better camera or better lens?

u-la-la

Hi all!
I'm about to buy my first DSLR camera. I've been shopping around,but i still can't make up my mind. It would be great if you could help me with some advice.
Even though it's gona be my first DSLR I'm quite serious about photography,it's been my main hobby for a couple of years now.
So,my question is... should i go for entry level camera such a Nikon D40/D60 and rather invest in a couple of good lenses or should i spend a bit more money on a camera body as well to avoid disappointment in future?in this case i would consider Nikon D200 (D300 is a bit too much for me at the moment). Is there any other options?
Any help would be very much appriciated!Thank you in advance!

Fajitas!

I'd go for the D60 and a lens or two - But I wouldn't go spending all my money just yet!

See how you get on with the kit lens, and maybe buy a nice prime aswell, and then spend when you know what you want!

u-la-la

Fajitas! wrote: »

I'd go for the D60 and a lens or two - But I wouldn't go spending all my money just yet!

See how you get on with the kit lens, and maybe buy a nice prime aswell, and then spend when you know what you want!

Thank you!!
You see,that's the problem..I'm afraid to buy Nikon D40/60 and then in a couple of months realise that i wasted money and i want something else..
But if the difference between lenses is quite obvious, I wonder is there any major difference between cameras???let say between D40 and D200?

And just out of curiosity, If you had no DSLR and wanted to get one what would you buy??

Fajitas!

Well, if you think that you should have bought something else, at least you'll still have the lenses if you plan on sticking with Nikon! You can always upgrade the camera later.

If I was starting all over again... I'd probably go with the Canon 450D, but that's because I was brought up using a Canon, so I know the controls that bit better! At the end of the day, they're much of a muchness - All the cameras around that price are grand, they'll take some great photos - It's the lenses that really can make a difference, and as long as you stick to the one brand, you can use them all the way up.

ThOnda

Damned you, Fajitas! You are trying to tell me that I should buy 450D with 24-70/2.8L and not to wait to have money for 5D?

sheesh

I have a 400d, the canon entry level SLR they take good photographs as I'm sure the Nikon does as well you will notice a big improvement if you are coming from a compact.

I would have to say lenses in answer to your question.

I wrote a bit more on what lenses to get but then realised that I really don't know enough to give advice

I have a 50 mm prime

and a sigma 70-300.

neither broke the bank and I have taken good photos with them.

CabanSail

I do not agree with everything Ken Rockwell says but THIS article still has some good advice.

u-la-la

CabanSail wrote: »

I do not agree with everything Ken Rockwell says but THIS article still has some good advice.

This is acctually very interesting article!Thank you!

CabanSail

You're welcome.

Where I mainly disagree with Ken is when he says to shoot JPEG rather than RAW.

Duchovny

Well i think its better to buy a better lens then a better camera, if you buy a very good camera and a "crap" lens the results will be worst then the worst camera with better lens.

People often make the mistakes of getting the best cameras but not so good lens, so then whats the point of having a Ferrari with the engine of a fiat?

And i totally agree with Fajitas when he says if you feel you bought the wrong camera you always keep the lens, this is a huge advantage.

fguihen

pretty much all DSLR bodies will perform well nowdays. sure more expensive ones have a greater featureset, but even entrylevel ones will have more than enough features to allow you to grow and develop as a photographer ( geddit, develop!!).

for this reason id advise you buy an entry level DSLR ( 400/450d spring to mind, teriffic cameras to give you years of photography.

buy into a system ( such as canon, which generally takes ef-s lens's). if you get the best quality lenses nwo, you will carry them with you when you get a new camera body years down the line. also with canon/nikon, as stated, your buying into a system so there are tons of accessories that work across the range.

thats my thoughts anyway

jackdaw

Definetely lenses ...

Lenses will always last you, you can use them still when you
upgrade your body ...

I have a 400D and was gonna get a 40D but instead i saved my $$ and got a
2 good L lenses ... well worth it ..

City-Exile

u-la-la wrote: »

You see,that's the problem..I'm afraid to buy Nikon D40/60 and then in a couple of months realise that i wasted money and i want something else..

Well obviously, in a few months, you're going to wish you'd bought a Canon, but there's not much we can do about that.

I agree with the general advice, about easing yourself gently into the world of the DSLR.

Some people believe that they'll get amazing shots, simply because they get better gear. That's simply not the case, as it's mostly down to how you see things.

The thing about buying a decent lens, is that you can still use it, even if you upgrade your body.

u-la-la

Thank you all very much! I think I'll follow your advice!

City-Exile wrote: »

Well obviously, in a few months, you're going to wish you'd bought a Canon, but there's not much we can do about that.

I got confused...It seems everybody has Canons! why is that?are there any better?

Fajitas!

It's pretty much coincidence, they all do the same thing, but I guess more of us use the same forum because we have a better idea of peoples gear!

melekalikimaka

u-la-la wrote: »

Thank you all very much! I think I'll follow your advice!



I got confused...It seems everybody has Canons! why is that?are there any better?

in one word no
in two- clearly no
in two but naughty - f*ck no

pretty similar

no point in getting into the debate it goes NOWHERE, both excellent, hold both, its the only way you can decide which you prefer

melekalikimaka

Fajitas! wrote: »

It's pretty much coincidence, they all do the same thing, but I guess more of us use the same forum because we have a better idea of peoples gear!

huh???

i dont under stand

ps dj someone uses canon...nuff said

Fajitas!

Well... If someone asks what lens to buy, and they use Canon, but the majority of users are Nikon, then it's the minority replying, whereas if everyone used Canon, it'd be the majority.

OP, not that Nikon is in the minority - There's still quite a few Nikon users here!

Have you gone into a shop to check out the D60?

u-la-la

Fajitas! wrote: »

Have you gone into a shop to check out the D60?

Well,after i read this would probably stick with Nikon D40...
Not sure yet...:)

CabanSail

I use Nikon & have done so since the early 70's. Recently on a trip I was helping someone to change settings on their Canon. All the same features that were on my Nikon DSLR were also on the Canon DSLR, but I had to go looking for them in menus. They seemed easier to find on my Nikon. I find Nikon just a bit more ergonomic, but then I am used to the way they do things & a lot has stayed consistent over many years. The other thing I like is that I can still use glass from the late 60's on my current DSLR bodies. Nikon do seem to make a big effort at backward compatability where it's possible.

What I don't like about Nikon is the way they have the world split into different markets when it's the same company. In Australia, where I am from, they do not even have direct representation but rather have an agency, Maxwell's Photographic, which I would cross a busy street to P!$$ on! When I was going to buy my first DSLR it was a real problem for me. I wanted to buy a Nikon (for compatability) but did not want to buy from Maxwell's. I ended up buying a D70S Kit from a Grey Market supplier. This gives a few problems with support. I do not know if Canon have the same issues.

Personally I would suggest trying to go out with someone who has Canon or Nikon gear & who will let you shoot a few shots with their gear. It will give you more of an idea than just picking one up in the shop for a few minutes. Either way they are both good systems & both have their pro's & con's. End of the day the thing which makes the most difference is what sits a couple of inches behind the viewfinder.

Duchovny

u-la-la wrote: »

Thank you all very much! I think I'll follow your advice!



I got confused...It seems everybody has Canons! why is that?are there any better?

Well i also use Canon and i prefer canon to Nikon but this is down to personal choose, i will not be here attacking Nikon users.

The best way if you will consider between the 2 is go to a shop try both and then in the end buy (Canon) the one that will feel right in your hand (Canon)

I would say that Canon as more lens then Nikon but probably for your use it would be the same.

So buy whatever you prefer (CANON)

melekalikimaka

u-la-la wrote: »

Well,after i read this would probably stick with Nikon D40...
Not sure yet...:)

ken rockwell ain't the sh1t, take his advice with a pinch of salt

CabanSail

I do not agree with all Ken Rockwell says, but in some of his points are quite well made.

Guy Gowan was saying the other night that his favourite camera is the Canon 40D which he has just moved to from a 30D. He has some good glass on the front & then retouches the images, which you have to do with whatever camera you get.

So it's all personal choice, try them out & buy what suits YOU best.

Canon do make some great compacts.

melekalikimaka

canon mke the best compact imo... slrs tho....is not so

Duchovny

In my opinion they do the best SLR's i have the 350D and 40D + 4 lens

CabanSail

IMO Canon & Nikon are out in front for DSLR's. Both have good & bad points. I went with Nikon as I already have their 35mm gear.

Seems to me that as one brand brings out a new innovation then the other is soon there to better it. So it goes back & forth. If you pick either of them you will not go too far wrong (even if you make the mistake of getting a Canon )

Fionn

i'd lean towards the better lens theory too, however on a practical note some of the higher spec lens may be enhanced in their operation by higher spec cameras another practical consideration is the build quality on the lower end camera models, for instance i wouldn't think a Canon EF 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 L IS lens fitted on a EOS 350/400 D body would not be a good proposition.

Dont know much about the Nikon but is the D40 limited in the lens it can use something about autofocus?

there are other alternatives to Canon and Nikon although these seem to be the top players in the market at the moment, other notable D SLR manfacturers are:
Olympus
Sony
Sigma
Pentax (Samsung)

there may be other but theres a wider choice than you think Hasslebad, Leice and the like are outside most budgets

sheesh

u-la-la wrote: »

Thank you all very much! I think I'll follow your advice!



I got confused...It seems everybody has Canons! why is that?are there any better?

don't be they are both good. it often comes down to personal preference (an i suspect marketing) I had got a good try of a 400d before i bought it so I knew What i was buying and happy with it. you need to take both of them in your hands an see how they feel.