Thought I was getting a D40/D60 for my bday, guess not, what next?

[johnnybogey]

Hello all,

First time poster here on the forums. I hope you guys can help me out. My lovely wife bought me a Nikon D90 (body only) for my birthday. Honestly, I was expecting an entry level camera like the D40/D60. Her reasoning was that this was it for buying a camera and that she wanted something I could grow into.

My question is, for a complete noob like myself, will this camera be too much for me? I've read alot of reviews of the D40 and D60 and really liked the fact that the user interface was geared towards beginners. I am assuming this is not the case with the D90. I realized from reading here and other forums that one key question when determining a lens is what type of photography I plan on doing. Since this is a first for me, I will probably try out all types.

So here is what I got:

Nikon D90 (body only)
Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S DX VR II

Should I exchange for the below package?

Nikon D40/D60
Nikkor 55-200mm f/4.56G ED AF-S DX VR
Nikkor 50mm f/1.4G AF-S
With leftover money, I would get camera bag, memory cards, reader, extra battery, tripod.

So what do you guys think? of course, please feel free to add an additional items you may think I would be better off with.

[Ray Schnoor]

So here is what I got:

Nikon D90 (body only)
Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S DX VR II

Should I exchange for the below package?

Nikon D40/D60
Nikkor 55-200mm f/4.56G ED AF-S DX VR
Nikkor 50mm f/1.4G AF-S
With leftover money, I would get camera bag, memory cards, reader, extra battery, tripod.

So what do you guys think? of course, please feel free to add an additional items you may think I would be better off with.
Why would you possibly want to exchange the D90 for the D40/D60?

I can understand exchanging the 18-200, maybe for a Tamron/Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 and the Nikkor 55-200 with a little left over.

Ray.

[erichlund]

It's getting near Xmas so I'll play nice. Hug your wife and say thank you. Go take some nice pictures. No shots of door frames at wide angle (you'll be disappointed, or amused in a circus freak sort of way).

If you really want to trade in the lens, trade it in for the new AF-S 50mm f1.4 (Is that available yet?) and a flash. Then really learn how to use the camera without all that zoom stuff getting in the way. You have to think more if you have to physically move to the place that gives you a better shot. The other alternative would be the 35mm f2, since that's the "Normal" lens on an APS-C sensor. The 50mm is a short telephoto.

She will need to understand that they make the lens removeable so that you can use different lenses for different tasks, and that as your skill grows, you will need other lenses.

She will need to understand that you need accessories like memory cards, flash, bag, tripod, etc, but you will need to be responsible about the budget for those items and you will have to acquire them over time. That's the implicit deal she's made with you, and it's a good one. The D90 is a great little camera. Enjoy it.

[herc182]

First of all, if you ever separate from your wife, send me a PM :D

i would most definitely NOT exchange the D90. The D40/60 are not that much aimed at beginners, more people with less money (they have more limited functionality). As a newbie, you will be faced with the basic questions that you would have with any camera, namely, exposure, aperture use, shutter speeds, and the limitations of your particular camera. The D90 is superior in specs (and photo quality to the other two). furthermore, your wife is SPOT on with getting you something to grow into. The d40/60 would plateau at some point, and you would be looking to upgrade at some point. The d90 is well future proofed (and I wish I had it!).

My recommendation would be to keep what you have and learn the basics. The lens is perfect for a newbie and you will start to learn composition and identify what interests you most (i.e. people, landscapes, city shots). Once you know this you can sell that lens and buy what will suit you most.

Happy shooting and welcome to the forum. If you have any questions just keep them coming!

[johnnybogey]

ok, thanks for the advice. Will keep the camera and lens.

Can't wait to start shooting, I just need to convince her to give me the gift early (bday is not until the 10th). :D

[XaiLo]

ok, thanks for the advice. Will keep the camera and lens.

Can't wait to start shooting, I just need to convince her to give me the gift early (bday is not until the 10th). :D

Glad to hear you have decided to keep the camera your wife is a very wise woman. Now the 18-200mm lenses on the other hand is quite another story. While I understand the temptation of an all around lens. It quickly turns into a jack of all trades master of none scenario. And though it's superior to the competition in this range. It still falls short in the image quality category. This is the very reason that three out of the four replies here so far are addressing a lens change. My recommendation would be the Nikon 16-85mm and the Nikon 55-200mm VR respectively $529/198 at b&h photovideo in NY. Roughly these two can be had for a little more or even the same price as the 18-200mm depending on what your wife paid. But opitically you would be very sound for your introduction into photography.

I'm also going to suggest Bryan Peteron's "Understanding Exposure" Revised Edition under $20. It's a lite read that will give you a great overview of why exposure plays an important part in photography. Plenty of beautiful images and examples to help you follow along. Can't recommend it enough. It will put you that much further along the curve.

Happy birthday, hope you have a great time with all your goodies. :)

[Gintaras]

Johny, you must trust your wife, she made the best choice for you, D90 is hell of a camera plus has CMOS sensor and many usefull things to it. Be happy and stop thinking of D60, because when you got brand new BMW you do not dream about driving a second-hand Toyota.:p

[TheWengler]

I would get a different lens. It's hard to know what to recommend if you don't know what you're going to shoot though.

[johnnybogey]

Xailo, thanks for the book recommendation, I've heard good things about it.

My wife purchased the lens from B&H Photo. I will try and stop by the store this weekend to see what other options are available. Will keep in mind the recommendations made here. Thanks again.

[johnnybogey]

I would get a different lens. It's hard to know what to recommend if you don't know what you're going to shoot though.


TBH, I don't even know what I am going to shoot. :o
Some advocated keeping the 18-200 lens because you could shoot everything, but as Xailo said, Jack of all trades, master of none. From there, I could learn and be better able to make a determination as to what I like to shoot.

Another point in favor of keeping just one lens is with various lenses, I probably wouldn't even be able to determine which lens to use in different situations. :o

[TheWengler]

My wife purchased the lens from B&H Photo. I will try and stop by the store this weekend to see what other options are available.

Aww, you live next to B&H. Must be nice!

[johnnybogey]

Aww, you live next to B&H. Must be nice!

Not nice. I have to pay sales tax!!! :(

[tizeye]

Aww, you live next to B&H. Must be nice!

That could be dangerous to ones wallet!

[XaiLo]

Xailo, thanks for the book recommendation, I've heard good things about it.

My wife purchased the lens from B&H Photo. I will try and stop by the store this weekend to see what other options are available. Will keep in mind the recommendations made here. Thanks again.

That's cool so it will be like a $98 difference in priceing. Trust me on this one... when you need a shorter or longer lens you'll know. :) No matter what you decide just have a good time!

[Tomcat]

It's always nice to get better than you expected.
I have a D80 and it wasn't that hard to learn how to ust it. I don't think the D90 is that much different as far as operation goes.

[Turn]

you have an awesome wife

and I think she deserves a hug and a massage :)

stick with what she bought you and use it dammit

use it until it becomes your right hand

[SpecialK]

I would keep what you've got until you need something different. We all chase lenses.

[johnnybogey]

Thanks all for the advice. I opened the camera and lens last night. It is amazing. Took a couple shots, all in auto mode of course. :)

yes, I know, my wife is awesome and I am grateful.

One question though, when I take a picture, I see this hourglass on the screen, sometimes it takes a while for the image to show up. Is this because my SD card is an old 1gb card? I've read alot about the sandisk extreme III card, will this card speed things up?

Thanks again all.

[Rooz]

yes and yes.

[johnnybogey]

yes and yes.

Thanks Rooz for the quick reply. I was going to stop by BH Photo today but low and behold, both BH Photo and Adorama are closed on saturdays. :(
Will have to wait until tomorrow.

[TheWengler]

Took a couple shots, all in auto mode of course.

I was reading a book today about photographing the Oregon coast today. The author had this to say about auto and program modes, "autofocus, autoexposure, oughtaknowbetter."

[XaiLo]

Thanks Rooz for the quick reply. I was going to stop by BH Photo today but low and behold, both BH Photo and Adorama are closed on saturdays. :(
Will have to wait until tomorrow.

They're Jewish stores so they keep the Sabbath or Sabbat and every other Jewish Holy Day.

[wannabe]

I have had the 18-200 lens for 2 years now. I still use it a lot. I have bought other lenses since then which have better IQ, but the 18-200 is still great for its convenience factor. If I'm heading off the zoo for the day with my kids, I can take the camera with one lens and not have to worry about a big bag, lens changes, etc. Now, if I'm photographing a dance recital, it's 70-200VR all the way, but that lens just isn't very convenient for a day trip with the kiddos!

I recommend using some type of kit lens for awhile whether it is the 18-200 or some other lens similar to that and then buy a better lens in the focal length you use the most. For me, I use the longer end of my lenses the most. I'm not into wide angle photography. So, I have better lenses in the longer range. Others love wide angle photography and spend their lens budget on great wide angle lenses. It really comes down to preference and you don't know what your preferences are yet.