Buying Nikon dSLR - D90 or similar for novice

Drift

Hi guys,

I'm contemplating buying my first dSLR. My Dad has a D90 so it makes sense for me to get a Nikon too.

I have used the D90 a lot (and love it) but for the most part in a point and shoot capacity with the stock 18-105 lense that it came with so I'm definitely a novice. I would hope to get more adventurous with my photography if I had my own dSLR but considering the price of lenses and peripherals I can see myself getting by with a single or two lenses to start with.

I'm happy to buy second hand and I'm happy to wait a few months and keep my eyes open for a good deal.

I originally thought I'd get a D90 but it seems I could get a D5100 cheaper and not lose much functionality or quality particularly considering my limited skills. I plan to keep the camera in the long term so I'd prefer not to be totally hampered should photography become a more serious hobby.

I appreciate all advice with regards to what model to get. Have I missed a good one?
Also what would a good all round lense option be? I really like the 18-105 with the D90 because it seems to be useful in most circumstances!

Thanks very much for any input.

vintagecosmos

Check out Gunns or Conns they have some second hand cameras for sale. D3200 or 5200 are good cameras. Id get a d3200 and buy a second lens like a 35mm 1.8 as a suggestion.

Drift

Thanks vintage.

I had ruled out the 5200 in my head because I assumed it would be too expensive and difficult to get second hand.

I was thinking about it last night and I'd like advice from anyone who has used both. The 5100 has a slightly longer shutter lag and slower FPS than the D90. It also has a mirror instead of a prism for the viewfinder and no autofocus motor. Are these things noticable to a novice? I'd hate to have the niggling little feeling every time I use it that it's just not quite as good as the D90 I like so much ..... you know the feeling of dying just a tiny bit inside with every click of the button!!

There appears to be almost no difference between the 5100 and the 3200. Looks like if it's a straight choice between the two I should just take the cheapest.

Finally .. what's the story with "In-camera HDR"? It sounds like something that could be quite useful (to a novice particularly). The 5100 seems to have it but the D90 and D3200 don't. Is it worth having? I'm particularly thinking of times I've taken photos on holidays of a person nearby in some shadow with a very bright feature in the backgound. - Think Grand Canyon in the sun!

vintagecosmos

The focus motor in the camera body can be a big thing if you plan on borrowing lenses from your Dad which are not AF-S. So keep in mind the lenses that he has.

For HDR mode, i tried it out on my D600 and im not overwhelmed. It wouldnt be a feature that would stand out to me. You are much better off getting a tripod and doing it manually.

Prices have come down quite a bit. Also if you are buying new I think a cash back offer is about to begin form Nikon.

Go for a 3200 or 5200.There isnt a whole lot of difference besides the LCD and a few more specs.

If you had the money for 5200 then I would consider a second hand D90.

Wabbit Ears

The D90 is an epic camera, get your dad to buy himself a new one and give you his.

Drift

Wabbit Ears wrote: »

The D90 is an epic camera, get your dad to buy himself a new one and give you his.

Fat chance! I'd say he'd give me away before the D90!

vintagecosmos

thought of getting one off adverts?

Drift

vintagecosmos wrote: »

thought of getting one off adverts?

That's the main place I've been looking vintagecosmos! There seems to be some good deals available and a reasonable supply.

Any recommendations on cost effective lenses / lense combos?

vintagecosmos

Well up to you. I bought my first slr with 18-55 stock lens. But if I was doing it again id get the 35mm 1.8 and just zoom with my feet. The 1.8 allows for shooting sharp images in low light without using the flash. You can get them cheap enough.

Drift

A zoom would be quite useful to me because there's a good chance I would be using the camera for work and some of the things I'd be photographing (on building sites) might not be accessible using the old fashioned feet zoom!

I know very little about lenses. I must read up on them. The idea of sharp images in low light is very appealing. Getting away without a flash as often as possible is always my mission!

Thanks again for all the help.

vintagecosmos

FYI those Nikons you are looking at use DX lenses. They are APS-C or Crop frame.

Drift

Thanks vintage - I figured that. I think the D90 has a "cropped" sensor too. We have an old 35mm Nikon SLR at home and I remember checking before how the lenses for that would interact with the D90 and the word on the street (and by street I mean internet) seemed to be that the lenses would fit the dSLR but because of the cropping you wouldn't get their full benefit.

Does that sound right?

Ben D Bus

I love my D90 and the lens that it spends most of it's time attached to is my 50mm f1.8D. It's a full frame lens without it's own motor. And it's fantastic.

There's a strong argument that you get better images using a FX lens on a DX camera because the crop sensor is only using the central, and best, part of the glass. Certainly it avoids the vignetting that might appear on a FF sensor.

vintagecosmos

Yes you wouldnt get the full benefit of using a FF lens on a DX body but it shouldnt be a big barrier.

I just checked the HDR mode last night. It would be equivalent to an iPhone hdr mode i.e. 2 exposures only. Its ok, but nothing to write home about. It wont give you images like stuckincustoms.com

Drift

vintagecosmos wrote: »

Yes you wouldnt get the full benefit of using a FF lens on a DX body but it shouldnt be a big barrier.

I just checked the HDR mode last night. It would be equivalent to an iPhone hdr mode i.e. 2 exposures only. Its ok, but nothing to write home about. It wont give you images like stuckincustoms.com

Awesome website! I've been to some of the places and some of them look better in the photos than in real life.

Interesting re the HDR mode. I've tried using "infill flash" as a technique before but without much success. If I got a camera with no HDR mode and assuming I don't have time to set up a tripod is there another option?!

Great to have everyone's insight. Keep em coming!!

vintagecosmos

Drift wrote: »

Awesome website! I've been to some of the places and some of them look better in the photos than in real life.

Interesting re the HDR mode. I've tried using "infill flash" as a technique before but without much success. If I got a camera with no HDR mode and assuming I don't have time to set up a tripod is there another option?!

Great to have everyone's insight. Keep em coming!!

TO be honest I wouldnt bother with HDR. Gain a better understanding of exposure and metering and you should get the shots you want. Are you familiar with Matrix/Centre Weighted/Spot metering? Also reducing exposure to avoid those white skies.

The 1.8 lens would eliminate the need for flash in a lot of situations. Also check out used equipment page on Conns. they have some D80s there which are also great cameras.

Drift

vintagecosmos wrote: »

Are you familiar with Matrix/Centre Weighted/Spot metering?

I can 100% say that I haven't a bulls notion what that means!!! I must do some research!

I'll look at Conn's too. I thought the D80 might be a bit old at this stage?