Team-BHP - The DSLR Thread

Just wanted to share with you:

I have a Nikon D40 that's I use for all my photoblogs. Been happy with it. So when yesterday my BIL gave me a box, imagine my face when I saw that he bought me 2 interesting presents

1 - A pro battery grip.

Images taken from here.

2 - Nikon SB600 flash

I'm such a happy chappy now :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaushik_s (Post 1100106)

Nice gifts you got there Sam. I wish I was also that lucky ;-). BTW, doesn't Nikon grips have a shutter button or it's just a battery pack?

More than a battery pack, it allows you to grip the camera with 4 fingers. Now I can pretend to be Rudra!

You are correct, Nikon grips have a vertical shutter button. However Nikon does not make grips for the D40. This is a third-party product.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi (Post 1100125)

More than a battery pack, it allows you to grip the camera with 4 fingers. Now I can pretend to be Rudra!

Ha ha yeah, you can now. Adding a grip to a camera takes the handling to a different level.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi (Post 1100125)

You are correct, Nikon grips have a vertical shutter button. However Nikon does not make grips for the D40. This is a third-party product.

That answers the question :)

@skywalker: thanks mate. Ill leave it for him to deciede. He wants a DSLR and not a P&S one.
@scream: sky has summed it up regarding the lens. Ill try to repeat what I was told by the salesman. 200 K comes with a standard lens while d60 comes with a normal lens and a vr lens, extra lens upto 70mm is being provied bundled with the camera and the VR lens for AED300 against AED700 for the lens kit if bought separately. Thats about all I remember.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rudra Sen (Post 1100172)

Can someone get me a kg of lead please?

2 other activites I have been involved in use lead to good effect. you can get lead sheet as well (used for damping speaker wall resonances).

3lb Lead Weight with Clip - DiveLife - Scuba diving equipment from DiveLife.

Winchester Australia - Products

Guys I am still confused. I still dont know which one to go for keeping in my this would be my first DSLR. I am confused between NikonD300, Canon 40D (going for cheap now a days), Nikon D90 and Canon 450D. Even though I have a budget of around 60 k's (+- 5k's) I dont want to burn money just for the sake of it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by extreme_torque (Post 1101830)

Well, I was in the same situation few days back. I eventually bought 450D. Being a first timer, it is all that you will need. Just add some good lenses depending upon how frequently and for what purpose the camera will be used. I am still trying to learn the tricks with this one. 40D would have been an over kill for me at this stage (entry level).

Quote:

Originally Posted by extreme_torque (Post 1101830)

When you make a decision considering SLRs you need to factor in 2 things:
1. It is a system you are buying into - so see the lens offerings both offer and that will narrow your options - for example for me the Canon 17-55 IS made the decision. Nikon's 17-55 does not have IS and hence I loose 2 or so stops.

2. After sales service. Your camera will need service. Get the system that has the most convienent service in your area.

Lastly work backwards:
1. what will you photograph (low light indoor, low light landscape, safaris, family, etc..)
2. what lenses do you need to cover your needs (zooms, primes, macros, tilt/shift).
3. what body works best with your choice in lenses.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wanderernomad (Post 1101356)

@scream: sky has summed it up regarding the lens. Ill try to repeat what I was told by the salesman. 200 K comes with a standard lens while d60 comes with a normal lens and a vr lens, extra lens upto 70mm is being provied bundled with the camera and the VR lens for AED300 against AED700 for the lens kit if bought separately. Thats about all I remember.

The choice, based on price, should be between the Sony and the Nikon. Between the two I would go for the Nikon (with the VR lens) because it's a more thorough and extensive photographic system than Sony.
Photo equipment is a core business for makes like Nikon and Canon while for Sony it's one among many things they do. Won't be a big deal for them to jettison the whole SLR biz tomorrow if it doesn't do well.

Quote:

Originally Posted by extreme_torque (Post 1101830)

I don't know much about the Canons but between the D300 and D90, I'd go for the latter. It fits your budget and for a beginner the D300 is a bit of an overkill. Plus you can shoot movie clips with it - I don't think any other camera on the list does that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by amitoj (Post 1099937)

what?? no opinions on the new E30??

I am a little shocked at the price, I'd say stick to E-520 or E-3. It is entirely stupid on part on Olympus to release E-30 at $1300 when the E-3 is available for $1200. The E-3 is full pro model with magnesium body and full weather seal, the E-30 similar to 50D or D300, a semi-pro dSLR. That's like Canon releasing 50D at a price point above 5D.