Nikon D80 DSLR.....

[Kevin@nextmod]

I was going to get soemthing for my car next year but turned out that i changed my mind and want to get something more useful. I'm looking into this nikon D80. Anyone have inputs to this camera? Or anyone suggest something better or similiar? I got quoted at pmall for $1230 (i do'nt know if tax is incl.)
http://www.nikon.ca/en/Product.aspx?m=17080

BTW....i want to keep my budget under $1600

[Xerox]

I was going to get soemthing for my car next year but turned out that i changed my mind and want to get something more useful.[/URL]

Something more useful....nice.

Just be aware that this is probably the point in your life where you will either be a Canon guy or a Nikon guy (there are others but these are probably the top 2). Because there are many accessories (ie. lenses) for SLR's that once you make an investment it's costly to switch to another brand. So it's not necessarily what a specific model camera will offer but what the brand has to offer as well.

I don't know too much about Nikon but I think the D80 is a good start. I assume that will come with 18-135mm lens?

[Kevin@nextmod]

I would keep it to nikon, i have no reason why but i just kinda prefer it over canon. So any inputs to this camera?

[Gizzmo_jr]

Great camera, I've got a D70s myself. My close friend (who worked for Nikon support) has a D80. Great great camera's.

[yearoftherat]

My brothers got a D80 and I"ve got a D50 with the 18-135mm lense...
Best place deal with is Vistek (http://www.vistek.ca/) or DVShop.ca (http://dvshop.ca/index.html)

[1stMazda]

ive got it, and Im really happy with it

[ZeroChalk]

I have a D80 but with a different lens. I like the feel / weight of the camera much more then the Canon counterparts.

Just be careful that the camera is not from the gray market (i.e. no Canadian warranty). Nikon Canada apparently won't service your camera otherwise (and this applies to Canon ... so I'm told).

Camera stuff is also a lot cheaper in HK (as you probably know). You can save on tax... but once you purchase your SLR, it's a slippery slope to better glass and gear. If I had to do it again, I probably go for a D200.

hth.

[Kevin@nextmod]

I know hk will have better prices, but as you mentioned, i'm just scared of the "water products".

[midnightfxgt]

I have a D50 and love it. Would recommend the D80 over the D40 anyday... it accepts a wider range of glass :)

[KenYork]

When I was camera shopping I liked the feel and function of the Nikon's over the Canon's. What got me to buy the Canon was that most of my friends all had Canon's. Now I have acess to a whole range of lenses I can borrow.

[Xerox]

What got me to buy the Canon was that most of my friends all had Canon's. Now I have acess to a whole range of lenses I can borrow.

Very true.

[Gizzmo_jr]

I've got the 18-135mm and a the F1.8 50mm. Buddy has the 18-200mm VR and 35-70mm.

I don't know if they do, but when I got my D70s Henry's had a triple package combo you can pick from. So the body plus one of three lenses. They usually have pretty good prices. I would of gotten a D80 myself at the time but the D70s sale was just way to go to pass up.

[Pariah]

If you going Nikon, hold out for the 18-200mm VR lens. It's a bit more money but well worth it. I've got one and it's a really versatile lens, it saves having to to swap lenses 90% of the time. The only other lens I would get at this point is a wide-angle zoom like a 12-24.

YMMV
...P

[Kevin@nextmod]

I've got the 18-135mm and a the F1.8 50mm. Buddy has the 18-200mm VR and 35-70mm.


Anyone wanna explain these numbers to me? :)
I'm still trying to learn my way thru.

[Gizzmo_jr]

18-200mm is the focal length. So 18mm would be very wide and unzoomed compared to 200mm which is fully zoomed.
VR = Nikon = Vibration Reduction
IS = Canon = Image Stabilization

F1.8 is F-stop. The lower the number, the bigger the aperture is and a smaller depth of field (whats in focus in front and behind the subject).

[Kevin@nextmod]

Wow....thanx......that was great help.....at least i know soemthing about it now....appreciated

[ZeroChalk]

Better glass = Constant aperture throughout the range.

I had the 18-200mm VR and it was a great lens. I would skip the kit lens and choose that combo. But if want a really good glass for low light situations you might want to look at something with a 2.8 aperture (which blows your budget entirely).

I would also invest in a flash like the SB-800.

[JMAK74]

F1.8 is F-stop. The lower the number, the bigger the aperture is and a smaller depth of field (whats in focus in front and behind the subject).

Also - the lower the F number, the more light allowed in which means you may not need a flash in low light situations and can use a lower ISO number (ISO being the sensitivity of the 'film' which at lower ISO's you get less grain).

To expand a bit on Gizzmo Jr's comment - a higher F number means less light gets in and your depth of field is greater. This means the whole picture will be in focus and if you're doing a long exposure - to prevent the whole image from being white (overexposed) you cut the light getting in down. For my signature - look at the view from the side windows - I had a high F number so i would get the blur of the road going by, but not overexpose the picture (or it would look like I'm driving my car into the sun...). Also by having the higher F number - all is in focus as in the road ahead, my dash and my side view mirror.

JK

Hmm - it's been awhile since I've posted...