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Should I?


dan_raley

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<p>I bought my first DSLR last week a D3000 kit with a 18-55vr and a 55-200vr, bought it at Best Buy for $699.00. Yesterday I went into my local camera store to get a bag and better strap for it and they have a D80 Body only on consignment for $494.00. I know you see the question coming already. Do I take the D3000 back to BB and buy the D80 from the shop, or do I stick with what I bought until I'm ready to upgrade at a later date to a nicer camera? I have used the D80 and really like it, always wanted one, but never bought it before they quit making it. If I went that route I figure I would be into the D80 w/a 18-55vr for about the same price as I paid for the D3000 kit. I was planning on adding the 35mm 1.8 nikon lens to my existing kit, along with a flash (most likely SB600). Should I just stay with that plan, or go for the D80 add my prime and a flash then add a 55-200 at a later time? If I decide to return the D3000 I need to do it in the next couple of days before the return period is up.</p>
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<p>If you did that it would leave you with one lens fewer and a used camera - and if you did buy the same lenses to use with the D80, you'd have a system that's functionally identical (maybe with lower image quality) but $200 less in your account, and a used camera. So I would say no. The sensor in the D80 is the same, the AF sensor is the same, and the D3000 is newer than the D80 and has a newer processor. What the D3000 lacks is the second control knob (useful in manual mode) and the AF motor (useful with lenses you don't have) and the remote flash system (useful for flashes you don't have in a studio you don't have) - and that's all.</p>

<p>I know Ken Rockwell hates the D3000, because he loves the D40 and hates the D60 and a D3000 is a D60 with a new AF system, but the D80 is not appreciably more useful than the D3000, and this D80 is used. Meanwhile the D3000 really is a fantastic little camera, it weighs next to nothing and takes great photos up to around ISO 1600 and has some reasonably good processing features, and your collection of lenses and flashes can grow so long as you stick to AFS and don't expect wireless commander mode. Use the D3000 as a learning camera and later on, if you feel a compelling reason why it is limiting you, you can upgrade to a model that's better than a D80.</p>

<p>Buyer's remorse is always there but I really think you've already done the right thing and you should stick to the original plan.</p>

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<p>Andrew.... Have you actually shot the D3000? Have you actually compared the results to a D40 or D60?</p>

<p>Dan.... You didn't really say anything about what you like to shoot, so I'm not sure how people can be recommending what's best for you. As an "average", it's probably best to keep the D3000. It's a better choice than the D80, if only for the focusing screen and CAM1000 autofocus module. Except for ISO 100, you <em>would</em> see better results from a D40, contrary to what Andrew's written (the D40 gives you more creative control than the D3000, is one ISO stop cleaner, and only loses the AF battle to the D3000). </p>

<p>But as a beginner with one camera, the D3000 should serve you well as you learn and advance in the hobby. As an alternative if you change your mind in a month: You could always sell the D3000 body (you'll get about $450), buy a D80 ($450 is a more realistic D80 price), and keep your two new lenses with 5-year Nikon warranties. If you like the smaller D3000-sized body, you could sell the D3000, buy a D40 ($250), buy a 35/1.8G ($200), and have your three lenses for the same price. Three great lenses.</p>

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<blockquote>

<p>you'd have a system that's functionally identical (maybe with lower image quality)</p>

 

</blockquote>

<p>if both cameras have the same sensor, how is this possible?</p>

<p>d300 is a newer but not better camera.</p>

<p>the d80 has a built-in motor--that's huge if you want to use non AF-S lenses like the 50/1.8--and two control dials.</p>

<p>i'd go for the d80.</p>

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<p>I'm gonna agree with Eric's answer. If you wanna shoot with the non-AF-S lenses, you'll need the D80. It's far from a perfect camera, but it's pretty good. But I tend to like the older lenses.</p>

<p>On the other hand, if you plan on shooting DX lenses, you've got a good camera...so quit thinking about what could be, and just start shooting.</p>

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<p>It's actually a touch choice, but I would advise you to keep your D3000 kit.</p>

<p>Why? The D80 is older technology, and you don't know this unit's history.</p>

<p>Enjoy your D3000 for a year. Learn everything you can. Then, if you still feel the need to upgrade you can consider a D90 or even its successor. The D90 is a much better camera than the D80, IMHO.</p>

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<p>Dan Raley.... Just remember. You're never locked into a camera (or lens) forever. You can buy-sell-trade and reshuffle the deck as time goes by. Dan South makes a good point. Shoot the D3000 for a year or two, then look at a used D90 if <em>you</em> think <em>you</em> need it then. Unless the $700 D3000 kit was a real reach financially, keep it and shoot it and have fun. If the $700 tapped you out, there are other ways of "getting in" that get you a camera, lenses, a <em>real</em> tripod, Photoshop, etc for the same $700.</p>

<p>Andrew.... Sorry. My bad. But what a camera does, straight through to the print, is all that matters, and that was the root of my point. It's not an ISO-MP argument. It's a sensor fact. And a beginner should be made aware even if all the techno mumbo jumbo is skipped. I know <em>firsthand</em> because I wanted the D3000 to equal my D40 (not beat it, just equal it). I still have them both here in front of me, and I putz with them both every day. The CAM1000 module and the resolution at ISO100 is a strong draw in favor of the D3000, but the base-ISO performace, the added stop of available DOF and clean ISO400 keep me coming back to the D40. Too bad the buying public's hunger for megapixels kept Nikon from putting a 6- or 8-MP CMOS sensor in the D3000!</p>

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<p>Joe,</p>

<p>Yes, those of us who don't print billboards would love it if the camera companies put down the megapixel chase for a bit. Imagine it... Full-frame... 6MP... Clean ISO performance up to... I wonder... quarter or half a million ISO maybe? No market for that? I wonder... Maybe someday.</p>

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<p>Dan Raley,</p>

<p>I think you should stick with the D3000 kit. The D80 has some advantages IMHO. A big one for me is the AF motor. But it doesn't limit the D3000 ability. Another reason was mention earlier is that you don't know the history of that camera (d80). There is nothing better than you putting some dings in your own gear. Get the 35mm lens, the flash and you have a pretty good system. You can always upgrade the body. By the time you decide to upgrade the body, you could probably get a D200 around the same price of the D80. I got a d1h for $180 a year ago. That camera was $4500 in 2001.</p>

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