Need DSLR help.. lenses from film days, etc.

[Platypus]

It's not the exact zoom ranges you're discussing here, but this is an example of roughly how the wide angle on your 28-105mm lens (42mm on a crop frame camera) will compare to the 18-55mm (27mm on a crop frame).

Shot at 36mm (so cut off the dark brown buildings on the left and right, the balcony on the white tower at the top, and part of the word "Parking" at the bottom to get about what you would see at 42mm):

Same shot at 27mm:

Thanks this was helpful!

 

[Platypus]

So how do people deal with that kind of cropping, that seems strange. Glad you guys mentioned that because I didn't know that it had a 1.5x crop on it.

Just buy lower mm lenses to compensate for it? The pictures Fardringle posted are pretty severe... how much further back would you have had to stand to capture the same image as the wider one?

 

[Sid59]

http://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/lens/simulator/

 

[AkumaX]

So how do people deal with that kind of cropping, that seems strange. Glad you guys mentioned that because I didn't know that it had a 1.5x crop on it.

Just buy lower mm lenses to compensate for it? The pictures Fardringle posted are pretty severe... how much further back would you have had to stand to capture the same image as the wider one?

People have learnt to deal with this on their APS-C bodies. Can either get APS-C-specific lenses, or just take a couple steps back 😉

As far as D5100 vs D90 goes, I would still go w/ the D5100 as it has the same sensor as the D7000, and takes much better videos than D90 (if that's your thing)

 

[ElFenix]

So how do people deal with that kind of cropping, that seems strange. Glad you guys mentioned that because I didn't know that it had a 1.5x crop on it.

Just buy lower mm lenses to compensate for it? The pictures Fardringle posted are pretty severe... how much further back would you have had to stand to capture the same image as the wider one?

this is why all APS crop cameras that come with lenses start at ~18 nowadays.

 

[Sid59]

People have learnt to deal with this on their APS-C bodies. Can either get APS-C-specific lenses, or just take a couple steps back 😉

As far as D5100 vs D90 goes, I would still go w/ the D5100 as it has the same sensor as the D7000, and takes much better videos than D90 (if that's your thing)

D5100 wont AF this lenses.

 

[Kaido]

...my lenses are essentially worthless at this point when it comes to autofocus technology in these cameras. The lenses themselves dont have motors, that was done by my old trusty Nikon N80 in the past. Now.. it seems they mount but everything is manual about them.

LOL at recommending canon for Nikon lenses. Get a Nikon D3100, D5100, or even a used D90 if you can find one for a reasonable price.

I like my manual Nikon lenses better on my Canon T2i than I do on my Nikon D90. 4.7 more megapixels, better video mode, and I like the low-light performance on the Canon more than the Nikon. My biggest gripe is that Canon's ergonomics stinks compared to Nikon's.

My wife likes the D90 better fwiw. Canon vs. Nikon in the same house FTL :biggrin:

 

[twistedlogic]

Just buy lower mm lenses to compensate for it? The pictures Fardringle posted are pretty severe... how much further back would you have had to stand to capture the same image as the wider one?

Yes, just buy wider mm lenses.

You would have to stand 1.5 times farther back to achieve similar framing.

I like my manual Nikon lenses better on my Canon T2i than I do on my Nikon D90.

Really? May I ask why?

I just figure it would be easier to manual focus through the:

D90's 0.63, 96% coverage, .96x magnification pentaprism vs the
T3i's 0.53, 95% coverage, .85x magnification Pentamirror.

 

[Platypus]

So I'm not going to spend >2k for a FF body.. just not going to happen for a hobby.

So to make the most of the DX... how is this lens?
http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-18-105mm...6794319&sr=1-8

I want a good 'all purpose' lens for wide and close shots. The cropping issue should be null/void on the two existing lenses that I have if I use them for their intended purpose (macro mode is what I really like). Now I need a proper all purpose lens. Can anyone make a recommendation? Is the above link good?

 

[ElFenix]

So I'm not going to spend >2k for a FF body.. just not going to happen for a hobby.

So to make the most of the DX... how is this lens?
http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-18-105mm...6794319&sr=1-8

I want a good 'all purpose' lens for wide and close shots. The cropping issue should be null/void on the two existing lenses that I have if I use them for their intended purpose (macro mode is what I really like). Now I need a proper all purpose lens. Can anyone make a recommendation? Is the above link good?

good all purpose lens for the price. gets soft on the long end.

 

[AkumaX]

D5100 wont AF this lenses.

yeah, no in-body AF on the D40/D60/D3000/D3100/D5000/D5100...

 

[slashbinslashbash]

I know this question has already been answered, but I just wanted to provide another demo for how limiting 42mm is. (42mm = 28mm*1.5) Just pull out your old N80 and the 28-105. Set the lens to approximately 42mm (just down a bit from 50mm, roughly equivalent between 50mm and 35mm). Now walk around a bit and imagine that that's as wide as you can go. It is pretty limiting. There are some situations where you can just "back up a few steps" but in many cases there is no way to get that additional angle of view that a true wide-angle would provide.

I would recommend a D80 and an 18-55 kit lens. They are both pretty cheap at this point. The 18-105 has a lot better range, but you've already got the longer focal lengths covered with your 28-105 and 70-240. If you are comfortable with spending bigger bucks for the D90, it's a great upgrade, but maybe not worth the cash for someone who's just getting their feet wet.

Used camera equipment (esp. Nikon and Canon) is very easy to buy and sell. I currently have two bodies, but I have bought and sold 6 so far. Each time, I worked my way up a notch and added a couple hundred bucks. I have tended not to churn my lenses as much. If you buy a $600 body and use it for a year before deciding to upgrade, barring major damage you should be able to sell it for $450-$500. So effectively you "rented" the camera for $100 for a year. Not bad at all. Lenses hold their value even better, since Canikon updates bodies yearly but lenses not so much. If you buy a used 18-55 for $100 then it is pretty much a guarantee that you will be able to sell it a year from now for $100.

So if you are value-conscious it is quite easy to treat your camera equipment as an investment and to lose little minimal money on it in the long run. (In some cases you could even make money if you are a careful buyer, and if unfavorable exchange rates from Japan continue to raise the price of new lenses -- although this tends to affect the big, $2000+ lenses more than the consumer stuff.) First rule, don't buy new. Second rule, get on the big forums (photography-on-the.net and fredmiranda.com) and start establishing a reputation as a trader.