Comparing Nikon SLR

I know that this must be asked quite often on here, so I apologize in

advance...

 

I have been shooting with my Dad's F50 recently, and have decided to

purchase a Nikon SLR. I have always shot with a Canon AE-1 with about

6 different lenses. Now, my goal is to simplify things by getting a

good Nikkor zoom lens and a Nikon SLR. I have sold all of my Canon

equipment, and also have some birthday money to play around with.

 

My question is this: Can you recommend a good Nikon SLR that will

allow me to shoot in 'idiot mode' (all automatic) for when i just want

pictures of me and my friends (or for when I'm just plain lazy), but

will also allow me to go completely manual. The F50 is nice for that,

and I like it OK, but I'd like something with more options (and higher

tech metering).

 

I'll probably be buying used if possible, and have been looking at an

F100 or even an F4. My only complaint on the F4 is that it's quite

bulky, especially compared to what I'm accustomed to. Plus, I have

teeny tiny hands. Also, I don't know if the F4 is maybe a little 'too

pro' for me. So, any recommendations would be EXTREMELY appreciated;

I've looked online at several websites, but I'd rather have opinions

from those who have used the camera's firsthand. I also like the N80

and N75; they are much more 'my size'.

 

If it helps, I'm looking for the best value for the work I like to do.

I'm not a beginner at all, but I'm not near a professional. I shoot a

LOT of black and white, but I am also trying to get back into just

having shots of my friends, family, and I. I like to maintain some

control over my photographs (don't we all!) which is why I like the

'manual' option, but I also want a Nikon good enough to make all the

decisions for me when I feel like just having fun.

 

Thank you all so much in advance!

 

Julia

I believe the N80 will suite you perfectly, and will leave little room to grow. If you can afford an F100, you'll appreciate it even further down the road, although the F100 does not have a build in flash which can prove useful sometimes.

 

A good zoom lens to start with is probably the Nikkor 28-105/3.5-4.5 AFD. You can supplement that with an 18-35/3.5-4.5 AFD and/or the 70-300ED variant. These are all no-nonsense lenses, and they CAN do the job done. Easily. If you can afford more, try to opt for the 35-70/2.8 AFD, or even the 28-70/2.8 AFD.

I am not sure what your budget is but if you are considering an F100 or an F4, then I will assume your are willing to shell out $600.00 plus dollars. If you think you will be using the camera often, I would consider the more rugged F100. Forget the F4 because it will be to bulky for you, as you had described. Also it is older camera than the F100. The F100 will be more up to date. The F100 is a little bigger than the N80 and the N75, but not to the point of being uncomfortable. My wife has the N75 and she loves it. In my honest opinion, If you are just a casual photographer, go with the N80 or N75. If you are a little on the serious side of that, than get the F100. Good Luck.

For the body, if your budget is about $600 or so, get a used F100. If it is around $300, you can get a new N80. I would avoid the N75 because you cannot set film speed manually on it. The N75 was discussed to no end just a few days ago.

 

Personally, I think it is kind of late in the game to buy a film SLR. Have you considered maybe a D70?

Looks like I need to read some product reviews on here!

 

Yaron:

 

I've been comparing the N80 and N90 along with the F100. I think the F4 is most likely not going to happen - it's just too bulky for me. I *am* considering the 35-70 lens, and pushed around the idea of the 28-105. I'm just a little concerned that so many people have had issues with the F100. However, the N80 will definitely free up more 'lens money' for me. Thanks!

 

Russell:

 

Well, I outed the F4 since my hands are WAY too small; plus I don't like the idea of lugging around such a heavy camera. This is the second time the N80 has been recommended to me; is it possible to go totally manual with it (I know that must be a stupid question)? Mainly, I'm just wondering how different the N80, N90 and F100 are (besides price). Thanks!

Shun:

 

I already have a digital (though not an SLR) that I adore; I'm mainly looking to upgrade from an all manual SLR that is older than me to an SLR that can offer me all auto as well as an all manual option. Thanks!

Looks like the F100 and F4 are out. The F100 seems to have way too many user complaints, and is most likely more than what I need. The F4 is too big.

 

I'm leaning heavily towards the N80 or N90 now. What is the difference between the N90 and the N90S? Also, I see the N80 has a built-in flash, but not the N90, correct?

 

At least I've gotten narrowed down to 2 models now!

derf! i just read that the N90 has a fill-in flash.

Nonsense. Film is still a very viable way of taking pictures. The body cost will also be less than half that of the D70. Film is still the best way for amateures (I am one, by the way) to get in the game.

 

Anyway, go with the N80 or possibly an N65. The N80 gives you more room to grow, but the N65 is still a great camera that fufills all your needs at the moment.

 

Don't bother with the F100. You won't get any of the vari-programs with it that you would with the N80 or N65. All you get with the F100 is M,A,S, and P, which is all most photographers use anyway. If you want to have more "idiot modes", go with the N80 or N65. You'll still get the M,A,S, and P of the pro-models, but other features too. The F100 is also substantially more expensive than the N80 or N65.

 

For your needs, the two above reccomended cameras seem to me like the best fit.

 

That said, the N75 isn't a bad camera either. You could look into that too, but I don't know much about it that would be helpful.

The N90 doesn't have a built in flash. If you want a convenience of a built in flash, then the F80 is the way to go. If it were me, I'd be making the decision between the F80 and F100, since the N90 has only 1 central focus point. The F80 has 5 points (centre is cross sensor and the other 4 are 2x vertical and 2x horizontal), while the F100 also has 5 but all 5 are cross sensors. You're talking about a big jump in between the N90 and F100, but betweem the F80 and F100, it's a decision based on your requirements. Oh, and since F100 doesn't have an idiot mode (other than P), the F80 might be the best choice.

N90S.

 

Rick H.

<i>

Don't bother with the F100. You won't get any of the vari-programs with it that you would with the N80 or N65. All you get with the F100 is M,A,S, and P, which is all most photographers use anyway. If you want to have more "idiot modes", go with the N80 or N65.

</i> </br> </br>

 

Not entirely correct. The N80 has M, S, A and P modes only, like the F100. All the others (N55, N65 and N75) have the iconic modes -- landscape, portrait, etc.

 

</br> </br>

 

 

To answer Julia's original question: although the choice of camera/lens is very personal, based on what you have described so far -- an N80 camera with the AFD 28-105 will be a good kit. If you have about another USD 100, buy the AFD 50/1.8 also -- a superb lens for low-light photography.

 

-- dev.

Because you've stressed automation so much, I'm also going to recommend the N80. The F100's a better camera but it has no built-in flash, which can be helpful for those times you're just snappin' off shots of friends and family (though don't expect it to be studio-quality flash). That said, I'm surprised to hear you've read a lot of complaints about the F100; a lot of pros bypass the F5 and go for the F100 instead, and it's sold very well. At any rate, as you've said, buying the N80 would allow you to spend more on lenses, which just may be the way to go.

 

Oh, and yes, you can go fully manual on the N80, or ANY SLR for that matter (that I know of, at least). Enjoy!

Which one of you has ever used an F80?! The F80 does NOT have vari-program modes!

OK, those last two posts were not yet here. By the way, I did not mean to pull the F80 down, in fact, I would recommend one too, I am just stressing that it does not have the "idiot" modes, apart from P, which is enough.

I recently bought an F100 and felt it was better than the EOS3 but it is also big and really made for someone looking for pro speed and has lots of pro features and performance. I would not buy it for my wife since she has smaller hands than me and also she doesn't need the ultra bright F100 finder since she sees better than me.

 

Even though I have a Nikon system I am going to recommend the Canon Elan NE-7 because I think it will be the best match for your hands and what you want to spend on the total system.

 

First thing is that unlike the Nikon cameras Canon just updated the NE7 with more sensitive and faster AF and other tweeks that taken together put it ahead for the time being versus the N80. The Elan is compact and quiet, the updated flash is supposed to allow for d type flash metering. I have heard that the eye control focusing works well for most users even in low light. Now everybody here likes their Nikon camera, I know I am very happy with my F100, I like it as much as my Leica 4p and Pentax LX but I have complaints similar to what Thom Hogan says in his missing Nikon lens article. Thom wonders why Canon has IS and ultrasonic features available at almost every price point across the lens ranges yet after all these years Nikon mostly has this on select lenses usually at the top price points at premium prices. This is my only real gripe. I mean if Nikon included VR inside the camera body like Minolta I could see why they seem slow in releasing VR in the lenses. But come on Nikon

where is the 105mm f2.5 AFD AFS and other lenses we want to see.

If your friends do not move while you photograph them get N80,

if your friends move get a Nikon F100.<br>

<br>

Both cameras offer Program and Aperture Preferred exposure

automation. If you combine this with matrix metering and expose

your negative films, B&W or color, at ISO x 0.5 youll be

home free.<br>

<br>

The F100 is worth the difference. The AF much better than the N80.

Most people think of sports as a requirement for good AF but

candid photos of friends, family, pets and the like can be just

as taxing. A clue about the N80's AF performance is right on the

front of the camera. Its a white AF focus assist light

guaranteed to annoy your subject to no end. It can be disabled in

the custom settings and should be. The F100 doesnt need one

so it doesn't have one. Matrix metering is better in the F100 but

that might not be a consideration unless you shoot slides. The F100

allows the use of AI and AIS Nikkors as well as AF, AF-D, G and

AF-S G VR. If you have any interest in landscape photography you

might want some of the manual focus AI and AIS Nikkors.<br>

<br>

You say you are "not near a professional" but if youd

like to get closer consider opting out of an under powered flash

just centimeters from the lens and opt for some fast prime lenses.

The AF 35/2.0D, AF 50/1.4D and AF 85/1.8D come to mind. Using

aperture preferred exposure mode and ambient light can make a big

difference. <br>

<br>

You might like reading this article. Its emphasis is the 50mm

lens and photographing children but most all of it applies well

to the other focal lengths listed above and photography of people

of any age. Here is the link...<br>

<br>

<a

href="http://www.vothphoto.com/spotlight/articles/forgotten-lens.htm"

target="_new"><u>http://www.vothphoto.com/spotlight/articles/forgotten-lens.htm</u></a>

<br>

<br>

Also to get near opt out of program mode and learn the use of

aperture preferred exposure mode. If you use it a lot it gets

very easy. Finally opt out of slow consumer zooms, the lenses

held together with sticky tape, the lenses that make us use flash

too soon.<br>

<br>

A Nikon F100 with an AF 50/1.4D would be a great start.<br>

<br>

Best,<br>

<br>

Dave Hartman.

One vote for the N90s body.

 

 

 

The AF 35-105mm f3.5D~ Nikkor is small: the AF 28-105mm f3.5D~ Nikkor is a bit larger.

<p>I vote for David Hartman -- he said it all.</p>

 

<p>The N80 ought to be a great choice for you, seems to have all the features you want and none that you don't. Stay away from any two digit Nikon model that ends in a "5" -- stick to the N70-80-90-100 as those are much less "dumbed down" than the odd'uns.</P>

 

<p>I'll second what David said about ditching the slow zooms. Even for casual snapshots you're better off with a fast, sub-f2.0 prime lens than using the flash. Fortunately, the 50 f1.8 is compact, light, really affordable, and just about as sharp a lens as you can buy. These days, a good rule of thumb is that if you're looking at a lens slower than f2.8, it's geared toward the consumer end of the spectrum. This means you're looking at higher proportion of plastic in the construction, cheaper glass, and possibly a plastic lens mount. These lenses will also not hold their value, so if you decide that you want to trade it in or sell it, you're going to take a bath.</p>

 

<p>The last thing I would point out that when considering lenses, the wider the zoom range, the more optical compromises have been made. Sure, a 28-500 lens sounds great, but you will pay a penalty in distortion, image softness, and reduced contrast for having the do-it-all wunderlens. Good luck!</p>

An N80 is a fine camera and will work very well for you. I have owned both an N80 and an F100 and I like the F100 a whole lot, especially because it will meter with AI lenses (I like primes a lot) but it's significantly heavier than the N80.

 

An N80 is sufficiently good that if mine hadn't gotten sand in it, I'd still be using it instead of the F100.

Wow! Thanks for the many responses! I've now decided to go with the N80 - it has the options that I want, nothing that I don't, and plus, I will save enough $$ to buy some great lenses.

 

The deciding factor? One of the guys at work has one and is letting me borrow it to see if I like it. So far, a hearty YES.

 

now, to pick out lenses....

 

Thanks for all your suggestions! You've been a great help!

As I was reading this, I figured the N80 would be your best choice. You don't need "idiot modes"; put it on Program and with neg film it will be close enough. I am surprised about your impression of the F100, I've had one for 3 years and it's been great. No one I personally know who has one has had any problems with theirs - but it is a bigger, heavier camera and I think you'd be better off spending the money on lenses than the camera. The N80 was one of Galen Rowell's favorites, by the way.

 

The 35-70 is a push-pull zoom with a metal body. I myself and a lot of others don't care for push-pull zooms, but you might not mind them - just something to realize. The 28-105 is a really good all-purpose lens but just not that fast, adding a 50 f1.8 for low light (less than $100) would be a good move. It also has a plastic body so it's lighter, and no complaints in 4+ years of use.

Johnny, you have even a more intersting option. Get a N8008s. Bodies go for about 250$ and it's probably al the camera you'll ever need. Built like a tank and with all the needed features. Search the web for info about this camera that has been used by more than one National Geographic photographers. Then, you'll get plenty of room for lenses.

One issue about the N8008/F801 family bodies (including the N8008s) is that they are from the pre-AF-I/AF-S era. They cannot drive AF-S lenses and if you put one of those on, it will be manual focus only. There is also no VR, of course.

honestly, how different is the n80 from the n90s? the price difference is pretty substantial!