Overview of Nikon lower end dslr bodies ?

• damien.murphy

  Participant

  March 25, 2011 at 9:23 am

  I’ve been away from most things Nikon digital until recently, and am now pondering one of the lower end Nikon bodies which I plan to pair with a 35mm prime, as my digital point and shoot, of a sort.

  I see Nikon has irritatingly followed other camera manufacturers in changing the numbering of its model range, and wonder if someone can give me an overview as to where the models stand in the grand scheme of things, and perhaps the one or two key differences between the models.

  I am familiar with the D40, D60, D80, D200, D2 era cameras, but not with this latest batch of models. I know the D3 replaced the D2, the D300 the D200, the D90 the D80, and the D700 was a new camera segment body (ie the compact full-frame segment).

  I’m just not sure where things stand with the D40/ D60-type bodies, and where models such as the D3000/ D5000 fit in, if anyone can help, as it is one of the models in this range I am looking at.

  Thanks in advance

  EDIT: Perhaps worth noting my experience to date has been with the D50/ D80/ D200
  gaffo

  Participant

  March 25, 2011 at 10:36 am

  one thing to look out for in relation to the lower end nikons is if you plan to use primes the low end camera bodies don’t have a motor to drive the auto focus on the lens so this would limit you prime lens choice to the 35 1.8G and the 50 1.4G unless you want to MF

  http://www.nikonians.org/nikon/slr-lens.html” onclick=”window.open(this.href);return false;
  damien.murphy

  Participant

  March 25, 2011 at 10:41 am

  Yes, that is something I have been aware of. It will the 35mm f1.8 AF-S I plan to pair with such a body, for just that reason.

  In the dark pretty much on things like live-view, video, and general usability of these bodies, having come from Nikon bodies that have had dedicated hard buttons for most of the key functions. Any feedback/ experience in regard to these areas, as well as my original query welcome
  damiansynnott

  Participant

  March 27, 2011 at 2:34 am

  Hi Damien,

  I shoot with a D3000 and the 35mm 1.8. I don’t have experience with other DSLR’s but can tell you I have been more than happy with this setup (I’ve even managed to sell a few prints/licenses with it). In the near future I am planning on upgrading my body but will keep the D3000 as a backup/second body with this prime on it.

  As far as I can tell it doesn’t have dedicated hard buttons on it and the lack of motor will restrict other lenses functionality but as you said you will be using an af-s lens. I’ve read a lot of posts (on other forums) complainig about the noise issues with this camera but I’ve printed up to 8×12 photos taken at ISO1600 (the highest on this camera) and found the noise not to be an issue. The camera doesn’t have live on it.

  I don’t think Nikon are making this camera now they’ve introduced the D3100 so it can be picked up pretty cheap but not as cheap as a D40 or D70 on ebay so they are some other ones to look into maybe?

  Damian
  dmg

  Participant

  March 27, 2011 at 9:48 pm

  The guy is notoriously opinionated, but it’s still a great website for comparing Nikon dSLRs http://www.kenrockwell.com

  Questions for me are:
  1.Focus motor or not
  2. flash commanded built in or not
  3. Size/weight and ease of access to controls I use. Then there is ISO performance (sensor generation I suppose) and metering. Not really into FPS, but can understand why a sport shooter would be interested. Pentaprism vs pentamirror might be an issue, that like ergonomics you can only decide by handling the camera. Varying abilities of metering with older lenses might be of interest to some. Mirror lock-up another.
  -Then there is the whole video thing – full HD or 720, microphone in or not. Ability to auto-focus during recording etc. It’s not my thing, at the moment, though I can understand why people are interested in it.
  damien.murphy

  Participant

  March 28, 2011 at 4:07 pm

  Cheers Damian, it seems like you are using just the sort of combo I am exploring. It seems like the D3000/ 3100 may be just the one for me, as the D5000 seems to gain a bit of weight in comparison. That’s good to know re: iso 1600, which would probably be as high as I would be looking to go. I suspect that the D3000 sensor is a much better performer, than the ones I’ve been used to in the D50/ D80/ D200, which got pretty noisy at 800 & 1600.

  Not to pushed re: lack of hard buttons, as long as the aperture and shutter are easily changed without having to take your eye from the camera. I presume this is the case. Re: iso, not worried too much about having a dedicated iso button, as will just be mounting the 35mm on this camera, and will probably leave it on auto-iso.

  dmg, ha ha, trust you to bring Rockwell into the thread! I’m really just joking though, as I do peruse him from time to time :)

  I think you’ve hit the nail on the head, with regard to key differences, and am prepared deal with (1) to (3). My mind is still not made up on video though, and it would be a nice thing to have on a camera I would be using like a compact. I realise I’m stuck to the D3100 or D5000 if I want video though, and the appeal of an less expensive D60/ D40X/ D3000 may win out.

  Thanks for the food for thought. I think I shall start to keep an eye out for an inexpensive, previously loved body, out of one of the above models.