Which DSLR Please?

[Koolpc]

Well, i am looking for a camera for my wife.

Anyway, budget is a max of £330 ish. 2 that i like are:

Sony A290

Nikon D3000

Only going to buy new. Not interested in 2nd hand.

Which one guys, and why? She will be taking pics of our daughter, landscapes. She also would like a 50mm sometime in the future. I know Nikon does not come with in body AF motor so maybe she could get a 35mm AFS?

Any idea which would be the best bet and why? Thanks

[ianpinion]

Well that's a very tough question to answer, when you're trying to choose between two cameras for somebody else. The reason being is that everyone has different wants and needs to the next person, so the things that might attract me to choose one particular model for myself, would put another person clean off the same camera.

I would always suggest that she tries both cameras herself to see which one she favours using. Performance wise, there's not that much to choose between them, so it will come down to the ergonomics, the controls and the layout of the menus of each camera. Let her way up the pros and cons of each and then pick a favourite. If she's allowed to choose the camera that she finds a real joy to use, chances are she will enjoy her photography more and not be constantly bugged by the question "I wonder whether the other camera would have been a better choice for me?" Of course, she doesn't like either of them then she'll have to try a few others within your budget to see which comes out tops.

Buying a camera is a very personal decision and not one you can let anyone else make for you! Best of luck!

[amk1977]

Its swings and round abouts really. With regard to the Nikon, do you buy a cheaper camera body but then pay a premium later on for lenses with AF-S because the AF-D lenses won't auto focus on them?

I know someone who has the D5000 that wishes they'd spent a bit more initally on something like the D90 as they are having to spend £300 on the Nikon 50mm f/1.4G, because the £100 f/1.8D won't autofocus. Something to bare in mind, as there are so many good D lenses both OEM and 3rd party, that you will be unable to use in AF mode. The D90 will be dropping in price soon too, as its being replaced by the D7000.

Also, if you currently already have a Nikon, then it would make sense to buy your wife the same, as then you can use the AF-S lenses on both camera bodies (provided you trust the wife not to drop your beloved gear lol).

Probably not an answer to your question but, maybe waiting a while and saving up a bit more, will result in a better camera with more options for the wife.

[Koolpc]

The 35mm AFS lens looks nice and can be had for a good price 2nd hand!

[amk1977]

Yup, usually around the £130 mark.

I've seen the 18-105mm VR go for about £150. If you can pick up a mint condition one, then do so. I have one on the Nikon D90. Nice focal range and surprisingly good for a kit lens. I've found it to be very sharp when stopped down and have taken some nice photos with it.

[xavier]

Go for the Nikon. its from a a stable that has years of experience in photography, where "Sony" is only a"Jonny come lately" to photography. although the do make Great T.V.s ,DVDs and so on they have not inpresed me

[ap4a]

Originally Posted by xavier

Go for the Nikon. its from a a stable that has years of experience in photography, where "Sony" is only a"Jonny come lately" to photography. although the do make Great T.V.s ,DVDs and so on they have not inpresed me

Why are they Jonny come lately? Their SLR division is what was the Konica Minolta SLR division and they'd been in the camera making business since the 1920s.

[xavier]

that old chestnut "the Konica/ minolta debate" I know about minolta being Sonys ghost manufacture. its just the Sony brand I have a problem with. Sony in my mind are not acompany that Quality photographic kit, they make Quality T.V.s and so on. I wont look on Sony in that way no matter how many photo companies help them. sorry if this offendes but this is how I feel about this! The camera is probable good in the grand sceme of things but its the brand name that is getting in the way. I always go for productes that have a reputation in a feild. its the Sony name I have the problem with

[ianpinion]

Originally Posted by xavier

that old chestnut "the Konica/ minolta debate" I know about minolta being Sonys ghost manufacture. its just the Sony brand I have a problem with. Sony in my mind are not acompany that Quality photographic kit, they make Quality T.V.s and so on. I wont look on Sony in that way no matter how many photo companies help them. sorry if this offendes but this is how I feel about this! The camera is probable good in the grand sceme of things but its the brand name that is getting in the way. I always go for productes that have a reputation in a feild. its the Sony name I have the problem with

Oh Xavier, how naive you are. The Sony Corporation is a very large and powerful organisation and it bought out the Konica Minolta brand name to help it develop it's new range of digital cameras. They needed to acquire a company that would bring their considerable technical knowledge and expertise to the party, to add value to their fledgling cameras. They also recognised that for business and sales purposes that the Sony brand name is far stronger than Konica Minolta, with the possible exception being within the photographic industry itself, so the decision was taken to use the Sony brand name on the new generation of cameras. This of course happened several years ago now and Sony haven't looked back. The Sony Corporation are an electronics heavyweight and have diversified over the years into most areas of this market. Furthermore, they've been very successful at it too!

[Koolpc]

What about the newer Nikon D3100? Worth getting over the D3000 and D5000? D90 is out of price range (New)