Taking the plunge into digital and need help!

Hello,

 

I have used Nikon cameras for years, started with a 6006, went to an N70 and then finally an F100. A few months

ago I sold my body and flash, but have held onto the lenses knowing I would one day get a digital SLR. I am now

ready to make the plunge and have a few questions.

 

I currently have a Tamron 90mm 2.8 macro, older version not the DI, Tokina 28-70 2.8, Nikon 180 2.8 and a 50 1.8.

Both nikon lenses are older non D lenses. My current thought is to keep all the lenses and get a D300, or D90

depending on the reviews. I am leaning towards the D300 since it should be closer in feel to an F100, which is the

camera I used the most and loved.

 

I believe the tokina would now be a 42-105 and should still be a good lense for portraits. The Tamron would be even

better now since it would now essentially be a 135mm and the 180 will now have more reach as well. The 180 is also

my favorite lense since it has given me great results in the past.

 

I shoot mainly my children, outdoors and will shoot their games, currently baseball and soccer. I do some nature

photography, but was limited when I lived in NYC. Since I now live in OH I think I will have more opportunity to

experience the great outdoors and would like to do more. I also do some macro photography.

 

I realize I will be hurting on the low end and will need to get a wide angle lense. I would also like to get an 80-200

some time in the future. Always wanted one, but never made the plunge :)

 

My question is should I go with lesser body and invest in additional lenses? How do older lenses work with newer

digital cameras?

 

My other thought is to sell it all and go with Canon. It can all be hear say, but people say they are now more reliable

than Nikons. I always loved the build quality of Nikons and hoping they still excel in this area, but I have no

experience with digital SLRs so I don't know if this is still the case.

 

Hope this isn't too long winded and am looking forward to your advise!

 

Thanks!

Having bought a D80 instead of the D200 my suggstion is to buy the D300. Trust what others are saying from their experiences- I love my D300 and the D90 with the 'movie' capabilty does nothing for me. To get my D300 I had to suffer first with the D80. D300 is worth the extra cash. Chris

I have been using the D80 with NIkon's best zooms. My philosophy is it's never a mistake to put money into lenses. They keep their value, and it is the lens that will determine your image quality. Putting big money into a camera and then not getting quality lenses to support it is the classic beginner's mistake. The new D90 will have the image quality of the D300 at a significantly lower price, smaller package, lighter/more compact, and as a huge bonus it can take quality video. Sounds perfect for you! Try the D90 with the new 18-105mm VR lens and then start looking for an f2.8 zoom later.

 

 

Kent in SD

since you've already got all the lenses for nikon i'd stick with it. <br>

as far as canon, my first DSLR was the first digital rebel. it lasted 4.5 years of not so heavy use in the

States and about 2.5 months when i took it to South America - a couple of dust storms around

Moquegua, Peru killed the shutter and the aperture/exposure wheel pretty fast (i made under 50000 exposures). since

i was a student

and had a couple of lenses for canon i got rebel xti before heading to India. It did ok in the Thar Desert

for 4 months but been stolen in Ecuador a few weeks ago (with both lenses) and once i'm back in the

States at the end of the year i'm getting one of the cameras you mentioned. it seems to me that nikon

has more to offer for the money. at least in the affordable price range - comparing the specs for 50d and

d90 makes the choice clear. i have FM10 as back up, and the 35-70mm and 50mm manual lenses that didn't

get stolen. so switching to digital nikons is a no-brainer.

I don't think there is any good reason to switch to using Canon, especially as you have that excellent collection of quality Nikon mount glass. If you want new, I would suggest the D300 [DX sensor] or the D700 [FX sensor]. If considering a used body, go for a D200 [DX].

 

<i>(focal length of your lenses will be the same, whether used on digital DX or FX or on film bodies, the DX - or APS-C - sized sensors simply crop the full lens image)</i>

I would use the glass you currently have. Take a look at http://www.naturfotograf.com/index2.html for some user evaluations of Nikkor glass. If you want to go wider there are several good zooms to pick form, Nikkor 12-24, Tokina 12-24, Sigma 10-20 and Tokina 11-16. I choose the 11-16 as I had primes from 20mm and up. I do like faster glass. I would go with the D300 as it can meter older AIS glass with can be had for less $$$. You could just get a D700 and then you have the glass you need already.

As long as your lenses are all AF type, not MF only, the new D90 should work fine with them. For using larger lenses with a better "feel" on the camera, get the battery grip as well. I remember that the F100 was introduced as a smaller, lighter alternative to the F5. Either the D90 or D300 have many advantageous features over the F100. The D300 is a heavier, very rugged build. The D90 is well-built, but more compact and lighter, for easier portability. My Nikon shooting friend is also just going into a first DSLR and has his eye on the D90. I can actually fit my similar size Pentax model, with a compact lens like a 28mm prime, into a sturdy-made "fanny" type belt pack. Depends on what you like.

Thank you for all the replies/advice. I am going to stick it out with Nikon and am leaning towards the D300. Like others though, I will wait for the release and reviews on the D90. Hopefully the release of the D90 and the 50D will drive the price down a little on the D300 :)

Buy the D300 if you're coming from an F100. They have similar build quality and the D300 has an even better AF module. You already have excellent lenses, so why even consider Canon? I've used Nikon SLRs for about 25 years, so the layout of Nikon controls feels natural. I suspect you'll feel the same if you handle a few Canon cameras.