[dkaile]

I have a budget of around 30K. Can some experts suggest some models with a 2 lens kit covering from 15/18 mm to 250/400 mm. I already own Nikon Film based SLR camera (now obsolete) and a Canon S5 IS Powershot point and shoot (a 8MP 12x Manual Zoom).

I would prefer Canon and Nikon, in that order.

Thanks.

[Carcrazy60]

Originally Posted by dkaile

I have a budget of around 30K. Can some experts suggest some models with a 2 lens kit covering from 15/18 mm to 250/400 mm. I already own Nikon Film based SLR camera (now obsolete) and a Canon S5 IS Powershot point and shoot (a 8MP 12x Manual Zoom).

I would prefer Canon and Nikon, in that order.

Thanks.

I am no expert but take a look at Canon EOS M. IQ is great.

[Aroy]

Originally Posted by dkaile

I have a budget of around 30K. Can some experts suggest some models with a 2 lens kit covering from 15/18 mm to 250/400 mm. I already own Nikon Film based SLR camera (now obsolete) and a Canon S5 IS Powershot point and shoot (a 8MP 12x Manual Zoom).

I would prefer Canon and Nikon, in that order.

Thanks.

The lenses of your film SLR will work with modern Nikon cameras. The only problem is that if you have AF lenses they will have AF only on bodies that have AF motor in the body, on other bodies they will work as manual focus lens. Most of the lower range Nikon cameras do not have motor in the body.

At around 30k the Nikon D3200 is the best buy.
http://www.nikon.co.in/en_IN/product...=&currentLink=

Here are some Net prices
http://cameras.pricedekho.com/camera...ice-p6Bsx.html
http://compareindia.in.com/specifica...r-d3200/272452

Here are some prices with kit lens
http://www.cromaretail.com/Nikon-D32...12484-133.aspx
http://www.tradus.com/nikon-d3200-24...MMCG5D4EPUGGDW

If you have good negotiating skills, you may get a better deal at the local Nikon retailer

[dkaile]

Finally opted for Nikon D5200 with 18-105 VR Kit locally. MRP 57950/- Got it for 49,800/= + 650 for 16GB Sony SDHC Card. With Bill and 2 year Nikon India Warranty.

(Just for information - Basic Camera was 37,000/-; With 18-55 VR Kit was 40,000/-, Tamaron 18-200 Lens was 13,000; D3200 was 24,500 (only Body); with 18-105 VR Kit 37,800/=; with 18-55 VR Kit 27,800/=; Nikon 600D with 18-135 Kit 46,800/-)


Details here - http://www.rimweb.in...chase/?p=295224

[RaguHolla]

Originally Posted by dkaile

Nikon 600D with 18-135 Kit 46,800/-)

Did you mean Canon or Nikon here? Nikon 600 under 50K is steal! I doubt about it.

[dkaile]

Originally Posted by RaguHolla

Did you mean Canon or Nikon here? Nikon 600 under 50K is steal! I doubt about it.

Sorry, its Canon 600D.

[ajay_satpute]

Hello members

I have finalized the following 3 models as my first DSLR and their cost break-ups based on the best price I am getting in Pune:



Few questions to the experts:

1) I am not too keen on going for the kit lens 18-55, as I think this lens is pretty darn basic in all aspects, irrespective of company. Still, do you think I should?

2) Has anyone used the Canon EF75-300mm f/4-5.6 III USM lens? I read a few reviews of the lens and it was clearly mentioned that this lens is strictly built to cost (~13k INR). Whats your take?

3) Similarly, how is the Nikon AF-S DX VR Zoom-NIKKOR 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED lens?

I want to go with a fast prime and a medium telephoto to start with. Besides the above mentioned lenses, are there any good options in Sigma/Tamron/Tokina?

Thanks in advance.

[gr8guzzler]

Originally Posted by ajay_satpute

1) I am not too keen on going for the kit lens 18-55, as I think this lens is pretty darn basic in all aspects, irrespective of company. Still, do you think I should?

Kit lenses are not that bad. You will miss it especially when you want to take landscapes or are indoors with restricted space as your minimum focal length available with current options is 50mm (x 1.6)

Originally Posted by ajay_satpute

2) Has anyone used the Canon EF75-300mm f/4-5.6 III USM lens? I read a few reviews of the lens and it was clearly mentioned that this lens is strictly built to cost (~13k INR). Whats your take?

Prefer you go for 55-250 as 75-300 does not have IS.

[condor]

Originally Posted by ajay_satpute

I want to go with a fast prime and a medium telephoto to start with. Besides the above mentioned lenses, are there any good options in Sigma/Tamron/Tokina?

Check out the Tamron 17-50 f2.8. Good reviews on that. I picked up recently.

[RaguHolla]

Originally Posted by ajay_satpute

Hello members

I own D90, in terns of DR D5200 is far better. But the extra buttons in D90 do help in most situations. D90 is also Nikon CLS compatible (built-in flash offer wireless control of external flash).

Originally Posted by ajay_satpute

1) I am not too keen on going for the kit lens 18-55, as I think this lens is pretty darn basic in all aspects, irrespective of company. Still, do you think I should?

Nikon 18~55 kit lens has very good review whichever review site you take.
I have Nikon 17-55 f/2.8.

[ajay_satpute]

Originally Posted by gr8guzzler

Kit lenses are not that bad. You will miss it especially when you want to take landscapes or are indoors with restricted space as your minimum focal length available with current options is 50mm (x 1.6)

Prefer you go for 55-250 as 75-300 does not have IS.

Point noted. Will think again over kit lens.

Originally Posted by condor

Check out the Tamron 17-50 f2.8. Good reviews on that. I picked up recently.

Thanks for the info. I will check this lens over the weekend.

Originally Posted by RaguHolla

I own D90, in terns of DR D5200 is far better. But the extra buttons in D90 do help in most situations. D90 is also Nikon CLS compatible (built-in flash offer wireless control of external flash).

Nikon 18~55 kit lens has very good review whichever review site you take.
I have Nikon 17-55 f/2.8.

Thanks for the info. Its great that you own the D90. Would you still recommend buying this camera? Its 5 year old model and there have been many advances in the this field over 5 years. Would I suffer in the near future carrying a previous gen model? Are all the current modern lenses compatible with the D90?

[RaguHolla]

Originally Posted by ajay_satpute

Thanks for the info. Its great that you own the D90. Would you still recommend buying this camera? Its 5 year old model and there have been many advances in the this field over 5 years. Would I suffer in the near future carrying a previous gen model? Are all the current modern lenses compatible with the D90?

For my photography needs I still prefer to use D90 over D5200. I migrated to DSLR because we were welcoming our kid. It make more sense for me to have direct controls, better flash handling camera than, better DR (which I can still do it with bracketing). If you need JPEG, I think D5200 does better job than D90. But if you are fine with RAW and post processing, D90 doesn't false behind.

I do agree D90 is old, D5200 sensor is far better. You get better video with D5200. But it lacks buttons, which might help you get the pictures faster than fiddling with menu to do the same. D90 is compatible with all lenses with motor or without motor, where as D5200 you need AF-S lens.

[Aroy]

I would suggest that you go for D3200 with the kit lens. After a few thousand shots you will get an idea of the limitations of your system, your style and preferred focal length, and then decide on the upgrade.

As noted the kit lens is not only fine, but ideal for most of the photographs you may take - wide for landscapes, short tele for portraits and every thing in between.

If you had any previous experience and tons of money, a D600 with a set of primes would be the way to go, but as you are just beginning, get the least expensive system, use it, learn it and then go ahead.

Here are some links
http://www.pricedealsindia.com/camer...dia-dpi544.php
http://www.snapdeal.com/product/niko..._campaign=afts

[dkaile]

D5200 easily creates in-camera photos like these (taken by me yesterday, btw) -



I doubt if the D90 is that capable, though it is capable to use the older non AF-S lenses. D90 has a 12.3 MP to 5200's 24.1, 11 AF points to 5200's 39 (out of which 9 are cross type), non-swivel screen which is a must for videos and low and high framing still images, ISO range upto 3200 vs 6400 (though anything above 3200 is not usable in most cameras). Rest I have listed below from dpreview.

From dpreview.com -

Advantages of the Nikon D5200

True resolution Much higher true resolution 24 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help Capture around 2x more detail in your photos

Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 24fps
Help Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video at a higher frame rate

Focus points Many more focus points 39 vs 11
Help Set focus accurately within the frame

External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help Record high quality audio with an external microphone

Cross type focus points Many more cross-type focus points 9 vs 1
Help Grab focus in difficult situations

HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range

Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective

Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies

Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help Automatically focuses shooting video

Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help The D5200's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better

Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help The D5200's boost ISO is 2 f-stops better

Weight Significantly lighter 555 g vs 703 g
Help More than 20% lighter

Size Smaller 129x98x78 mm vs 132x103x77 mm
Help Around 10% smaller

Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 5 fps vs 4.5 fps
Help More than 10% faster continuous shooting

Problems:
Advantages of the Nikon D90

Has built in focus motor

Gives more shots to the battery

Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder 0,63x vs 0,51x
Help More than 50% larger viewfinder

Viewfinder Has a pentaprism viewfinder Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Help Pentaprism viewfinders are typically brighter

Sensor size Slightly larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.8mm vs APS-C 23.5x15.6mm
Help Almost the same

Viewfinder coverage Better viewfinder coverage 96% vs 95%
Help Almost the same

Price is almost the same

Thickness Slightly thinner 3" vs 3,1"
Help Almost the same

[ajay_satpute]

Originally Posted by Aroy

I would suggest that you go for D3200 with the kit lens. After a few thousand shots you will get an idea of the limitations of your system, your style and preferred focal length, and then decide on the upgrade.

As noted the kit lens is not only fine, but ideal for most of the photographs you may take - wide for landscapes, short tele for portraits and every thing in between.

If you had any previous experience and tons of money, a D600 with a set of primes would be the way to go, but as you are just beginning, get the least expensive system, use it, learn it and then go ahead.

Here are some links
http://www.pricedealsindia.com/camer...dia-dpi544.php
http://www.snapdeal.com/product/niko..._campaign=afts

I assume this was directed towards me. Thanks a lot for the info. After giving a lot of thought, I have decided that I will go with the least expensive body and spend more on lenses.

I will update the thread as soon as I finalize the deal.

Cheers !