Digital SLR under $1600?

[petrovski]

OK, I am reposting my original question with some additions to it in order to address my apperent

vagueness...once again. So, hopefully this post will have covered all vagueness. If one more person tells

me I am vague I will be convinced I am crazy:

 

By next month, I want to purchase a d-slr (body and lens) for under $1600. For the camera, I am

undivided when it comes to Canon or Nikon. I believe both are excellent companies and their hyper

competitive struggle assures me that they will both continue to produce excellent cameras and lenses.

My equipment history: For the past three years I have been shooting with my canon FTb-N and F1 and

28mm 2.8, 50mm 1.4, 80mm 1.9. Recently, I purchased a Mamiya 645m with the 80mm N 2.8 lens.

The only digital camera I shoot with on occasion is my girlfriends point and shoot Canon A620.

 

What I want in my d-slr system: As far as I know, a good lens is often times more important than a

good digital slr body. I understand that the diference between nikons d200 10mp and canons 30d 8mp

is minimal when it comes to photo quality. That said, I am willing to spend a little more money (if I can)

for a better-than-kit lens. In addition, I would purchase a prime lens rather than a zoom lens if the

image quality from the prime was superior to that of the zoom lens at the same price. Some options

that I need in a digital slr include the following: spot metering, mirror-up, bracketing, good battery life,

nice dof, low noise output, a low iso setting (preferably below 100), and raw. I do not, however, need a

continuous shutter release/drive (Im not making a movie :p ), those amaturish presents such as fire

works/beach/crap like that, or a very high iso as the noise is unberable (from what I hear about high

noise).

 

I want to shoot flawless images. I want to make prints upto to 2x3 feet in size. Huge and crisp. As for

the focal range, three lens types/focal ranges come to mind. Ideally, I want a good multi-purpose zoom

lens such as the Nikon 18-200mm F/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF DX VR Lens. I would like a macro capability as

well, but that is not essential. If I were to settle for a prime (I have used primes up until now so I am

used to them), it would be either a 28mm or 50mm. Again, if the quality of the prime far surpassed that

of the zoom in the same price range, I would be willing to start off with a prime 50 or 28 (I guess,

whichever would be cheaper). I do not see myself spending beyond $600 for a good starter lens.

 

I do not have a particular subject that I shoot (long exposures of city scapes and sky, street life,

architecture, plants, portraits, etc.) I am in the experienced amatuer/intermediate level. I have read

Ansel Adams "The negative" and I have developed my own film and prints SO I do understand the

fundamentals of photo processing, tones, etc.

 

********PS: This post is in no way to disrespect the comments and suggestions that some have left me

on the same post I made under the Camera equipment forum. The reason I post this same question

here is because the forum -- Digital Cameras -- is perhaps a better section to post. I do, however, still

respect very much any comments made on the other post I made earlier today.

[basscheffers]

Well, you can't actually buy a D200 for $1600, especially with a lens, so that kind of rules

that one out.

 

Have you considered the new Nikon D80? It seems like a good camera and incredible

bargain.

 

When it comes to lenses, a zoom like the 18-200 might seem attractive, but primes eat it

for breakfast. What I would consider in the Canon or Nikon world are their respective

17-55/2.8 lenses, but they are well over a grand each.

 

Don't forget the crop factor with DSLRs; if you now shoot a lot of 50mm, you will want a

35mm lens on your DSLR to get about the same field of view.

 

As for spot metering, I think you will find that todays matrix metring systems are so good,

you won't miss it. (I know I don't) One look at the histogram after you shoot the image will

tell you if it has nailed it or how much compensation you need to dial in.

[ofey_kalakar]

Your post is a little vague, with a lot of vaguery throughout :-)

I think you may also want to consider the new Nikon D80. It has the same 10.2 Mp sensor

and finder as the D200. If your not interested in using high iso settings that may gemnerate

noise then a fast zoom ala the 80-200 f2.8 complemented with either an f2 35 or f1.8 / 1.4

50 mm lens may fit your bill. I don't know whether the D80 is backwards compatible for the

plethora of manual focus AiS lenses as is the D200. Somebody out there may know. Good

luck on whatever you decide.<div></div>

[j_sevigny]

I think, for a goot, all-around kit, you could do worse than a Nikon D50 with a pair of high quality lenses. Remember that you're going to replace the camera eventually, but that you'll likely stick with the lenses for a long time.

 

Here's a D50 for less than $600.

 

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=381586&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

 

Here's a 50 mm for $159.

 

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=36981&is=USA&addedTroughType=search

 

Really, it's just a matter of what you want to shoot with. But I think that the key is to spend less on the camera and more on the glass.

 

I've got a D70 that cost me like a grand, a 17-35 that cost me another grand (second hand) and an old 80-200 that I picked up for like $600. That's $2600 and I used that kit as a photojournalist to earn probably 15 times that much money.

 

The point is, I think you can get set up for the money you're looking to spend.

 

Good luck.

[erwin_hartanto]

You still can use the AIS lenses on D80 but the meter will not work.

Here is the link for the compatibility lens for nikon:

 

http://www.nikonians.org/nikon/compatibility.html

 

-erwin

[tim_knight]

28mm 2.8, 50mm 1.4, 80mm 1.9

 

First you have three prime lens. I am not an expert on Canon but I have a friend who shoots canon and I like her pictures as well as my Nikon pictures. I assume the 3 prime lens above will work on the 30D. So, first you have to realize that they will become longer lens with the 1.6 X factor due to the smaller image sensor on digital cameras and 2nd do you like all three lens you have. If yes is your answer buy the canon 30D and maybe the Sigma 20mm/1.8 lens to get your wide angle shots with. I hope this helped, but if not others will have different ideas for you to consider. Don't worry, this site is never short on opinions and suggestion based off of their experences.

[ben conover]

"I want to shoot flawless images. I want to make prints upto to 2x3 feet in size. Huge and crisp".

 

 

Buy a large format camera, one lens, with holders and a lightmeter all for $200.

 

 

Cheers.

[john_h.1]

Only about 1/5th of you post has any relevence to the question you want answered. Using that criteria, wait a few years for the prices to come down more. Otherwise you will have to drop some of your requirements for now.

[vivek iyer]

Get a D200 and be done with these posts. Please.

[akira]

Hi, Peter,

 

"I want to shoot flawless images. I want to make prints upto to 2x3 feet in size. Huge and crisp."

 

If you read the text thoroughly and examine the sample images of this excellent review of D2X:

 

http://www.naturfotograf.com/D2X_rev02.html#top_page

 

and if you find the quality 400% image is not up to your standard, you'd better consider an 8x10 rig and scan the huge negs or the tranparencies.

[jeffcallen]

I'd get a D200 and some prime nikkors.. OR, if you can forego all convenience, and you

really want large-format-like results, for sizes like 2x3 feet, consider a pano head and

stitching software so you might be able to use that A620 and stitch many small images

into one big

one with perspective correction running all night on your computer (requires windows -

ugh!).. you can get full 300 pixel/inch res or more, not just panoramic, but say 12 frames

layed out 3x4... a huge hassle, but amazing results if you only shoot landscapes or

architecture. Yes, the idea is that you shoot a whole bunch of medium telephoto shots

using special tripod head, and stitch them together into a "wide angle" shot, where the

software lets you crop and such later. This means you don't have to worry about the

achilles heel of DSLR's... the lack of good, cheap wide angle lenses.

<BR><BR>Stiching software:<BR>

<A target="_new" HREF="http://www.tawbaware.com/ptasmblr.htm">http://

www.tawbaware.com/ptasmblr.htm</A>

<BR><BR>

You'll need a special tripod head like:<BR>

<A target="_new" HREF="http://gregwired.com/pano/Pano.htm">http://gregwired.com/

pano/Pano.htm</A>

<BR><BR>

Check camera compatibility at:<BR>

<A HREF="http://gregwired.com/pano/Compatability.htm">http://gregwired.com/pano/

Compatability.htm</A>

That said, with enough tweeking in Photoshop and the right sharpening plug-in, I've

printed 20x24 with files from my Canon 20D and gotten great results.