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Digital cameras: Torn between 3 dSLR's - D90, 500D/T1i, D5000
Torn between 3 dSLR's - D90, 500D/T1i, D5000
by ryan_t_moreau - 4/17/09 9:54 AMI am a first time dSLR buyer who is looking to get something in the pro-sumer to mid-level range. I was all set to get the Nikon D90 as I have always wanted to get a D80 and played with one for a while and loved it but never pulled the trigger.However in the last few weeks with the announcement of the new Nikon D5000 and the Canon 500D/T1i, I am very much unsure of what way to go.
The video function is of no concern to me, but the best quality still photos for that price range are. I am by no means going to be jumping from novice to pro in the next little while but do plan on taking it serious and becoming a but more of an enthusiast so want the flexibility of the camera growing with me and having the features I need/want in the future also. It will be mainly used for outdoor shots during my upcoming road trips this summer.
Could anyone with some knowledge help me narrow it down or let me know the pro's and con's to each? I have seen them in comparison charts and haven’t seen much difference in them other than the difference in continuous shots, video capabilities, and ISO.
Any help would be appreciated!
Which D-SLR to choose
by hjfok - 4/17/09 11:23 AM In reply to: Torn between 3 dSLR's - D90, 500D/T1i, D5000 by ryan_t_moreauThe Nikon D90 is more in the category of mid level D-SLR whereas the other two are entry level. But anyways the D-SLR camera body technology has improved at lot during the past couple of years, so you won't find a big difference in performance these days. Both Canon and Nikon are pretty much equal. What you should concentrate on is to determine a budget, and get as many lenses and accessories as your budget allows. The lenses and external flash will make a lot more difference in your photography than which camera body you get. To me, the main reason to get D-SLR is its superior performance in low light actions. So getting a fast lens on top of the usual general purpose and tele lenses will be very useful and educational. Learning how to use a fast lens (f/2.8 or larger aperture, smaller f/number) and focus correctly (in shallow depth of field) will be an important skill to master for D-SLR user. Using fill flash and controlling light is another important thing to learn. When you budget out for a D-SLR system, you should look at all the accessories that you may need.
D-SLR camera body
Lenses (general purpose, tele, macro, portrait, wide angle for landscape, fixed prime vs zoom lens, etc)
External flash
Flash diffuser
release cable
Polarizer filter and other filters (color, neutral density, etc)
lens cleaning kit
A sturdy Tripod
A well padded camera bag
Reflectors (if you do portraits)
Softwares like Photoshop
Optional enlargement or noise reduction plug-ins
Monitor/printer calibration devices eg. Spyder3 or Huey
Extra battery
Several memories cards (233x or higher has better performance)
These are the basic things you usually will need or use. Sometimes you can pick one lens that can serve several purposes and save some money and bulk. For example, the Nikon 60mm f/2.8 macro lens can be used for macro, portrait and low light photography. Both Canon and Nikon have a huge inventory of lenses and accessories, spend some time to think about what you need and plan carefully. You will likely change the camera bodies more frequently than you lenses and accesories.
Best lens?
by ryan_t_moreau - 4/17/09 11:45 AM In reply to: Which D-SLR to choose by hjfokThanks for the advice. That reply helped very much.
In reading your reply I thought of another question I forgot to ask. What is the best multi-purpose lens for a camera such as the D90 for a novice. Most kits include the 18-105mm lens, but I had read in many different places that the 18-200mm is probably a better choice. Is it really worth the extra $500+ for the 200mm over the 105mm?
that's for you to decide
by kalel33 - 4/17/09 1:03 PM In reply to: Best lens? by ryan_t_moreauThe 18-105 is optically better, but you probably wouldn't notice the difference. The 18-200VR is for walkaround/travel use, but is not good as an only lens. It's way too slow(aperture) for indoor shots and compromises image quality for versatility. The 18-200VR is good if you can supplement it with other lens, such as the 35mm F1.8 for indoors and maybe the 70-300VR or 70-200F2.8 for outdoor fast action.
You just have to understand that the 18-200VR is a jack of many(not even all) and a master of none(except for convenience.
Best lens
by hjfok - 4/17/09 5:58 PM In reply to: Best lens? by ryan_t_moreauAs said above, this depends on your need, budget and preference.
If your budget is flexible, then the Nikon 17-55mm f/2.8 and 70-200mm f/2.8 VR will cover most of your usual photographic need, except for macros. I have the Canon equivalent of these lenses, the 17-55mm f/2.8 IS and the EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS. I hardly find a need to get another lens (I don't usually do macros). This combo covers the most used focal range and they are fast enough to be used in low light. I really enjoy using them. The draw back is the price and the weight, but they are worth every penny and every oz they weigh.
If budget is somewhat limited or you want a compact package for traveling, then the 18-200mm VR is a pretty good choice. It is usually known as the travel lens, has good coverage of focal length and decent image quality. My friend has this lens and his photos look great. The 18-105mm is a bit short, so you will need to get at least a second lens. However, remember that these are all slow lenses, not very good in low light. So you will likely need another fast lens for low light actions. If you tend to take night lights scenery, then 35mm f/1.8 is a good deal. But if you like to do macros and portraits, then the 60mm f/2.8 can be used for both and it's fast enough for many low light photos.
If your budget is very tight, then the kit lens 18-55 mm VR and 55-200mm VR can be a start, and then add a fast lens and/or macro lens as above.
There are also many excellent prime and high quality zoom lenses in the Nikon and Canon lineup. As said previously, you need to set a budget and see how much you can spend on lenses. Then you can start looking for the right lenses for your budget and need.
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