Nikon D50 v.s D80, HELP !!!!

[neilk]

Hey guys
New guy here so be gentle

Im looking at buying a Nikon D camera, but am unsure as what to get. Ive been told D80 and D50.

I ideally want to be able to do weddings and scenery work, more for weddings though.

Can i have some experts opinions please ?

[Thommo]

are you coming from film?
what is your photographic background.

most of the people that shoot weddings do on pro or semi pro bodies, but then again alot of them do so for a living.

just need a little more info.

[gstark]

As Thommo suggests, we need more information about your needs, desires, aspirations, and experience.

Also, you might look at this thread from last week and this thread from August, each of which explore pretty much the same question you're asking.

[asaroha]

In my money-oriented opinion, if you're going to buy it new, then d80 no question asked. If you decide in few weeks/months down the road that photography is not really for you, you can probably sell it back on ebay for very minimal amount of loss. If instead you decide to get serious about photography, then it will serve you longer.

If you're going to buy used, then well.....there's not really much choice since there arent too many d80 available in the used market yet. Of course then used d70/d70s come into play too since there's plenty of them in the used market atm. The money saved can then go toward better lens. A good glass and a used body will give you better quality than d80 + crummy lens. If you're just starting out though you are unlikely to notice the difference. This route is also more likely to make you lose more money if you decide down the track that photography is not for you.

[neilk]

Hi
How much could i get a D70s for and where if i went used ?
Thanks for all the posts guys, all appreciated

My background is Digital
Im looking to do weddings and possibly wildlife and landscape
Probably on the side stuff and for a hobby

[Glen]

Neil, you mention your background is digital, I assume you mean digital point and shoot, not digital slr? If you are going to be charging money for the end product, I would choose the D80 for the modest difference in price as it gives you more megapixels to crop. If you are buying for work, the glass would be my number 1 consideration, bodies are becoming disposable in this digital age (something you are probably aware of). If you are considereing weddings, most pro wedding guys have at least 2 bodies (one for backup as you cant reshoot) so that may influence your decision.

[neilk]

Glen
Thanks
So in saying Glass is more the thing to look out for, should i buy a D50 and just get a good lense ?
If thats the case, how much for a good lense ?

I also heard the D50 is slower than the D80, is this right ?

[Glen]

Neil, the questions is what is the end result of your images? If 6mp is enough (say for a newspaper) then go with the D50. If you intend to sell large prints, say A3 up, you may be better with a D80 to allow some cropping room. The speed difference is negligible 2.5 v 3 fps, if speed is an issue (probably not for landscapes - or weddings), get the D200 with 5fps.

Neil, there are a lot of good lenses, what range are you after? That would help people advise. The best cheap lens is the 50mm 1.8 for less than $200. I would probably start with that and the kit lens, then shoot like crazy for a while, then work out what other lenses you want for things you cant do with those two.

[gstark]

Neil,

From the tone, thus far, of your questions, I'm guessing that you don't as yet, have much in the way of technical knowledge or actual experience regarding photography.

Why are you wanting to do weddings? What is your motivation here?

I'm thinking that for you, based upon the tone of your questions thus far, to try to move quickly into any realm of pro photography would be a tad premature.

You need to take a little time to understand some of the basics - how cameras work in terms of exposure and lens capabilities ... that sort of thing. To go out and shoot a wedding without even the most basic understanding of the impact of glass upon your images would be asking for trouble.

Have you had a play with any dsilr cameras as yet? Why would you want to be buying Nikon in preference to Canon?

[JordanP]

Hi,

I'm not really saying anything much new here and I want to echo gstark's questions and concerns regarding experience and knowledge.

Assuming your earlier comments are not good indicators and you do have strong experience and knowledge, then there are other considerations you should also be aware of.

If your main aim is shooting weddings as the primary shooter then I think you should be considering at least 2 camera bodies and some quality (usually equates to expensive) glass. To set up like this you will not see any change from about 5k and could spend much more than that.

If wedding work is something you are looking towards in the future and you are looking to run as the second shooter with an established wedding photographer then you may be able to get away with one camera body and at least one 'quality' lens. A cheaper option to start with but with the intention to buy more gear as you sure up your desire to shoot weddings.

Hope this helps.

[Glen]

Craig, are you guys overstating it? Good equipment? I have shot weddings with a disposable camera.


(ok, I wasn't the primary shooter, just one drunk guest taking shots of other drunk guests)

[Yi-P]

I just did a wedding with the kit lens as indoor lens

It is certainly a capable lens there

[JordanP]

shot too many weddings to be over stating it

Now shooting a wedding with a disposable - there is a challenge. After seeing you shooting with your D70 and classy lenses Glen I could not even imagine you with a disposable in your hand. I could imagine you shooting drunk people while drunk .... just not with a disposable camera

[Glen]

:D shot too many weddings to be over stating it

And impressive results too.

I was way down the shooting list with the disposable too, probably 9th or 10th string. But I was in front of the guy who only shot woman's breasts.

Neil, I think the summation of many comments here is that if you are shooting weddings you need to be sure of your equipment and yourself. You have a duty of care to capture that moment well for people, irrespective of if you are being paid or not. To spoil someone special day by poor photos (or worse none due to equipment failure) is unforgivable. I would think the best advice we can give is get something like a D80 with kit lens (which will stand you in good stead whichever way you go) practice like buggery and work out what extra lenses you need through trial and error. There is no need to have the full kit decided before you buy it, it's like deciding where to put the paintings before you build the house. It can be done, but easier afterwards.

[gstark]

Now shooting a wedding with a disposable

Why not. The wedding, too, is disposable.

[Glen]

[neilk]

Well i am going to learn how to do all of this stuff. Learn about aperture and lighting levels and all that. Looking at doing it in the future, after i learn how to do it.

Ive taken a couple of killer point and shoot shots over the years which people have bought from me, so in time id want to learn how to do more with Dilslr

Hope this helps !

[Marvin]

Well, good luck. It's a huge learning curve and an expensive thing to get into if you want the good, fast lenses.

[Aussie Dave]

Neilk,
By the sounds of things, you are only just starting to enter the world of photography. If this is the case, my advice would be to look at getting a D70s (either new if available or a good second-hand one), which will be more than you need to master the basics on (which for wedding photography you will want, down pat). With any remaining moneys left in the budget, I'd use it to purchase some good lenses.

In time, when you feel you are ready to seriously look at doing weddings, the D70 will be fine to use to start with (whilst maybe being someone's assistant), but eventually you would want to move onto a better camera body. As long as your lens purchases are made wisely, you can continue to use them and only upgrade the body.

I personally don't think going out and spending a heap of money on a D80 or D200 is necessary at all....especially if you're only new to all this. Mastering photography (or getting good at it) is not about what camera body you use. Once you are well on your way, you'll realise for yourself what limitations the camera body has (for your style of shooting), and you'll then be ready to move on to a better body. Technique is more important than the camera.

It's good that you seem to have a lot of enthusiasm, however I'm sure many photogs here that already shoot weddings will tell you that wedding photography is not just about turning up and taking good photos. There is alot behind the scenes that goes on and it's a very tough gig.
I'm not trying to say you shouldn't do it, if it's what you really want to do....it's just best to go in with eyes wide open

There is quite a difference from taking a few great photos with a P&S camera to consistantly being able to deliver high quality images that people will be happy they paid for.

However, you've certainly picked a great spot to come and obtain wonderful information & help. I think you'll soon find that this forum is filled with great people and a wealth of knowledge that seems to have no boundary...

Good luck and I hope you do well....

[neilk]

Hey guys
Well my background is basically point and shoot, although i did have a film SLR for a while, which was good fun.

Budget id say about $2000 to start with, but looking at a bit more if i need to.

Any help would be appreciated

[Aussie Dave]

D70s
18-70 kit lens (a MUST)
70-300 lens (possibly)
SB800 or 600
Decent tripod

These should get you on the right track. If you wanted to spend more money. 70-200 VR lens in lieu of 70-300.

Not sure what the total cost of all the above would come to, but it would be a decent starters kit....IMO.

The kit lens & flash could be kept for future use with an upgraded Nikon body (if/when that happens), however the 70-300 is likely to leave you wanting for a better lens before too long (this is when the 70-200 VR lust will kick in...)

[neilk]

Ha ha ! Thanks Dave
Ive had a few people say D80 over D70s or D50 over the last couple of weeks.

Do you think the D80 would be wasting my time, or is it a case of, if i can afford it, get it

[Aussie Dave]

I don't know if I would say getting a D80 over the D70 is a waste of time, I'm just wondering if spending that extra money on better quality lenses would be a wiser choice.

Have they said why to purchase a D80 over the D70s ?

Even if you end up getting a D80, chances are quite high that within a few years you'll be wanting to trade up to something bigger & better. This is also going to occur with a D70 purchase however the lenses you are much more likely to keep and re-use with an upgraded body (unless of course you purchase all Nikon DX lenses and Nikon bring out a full-frame dSLR which tempts you).

At the end of the day, if you're happy to spend the extra dollars to get the D80, go for it. If you're happy to also spend extra on better lenses at the beginning, even better. If not, I think you'll soon find that lens choice is quite important and it would be a shame to sit back post-purchase and wonder if the advantages of the D80 over the D70 were worth the extra money (which could have been spent on better lenses).

Perhaps what might make it easier, is to ask yourself:
- what type of photography am I interested in (Landscapes, Portraiture) ?
- what lenses am I going to want to use with this style of photography ?
- how much are these lenses and will the difference in cost between a D70 & D80 allow me to purchase these lenses ?
- what other equipment am I going to need ?

...the list goes on....

[gstark]

neilk,

What Dave said, but more - ask yourself what level of enlargement and cropping you expect to do. If you expect a high degree of enlargement in your printing, or perhaps you'll be cropping severely, then extra megapixels will be of some use.

My exprerience though is that this probably won't be the case, and so buying better glass with the dollars saved might be a wiser choice.

[shutterbug]

Personally I would get the D80 kit plus 50mm + SB800.

The above items will give you a very good start.

Since from your post...you are still learning...I would not invest too much gear. Also if you work for a pro..they might have a particular brand they want you to capture with? Maybe develop your style first, are you a flash person or an available light person..etc? Have you thought about a canon?

ps. Show us the great images you captured on your P&S?

[Traveller130]

Hi Neilk,
Most of what I am going to say is covered one way or another. If I were you, I'd get the following (based on what you are telling us):
D50 body (it's great for beginners, a used D70/D70s is ok also)
Kit lens (18-70 or 18-55 DX, great for general purpose use)
60mm 2.8 Micro lens (great for portraits and a unbeatable marco lens)
SB 600
Now you SHOULD be able to get the lot for around 2 grand if you shop around. If you happen to find another grand under the mattress , then I'd go for the 80-200 2.8.
As you improve with your skills, you can upgrade the body only (D200 etc) and still keep the rest to use with the new body and keep the old one as a backup. The bottom line: it pays to have decent lenses.
Cheers
Bo

[obzelite]

personally i would go the d70/d70s route, not just because i have one of each to sell , but its far better to handle than the d50 and thus the d80 imho, i just dislike small cameras.
its battery life far outways the d80, and you have no idea how much that really makes a difference. My d200 with dual batteries has caught me out 3 times now, Something my d70 never did.
The features of the d80 over the d70 do make it a better camera, but not worthy of the price difference, again imho.
If your going to pay that much more for something a little better you may as well go a bit more and get the d200.

its been said a few times now, but the investment in glass in a wiser choice and something that is more worthy of thought than what body to get.

[neilk]

Ive decided on the D80

One of the kit lenses is an 18-135mm. I heard these arent any good.

Can i have some different opinions on this lense please ?

[obzelite]

Ive decided on the D80

One of the kit lenses is an 18-135mm. I heard these arent any good.

Can i have some different opinions on this lense please ?

don't know anything about about the lens, but invest in an extra battery.

As per this thread.

http://www.dslrusers.com/viewtopic.php?t=21564&start=15

[neilk]

Thanks for all your help guys, muchly appreciated
Can i impose on one more question

SB-600 or SB-800

Any signifcant differences ? What can you tell me ?

[obzelite]

Have a look at this thread.

Click Here

pretty sure is covers everything