Which D50 Package

[davew]

Thursday I am purchasing my first d SLR
I have decided based on my budget to get the Nikon D50
I have 3 kit choices to choose from to stay within budget

#1 D50 + Nikkor 28-80mm AF zoom 599.00
#2 D50 + Nikkor 18-55mm AF Zoom 699.00
#3 D50 + Nikkor 28-80mm AF Zoom AND 70-300mm G Nikkor AF Zooom Lens

Coming from a Sony H2 This will be a change for me
I want to be able to shoot close ups ( macro) for fishing lures ( I do online fishing lure reviews and need to take nice close pictures in the light tent)
Pics around the house of almost anything and pics outside of whatever I see fit
As well as take pics of my kids in football and soccer and baseball next year..
at about a good 100 yards form the bleachers

I was explained that the 18-55 is more of what I need for now and I can go back in FEB 07 with income tax and get the Quantaray 18-200mm f3.5-6.3 DC Zoom lense and maybe also a SB-800 AF speedlight


I would like to lean towards package 3 for now and get the extra lens but was told the 28-80mm is not a good lens for the indoor stuff?

Sorry for the new person questions I am just looking for some help with this purchase.
As it will be my first D SLR

I am also going to get a 1 gig card to start OR if I go with kit #1 I will probably get a 2 gig card.

I wil be getting this Kit from the local ritz camera
as i would like to "feel" the set up before i walk out with it.

[naturesighted]

Hi Davew,

I just purchased a D50 this weekend myself and got your #2. From what I have heard around this site and dpreview the 28-80 is not a very good lens, so I would get the 18-55. It sounds like the 18-55 would fit your needs pretty well aside from needing a bit more zoom from the bleachers. I haven't researched the larger zooms yet (I'll want one as well) and I'm sure you'll get some good advice from folks here as they have been a big help to me in my short time on the boards.

Enjoy your D50!

Eric

[davew]

Yes I think package #2 would be the best fit for now, and with income tax get a the lens to doo the sports shots for football and baseball and the speedlight

[toriaj]

I went with your #2 choice and then got the Sigma 70-300mm. http://www.amazon.com/Sigma-70-300mm...&s=electronics This would cost you around $850 USD. The main thing you are missing with this setup is low-light performance. But it's a great starter setup.

[aaron80]

I will recommend u to get kit 2 as the 18-55mm is quite a gd lens.. The 28-80 will not be suitable for most use as 28mm is definitely not wide enough for alot of situations.. Plus its used on a Dslr so u must consider the 1.5x crop factor. So the 28mm will be 42mm effectively on your D50. I will get 2 1GB cards or a 2GB card because sometimes when u are too enjoying shooting. Your card will be filled up sooner than u expect..

[Ketama]

When I bought my D50 last April I went with the 18-55 mm lens, and I have not regretted it. Keeping in my mind, that this is a consumer grade plastic lens, the results are quite surprising. However, after using it for several months, I have to say that this lens has a few shortcomings.

1. Manual focus ring

This tiny plastic ring at the front of the barrel is barely usable (believe me, I have tried with varying results..none of them good)

2. Low light photography

This is a slow lens, so if you are into low light photography, you will need to compensate by means of long exposures or high ISO.This can work if you have a tripod and are photographing static objects.

3. Macro photography

I find myself leaning toward macro photography more and more, and I have tried to make it work with this lens, but it is less than ideal. I will probably end up buying a specialized macro lens in the future..right now I´m leaning toward the Tamron 90mm macro, but I'll have to wait and see.

Finally I'd like to suggest you look into the 18-70mm DX. It is a bit more expensive than the 18-55mm and the image quality is very similar. However it has a REAL manual focus ring, and the build quality is much nicer. It will also give you a little bit more reach.

[davew]

When I bought my D50 last April I went with the 18-55 mm lens, and I have not regretted it. Keeping in my mind, that this is a consumer grade plastic lens, the results are quite surprising. However, after using it for several months, I have to say that this lens has a few shortcomings.

1. Manual focus ring

This tiny plastic ring at the front of the barrel is barely usable (believe me, I have tried with varying results..none of them good)

2. Low light photography

This is a slow lens, so if you are into low light photography, you will need to compensate by means of long exposures or high ISO.This can work if you have a tripod and are photographing static objects.

3. Macro photography

I find myself leaning toward macro photography more and more, and I have tried to make it work with this lens, but it is less than ideal. I will probably end up buying a specialized macro lens in the future..right now I´m leaning toward the Tamron 90mm macro, but I'll have to wait and see.

Finally I'd like to suggest you look into the 18-70mm DX. It is a bit more expensive than the 18-55mm and the image quality is very similar. However it has a REAL manual focus ring, and the build quality is much nicer. It will also give you a little bit more reach.

I just went over to Ritz on lunch and all I can say is wow.
package #2 will be well suited for now.

I was able to use the demo and shoot about 50 pics and I was amazed.

(yes in the future I will get more lenses but until Itax time the 18-55 will have to do)

Thanks for all the kind replies

[HPVDS]

IDK if you have bought your camera yet reading your last post, but thought it might be helpful to let you know that Circuit city has the Kit for 569.54 + tax depending on where you live.

I just got your #2 less than aweek ago and love it.

HPVDS

[davew]

IDK if you have bought your camera yet reading your last post, but thought it might be helpful to let you know that Circuit city has the Kit for 569.54 + tax depending on where you live.

I just got your #2 less than aweek ago and love it.

HPVDS

I looked into that last night
http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Nikon...oductDetail.do

659$ here + Tx
I am hoping to pick it up tonight
IF not i will have it by tomorrow evening.

[davew]

picked up package #2 tonight after work

C City price was
$649.99
+ 6% PA Tax
$699.11

+ 42.00 for a sandisk Ultra II card at staples

I already see the need for other lenses

Time to start saving for a ? - 200 or 300mm