Photographic Equipment...

[Singapore Sling]

RX - thanks for the info. Starting to understand. Starting to miss the simplicity of my film camera. I was researching some stuff today and am leaning towards getting a D80 or D200 and stick with my current lens. Or to keep a few bills in the wallet, maybe just get the D40 package with the 18-55 and use my existing lens for when i need a longer lens.

[Singapore Sling]

Forget what said about D40. I keep forgetting it needs lenses with their own focusing motor. So it's D80 or a D200.

[donnnnnny]

THE D80 will do everything you could ever want singapore., there are a miriad of lens from nikkor sigma etc. plus add ons fro=m nikon such as battery packs speed lights remote controls etc. i have a speed light 800 flash battery pack ,remote shutter release ,and 4 lenses, all from nikon. also a nice sturdy tripod and a good carry all back pack to shove it all in
Then there are cleaning kits filters a1 and polorizing,the list goes on,kodak profesional lens cleaner

[donnnnnny]

new lens im looking at buying $600 us

[donnnnnny]

(Torurot @ Aug. 08 2008,17:29)  That may be "lucky" but it's an excellent shot Donnnnnny.  Like Rx I use Minolta/Sony, and the BODY has built in anti shake. It really is a useful function.  Nikon/Cannon you have to buy special extra cost lenses.

http://friedmanarchives.com/  has many pictures taken with the new Sony DSLR, along with many in his archives of the older Konica-Minolta like the 5 & 7D

thanks once again for kind comments mate

[Singapore Sling]

Dohnnny - can I aske where you've seen that lens for $600 ? It's one of the lenses I am considering to go along with whichever Nikon body I finally decide upon. I've seen the lens only as low as $660-680. Not a huge difference, but these days I'm looking to squeeze pennies.

[donnnnnny]

yes sure singaporesling here's a link http://www.shopcartusa.com/P_Nikon....om_2159

[donnnnnny]

http://www.shopcartusa.com/P_Nikon....om_2159

[Singapore Sling]

Thanks Dohnnny. Be careful with some of the retailers that site recommends.
In fact dont go by the customer ratings they have on that page, but instead go to www.resellerratings.com to get a non-associated rating. I actually had gone ahead and ordered from one lower prices shops 2 weeks back, but then I got an email stating that I needed to contact them. I did a bit of online research and found tons of negative reviews and also realized that several of the cheaper websites are the same dealer. Think I'll end up buying whatever I decide upon from either B&H or Adorama

[donnnnnny]

ya thanks sling ill look into that

[donnnnnny]

singapoore sling thanks for that link i looked up lenses n more
see for your self total scam http://www.resellerratings.com/store/Lenses_N_More

[Singapore Sling]

Donnnnnny, no worries. We cant lose our money to scamsters, need to save it for LB action.

[Singapore Sling]

A week has gone by, countless hours online researching cameras, and I'm no more decided now than when I began. Nikon D40 is probably the most suitable, but I hate that it really is not a true Nikkor compatible camera and therefore elininates the chance to buy used Nikkors down the road unless they are DX. Nikon D80 looks great, but fearful to spend that much especially as there are rumors that the D90 is around the corner. If money and weight were not big issues, I found a D300 with 18-55 and 55-200 Nikkor DX lenses for US$1500, which seems damn good value. The D300 seems to produce saturated colors that are the most film like. And to add to the twist, I now am starting to consider the small form Olympus E410 and E510. Reminds me of why I liked the OM10 back in the 80's

[Looker]

(Singapore Sling @ Aug. 15 2008,20:48) Nikon D40 is probably the most suitable..

It's an option I'm serioulsy considering, having arrived at the same conclusion as you did!
A friend of mine bought a D40 few months ago and he seems quite happy with the light weight and the results, although he is not really "pushing" for extreme condition pictures.
Check also Ken Rockwell's comments that seems more like those of a normal guy using cameras than the super-pros who are doing the reviews after using a camera for 2 hours:

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d40.htm

The D300 package you found at 1500 $ would be second hand I guess.

Would you think buying a second hand DSRL to be somehow risky, or at least riskier than a film camera?

[Torurot]

Just be aware that Ken Rockwell is a Nikon shrill. Use him as a jumping off point for your discoveries. He's just NOT objective.