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This will be like walking through a mine field, but here goes.

A freind wants to buy a new DSLR and asked me what he should get!

The first question I asked is what do you want to use it for? Reply

I want to be able to use the pics for advertising purposes. He wants to promote the Murray where he lives. Mainly landscapes with maybe a bit of water sports.

He is leaning towards a D80 with a twin lens kit.

Is the D80 ageing? Something better (newer) available?

I have a D300 which I am in love with and have always had a lean to Nikon, but that doesn't mean that there is not a more suitable camera out there.

Any and all help greatly appreciated.

Being a newbe I hope I have posted this in the correct forum.

67, I would think the Nikon D80 is a fine choice for his suggested purpose, as would many of the other choices in that range. If he has the same camera as you then sharing lenses is a possibility. He may want to consider lens choice, there are a number of twin lens kits but they usually include the 70-300, he may be better served with something like a 10-20 for landscapes

what stage of his photography is he?

what budget? ($500, $1000, $3000)

what are the spec requirements of his clients? (web based images, or poster prints?)

ergonimics (such as physical hand size)?
Nikon pro bodies are very large (D2x, D3, D200), mid range is medium (D70, D80), and entry level are much smaller (D40 etc).

Perhaps split his considerations into two, maybe start with lens requirments, for example, a $400 sigma 10-20mm may be more important than getting a higher resolution camera body... so may pay to spend the money on the right lens, and get an older body such as a D70.

Water sports might be problematic unless you invest in the longer, faster lenses, but you should still be able to get decent results with a D80 and something like a 70-300VR as long as you put in a bit of planning.

As for landscapes, I'd tend towards something in the ultrawide area... like a Sigma 10-20, Tokina 12-24 or Nikkor 12-24.

The D80 is rumoured for replacement by mid June, supposedly by a D90 ..... might also be other new stuff out in that time window with Olympics later this year.

Really as I see it, the choice comes back to skills, interest level, experience level and budget.

You can choose IMHO from the D60 with its limitation on lenses, D80/90 (when it exists), or up to the D200 or D300......

Or go Canon with either the 450D or 40D IMHO..... That choice he has to make after using both.


As for lenses, what sort of budget? I think the Sigma f2.8 lenses for a bit more $ are better buying than the Nikon kit lenses myself if limited, and Nikkor f2.8 glass is better again at a (high) price.

And if you want to scare your friend off.....
http://www.bythom.com/iceberg.htm

For a start as mates you could share lenses . I'd spend as little as possible on the body (still would want mirror lock-up) and more on lenses, filters and tripod/head combo.
Cheers,
Gerard

Thanks everyone for their help.

Firstly, we can't share as my friend is in SA and I am in Vic.

Is it worth waiting for the D90? Is it going to provide that many new features for an amateur to notice the difference? I bow to your greater knowledge on that.

The budget is in the 1-1.5K maybe a little more.
Pics will mainly be used for web with occasional poster type stuff for his own displays.

If there is going to be a D90, maybe the D80 becomes a bargaining point as a run out model?

the rumour is that the d90 will be announced in sept with availability, (at top dollar), in Oz by late Nov.
if he can bear the ergonomics i'd be looking at the xsi.

6tee7 wrote:Is it worth waiting for the D90?

Is it worth waiting for temporary taxes to be removed?

The D90 is rumoured.

To put that another way, if the D90 hits the streets, there probably be a D65 rumoured shortly thereafter to replace it.

Let's all just wait for the D45x, which is sure to be full frame, 50000 ISO, and it'll make your coffee in the morning, too.

Oh yes, I'm currently in an hotel just a few blocks from Disneyland.

One should NEVER, EVER, wait for rumoured anything. You may be waiting for a very. very, very long time if you do.

But I have other concerns ....

The budget is in the 1-1.5K maybe a little more.

Point 1: does this budget factor in glass, or is this just the budget for body only?

Pics will mainly be used for web with occasional poster type stuff for his own displays.

Poster stuff? That usually means big. That may - and that's a serious may - mean that for a change, megapixels might - and that's a serious might - matter. Point 2.

That also means that such matters as exposure and composition also matter; that's point 3.

Let's get to point 4 ... for his usage you say he said:

I want to be able to use the pics for advertising purposes.

If he's wanting to use this camera for "advertising purposes", but he has no experience with a DSLR, and he's asking you for advice, then I think we're on safe ground in suggesting that he has somewhat limited photographic knowledge and experience.

Which, to my way of thinking, kind of makes points 1 through 4 somewhat moot.

Methinks me needs to worry more about things like horses and carts, and which goes before what.


He wants to promote the Murray where he lives. Mainly landscapes with maybe a bit of water sports.[/quote]

6tee7,

Oz_Beachside wrote:what stage of his photography is he?

This is an important question that I don't believe you have answered.

If he is new to photography (and unless he has money to throw away), I believe he would be better off buying a secondhand D70 or similar with a kit lens and work from there. If he spends as little as possible to get started, but then goes out with that gear and attempt to get the sort of photographs he wants to get. Through taking photographs he'll learn exactly what the limitations of the gear are and so where to go from there.

i dont agree with that POV andrew. i think a more pertinent question would be "where does he want to go with photography ?" if he's happy with a P&S setup and doesnt see himself getting too invloved then a d40 is awesome. but if he wants to explore photography further and get "into it" then i say buy the best setup you can afford and be able to grow into it rather than grow out of it.

Hey 6tee7,

I was in a similar position to your friend - although I don't have any aspirations for making any money in advertising or anything. But I found with a similar budged (1-1.5k) that a D80 was going to absorb most of that and not leave much room for lenses.

I recently opted for a second hand d70s which cost me $350 and I have no regrets about this.

Rooz wrote:i dont agree with that POV andrew. i think a more pertinent question would be "where does he want to go with photography ?" if he's happy with a P&S setup and doesnt see himself getting too invloved then a d40 is awesome. but if he wants to explore photography further and get "into it" then i say buy the best setup you can afford and be able to grow into it rather than grow out of it.

And both those options are still available by getting a secondhand camera without the huge outlay if he loses interest. He won't really know what he wants until he starts shooting so, in my opinion, he's better off getting into it at the lowest possible costs knowing that whatever he buys he can throw away on something better if he wants to pursue the hobby further.

As Andy posts, for $350 he can get a perfectly good dSLR. I used a D70 (not even the s) for 3 years and it worked perfectly well - as many others have done. I don't see the point in paying more until you know what you want.

g/day 6tee7 at the link below your freind can pick up a

d80 899
70-300vr 599
18-55 vr 269

one year warranty

plus postage

http://www.d-d-photographics.com.au/nikond80.htm