First time DSLR buyer - Help Please!

[Lancashire Lad]

Originally Posted by FungiJus

....I do have distressingly small hands! ....

Hi Fungijus,

Nikon's recently introduced D3000 is a fairly small body, and might be worth looking at if you could possibly stretch your budget to £600.00

I've seen offers on at the moment (at a well known & nationwide retailer) for brand new D3000's c/w 18-55mm VR lens fo £379.00 - (NB I would say that the VR version is the better of the two 18/55 kit lenses that Nikon offer).

I've also seen at least one secondhand Tamron 90mm f2.5 macro lens (Nikon fit - autofocus) for sale at a well respected retailer - described as "In lovely condition, with caps & hood", for £199.00

I think that a D3000 + 18/55VR + Tamron 90mmf2.5 macro would be a reasonable starter kit.

(And with £600.00 you have £22.00 left for your first memory card )

If this might be of any interest, I can PM you with retailers details.

Regards,
Mike.

[Lancashire Lad]

Postscript to my last reply: -

Downside to the D3000 as far as fungi photography goes, is the lack of liveview or fold out screen. That might be too much of a compromise for your requirements. (But angle finders are available, both from Nikon and independent manufacturers, so could conceivably be purchased at a later date when funds allow - I know of a genuine Nikon DR6 Anglefinder in mint condition currently on sale at £99.00).

Regards,
Mike.

[squishy]

or go for the slightly higher D5000

[FungiJus]

Originally Posted by Lancashire Lad

Hi Fungijus,

I think that a D3000 + 18/55VR + Tamron 90mmf2.5 macro would be a reasonable starter kit.

(And with £600.00 you have £22.00 left for your first memory card )
Regards,
Mike.

I like the sound of this Mike, but I am going to struggle with the budget, bearing in mind I am going to need a decent tripod, memory card, spare battery and camera bag also which would push things too far over the top. I do think that the flip out screen will be really useful (sorry Geoff) and would save the extra £100 or so on the anglefinder too.

Originally Posted by Lancashire Lad

As for the Panasonic G1 - looks like a good piece of kit, but squishy has a valid point in respect of potential lens choice limitations.

Looking around at this, it seems there are a number of attachments available to suit most lens manufacturers and the Oly 35mm macro lens is available from our rainforest friends for under £180. Still end up near the £600 mark though, and that's just two lenses...

Regards,

[squishy]

35mm doesn't give much working distance (i know it would end up as a 35mm equiv 70mm, but that's still half the focal length of a tam 90mm on a 1.5x sensor) you should definitely try it to see is if it works for you. (i know one of us wabbers (I think it's 'lesinlondon' or similar name) uses a 35mm macro lens with great results)

They seem to advertise the G1 as a small DSLR, but the reviews i've seen say that it really takes up the same amount of space as most other entry levels, when you factor in the lens (i'm not saying that is true, but it sounds right).


(i know i might not have much expirience in this area, but i'm a budget photographer, and i'm always reading reviews and specs of these cheaper cameras and things)

i can recommend a very good tripod for sub £60. the manfrotto mini modo 785SHB. This little tripod has a removable central column and the legs go flat, letting you get to near ground level, while only taking up less that 2ft square of space. I know mike has uses one of these. i might have been concerned about it holding the weight of a DSLR, but nick tried it with his 40D at the WAB meet, and he said it held that fine, so it should be good with an entry level. Very good little tripod for fungi