Hey guys,

I'm thinking about picking up my first SLR. Wanted to get your thoughts on what I have picked out as a starter package so far. Keep in mind I have a father inlaw who is a Pro and a Nikon junky so I would have access to free help/training and the occasional lending of any of Nikon's lenses.

Here's what I have queued up at the moment at B&H:

- Nikon D5000 body only
- Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II Zoom Lens
- Nikon EN-EL9a Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery
- SanDisk 16GB Extreme III SDHC Memory Card
- Nikon SB-600 AF Speedlight i-TTL Shoe Mount Flash
- Nikon 72mm Clear NC Glass Filter
- Nikon 72mm Circular Polarizer Glass Filter II (Slim)
- Tamrac 5374 Adventure 74 Backpack (Gray/Black)

Any input or recommendations is appreciated.

 

I prefer Canon but if you have access to great glass then Nikon it is. Have you tried it out yet?

 

I've had two Canon point and shoots that went around the world a few times before they finaly died and was really pleased with the results. I actually have another Canon queued up as a point and shoot replacement for my current Sony (POS Cyber-shot with Carl Zeiss lense that I just can't stand). I haven't used the D5000 yet but I took one of my father inlaws D60's to Africa/Russia last year and had great sucess with it. I spent an afternoon with a D2x and it was way over my head.

 

The D5000 is a perfectly decent camera for a beginner. You might also want to keep an eye out for a refurbished D90 or D60.

 

Fantastic camera, I love it. Alzilla is right when it's great for beginners, like me. It has the bigger, more important settings in a quick to get to screen, easy to use, and the results are fantastic. Also, it requires a SD card, which is easy (at least for me) to copy photos to my computer. I say go for it!

 

If you can spare a little extra cash, I just picked up a D90 via this deal: Amazon.com: Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED IF AF-S VR Zoom Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras: Camera & Photo

$200 off a combined D90 + 70-300mm lens. I have no interest in the lens, but it can be sold on EBay for about $450-$500. That puts the net cost of the D90 body down to roughly $600 or $650 Note the deal ONLY works if the lens is sold by Amazon, not a 3rd party retailer. It goes in and out of stock, but it pays to keep checking. And if that lens is something you'd use, it's still a nice deal. That puts the body cost almost to about that of the D5000.

 

I'm not 100% sure, but I think the d5000 doesn't work the same with some lenses as the d90 and up? I think it lacks the in-camera focus motor, so it limits its versatility a bit. Someone correct me? If you have access to some other lenses that may or may not be AF-S, this may be a factor to consider.

actually, just found this:

"The D5000 only autofocuses with the latest AF-S (and old professional AF-I) lenses. Most traditional (screw-type) AF lenses from 1986 through today will not autofocus on the D5000. If your lens says "AF-S," you're fine.

Most lenses sold today for the D5000 are AF-S, so no problem.

Most non-Nikon lenses from Tamron, Tokina, Quantaray, Sigma and anyone other than Nikon may not autofocus on the D5000."

I guess it depends on what you're going to do, if you want to limit yourself on that.

 

That d90 deal is by far the best deal around right now. If you have access to good lenses, sell the kit lens.

Within weeks you will want a nicer camera anyways, so get the d90 now. You should be able to sell it within a year or so without losing money.

picture quality is almost as good as the much more expensive d300(s).