Advice on the Nikon D80

[lostgirl]

My budget is about $1000 and I'm willing to go up to $1500. I'm new to SLR cameras but I love photography so much that I would love to make it a career. So far the Nikon D80 seems to be my best bet. Any others I should look in to? I am going to be shooting a lot of low-light concert photography as well as outdoor photos. So any advice on cameras and lenses would be much appreciated!

[WestCoast]

I'm not sure what your lens requirements are, but I'd look at the Canon 40D and 30D as well.

[coldrain]

Low light concert photography and outdoor photography are two very different things.
And then, out door photography of what? That too is important to know.

The Canon EOS 30D would be a good camera for the low light concert photography. But so would a 400D/XTi, which would allow for more lens budget...

It is hard to say what you will need... will the concert photography be close to the stage? Further away?
lower light primes like a 50mm f1.8/1.4, 35mm f2/1.4, 85mm f1.8 should be nice for the concert stuff, focal length would depend on the distance.

And outdoors... no idea how wide or long you would need your lens, since that depends on what you have in mind as subject?

[SpecialK]

My budget is about $1000 and I'm willing to go up to $1500. I'm new to SLR cameras but I love photography so much that I would love to make it a career. So far the Nikon D80 seems to be my best bet. Any others I should look in to? I am going to be shooting a lot of low-light concert photography as well as outdoor photos. So any advice on cameras and lenses would be much appreciated!

Well, for $1000 you will get a body, card and case. What about a lens or two? "Low light" is generally a bit more costly than "outdoors", and I am sure you will end up with 2 lenses at least. If you are on a "budget" you may have some limitations :-(

Oh, if you have a decent job already, I'd keep photography a hobby - it will be more fun perhaps.

[lostgirl]

The concert photography would be close to the stage... low light. What lenses would I need for that? Would the lenses that come with the camera suffice?
As for outdoors, probably mostly portraits and macro, but I might wanna get into stuff like wedding, events, etc.

Would it be better for me to spend less money on a camera... like say a Nikon 40D and more lenses, than a Nikon 80D and only the kit lenses?

[SpecialK]

The concert photography would be close to the stage... low light. What lenses would I need for that? Would the lenses that come with the camera suffice?
As for outdoors, probably mostly portraits and macro, but I might wanna get into stuff like wedding, events, etc.

Would it be better for me to spend less money on a camera... like say a Nikon 40D and more lenses, than a Nikon 80D and only the kit lenses?

For low light shots you will want a lens with large maximum aperture, such as f1.4 or f1.8.

The smaller the number, the larger the aperture - which lets in more light. The cost goes up dramatically, too.

This 50mm f1.4 would be a good candiate for concerts.

http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-50mm-Nikkor-Digital-Cameras/dp/B00005LENO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=photo&qid=1199079741&sr=1-2

The f1.8 version is less than 1/2 the cost, though less desirable.

Luckily, 50mm is just long enough of a focal length (with the crop factor of the body) for portraits. Shorter than that tends to make "big nose/small ears" shots.

For the macro, there are dedicated macro lenses to get really close. Here's one.
http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-105mm-2-8G-ED-IF-Micro-Nikkor/dp/B000EOSHGQ/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&s=photo&qid=1199081126&sr=1-11

A cheap way to get close is with "close up filters" that screw on the front of the lens.

"Kit" lenses that come with the camera are really too slow for concerts, and are only fair image quality. They are inexpensive, so people tend to generously say "they are good for the money", or "a good start until you figure out which way you want to go with future lens purchases".

I would go with just the body and the 50mm f1.4 for starters if I were in your shoes. Many people have that type of lens even though they may get a zoom or two later that overlaps that focal length, as zooms are (normally) much slower (and bigger/heavier).

The D40 body does not have a focusing motor in the body, so some lenses may have to be manually focused (you turn the ring). Lenses with the AF-S designation will autofocus however. Some people like to manually focus, some don't. It also has fewer bells and whistles compared to the D80.

[lostgirl]

Thanks for all your advice everyone!


I'm now leaning toward the Rebel XTI... what lenses would be good for that for lowlight concerts and portraits? (sorry, newbie here)

[SpecialK]

Thanks for all your advice everyone!


I'm now leaning toward the Rebel XTI... what lenses would be good for that for lowlight concerts and portraits? (sorry, newbie here)

The same types, only to fit Canon.