[Safa]

Hello there, Pixalo forums. This is my first post so it's understandable if you're reluctant to give me advice but after reading the forums for a bit it seems like there's a friendly bunch here so I'll ask anyway.

I've been interested in photography for a while although it was never anything serious, I just enjoyed taking pictures of interesting things on digital cameras. I was complemented quite a lot on my photos as well.

After recently holiday to visit my brother, who owns a D80. It was a month long holiday and he took it with him absolutely everywhere we went so rather inevitably I ended up getting fairly hooked on DSLR photography myself.

After a week and around 800+ photos, I'd pretty much got the hang of how to operate the thing and was really enjoying myself. Whenever forced to used my Fujitsu digital camera it felt like I was playing with a toy more than a camera, it really irritated me. Most of the photos I took weren't particularly good but I'd slowly gotten better throughout the holiday and I ended up taking a few postcard-esque pictures towards the end.

I'm back home now and with no real hobbies and a looming media project where I'm going to have to use someone else's DSLR anyway, I'd really like to go into photography. What I cannot decide is whether I, an amateur should spend the £700+ needed for the D80 + 18-135mm Lens and the other accessories. I'll no doubt use it a lot and I don't really want to buy anything other than the D80 becuase I've gotten so comfortable with it. Do you guys recommend I buy it?

Sorry if that's at all poorly structured, if you've taken the time to read through that mine field of English, it's much appreciated.

[Dabhand16]

Welcome to Pixalo Safa You will find all of the advice you need here - and you don't have to serve a probationary period to get it!

If you are familiar with the D80, and you will get use out of it, I can see no reason not to buy one. If the cost is a bit daunting you could consider a used example - there was a D80 for sale on theses forums only a few weeks ago that had little use.

Only you can decide if the cost of the equipment is justifiable.

I say buy it

[silkstone]

Hi Safa and welcome to Pixalo!

I'm a Canonian but (under pressure ) I'll admit that the D80 is a very good camera. I'd think long and hard about the choice of lens, however. You'll probably end up with an expensive bag-full, but to start with I'd go for the Nikon 18-200 VR which is a superb all-rounder.

[Safa]

Thanks for the welcome guys. Is the 18-200mm the more wide angled one than the 18-135?

[silkstone]

No, the 18-200 has more telephoto. The 18mm is the wide-angle end of the zoom range, and that's the same for both lenses.

The 18-200 VR also has 'Vibration Reduction' which means you can take shots with less risk of camera shake.

[Safa]

Sorry to be a bit of a nuisance but can you explain what the difference between a photo that's taken with the 135mm and the 200mm would be?

[j sotelo]

I also own a D80 and would not buy anything else so far. its a very good choice but I also would go for the 18-200 VR lens.

Originally Posted by Safa

Sorry to be a bit of a nuisance but can you explain what the difference between a photo that's taken with the 135mm and the 200mm would be?

I'll try to put it as simple as I can, the bigger the the mm number the closer you can see things. therefore you have an extra 65mm to play with plus the VR(vibration Reduction) that means in really really simple terms theres more of chance that you wont get shaky blurry photos.
I'm sure someone will explain it more technical but I think this is how you want it explained.
simple no tech stuff.


hope it helps.


~Sotelo~

[Dave]

Or another way that owners of compacts might understand, seeing as they both start at wide angle of 18mm :

18-135mm is equivalent to 7.5x optical zoom
18-200mm is equivalent to 11.1x optical zoom

Hope that helps

[tim0306blue]

I too have only recently returned to SLR photography after a long break. I used to use a Yashica fully manual camera from the late 1970's so when I came back to SLRs I still had some memory of that! I looked up all the details I could before going to Jessups intent on buying a D200. When I got there the salesman let me handle the cameras, then persuaded me to buy the D80! he gave me sensible advice. The D80 can do almost all that the the more expensive amateur/pro cameras can do but for a price that includes a half decent lens. I know we all lust after something better - the D300 seems to be all the rave at the moment, but the D80 is a great camera at a great price and I don't think you would regret it.

[water]

Quote"I'm back home now and with no real hobbies and a looming media project where I'm going to have to use someone else's DSLR anyway"

Hi and welcome,what you 'want' is someone to tell you to get that camera.GET THAT CAMERA!!.
As long as you can afford it I see no reason not to.You have used one,your brother has one so lenses and accessories could be borrowed/shared.It can be an addictive hobby though!.I dont mean equipment wise,rather image wise [though lust for newer and 'better' gear can strike] .The quest for those WOW images is a tough road but so,so enjoyable as you see your results improve.
The 'capture' of the image is only the first stage though.Adobe Photoshop or similar software programme allows you to get the best from even a 'wow' image. You will want to have prints made too,either by doing it at home with a decent printer or through an outside source [you can ask here for recommendations on both options].This is stuff you WILL eventually buy as your interest grows but don't worry about that now.
As to which lens to buy?.I would say,from a 'mistake' I made,identify what area you will mainly be interested in and buy as good a lens for that purpose as you can afford,even to the extent of having to save for another lens to cover other,less used, focal lengths.I bought a Sigma 18-125mm lens and it has served me well and is a good general purpose lens but I now hanker after a better wide-angle zoom for the landscapes I mainly photograph
Anyway,if you decide to make Photography the hobby you don't at present have, keep popping in here for advice/encouragement and most of all just have fun!!
John.

[JMitchell]

Welcome to Pixalo! I think you've got it pretty much sussed out already. I'd buy the D80 and the 18-200 VR if I were you, it's a great starting point, and you'll have so much to learn that you wont feel like you need to upgrade for a fair while. It sounds to me (from the way you talk about your compact), that you've got to that stage where you realised what you've been using isn't advanced enough for you, so I'd upgrade

[Safa]

Thanks a lot guys, I'm going to be shopping around for a D80 + 18-200mm package. Hopefully I'll show you the results when I start taking photos!

[Dave]

I would buy D80 from UK (Amazon £486), but consider lens from Hong Kong at £380 :- Nikon AF-S Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED DX VR Lens, or pay circa £420 in UK.

[Safa]

So this one that Jessops sell: Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC Lens (Nikon AF Excluding D40/D40X) - Jessops

Isn't the same as the one mentioned above?

[M0TFT]

I have the D80 + 18-200mm and also the 18-135mm, it was a long drawn out impulse buy to get the 18-200mm, and after playing with it for a few mins, I wondered why I had resisted for so long (other than the price!!!)

I know you'll enjoy it, have fun...

Alan (M0TFT)