Caitlin
I'm looking for a digital SLR camera. Preferably not too expensive. Does anyone have suggestions?
Answer
Two cameras come to mind when you ask for a DSLR that's not too expensive. Here you go:
~~~~~~~~~~
Nikon D40
The Nikon D40 is a great little camera, very easy to use and quite reasonably priced. It has a few "consumer friendly" totally automatic modes that make it very easy to use, but still offers total photographic control when you are ready to take charge. It will get you in the Nikon family which is a great place to be. If you buy accessories and lenses, you will be able to use everything on any Nikon that you might upgrade to later on.
Check out Nikon's "Picturetown" promotion, where they handed out 200 D40's in Georgetown, SC. http://www.stunningnikon.com/picturetown/
Here are a few reviews, in case you have not read them yet. Be sure to note that they are several pages long and some of the reviews also have some sample images that you can look at.
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond40/
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2007_reviews/nikon_d40.html
http://www.popphoto.com/cameras/3756/camera-test-nikon-d40.html
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d40/d40-recommendations.htm
I hate to see people slam the camera because it can't autofocus with older Nikon lenses. It is true that there is a "slight problem" with older Nikon lenses not autofocusing on the D40, but if you do not own a bag full of older lenses, it is not going to be a problem. It is barely a problem anyhow. If you check www.nikonusa.com for "AF-S" lenses, which are ALL 100% compatible with the D40, you will find 23 lenses, including 7 "VR" (vibration Reduction) lenses and one true macro lens with "VR". There are another 25-plus lenses in the current catalog that provide all functions except autofocus as well as many (possibly dozens) "out of print" lenses that will work just as well. In addition, although these lens will not autofocus, most of them will still give focus confirmation. From the D40 manual: "If the lens has a maximum aperture of f/5.6 of faster, the viewfinder focus indicator can be used to confirm whether the portion of the subject in the selected focus area is in focus. After positioning the subject in the active focus area, press the shutter release button halfway and rotate the lens focusing ring until the in-focus indicator is displayed."
The D40 only has 3 autofocus zones arranged horizontally at the center, 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions. This might be considered a limitation, but realistically, most people will find this perfectly adequate, especially if you are moving up from a point and shoot with only a center zone.
You can get the D40 with the 18-55 kit lens at B&H Photo available through Yahoo! Shopping or at 1-800-622-4987) for $550 (May 2007) and this is with TWO Lexar 1 GB cards. You can get the same kit with one Lexar Platinum (higher speed) card for $560. Or - get the D40 with 18-135 lens and 1 GB Lexar card for $760.
~~~~~~~~~~
Pentax K100D - Cheapest Decent SLR
The cheapest DSLR that is worth owning is probably the Pentax K100D, and this is coming from a Nikon fan. This is a decent camera.
You can click on individual user comments on this page:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/read_opinions.asp?prodkey=pentax_k100d
You can read the dpreview.com "Highly Recommended" review here:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/pentaxk100d/
You can also read this review of the K100D here:
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2006_reviews/k100d.html
I used to recommend the Pentax K110D as the best entry level dSLR, but I do not see it for sale at B&H Photo or Adorama. The entry level seems to now be the K100D. The only difference between these two cameras is that the K100D includes "shake reduction," which adds some expense to the camera.
Adorama has the K100D with the 18-55 lens for $489.95, after a $50 rebate. The rebate ends on July 31, 2007. You will still need a memory card and I would suggest at least the 1 GB Sandisk Ultra II SD card, which costs about $30. You can get the 2 GB for $35, so it would be silly not to go for the 2 GB card.
As of this writing (5-9-07), B&H is NOT showing the $50 rebate on the K100D with the 18-55 lens, but they ARE showing it for the body alone. Since this is a Pentax manufacturer's rebate, I would speculate that this is an error on the web site. If you prefer buying from B&H, you can call them at 1-800-622-4987 to inquire about this matter.
If you want "higher" quality and want to spend double the money, get back to me............and I'll tell you about the Nikon D80.
~~~~~~~~~~
Two cameras come to mind when you ask for a DSLR that's not too expensive. Here you go:
~~~~~~~~~~
Nikon D40
The Nikon D40 is a great little camera, very easy to use and quite reasonably priced. It has a few "consumer friendly" totally automatic modes that make it very easy to use, but still offers total photographic control when you are ready to take charge. It will get you in the Nikon family which is a great place to be. If you buy accessories and lenses, you will be able to use everything on any Nikon that you might upgrade to later on.
Check out Nikon's "Picturetown" promotion, where they handed out 200 D40's in Georgetown, SC. http://www.stunningnikon.com/picturetown/
Here are a few reviews, in case you have not read them yet. Be sure to note that they are several pages long and some of the reviews also have some sample images that you can look at.
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond40/
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2007_reviews/nikon_d40.html
http://www.popphoto.com/cameras/3756/camera-test-nikon-d40.html
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d40/d40-recommendations.htm
I hate to see people slam the camera because it can't autofocus with older Nikon lenses. It is true that there is a "slight problem" with older Nikon lenses not autofocusing on the D40, but if you do not own a bag full of older lenses, it is not going to be a problem. It is barely a problem anyhow. If you check www.nikonusa.com for "AF-S" lenses, which are ALL 100% compatible with the D40, you will find 23 lenses, including 7 "VR" (vibration Reduction) lenses and one true macro lens with "VR". There are another 25-plus lenses in the current catalog that provide all functions except autofocus as well as many (possibly dozens) "out of print" lenses that will work just as well. In addition, although these lens will not autofocus, most of them will still give focus confirmation. From the D40 manual: "If the lens has a maximum aperture of f/5.6 of faster, the viewfinder focus indicator can be used to confirm whether the portion of the subject in the selected focus area is in focus. After positioning the subject in the active focus area, press the shutter release button halfway and rotate the lens focusing ring until the in-focus indicator is displayed."
The D40 only has 3 autofocus zones arranged horizontally at the center, 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions. This might be considered a limitation, but realistically, most people will find this perfectly adequate, especially if you are moving up from a point and shoot with only a center zone.
You can get the D40 with the 18-55 kit lens at B&H Photo available through Yahoo! Shopping or at 1-800-622-4987) for $550 (May 2007) and this is with TWO Lexar 1 GB cards. You can get the same kit with one Lexar Platinum (higher speed) card for $560. Or - get the D40 with 18-135 lens and 1 GB Lexar card for $760.
~~~~~~~~~~
Pentax K100D - Cheapest Decent SLR
The cheapest DSLR that is worth owning is probably the Pentax K100D, and this is coming from a Nikon fan. This is a decent camera.
You can click on individual user comments on this page:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/read_opinions.asp?prodkey=pentax_k100d
You can read the dpreview.com "Highly Recommended" review here:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/pentaxk100d/
You can also read this review of the K100D here:
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2006_reviews/k100d.html
I used to recommend the Pentax K110D as the best entry level dSLR, but I do not see it for sale at B&H Photo or Adorama. The entry level seems to now be the K100D. The only difference between these two cameras is that the K100D includes "shake reduction," which adds some expense to the camera.
Adorama has the K100D with the 18-55 lens for $489.95, after a $50 rebate. The rebate ends on July 31, 2007. You will still need a memory card and I would suggest at least the 1 GB Sandisk Ultra II SD card, which costs about $30. You can get the 2 GB for $35, so it would be silly not to go for the 2 GB card.
As of this writing (5-9-07), B&H is NOT showing the $50 rebate on the K100D with the 18-55 lens, but they ARE showing it for the body alone. Since this is a Pentax manufacturer's rebate, I would speculate that this is an error on the web site. If you prefer buying from B&H, you can call them at 1-800-622-4987 to inquire about this matter.
If you want "higher" quality and want to spend double the money, get back to me............and I'll tell you about the Nikon D80.
~~~~~~~~~~
How to choose a DSLR Camera Lenses?
V L
I have a Nikon D40 DSLR, If I want to make great pictures to small objects what I need to know for choosing the right lenses, because there are several lenses on sale over the internet, some of them are cheap and some very expensive, what is the basic guide? is the optics quality? thanks for your help
Answer
Basic guideline is to stick with the original manufacturers lenses. So in the case of your Nikon, that means Nikon-Nikkor lenses. Nikon once regarded it's primary line of lenses are professional lenses and only gave special designations to their "cheaper" consumer grade lenses. That is no longer a hard and fast rule. Still you will not exceed Nikon optical quality with Tokina, Sigma or any other non-OEM brand of lens.
As for choosing the right lens, that's largely determined by how you'll use the lens and your budget. For small objects shot close up, you are generally talking about macro photography with lenses that allow very short minimum focus distances of only a few inches in most cases. Nikon gives their macro lenses a "micro" designation. At present, Nikon only offers four lenses with such a designation and the cheapest of them at $450 is their 60mm f/2.8D AF Micro Nikkor lens. This actually is a very good macro lens for your D40. The bad news is this lens will not autofocus on a D40 because D40s do not have a built-in autofocus motor like older and higher-end Nikon bodies such as the discontinued D70/70s or current D90. Thats not really a problem since most macro photography involves manual focus anyway.
The only Nikon lens meant for macro photography that will autofocus on a D40 at this time is the Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR lens. This is also a very good lens but, you may find the 105mm focal length to be a bit too tight and depth of field will be practically non-existent. You can often use other lenses for macro photography but some lenses have fairly long minimum focusing distances that can make macro photography difficult at best.
Basic guideline is to stick with the original manufacturers lenses. So in the case of your Nikon, that means Nikon-Nikkor lenses. Nikon once regarded it's primary line of lenses are professional lenses and only gave special designations to their "cheaper" consumer grade lenses. That is no longer a hard and fast rule. Still you will not exceed Nikon optical quality with Tokina, Sigma or any other non-OEM brand of lens.
As for choosing the right lens, that's largely determined by how you'll use the lens and your budget. For small objects shot close up, you are generally talking about macro photography with lenses that allow very short minimum focus distances of only a few inches in most cases. Nikon gives their macro lenses a "micro" designation. At present, Nikon only offers four lenses with such a designation and the cheapest of them at $450 is their 60mm f/2.8D AF Micro Nikkor lens. This actually is a very good macro lens for your D40. The bad news is this lens will not autofocus on a D40 because D40s do not have a built-in autofocus motor like older and higher-end Nikon bodies such as the discontinued D70/70s or current D90. Thats not really a problem since most macro photography involves manual focus anyway.
The only Nikon lens meant for macro photography that will autofocus on a D40 at this time is the Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR lens. This is also a very good lens but, you may find the 105mm focal length to be a bit too tight and depth of field will be practically non-existent. You can often use other lenses for macro photography but some lenses have fairly long minimum focusing distances that can make macro photography difficult at best.
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