Which camera for a grand?

R.yumaDaddy?

R.yumaDaddy?

T5 ABUSER
The folks have decided to get me a cam for graduation and x-mas, now all I have to do is pick one out.:lol: I know nothing about photography besides setting my girlfiends wally-world cam on the flower mode to take pics of my reef.
My budget is a cool $1,000 and I will be using the cam for mostly aquaria related stuff.
My step-father has a Nikon d50 and is pressuring me into getting the like so we can swap equipmet. Is this a good choice?
I like the look of the Sony Alpha and Oylmpus cams but as stated dont know the first thing about purchasing. I NEED YOUR HELP!!!
Any recommendations, suggestions, insights are welcome and appreciated.
 
If you're looking at a DSLR, glass (lenses) is most of the expense. The Sony is promising but I'd leverage the existing Nikon in your family.
 
Nothing wrong with a Nikon, and every lens you can share, you save 300-1000.00. It's not a bad idea, granted you can get a good body and general lens in a digital slr.
 
Nikon is an optics company! Stick with them. The lenses for those cameras are the best out there. Sony cameras are good at best. You WILL run into repair issues down the line with sony. Not to mention you have some one in the fam to help defer the equip cost. Also remember that there is very little to the camera it is all in the glass for what you are wanting to do. Look at some macro lenses that stop down to 2.8 and lower. Those are the pieces that are going to get the results that you want. The most important factor is what feels good to you. So go in and handle the Nikon D50 and D70 then play with some of the Canon equipment (I cant believe I just said that)
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8588865#post8588865 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by wilsonvt
What feels good to you is what you need to go with.
Click to expand...

there is ALOT more to cameras than the subjective feels good so it must be good . . . .

you should be fine with a nikon d70- just remember not to skimp of the lenses.
 
ok so if I go with the Nikon what exact lense should I get on my budget for aquarium photography? Do I need a tripod or fancy flash equipment?
 
Flash is probably not necessary. A "good" tripod should be considered absolutely necessary.
 
I would go with nikon if yuo have the abiility to share lenses which is a relly nice plus. Sharing a flash when you have yours two is a nice option with Nikon Creative lighting system.
I would advise you to hold the sony and the D70s and just feel the difference. you have lots of options so take yoru time before making any choices. The D50 D70s are really nice and within your budget along with a lens. the kit lens 18-70 is nice. and you can get the followings or others on the way.
50 mm 1.8 is a really affordable and crystal sharp lens to start with after the kit lens. you can get it at around 100 usd.
a macro lens can be abit expensive 60 mm macro or better yet but a bitmore expensive the 105 mm or better yet the 105 VR.
then comes a zoom 70-300 is a frequent choice even if a bit soft. the recently announced 70-300 seems to be promising. of course there are lots of other choices not to mention the pro ones which become really expensive and still much better. However the above are usually the most common for new users (as well as some pro) the 18-200 VR is a very nice lens that combines wide mid range and zoom. The Vr on it makes it extreemly usefull in very different conditions. it is the travel lens by excellence and it's a nice alternative to the 18-70 and 70-300. With the 18-200 and 50 mm 1.4 in addition to a 50 mm 1.4 (another 50 mm lens of Nikon triple the price of the 1.8 version) and some closeup lenses for both lenses and some extension tubes I have the ultimate setup on my travels:
18mm for landscapes and wider shots
mid range is coverd throughout the range of the 18-200
Portraits are also nice with the 18-200 and extreemly sharp even at lower light levels with the 50 mm
acceptable zoom range with 200 mm that becomes 300 on nikon I would wish for 300 mm or a bit more maybe the 200-400 but that's rally expensive. I had more than acceptable wild shots even birds with the 200 but I think I just got a bit lucky. If you're in wildlife photography then Sigma 50-500 or the 80-400 with image stabilization seem to be good choice for a bit lower price. the 300 mm prime is nice and the 200-400 is also really nice but really expensive.
Macro is possible with any of above lenses with exptension tube or reversing ring or closeup lenses till you know if you really wnat a macro lens.
Bottom line proceed with one lens and go from there to decide which lens yo uwant and when.
As for flash I wouldn't say it's unnecessary, you can start without one but eventually you will dive in a Sb600 or 800 which will bring lots of new things to photography and light...
Enjoy all the confusion that comes with chosing which camera and then lenses and stuff to go with
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8603204#post8603204 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by R.yumaDaddy?
Why D80 over D50 or 70?
Click to expand...

The fact that you asked me that makes me pause a bit ...

At $899 the D80 IMO is the best value on the market. While not entirely an entry level DSLR it can be easily handled by an amateur (at least as much as any DSLR can be easily handled by an amateur) and once mastered can provide a lifetime of professional quality images.

There is an on-going battle between Cannon and Nikon owners and I'll be the first to tell you neither is a BAD choice. IMO Cannon has a better processing engine and the Nikon has a better Firmware/OS and lens combination. I like Photoshop so I'll handle the processing woes later, which I would do anyway, but with the Nikon Creative Lighting System I can remotely fire my external flash (exposure compensated) using the speedlight built into the camera. This may sound like no big deal, but I can create a mini-studio and control the lighting of my reef tank at will which allows for dramatic images, such as:


Zoos-III.jpg



If you want to compare camera models I reccomend DPReview.com as an unbiased source of information.

The D80 is much more camera than the D50 but it retails for almost twice as much, however a serious enthusiast could easily outgrow the D50, I would feel comfortable using a D80 as a backup and I've been shooting SLR's for over 30 years, digitally for over 10.
 
You'll want a larger memory card, but that will get you started. The 105mm being the only lens you have to start with will leave you a bit limited, it's great for the reef tank but probably isn't the best choice for an overall general purpose lens.
 
My dads got another kits lens and a second with better zoom plus a 1 gig card for his d50. That sounds very noob but im not sure of the exact lenses. Im sure he'l be real pleased if I get a better cam than his and mack all his equipment.LOL
 
This may sound like no big deal, but I can create a mini-studio and control the lighting of my reef tank at will which allows for dramatic images, such as:
Zoos-III.jpg
Click to expand...

the lighting of your reef tank?? What do you mean?

By the way nice pic!
 
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