Start Out - Canon / Nikon?

[gstark]

Hi Jaff, and welcome.

The D90 is a great body for you to start with.

For shooting jewellery, rather than getting either of the kit lenses (or maybe as well as) you may better off looking to get something like the Tamron 90mm. It's relatively inexpensive, it's a fast lens, but has consistently good image and build quality. It won't give you the versatility of either of the kit lenses that you mentioned, but for macro work, it's a lens whose purchase you will not regret.

My guess is that you should be able to pick up the 18-105 and the Tamron 90 for around the same price as the 18-200.

There's a couple of other aspects of shooting jewellery that you will also need to consider. Lighting is important: have you considered how you're going to light your subjects yet? What about somewhere to shoot: do you have a light tent? These are very important questions; shooting jewellery/macros etc is not simply a matter of getting up close and personal. The quality and direction of your light sources can easily break your images .... there are inexpensive ways to overcome the issues you may see.

And then there's focus and image stability: what sort of camera support do you have? As you move in closer to your subject, focus becomes harder to achieve, and a good camera support helps you to overcome the issues that you will, over time, be sure to encounter.

[aim54x]

Gary you have hit the nail on the head! I would also add a light tent and some desklamps to your shopping list as well for those close ups!

[amashun1]

Nice pick up Luke!

I was also tossing between Canon 50D and Nikon D90 before but i picked up a D90 instead. i actually went to here and compare sample pictures side by side, found that the Nikon is slightly better quality and coloration. Also more importantly, as mentioned, it feels better in my hand hence my decision.

you are correct on the expensive side of hobby...lol i just can't help myself and keep spending on more accessories and lenses. but the good thing is, we are at least not spending it on the poker machine mate

Hi Rod, another noob here too I picked up the D90 and 18-105mm VR kit lens, personally find it pretty good to cover up most range. I'm not saying the twin kit lenses is bad selection but i personally just too lazy to switch over. for close up shots, maybe worth to check out some micro lens that Nikon offer or Tamron 90mm macro. HTH

Cheers,
A

[jaff]

Amushun1, thanks for the link, the lens and camera shot reviews were great.

[petermmc]

Hi Luke,

The D90 is a really good choice of camera. It has lots of features that will keep you occupied for years to come. I just read your post above and all the other comments I made, before I edited this, are pretty redundant. Great camera great choice of lens.

Have a nice time.

Kind regards