YADSLRT

[Pantoot]

Yeah, another DSLR thread.
My wife has been on me to get her a new camera. We went out looking, she didn't like the size of the Rebel XTi, and decided she liked the Nikon.

So, like a sucker, I ordered the D80 kit from Costco. ($1299 and it comes with an 18-55 and 55-200 Nikkor DX lenses.)

She wants to get into photography, but I was wondering, from those in the know, would she be just as happy with the D70s kit (899 with a 18-70mm AF-S)?

Thanks!

 

[tfinch2]

Well, the D80 is a better camera, but the 18-70mm is a better lens.

Get the D80 with the 18-135.

 

[kaizersose]

2nd vote for the 18-70mm lens and the D80 body.

if your wife wants to get started in photography, get her a used D70. you can get great condition examples on the cheap and they still take fantastic pictures. check craigslist or the like, but they should run ~$500.

 

[hpkeeper]

it's cool to see new people wanting to get into the field!

I'm an advertising photography major at the Rochester Institute of Technology school of photography... I've played with cameras from a Nikon D70 to Hasselblad H2d's

I personally own a Nikon D100 and D200

as a starter camera for someone looking to get into the field, either are fine. However, if you're going to get a D70, get a D70s. They're a little more upgraded and I think you can directly connect a sync cord to the camera if you need to rather than having to buy a hot shoe attachment.


I vote for the 18-70mm lens if you're limited to the zoom lenses. Unless you're really looking to do some photojournalism work you're not going to need the long lens unless you're looking for some compression in your image in the studio. If you are looking to use the lens for photojournalism work, you're probably going to be using a fixed lens anyways, not a zoom.

In general you're going to have better image quality from a fixed lens compared to a zoom lens photojournalism or otherwise. IMO - zoom lenses suck. But like I said, if you're stuck... go with the 18-70.

 

[Pantoot]

Thanks for the input. I think I am stuck with getting her a zoom, she will be taking photos of the kid's sporting games.

I think I will stick with the D80, it's only money, right?

 

[tfinch2]

Originally posted by: Pantoot
Thanks for the input. I think I am stuck with getting her a zoom, she will be taking photos of the kid's sporting games.

I think I will stick with the D80, it's only money, right?

Yep, plus that viewfinder is pretty damn good.

 

[BRObedoza]

buy her a 50mm f1.8 as well.

 

[hpkeeper]

Originally posted by: Pantoot
Thanks for the input. I think I am stuck with getting her a zoom, she will be taking photos of the kid's sporting games.

I think I will stick with the D80, it's only money, right?

seeing that she's a hobbyist, it really doesn't matter, there's going to be such little difference between the lenses and cameras that any combination you throw together, you're not going to have a significant difference in the images.

 

[Pantoot]

Originally posted by: hpkeeper

Originally posted by: Pantoot
Thanks for the input. I think I am stuck with getting her a zoom, she will be taking photos of the kid's sporting games.

I think I will stick with the D80, it's only money, right?

seeing that she's a hobbyist, it really doesn't matter, there's going to be such little difference between the lenses and cameras that any combination you throw together, you're not going to have a significant difference in the images.

Yeah, I know she probably wouldn't notice the difference either way. I was happy that she liked the Nikons, we build several really high end research cameras for them to resell and I like the people that I work with from there. She decided that the D200 might be "a little too much", so she picked the D80. I guess the end result is give the woman what she wants, whether she knows why she wants it or not.

Thanks again for the advice and input.