Info bleg
I have looked longingly at my bushel basket full of SLR cameras (and others that I loved, once upon a time) and I am coming around to the idea of getting a decent digital SLR. I have always preferred the Nikon line to any others, just for the feel and lenses, but I can be convinced if there is something comparable at a SUBSTANTIAL savings. I’m looking at the Nikon D3100 and D5100, because it seems they will do any and all that a duffer like me will ever need. Any reccomendations?
Also, I have a bucket of old Nikon lenses and stuff, some of which I am told will (at least manually) work with the 3100 and 5100 series DSLRS.
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You can’t go wrong with either camera. There’s not a whole lot to differentiate them, other than a frame a second in burst mode and the 5100’s flippy screen, which I don’t recommend using unless you have to, as autofocus is incredibly slow in Live View.
Sure you wouldn’t rather go mirrorless? An Olympus OMD E-M5 paired up with the Panasonic 12-35mm f2.8 and 35-100mm f2.8 is my dream kit right about now. I’ve got the 12-35 already and love it on my E-P3, but I do miss the viewfinder.
One final note, KEH.com is my favored used camera store. Excellent return policy, although not quite as good as B&H. Not quite as pricey, either, and a better selection in used gear, usually.
I have a D70 that I love, but that’s a different class of camera. My boss owns a D3, unless he’s upgraded lately.
From what I can tell, there are three main classes of Nikon DSLRs. There’s the Dx class, with a single digit following the D — most expensive; the Dxx class, with two digits following the D — somewhat less expensive — and the Dxxxx class, which is consumer-grade, least expensive. I’m told that the lenses that ship with the consumer-grade cameras are not as good as the ones that ship with the pro and semi-pro grade cameras.
But I have not done a lot of personal research, and that’s mostly based on what my cousin up in Merrillville has told me. I don’t have any lens other than the 18-70 1:3.5-4.5G ED that came with the body, mostly because I can’t afford anything bigger with VR :)
With the old lenses, you do need to be careful to make sure that a given Nikon lens will work with the digital body, even in manual mode. As I understand it, some are not compatible even though they fit up.
I’d also note in passing that the built-in flash on the D70 pretty much sucked for anything that was more than about ten feet away. I dropped the camera one time too many and the flash stopped working, though, and I bought a Speedlight SB-400 to replace it instead of paying to get it fixed. What a difference. If you can afford it, definitely get a Speedlight that integrates with the camera, and don’t bother with the built-in flash unless you’re just taking snapshots.
I have been referring to this website for my information so far.
http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/recommended-cameras.htm
Randy: yes, I have heard those same things about both cameras. I have looked at mirrorless, and so far I’m still a big fan of the SLR.
Ah, another Rockwell fan. Cool. That much less I need to say then. Check out Thom Hogan too, if you haven’t already.
I used to own a D40, which is a few generations back from the D3100, and I loved it passionately. It went to the stepson for grandbaby pictures some time back.
Would probably still have it, but one day I tested an Olympus E-PL1, fell in love and bought one used. Haven’t ever looked back.
I’ve got a couple of primes sitting around, been thinking of sticking an E-PM1 behind that Panasonic 20mm f1.7 and using it as a belt camera…
Wow, Thom Hogan is an incredible resource! Now I’m looking a bit more seriously at some other Nikons I had not looked at.
Don’t neglect Thom’s other site, http://www.sansmirror.com . I know you prefer a big bulky mirrorbox now, but who knows? :)
I own and use a Nikon D40x. It does everything I need it to do and more – I don’t really use all of the camera’s capabilities. Picture quality is excellent. I got it back in 2007, so the newer stuff is even better.
I have a d5100… I’ve never for a minute regretted buying it, and never found something I wanted to do I couldn’t get done.
I’ve got the D3100 and I’m really happy with it. You might look at the D3200 as well. It’s not a lot more money, but it’s got some nifty upgrades.
Nikons are fine cameras.
(I’m a Pentax man, myself, both from learning to shoot on an old MX, and because the Pentax DSLRs allow one to … use AA batteries in a pinch.)
Also, on the mirrorless thing, I got an E-PM1 for myself for Christmas, and damn if the thing isn’t incredibly handy.
Even with the electronic viewfinder attachment it’s so much smaller and lighter than my K100D that I find myself grabbing it in preference…