Help needed with DSLR upgrade

[squishy]

i cant see anyone else saying it in so many words, but i think the glass you put on the front of the body is just as pivotal in the image quality.

dont skimp on lenses if you want the best photos

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by DrNickBurton

If had one of those articulating screens, I think the first thing I would do is superglue it in place (obviously, with the display facing outwards!). They look rather spindly to me, like something that would break easily.

The fully articulating screen on my camera is plenty robust. I wouldn't now get a camera without one - I consider it near essential for low-level flower macros.

Jim

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by squishy

i cant see anyone else saying it in so many words, but i think the glass you put on the front of the body is just as pivotal in the image quality.

dont skimp on lenses if you want the best photos

I consider the lens quality to be paramount. It was one of the prime factors in my choice of camera make. When I shot film, I used to fret over whether my lenses were up to the task!

Jim

[momji1971]

Another vote for the glass first. Started out with a Nikon D50 and sigma 70-300mm. Great lens for the price but you will see a marked difference when you step up in the quality of your lens.

The Nikon 300mm F4 prime is a very sharp lens you could pick up with your budget, second hand is cheaper still.

Not sure which way to go for a zoom as I don't own one so will be watching with interest as to what users recommend. How much is the sigma 100-300 second hand?

good luck.
Stu.

[moonyaker]

Not sure which way to go for a zoom as I don't own one so will be watching with interest as to what users recommend. How much is the sigma 100-300 second hand?



There was one on E-bay 'Buy-it-now' for £750 a couple of weeks ago (it did not sell, but that did not seem silly money).

[sandymere]

Thanks all, i have taken some brill pics today with my D40. i think i will wait untill the january sales and spend some time in a shop considering my options.
I'm leaning towards the D90 or perhaps as you suggest getting a better lens and sticking with the D40

Many thanks.

[Ukwildlifeo]

For a 500mm lense the cheapest option for a new lense is the sigma 150-500mm which is £700 which would leave you about £300 for a body which will get you an entry level camera in most of the 5 big brands. If you spent a hundred or a couple of hundred more you could push into to some much higher spec cameras and have quite a choice.

[Norman Potter]

Don't buy canon

[thunder]

Originally Posted by Jim Ford

Hmm, you have to question the technical judgment of a camera manufacturer that places the hinge on an articulating screen at the bottom (D5000). I wonder what banned medicinal the designer was on when he thought of that one!

Jim

Perhaps the camera was aimed at paparazzi?

henrya

[moonyaker]

The D90 seems to produce almost D300 quality images. A looked after D40 body is worth circa £185 on e-bay. So, if you sold the D40, bought a D90 body for around £630, you would have around £555 left for a better lense (or more if you chucked in the 70-300mm too).

The Jessops deal on a Sigma 100-300 F4 at £599 is no more, but I saw a good one go at £550 last week on e-bay (ex-delivery).

So, with a bit of jiggery pokery, a D90 and and a classy lense could be within your grasp!..............and with a bit more saving and a 1.4x converter you're pretty much sorted up to 420mm. This is pretty much the set-up (with the possible inclusion of a 2x converter too) that I am aiming for.