[amitk26]

Originally Posted by ariendj

few questions to fellow dSLR users:

1. any disadvantages in buying lens from ebay.com or amazon
   (planning for a nikon prime lens)

On Amazon look if it is sold and fullfilled by Amazon or some other reseller.
Similarly on ebay look for seller with more then 99% rating. If you are buying from abroad and want to be shipped to India be prepared to pay hefty shipping and 27% customs. If someone can carry the item from USA it it best but many ebay sellers just ship to paypal verfied address.

Originally Posted by ariendj

1. is it advisable using UV filter while shooting.
2. any special advantages using a battery grip or carrying an extra battery would suffice!

UV filter is like taflon coating on a new car supposed to protect but has not specific role on DSLR.

Battery grip as the name suggests helps you to improve grip and balance but some may not like the bulk introduced.

[Imran.Syed]

Hey guys!

I will be soon buying my first camera, and after going through hours and hours of searching for which one will be the best, I chose the d5100. However, going through the specs, I realized there is no autofucus motor in the body, but has to be supplied with the lens. Result: Expensive lenses or tiresome manual focusing.
Then I gave a look to its competitor, the 550D. Well, I am not saying it's bad, but, the nikon is just better. Has all the features I can think of right now, but I just prefer the nikon. However, the 550D has an inbuilt focus motor, and so lenses would be cheaper.

I searched the prices of lenses for both of them, but most of them were in dollars, and simply converting them to rupees wont make sense.

Since I am new in India, or in the DSLR photography itself, what would you gurus suggest? The nikon d5100, or the canon 550d?

please note that I am a student, so vitamin-M will be very constricted.

[Behemoth]

Originally Posted by Imran.Syed

Hey guys!

However, going through the specs, I realized there is no autofocus motor in the body, but has to be supplied with the lens. Result: Expensive lenses or tiresome manual focusing.
Then I gave a look to its competitor, the 550D. Well, I am not saying it's bad, but, the nikon is just better. Has all the features I can think of right now, but I just prefer the nikon.

.

Actually the Canon also does not have a motor in the body. By default, all their lenses have a built in motor. That is how Canon evolved their design. Nikon however had both designs - motor in body and motor in lens. The motor in body are the semi pro and higher series starting from the D90, while the motor in lens are the entry level cameras. That said the D5100 is very good value for money at this time at around 32k market price. It is much better than the Canon 550d. Go for it!

[mobike008]

Originally Posted by Imran.Syed

I searched the prices of lenses for both of them, but most of them were in dollars, and simply converting them to rupees wont make sense.

Since I am new in India, or in the DSLR photography itself, what would you gurus suggest? The nikon d5100, or the canon 550d?

After a week or two of research I too came to same conclusion that D5100 is indeed VFM and definetly better than the Canon 550D. I placed my order already and my D5100 should arrive in next 2-3 days

Only downside is buying AF-S or I lens which have in-built motor to support autofocus on a D5100 body. These lens in general are expensive

But, i still would recommend and buy the D5100 and buy the following lens

Prime Lens : Nikkor 35mm or 50mm both at 13K. I chose the 35mm

And, along with Kit lens of 18mm-55mm you should be good atleast for the first one year to practice before graduating to tele-photo, wide angle and macro lens which you can build in coming years

Originally Posted by skandyhere

But I agree that lens will give you a few magical pictures on a Diwali night as long as you're shooting short exposure shots in low light - which your kit lens can't.

What do you mean short exposure shots? you mean on shutter priority with a low duration interval for shooting on a tripod?

Originally Posted by skandyhere

2. For fireworks shots, do buy a remote so you can comfortably use bulb exposure without holding on to the shutter button on your camera and inadvertently causing shake in the process.

Never used a remote ever. Would love to know how this is used and what might be the approximate cost for a suggested brand/model?

[joslicx]

Originally Posted by mobike008

Never used a remote ever. Would love to know how this is used and what might be the approximate cost for a suggested brand/model?

Get the Nikon one (I think its called LM2 or something like that). Its quite cheap for a Nikon product actually!!! Available on the likes of Flipkart (I think around 600 or something). It has an IR transmitter I think and when you want to hit shutter, just press the button on the remote and camera will click the pic for you. Very useful for long exposures.

[khadoos baby]

Both canon 550d and Nikon 5100 are VFM. Both priced at aprox 30k . One suggestion that ll give u is to exchange ur kit lens (18-55) with 18-135mm or buy only body and buy 18-135 mm separately. Trust me, it makes sense. Then buy a prime lense- 50mm f/1.8 and you are good for couple of years atleast. The entire thing ll cost you less than 50k which is fantastic deal IMO.

About one brand being better than other, it's totally on personal choice. Please please don't get influenced by sites and forums on net. Only a super expert can make out difference between histograms of two cameras. Also, it's all in the lens and your skills in setup which makes the difference.

How am I sure about it, because I have both the above cameras.

[amitk26]

Originally Posted by Imran.Syed

Hey guys!

I chose the d5100. However, going through the specs, I realized there is no autofucus motor in the body, Then I gave a look to its competitor, the 550D.
Since I am new in India, or in the DSLR photography itself, what would you gurus suggest? The nikon d5100, or the canon 550d?

please note that I am a student, so vitamin-M will be very constricted.

Forget about Nikon or Canon part just focus on what you are going to shoot and work out on total cost of ownership. For some usage Nikon system may work cheaper and for others Canon may workout to be cheaper to own.
Consider what lenses you will need and work out total system cost.

Also I would suggest Canon 600D over 550D if you are interested in flash photography ( for the reason of mastermode flash and atriculated LCD)

[sameerpb]

Originally Posted by mobike008

Never used a remote ever. Would love to know how this is used and what might be the approximate cost for a suggested brand/model?

It would cost you not more that RS 500 easiest way is go to V.G. Chimalgi's shop at RP Road or Jubilee hills .

[mobike008]

Originally Posted by joslicx

Get the Nikon one (I think its called LM2 or something like that). Its quite cheap for a Nikon product actually!!! Available on the likes of Flipkart (I think around 600 or something).

Originally Posted by sameerpb

It would cost you not more that RS 500 easiest way is go to V.G. Chimalgi's shop at RP Road or Jubilee hills .

Thanks guys. Already placed an order for this :-

http://www.flipkart.com/nikon-ml-l3-...er=from-search

[joslicx]

Originally Posted by khadoos baby

Both canon 550d and Nikon 5100 are VFM. Both priced at aprox 30k . One suggestion that ll give u is to exchange ur kit lens (18-55) with 18-135mm or buy only body and buy 18-135 mm separately. Trust me, it makes sense. Then buy a prime lense- 50mm f/1.8 and you are good for couple of years atleast. The entire thing ll cost you less than 50k which is fantastic deal IMO.

Does the 18-135 have VR in the lens? If I remember correctly it does not. Also I think it has been discontinued. A zoom lens without VR would be rather limited in use, esp at tele lengths. Nikons do not have any kind of image stabilization in the body.

Or Maybe you meant the 18-105 VR that is nowdays the kit lens for some Nikons like the D7000.

Originally Posted by mobike008

Thanks guys. Already placed an order for this :-

http://www.flipkart.com/nikon-ml-l3-...er=from-search

Yes it is the one. They have increased the price. Last time I'd checked it was about 600.

[khadoos baby]

Originally Posted by joslicx

Does the 18-135 have VR in the lens? If I remember correctly it does not. Also I think it has been discontinued. A zoom lens without VR would be rather limited in use, esp at tele lengths. Nikons do not have any kind of image stabilization in the body.

Or Maybe you meant the 18-105 VR that is nowdays the kit lens for some Nikons like the D7000.

Yes it is the one. They have increased the price. Last time I'd checked it was about 600.

135 mm is hardly any zoom. You can do without it. Camera too has stabilization setup. Shake becomes a problem over 200.

Originally Posted by khadoos baby

135 mm is hardly any zoom ,so VR is not really necessary. You can do without it. Camera too has stabilization setup. Shake becomes a problem over 200.

yes , you are right, for Nikon it is now 18-105 lens. My bad.

[Samurai]

Originally Posted by khadoos baby

135 mm is hardly any zoom. You can do without it. Camera too has stabilization setup. Shake becomes a problem over 200.

Nikon has in-body IS now? Which body?

[skandyhere]

Originally Posted by khadoos baby

135 mm is hardly any zoom. You can do without it. Camera too has stabilization setup. Shake becomes a problem over 200.

I think one should consider not only long focal lengths, but low light conditions while calculating the usefulness of VR. Particularly because standard kits are not fast lenses, slow shutter speeds are inevitable and so there's a significant difference between a VR and non-VR lens when lighting is not bright. Regardless of focal length, I'd take VR to be one incredibly useful piece of technology, more so when dealing with slow kit lenses.

[joslicx]

Originally Posted by khadoos baby

135 mm is hardly any zoom. You can do without it. Camera too has stabilization setup. Shake becomes a problem over 200.

135mm for a crop sensor like D5100 is equivalent focal length of 200mm on a full body. It is good enough to introduce significant blur if there is no stabilization (whether in camera body or via lens or tripod).

Heres a pic from Cameralabs that shows how effective image stabilization is (even at 50mm). This is from a Sony A-77 that has in body IS.



Both Canon and Nikon have refrained from adding IS to camera body so far. Greedy that they are, they want you to buy the more expensive lenses with IS(or VR as Nikon calls the same thing). For example, just check the prices of Nikkor's popular 70-300 zoom lens with and without VR!!!

[ariendj]

got a nikon 35mm prime lens and planning to get a reversing ring to try macro shots!!
anyone have prior experience in using such techniques!