What's the best "First DSLR" for an experienced photographer?

[maniac5999]

My background: I shot a lot of film in college, primairily TMax 400 on an old Nikon FM, But since I left college I haven't done much photography. I'd hoped to see cameras with light metering on the body become the standard, so I could re-use my old lenses, but it doesn't look like that's going to happen, so I think that I'm just going to have to give in and buy a whole new setup.

I've recently moved, and after a bit of sticker shock at the price of artwork, I decided to add to the framed pieces I still have from college ($500ish for a camera and $10 per 20x30 print is a much better deal than $300ish for one mediocre painting)

Because I'm going to be having relatively large prints made, I'm going to need a camera that can handle the kind of resolutions without excessive pixelation or noise (I primairily shoot landscapes, macros and various art shots, so most of the time I can use a tripod and low ISO if nececary)

With the camera itself, I want control. IMO people who shoot a DSLR on auto should probably just sell it and get a D#&% point and shoot. Having an easy to use focus ring on the lens is a requirement, and I'd also prefer apeture control there as well, I would be disapointed to have apeture control via menu, but having exposure control there wouldn't be too big of a deal.

I used to read that the D40 was the best "beginner" DSLR. Is that still the case, or is there a better option out there now? I'm OK with buying used, and would prefer Nikon, since I have experience with them, but could be talked into a different brand if there are better options for the price. I don't have a firm budget, but since I haven't shot in the better part of a decade, lower is better, if it'll suit my needs. Finally, I'd prefer to buy locally, preferably somewhere off the 1 train, to give me easy continuing access to the store, but I could be talked into buying online.

 

[Munky]

I have a D40, and while it serves me well, it's hard to find nowadays and there are better options. For someone experienced with advanced shooting techniques, my first choice would be a Nikon D7000. Its image quality is as good as you'll get in a crop sensor body for now, plenty of resolution for large prints, and it's targeted for the advanced photographer - meaning it has direct controls over all the important shooting parameters, a built-in AF motor for driving Nikon's older AF lenses, and the meter even works with old manual focus lenses.

 

[nboy22]

I know that you prefer Nikon, but the Canon t2i is also a good choice in my opinion. I'm pretty sure the t2i is the sweetspot for price/performance in a beginning DSLR - at least on the canon side of things. I only had one other digital camera which was a nikon coolpix point and shoot with 2.14 megapixels and then I upgraded to my t2i after like 8+ years of owning the nikon point and shoot.

Just know that the t2i is also a crop body of 1.6x so that means your 50 mm lens will look like a 80mm, 18 will look closer to 30mm, etc...

Haven't done really any research on Nikon though, so I'll leave that for others to chime in about.

 

[CptObvious]

Nikon's current entry-level cameras are the D3100 and D5100, and D7000 is their mid-level. I had the D40 but my D3100 pretty handily beats it in image quality.

If you're a seasoned photographer, probably the D7000 or the last-gen D90 would be the best bet.

 

[maniac5999]

I do like the D7000, but at about $1200, it's a bit painful. Adorama sems to offer a D3000 for $310, D40x for $340, D60 for $350, D5000 for $450, but a D90 is $730

While I'd love a D7000(or even a D3X), it would be very difficult for me to justify the price. I'm likely going to be doing limited intermittant shooting, plus I only have 1 old manual lens at this time. (granted it is a nice 50mm f1.4, but still)

 

[twistedlogic]

I'd hoped to see cameras with light metering on the body become the standard, so I could re-use my old lenses, but it doesn't look like that's going to happen, so I think that I'm just going to have to give in and buy a whole new setup.

Nikon offers a few different models that will meter your old lenses, the D200, D300, D7000, D700, and D3/D3s/D3X. With the last four (D700 and D3 models) offering you a FF sensor, giving your old lenses the same equivalent FOV as you would on your old film body.

The D200 would be the cheapest, offers 10MP, but really starts to degrade in IQ once you reach ISO 800. But ISO 100 is still superb, easily still producing similar IQ to the newer generation sensors. Couple other issues with the D200 are a short battery life and the thing weighs like a brick (magnesium body).

If your looking for big prints with relatively no noise (at higher ISOs) and metering for old lenses, the D7000 is the perfect fit. The problem is the price. The D5100 offers the same sensor with much less bells and whistles than the D7000, but no metering on old lenses.

As mentioned, for a middle of the road type, the D90 offers much more control (two scroll wheels) than any entry level body, has decent high ISO, and enough resolution to print big (12mp), but will not meter your lenses.

 

[twistedlogic]

Try Fred Miranda or KEH Camera for used gear.

The first three bodies you mention, (D3000, D40x, D60) all use the older 10mp sensor found in the D200. The bodies are small and light, but don't offer much control as they only have one scroll wheel.

The D5000 and D90 have the same 12mp sensor found in the D300. I'd say its close to two stops better than the 10mp CCD sensor, starting at ISO 400 and up.

 

[actuarial]

Having an easy to use focus ring on the lens is a requirement, and I'd also prefer apeture control there as well, I would be disapointed to have apeture control via menu, but having exposure control there wouldn't be too big of a deal.

I believe all entry Nikons, when in manual mode, the aperture control is by a button plus a scroll wheel (in aperture mode it's just the wheel). On the higher end ones where you may not need a button (the two wheel models but it doesn't look like you're looking in that range).

You can't use aperture control on the lens on digital AFAIK. Even if the lense does have it you need to set it to the max anyways and let the camera do the work.

For the focus ring - read up on the lenses online. A lot of lenses now have instant AF override, so you leave it in AF and then just grab and adjust when needed.

As for using your old lenses - as long as you don't mind manually focusing you should be fine using them (though the field of view will change). Metering isn't much of an issue....that's what an LCD. The AF trade-off sucks if you're chasing around kids, but probably isn't an issue for landscapes.

 

[maniac5999]

Hey, I'm seeing a couple D300s locally on CL for $800-900, compared to the stores, that seems like a screaming deal, given to the other options is there any reason for me not to buy one of those D300s, and then just add lenses as needed?

 

[shortylickens]

My background:
I dislike when people refuse to do a search in the forums. This issue comes up a lot.

My first best is the Nikon D40. As old as that is, your fist best is probably the Nikon D3100 instead.

 

[maniac5999]

My background:
I dislike when people refuse to do a search in the forums. This issue comes up a lot.

My first best is the Nikon D40. As old as that is, your fist best is probably the Nikon D3100 instead.

Thank you for the constructive post. I referenced that the D40 used to be the 'go to' initial DSLR camera, and asked weather it was or not any more. I apologize if I did not specifically say "I searched" but, in fact, I did. There's a thread from less than a month ago posting about a good deal on used D40Xs. I was unsure if this meant that they were still a good choice or not, however your insightful post has cleared up exactly why it is more advantagous to buy a new D3100 instead of saving several hundered and getting a used D40. I also apriceate the special consideration that you gave my stated desire to have good manual focus capabilities, and if possible to be able to use old glass in the camera I purchase. For all of your wonderful insight, I thank you.

 

[finbarqs]

D200... one of the best APS-C Cropped CCD Sensor available! And besides that, you can use ALL your nikon glass on it, with metering! AND nikon metering is superior to canon's metering (when talking about Matrix vs. evaluative metering modes)

 

[AkumaX]

I'd recommend a D5100, if you could - same sensor/resolution as D7000 so it can't be that far off/different

 

[gevorg]

Sony NEX-5

 

[Sp12]

I'd recommend a D5100, if you could - same sensor/resolution as D7000 so it can't be that far off/different

Agreed. The D7000 has the best crop sensor out right now (well, it shares with with quite a few cams, including the D5100, K-5, A580, A55), and as it seems like he'll be doing more controlled shooting, the missing AF performance of the D7000 probably won't be noticed.

 

[JohnnyRebel]

What is your realistic price range?

JR

 

[maniac5999]

What is your realistic price range?

JR

I guess I could go up to around $1000 or so, but doing so would probably mean that I wouldn't be able to go out at all for the next month (and I may have to skip upgrading my computer for a year or two)

EDIT: I've been looking rather intensively at used D200s and D300s what are people's opinions of those? Twisted's statement on the D200 was quite interesting. I've only ever shot one roll with an ISO higher than 800--it was a 3200 for night photography. It was a lot of fun, f1.4 lens fully open, Tripod, and most of the exposures were still 1/4 second+ (I think I even manually forced a few 5 second exposures) I never did more because none of my photo classes were suggesting it, plus the film was painfully expensive ($10 or so a roll) and only yielded 3 good shots. However, those are some of my favorite shots I've ever done.

 

[twistedlogic]

EDIT: I've been looking rather intensively at used D200s and D300s what are people's opinions of those?

If you can afford the difference then definitely go with the D300. I see a high mileage D300 FS right now for only $750, quite a bargain. If you where excited about shooting ISO 3200 film, the D300 will produce acceptable results at that ISO. Especially if you nail the exposure and apply a bit of NR in post.

 

[finbarqs]

CCD noise > CMOS noise if you're looking for the feel of high ISO film. but both have the coupler to fit your FM lenses so they can meter properly!

 

[CptObvious]

My thinking is if you're going to make poster-size prints, you should get a newer Nikon body because of the higher megapixel count and better ISO performance and dynamic range. If you don't need a built-in AF motor, the D5100 would give the most value because it shares the same sensor and image quality as the D7000, which is Nikon's best DX camera at the moment..

If you're not tied to Nikon, a refurbished Canon T2i or 50D with the Canon Loyalty Program would be good also.

 

[maniac5999]

If you can afford the difference then definitely go with the D300. I see a high mileage D300 FS right now for only $750, quite a bargain. If you where excited about shooting ISO 3200 film, the D300 will produce acceptable results at that ISO. Especially if you nail the exposure and apply a bit of NR in post.

Where do you see a D300 for $750?

 

[twistedlogic]

Try Fred Miranda for used gear.

Like I said though, it has 47,194 clicks.

 

[finbarqs]

But but, don't you wanna use your old lenses?

 

[Sephire]

Canon T2i or T3i.

Excellent Hd video too.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

The Rebel is a great camera for both experienced and inexperienced people. But I'd say you'd do better going straight to a 7D or 5D. I was experienced using Av and Manual modes on my G3, so I went to a Rebel. I regretted it because I bought a 7D later...