Nikon D users - need advice

Not Afraid · 04-04-2009, 10:17 AM

I'm considering getting a Nikon D series camera. There are many cameras in this series - D40, 60, 70, 90 (there may be more). Between all of the versions and all of the different offers of lenses, I'm completely confused.

The D60 seems to have a lot of deals in place at the moment. Costco has this one with 2 lenses and accessories:

18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX VR Zoom NIKKOR Lens
55-200mm f/4-5.6G AF-S DX VR Zoom NIKKOR Lens
Lithium-ion Rechargeable Battery
Quick Charger
USB Cable
Strap
Software Suite CD-ROM

Then there's this deal.

So, Advice? Or just tell me what I should get.

Andrew · 04-04-2009, 10:23 AM

That Costco D60 package is what I bought last Christmas. It's great. I'm still learning about all the bells and whistles but even for a rank beginner it takes decent photos.

CoasterMatt · 04-04-2009, 10:35 AM

The one thing to keep in mind, the D40/40x/60 DON'T have an autofocus motor builtin- you have to use AF-S lenses for autofocus.

Granted, you can use AF lenses, but you'll have to manually focus.

I've been using autofocus less and less, and the lenses I've used without being able to autofocus (I've used a 50mm f/1.8 AF lens recently) have produced some spectacular results.

Ghoulish Delight · 04-04-2009, 10:52 AM

If you get the D60 from that 2nd link (sonic cameras for $399), you can get the 2nd lens that would come with the costco bundle elsewhere for ~$200 or less elsewhere (here, or ebay for example). That would save you $100 or so.

We should all find a digital photography class to take.

Not Afraid · 04-04-2009, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

We should all find a digital photography class to take.

Great idea! I was pretty adept with my old Minolta film camera which was all manual but that was many years ago. I'm going to have to re-learn the language.

So, which lenses are the ones to have?

CoasterMatt · 04-04-2009, 10:58 AM

I've also got the Dummies Guide to the D40/40x if anybody wants to check it out.

Nikon has some great online videos that start with the ULTRA basics and go on to some pretty advanced features - The Nikon Digital Learning Center

Ghoulish Delight · 04-04-2009, 11:04 AM

I've got the 18-55 and the 55-200 VR. I also have a 55-200 non-VR that I need to sell (ooh, that'll be my good deed for the day, getting that on ebay).

Not Afraid · 04-04-2009, 11:09 AM

and VR stands for....? Chris suggests virtual reality.

Ghoulish Delight · 04-04-2009, 11:11 AM

Vibration Reduction. Image stabilization, as it's known more generically, VR is Nikon's term for it.

Not Afraid · 04-04-2009, 11:12 AM

Thank you.

04-04-2009, 10:17 AM	#1
Not Afraid HI! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 17,108	Nikon D users - need advice I'm considering getting a Nikon D series camera. There are many cameras in this series - D40, 60, 70, 90 (there may be more). Between all of the versions and all of the different offers of lenses, I'm completely confused. The D60 seems to have a lot of deals in place at the moment. Costco has this one with 2 lenses and accessories: 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX VR Zoom NIKKOR Lens 55-200mm f/4-5.6G AF-S DX VR Zoom NIKKOR Lens Lithium-ion Rechargeable Battery Quick Charger USB Cable Strap Software Suite CD-ROM Then there's this deal. So, Advice? Or just tell me what I should get.
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04-04-2009, 10:23 AM	#2
Andrew Making Good Girls Go Bad Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Palo Alto, CA Posts: 734	That Costco D60 package is what I bought last Christmas. It's great. I'm still learning about all the bells and whistles but even for a rank beginner it takes decent photos. __________________ -- Andrew Just Andrew. Do I contradict myself? Very well then, I contradict myself. (I am large, I contain multitudes.) -- Walt Whitman, "Song of Myself"
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04-04-2009, 10:35 AM	#3
CoasterMatt BRAAAAAAAINS! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: One Step Beyond... Posts: 8,802	The one thing to keep in mind, the D40/40x/60 DON'T have an autofocus motor builtin- you have to use AF-S lenses for autofocus. Granted, you can use AF lenses, but you'll have to manually focus. I've been using autofocus less and less, and the lenses I've used without being able to autofocus (I've used a 50mm f/1.8 AF lens recently) have produced some spectacular results. __________________ Do you like my photography? Visit photosbymatt.tumblr.com to purchase prints!
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04-04-2009, 10:52 AM	#4
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	If you get the D60 from that 2nd link (sonic cameras for $399), you can get the 2nd lens that would come with the costco bundle elsewhere for ~$200 or less elsewhere (here, or ebay for example). That would save you $100 or so. We should all find a digital photography class to take. __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
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04-04-2009, 10:58 AM	#6
CoasterMatt BRAAAAAAAINS! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: One Step Beyond... Posts: 8,802	I've also got the Dummies Guide to the D40/40x if anybody wants to check it out. Nikon has some great online videos that start with the ULTRA basics and go on to some pretty advanced features - The Nikon Digital Learning Center __________________ Do you like my photography? Visit photosbymatt.tumblr.com to purchase prints!
	Submit to Quotes

04-04-2009, 11:04 AM	#7
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	I've got the 18-55 and the 55-200 VR. I also have a 55-200 non-VR that I need to sell (ooh, that'll be my good deed for the day, getting that on ebay). __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
	Submit to Quotes

04-04-2009, 11:09 AM	#8
Not Afraid HI! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 17,108	and VR stands for....? Chris suggests virtual reality.
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04-04-2009, 11:11 AM	#9
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	Vibration Reduction. Image stabilization, as it's known more generically, VR is Nikon's term for it. __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
	Submit to Quotes

04-04-2009, 11:12 AM	#10
Not Afraid HI! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 17,108	Thank you.
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