surf_digby
journeyman
Reged: 04/04/2008
Posts: 60
|
|
I'm planning on making the leap to a DSLR (currently using either a Fuji Finepix S5600 or a Fujica or Practika 35mm SLR)
Budget is pointing me in the direction of the D60, but would it be worth holding off a bit longer and going for the D80 instead?
Among the various issues that are stopping my decision balance are..
The D80 kit lens lacks vibration reduction, and whilst there's another thread saying that the lack of dust removal shouldn't be an issue, I'm unlikely to be upgrading anytime soon, and I've never dealt with a sensor clean before, so it would be a peace of mind thing.
On the other hand, the body mounted autofocus motor means that I can use a wider selection of lenses, right? And it would appear to have a superior autofocus system.
The D60 has the VR lens, as well as being a good 18 months younger. Does that equate to the lens being superior to the D80 kit lens?
Any advice on this would be appreciated.
|
Intermanaut
Limpest Biscuit
Reged: 13/12/2007
Posts: 526
|
|
What if you decide to get in to flash photography? Does the D60 support Nikon CLS wirelessly? How about other accessories such as the battery grip? I'd buy the D80 body with the VR lens.
|
surf_digby
journeyman
Reged: 04/04/2008
Posts: 60
|
|
I hadn't thought of that, which is bad as the small flash and lack of hotshoe is one of the reasons I'm wanting to upgrade.
A quick look on the Nikon site says of the D60 "Advanced Wireless Lighting supported with SB-800, or SU-800 as commander"
|
GeoffR
Reged: 31/05/2003
Posts: 3938
Loc: Bucks
|
|
I think you will find that VR on a short zoom is of less value than you appear to believe. You have been using cameras without VR and I assume you have had no problems with those. You should be able to manage without VR and those older AF lenses you mention will not have VR so I would get the D80 with the 18-70 and not be concerned by the lack of VR.
|
Adesw
The phantom flasher
Reged: 07/02/2008
Posts: 715
|
|
Quote:
I hadn't thought of that, which is bad as the small flash and lack of hotshoe is one of the reasons I'm wanting to upgrade.
A quick look on the Nikon site says of the D60 "Advanced Wireless Lighting supported with SB-800, or SU-800 as commander"
This means that youd need alot of flashguns to get the D60 to work with wireless flash.
I'm pretty sure that the D80's flash can work as a commander unit to fire off other nikon flashguns so a seperate flashgun on the camera isnt needed or wasted (considering that a sb-800 is £200+
It does depend on preferance though. I currently have a D40, I love it, but I find it limiting now that I've learnt to use it, I also find it small and plasticy. But I dont regret getting it, because its been a great learning tool and I could not have justified the purchase of a D80 (which was around the £700-£800 mark back then) being a noob to photography. I now plan on purchasing a D300.
The D80 now is £500 without a lens or you can get it for £660 with the 18-70 or £690 with the 18-135. I'd personally splash out the extra £200 and get the D80, as though it has less 'features' in the long run it will be more usable and upgradable.
You've also got to consider AF. I told myself over and over again when I paid for the D40 that I wouldnt use non AF lenses. I now have a couple primes, and love them for their speed, but they are only manual focus. The D80 has a motor in it that will allow you to focus with nikons prime lenses while giving you more access to third party lenses that arent HSM or AF-S.
In the end we come back to the cliche of, I told you what I think, but go and feel them, The D80 Might be too big or heavy while the D60 might be too small and plasticy.
|
Intermanaut
Limpest Biscuit
Reged: 13/12/2007
Posts: 526
|
|
Quote:
I hadn't thought of that, which is bad as the small flash and lack of hotshoe is one of the reasons I'm wanting to upgrade.
A quick look on the Nikon site says of the D60 "Advanced Wireless Lighting supported with SB-800, or SU-800 as commander"
Yes, so to do wireless CLS with the D60 you'll need either an SB800 or SU800 and another flash, which takes the price beyond what you'd pay for the D80.
|
surf_digby
journeyman
Reged: 04/04/2008
Posts: 60
|
|
Right, I'm almost there. I was asking around, seeing if I could find somewhere that would do me a D80 with the 18-200mm VR, when someone started pimping me the Sony a350 twin lens kit.
Now, I understand that this is the Nikon section, but I can't find anywhere to put a comparison of the two.
It too has stabilisation (in the body though, so it's used on every lens) and wireless flash triggering, but also has Liveview.
Has anybody had experience with the two?
|
surf_digby
journeyman
Reged: 04/04/2008
Posts: 60
|
|
Ignore the above, the Sony's no longer being considered.
This weekend I shall be purchasing a D80. I was at one point pricing up D200s, as the prices aren't that far apart, but as this would be my first DSLR, I think I may be better sticking with one with a full auto mode, just in case.
I'm equipping it with an SB600, but am still quite indecisive on which lens to get with it.
Originally, I was going to go for the 18-200mm VR, and have it as my only lens, however the general concensus seems to be that it's a biy heavy for general usage.
With this in mind (and using the money I'm saving from not getting the D200), I'm now considering the 18-135mm as the everyday lens, and the 70-300mm VR for extreme zoom work (considering I do like to use the 55x zoom of my bridge camera a lot).
|
IvorETower
Little Buttercup
Reged: 15/11/2006
Posts: 1794
Loc: Camberley, Surrey
|
|
The 18-70 is a better lens than the 18-135 (but not by much). TBH if you are looking at minimising lens changes, why not get the D80 body and Sigma's 18-200mm OS lens (similar to Nikon's 18-200 but better) although it does also weigh a bit
--------------------
Too many cameras, too many lenses.......
|
surf_digby
journeyman
Reged: 04/04/2008
Posts: 60
|
|
Better in what way?
|
IvorETower
Little Buttercup
Reged: 15/11/2006
Posts: 1794
Loc: Camberley, Surrey
|
|
Less distortion, less CA, better image quality as judges by "experts"; it's also faster, being f4.5 at the 70mm end of its range
--------------------
Too many cameras, too many lenses.......
|
Learning
Ethelred the Ill-Named
Reged: 26/09/2006
Posts: 2475
Loc: Nottingham
|
|
How has a 60 versus 80 discussion got caught up in lenses. The answer is D90 and withinn the next month. As for lenses, that's anyones guess. One or two VRs and hopefully the much anticipated replacement of the 80-400.
|
Adesw
The phantom flasher
Reged: 07/02/2008
Posts: 715
|
|
Quote:
How has a 60 versus 80 discussion got caught up in lenses. The answer is D90 and withinn the next month. As for lenses, that's anyones guess. One or two VRs and hopefully the much anticipated replacement of the 80-400.
Because the OP asked what lens to get...
|
Learning
Ethelred the Ill-Named
Reged: 26/09/2006
Posts: 2475
Loc: Nottingham
|
|
Quote:
Quote:
How has a 60 versus 80 discussion got caught up in lenses. The answer is D90 and withinn the next month. As for lenses, that's anyones guess. One or two VRs and hopefully the much anticipated replacement of the 80-400.
Because the OP asked what lens to get...
Sorry I think that I must have thought that I was in 'Lens chat' rather than 'Nikon' when I wrote that.
Nikon are expected to make announcements very soon according to Thom who is right more often than wrong. The D80 will still be as good as it ever was and the price will drop.
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
Edit
Reply
Quote
