michael_hendriksson

<p>Hi Al,<br>

Thanks for your reply. Just to be sure, isn't this lens the same I mention in my original post? The same that is discussed here and there throughout the thread?<br>

It certainly ranks among the first lenses to be considered <strong>added</strong> to my setup, but not before I have tested the kit lens long enough to find out how it performs indoors with the SB-400 flash. If I am fairly pleased a zoom lens will be where I look to expand first.<br>

//Martin</p>

<p>To conclude the thread, I ordered a D5200 w 18-35 mm standard lens and SB-400 flash.<br>

- All new; maybe I will work my way into refurb business later.</p>

<p>Thanks for all helpful and enthusiastic answers! I will surely revisit this thread in the future :o)</p>

<p>Andrew (Stan & others)</p>

<p>I live in Denmark, which means co.uk shops are fine when it comes to customs etc. </p>

<p>Thanks Pete. I guess through this process I have become more open for the refurb concept - but I struggle to find good ways to do this, living in Europe? Most sites with attractive prices are abroad, leaving me with a significant risk of extra charges (toll, customs and/or fines).<br>

Can you point me in any direction?<br>

Thanks again.</p>

<p>:o) Sebastian and Andrew's inputs gave further perspective, but also frustration and - indeed - sighs.</p>

<p>Rick pretty much summed up why. If I could put my money down in a way that left me with the possibility of going both ways even after a little while, it would be fine. But given that I need a lens to start out - and barring reselling my hardware again later - I need to either</p>

<ol>

<li>Pick a lens cheap enough to afford the external flash (probably the 18-55 or 18-105), or</li>

<li>Buy the 35 mm f1.8 from the beginning, hoping that my indoors results will be what I hoped for, and finding out what zoom lens to purchase afterwards, and whether I feel like improving my indoors possibilities even more with external flash</li>

</ol>

<p>Certainly the first seems less risky and most versatile from the beginning. I do, after all, also shoot outside! I think I'll go for the 18-55:</p>

<ul>

<li>The quality of the 18-55 and the 18-105 being so similar</li>

<li>The 18-55 is easier on the budget</li>

<li>Makes for a reasonable entry into DSLR when it comes to convenience and portability (my current is a Canon S95!)</li>

</ul>

<p><strong>Any final thoughts on my picking the 18-55 on these grounds?</strong></p>

<p>Thanks for advancing this further guys. Last night I actually went in the same direction as Brian and Pete combined:</p>

<ol>

<li>Maybe it <strong>is</strong> unwise to shop this much before loosening one shot</li>

<li>If convenience is a priority to me, why not lok into mirrorless?</li>

</ol>

<p>Same logic as when I was looking into how good a lens I needed, once I decided on entering the world of intelligent flash:<br>

<strong>If priorities are, good indoors pictures, portability and max $1,000 for the whole package which mirrorless hotshoe-featuring camera would you recommend me?</strong></p>

<p>Rick, others: Just to keep the thread on the right track - no offense was taken <strong>at all</strong>! I am afraid something was lost in translation. I really appreciate the advice given, and did not consider the overwhelming opinion in favour of external flash (and learn using it!) to be harsh or elitist at all. The paragraph where I write something about flash solution being "the right one", I really mean it, I was convinced! :o)</p>

<p>(And yes, I <strong>have</strong> met enthusiasts that suggest to me that I can't object to the output from my Canon S95 when using it on "auto", or that I wouldn't be in a position to complain about SLR output if I shoot jpeg)</p>

<p>- I see the subsequent development of the thread - after pushing me over the edge of including an external flash - is HOW powerful it should be. Ah, well :oD</p>

<p>Wow,</p>

<p>This is the single most helpful forum I ever encountered. Thanks for all replies! I never imagined to gather so many insights from one single issue posted.</p>

<p>I could write many individual answers and clarify a million things, but out of respect for the forum I will try to be brief.<br /> <br />Looking at the whole topic from above, I think what happens is this: When an amateur throws in "convenience"-related objections like "I want great pictures, but</p>

<ul>

<li>would like to avoid having to mount an external flash"</li>

<li>can't be bothered to shoot in raw and after-edit every single picture"</li>

<li>want to not fiddle with MANY of my camera's functions for EVERY shot I take"</li>

</ul>

<p>- helpful enthusiasts' seem to change attitude very abruptly :o) - "Fine, have it your way. I won't try THAT hard to help out someone who compromises that much".<br /> <br />And I can understand that, if one's passion are those very things. But at the same time, I become frustrated, because if I KNOW about my behaviour, I would rather adjust my purchase choice to my behaviour beforehand, rather than aim for something, hoping my behaviour will change.</p>

<p>In the case of "no flash indoors", I guess the take-away is that you guys can't stress enough how tedious it is to try all other roads to satisfactory photos, when time- and money-wise the flash solution is the right one. It is duly noted! :o)<br /> <br />Right, so let's assume</p>

<ul>

<li><strong>D5200</strong>: Not too secure about refurb (D7000) yet, and need the AF quality compared to D3200</li>

<li><strong>SB-400</strong>: Think I can live with the limitations on bounce flash in vertical shots - considering how much lighter the flash is than the SB-600</li>

<li><strong>Accessories</strong> corresponding to my original post (SD card, bag, remote control)</li>

</ul>

<p><br />That leaves the lens(es) and not too much budget - some $200.<br /> See also Greg Alton's post.<br /> I am still in doubts whether combining the 35 mm f1.8 with the SB-400 is overmuch, given the budget constraint. Haven't I "done enough" for my indoors demands with the flash, to be happy with a zoom lens, either the 18-105 or 18-55 (kit)? After all, the 35 mm f1.8 is of limited use for other purposes than the indoors issue - or is there something I am not seeing?</p>

<p>The 18-105 will end me up in $1333<br />The 18-55 will end me up in $1162<br /> <br />Thanks once again!</p>

<p>Greetings,</p>

<p>Looking through the forum, I found no prior answer to my question. I hope you can help me with some inputs.</p>

<p>I am about to purchase my first SLR, and my decision logic/steps has been as follows:</p>

<p>1) Established budget $1000-1300<br />2) Perceived Nikon D5200 superior to Canon 650D<br />3) Browsed the Nikon "lens portfolio" and was attracted by the AF-S DX 18-105mm f3.5-5.6G. It was described as a good all-round lens and a significant stepup from the kit lens. Also this package was within my total budget, and would enable me to learn my needs in order to upgrade some time in the future.</p>

<p><strong>BUT:</strong><br />4) Met an expert that discouraged me about said lens on the grounds of in-door/low-light performance. This is important to me *). I knew the aperture was not "all that", but satisfaction on these parameters seems to be incredibly relative, and as a first-time buyer, I don't know how to assess this and proceed.<br>

<br />I have created some scenarios:<br />A) D5200 + said 18-105 lens + Nikkor 35 MM f1.8 + accesories ($1386)<br />B) D5200 + Tamron 17-50MM F/2.8 XR DI-II VC LD + accesories ($1466)</p>

<p>Solution "B" costs $80 more, but relieves me from switching lenses, is probably close to par with solution "A" indoors and clearly superior outdoors?</p>

<p>However, both are exceeding my budget, which has made me invent a different direction/question:<br>

Would you rather go with<br />A1) D5200 + said 18-105 + accesories ($1136)<br />B1) D3200 + said Tamron 17-50MM + accesories ($1108)<br>

<em>(Note: "B1" includes the D<strong>3</strong>200)</em></p>

<p>Does "B1" make sense? The camera body is cheaper than the lens - I know specs and compatibility are what matters, but still! Is this a too far-out way to enter and position myself for future upgrades? And more importantly: Though I am certainly better off all-round lenswise with "B1", how much would you say I sacrifice when it comes to the camera body specs?</p>

<p>I read somewhere that the D3200 can actually outperform the D5200 in low-light, can that really be true (how?)?<br>

<br />Thanks very much for inputs!</p>

<p>*) Just to make sure I haven't misstated or misunderstood my needs completely: When talking indoors/low-light, I simply try to stress the importance of being able to take good snapshots indoors of people and children all year round without an external flash, and without the built-in popup-flash coming into play.</p>