. With this Nikon D300, I have took a few thousands of nice picture of her in a year. When I hear good comments from friends & relatives of the nice picture I have took for her, my hearts telling me : "worth it".

too right... life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, buy by the moments that take our breath away.... & when you can capture those moments...... priceless....

 

[Complex13717421]

Just wanted to add.

If you intend to buy the D5000, get the D90. If you're not willing to get the D90, go for the D60/D40 instead. You actually don't loose that much.

Furthermore, the flash sync of the D40 is 1/500s. But for D90/60/5000 is 1/200 only (without FP)

If you intend to get D300, getting the D700 makes much more sense (bang for buck) since the 700 is a Fx format and the D300 is comparable with the D90.



The kit lens will be more than sufficient to play around with. Eventually you'll need a 35/50mm prime.

If you want more range, a 70-300g lens (no vr) is just over SG$200 ONLY.

 

[Simon_84]

a cheaper alternative to the d90, would be the older d80.
certainly the d90 has better noise performance than the d80.
else get the d5000 for its noise performance instead of a d60/40, cause i find the 3 AF points a bit limiting.

not sure if the lack of an AF drive in d5000 will be a concern to you but eventually most lens will come with their own focusing motor.