First move from SLR to DSLR, advice please

[Esby]

Could anyone advise me please-

I have owned a Nikon SLR for years, used a Tamron macro lens very often and now want to move to a DSLR. I do a lot of close up work.

I would prefer Nikon.

But I have never owned a DSLR before, is there any way that my manual focus macro lens can be used with a DSLR? It will be a big purchase on top of the new camera & lens for me, if I have to buy a new macro lens otherwise.

I would prefer a budget around £400-£500 but if I have to, could stretch to around £650 to make sure I get a good camera.

Can anyone advise /recommend any suitable cameras please, preferably Nikon?
Also, as I am unable to purchase many lenses at the moment, what lens is a good first buy for general photography?

Thank you in advance.

[donoreo]

Your F mount lens will work on a DSLR from Nikon. Bear in mind that it will have a "crop factor" and seem more zoomed in ("effective focal length") than it did with your 35 mm. This has to do with the sensor being smaller than 36mm x 24mm like film. Unless you spend a lot more to get a "full frame" like a D700, D800, D3, etc that have sensors the same size as film.

Someone else will have to make a recommendation on camera, I cannot due to price (I am in Canada) and familiarity (I am a Canon guy).

Anything I put in " " would be good to google if you want a more in depth explanation.

[xavier]

If you have used nikon as Donoreo sujest stick with what you know. But I would sujest an upgrade your lenses slowly as the analoge lenses will fit & work but will not have the auto focas feture (I'm open to corection )

[donoreo]

Originally Posted by xavier

If you have used nikon as Donoreo sujest stick with what you know. But I would sujest an upgrade your lenses slowly as the analoge lenses will fit & work but will not have the auto focas feture (I'm open to corection )

He already said it was a manual focus lens. You want manual for macro in most cases anyway.

[OldBoy]

Check this out: http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-...-lens/p1525134

As has already been said nearly all Nikon lenses will work with most Nikon and Fuji cameras, but not all will auto-focus.

[jet_kit]

Hi Esby,
Older Nikon lenses (pre-1977) will not work on DX DSLRs. Any attempt to make them fit will result in damage to the camera. I'm not sure how old you Tamron lens is, or whether it suffers from this problem anyway. It's worth a bit of research before you buy a new camera body.
Within your budget you could pick up a D5100 with the 18-55mm 'Kit' lens. Unfortunately there's a huge gap between that and the next model (D7000) which your budget won't manage, even without a lens.
My suggestion would be to get the D5100. It's a fine camera and the kit lens will give you a useful range for normal everyday use, and for the price cannot be beaten.