Which direction to invest? please help

[iichiiban]

hello i'm everyone. . .I'm looking to invest in a dslr system, but my dilemma is which direction to invest in. My budget is $2k to $2.5k. . .I'm going with either canon or nikon but the thing is should i invest in the best lens money can buy or should i invest in the camera and just go with the avergae lens e.i. kit lens . . .thanks in advance

[Norm in Fujino]

Go for the glass. That would be Olympus ;) But if you've already made up your mind about Canikon, I'd go with the D-300. Actual lens selection depends entirely on what you're planning to shoot.

[DonSchap]

Always purchase the best lens available for the focal range you are planning to shoot. Shooting through budget glass is a compromise that if you can afford to avoid ... I would. There is plenty of sub-great glass out there (How's that for politically soft?).

What you need to be looking for is a lens that can deliver a sharp looking image ... with its aperture as wide as possible. This usually is the real test of your image taking ability.

Then close the lens down to about f/8 .. and take the same image. Compare them.

Do this with your secondary lens choice and your most expensive lens choice. Look close. Closer. Come on ... blow that image up. How do they look? Which one do you want on your wall? Testing is cheap enough ... now, dig deep ... how much can you pony up? That's your lens.

[nqjudo]

Yup, glass all the way. You can upgrade bodies as often as you like but nothing will help out your images like top quality glass. Spend the money once and keep them.

[erichlund]

Your goals will help you decide. Why are you getting the camera and what do you want to take pictures of? These are important questions, because they will guide some of your decisions.

If you are truly a beginner, then you want to start with an affordable system, so you can figure out where this hobby is going to take you. If you have been in photography for a while, perhaps a long time SLR user, and you are just making the decision to move into digital, then I recommend an enthusiast camera. You already know how and what, you just want a machine that can translate that into great results with the effort you are already used to.

What has been said about glass is important, but temper it with the idea that today is not the last purchase you will ever make. If you want a better body to satisfy your experience and need for ease of use, then get one really good lens to go with it.

For instance, the D300 has been recommended. Add to that a 17-55, f2.8, and you are a little over budget, but you won't ever have to upgrade that lens. Use that for a while, and note the shots you cannot get. Not wide enough? Next winter, a Super wide like the Tokina 12-24 f4 should be on your holiday list. Not long enough? Well then you should be considering how long, but the Nikkor 70-200VR is the best in its class.

When you free up a few hundred dollars cash, you'll want to add an SB600 or 800 flash, because the popgun on the camera can only take you so far. OTOH, if you never use more than the very occasional flash, and only for small group snaps, then maybe you don't need it.

One note of caution: if you are a birder, your budget is way too low. Those people are just nuts. The tool of choice for many Nikon birders is the Nikkor 200-400VR and the 1.4TC. That's $5500 @ Bell & Howell