D80 opinions...

[apexede30]

What you loose with the "kit" lens' compared to Pro lens' is speed (f/stops).

One thing you loose with a consumer camera compared to a pro camera is the ability to use that speed.

With faster glass you can shoot in lower light at higher shutter speeds with more clarity.

Now I don't particularly like the D80 at all... but Id rather shoot a D80 with an f/2.8 lens than a D2Xs with a f/3.5 lens.

Thats the thing. Aperture and action. That's all you lose, seemingly. From my standpoint, and yes its most likely wrong, but all that isn't really worth the thousands of dollars.

I just don't see myself spending the extra 300 bux to upgrade to a prime lense with 1.4 stop instead of 1.8....

[bimmerkarl]

What you loose with the "kit" lens' compared to Pro lens' is speed (f/stops).

One thing you loose with a consumer camera compared to a pro camera is the ability to use that speed.

With faster glass you can shoot in lower light at higher shutter speeds with more clarity.

Now I don't particularly like the D80 at all... but Id rather shoot a D80 with an f/2.8 lens than a D2Xs with a f/3.5 lens.

+1,000,000 f/1.4 lenses FTMFW!!!

[DCColegrove]

What you loose with the "kit" lens' compared to Pro lens' is speed (f/stops).

One thing you loose with a consumer camera compared to a pro camera is the ability to use that speed.

With faster glass you can shoot in lower light at higher shutter speeds with more clarity.

Now I don't particularly like the D80 at all... but Id rather shoot a D80 with an f/2.8 lens than a D2Xs with a f/3.5 lens.

[apexede30]

Some things just can't be caught with slow glass...

And yes...not a hobby: http://www.dcolegrovephotography.com

(still re editing the portfolios...Happens about twice a year...I see my site and hate everything about it)

I suppose you're right (I'm not arguing, just stating the obvious) but I've always wanted to see two images compared side by side with a cheap/kit lense, and a good one. If ya have a link to something like that, shoot it my way, I just can't imagine there being that much lost, except maybe in action/aperture. What I'm always prone to believe is that the body limits the lense, not vise versa. Prove me wrong, I'm just tryin to learn! By the way, very cool work. On a random tangent of that, I'm always a sucker for soft light filtered portraits.

double edit. Sorry for the thread jack. D80s are a-ok by me. But I'm a canon-guy i guess??

[DCColegrove]

Heh. As a hobbyist (assuming that you're much more than that) my jaw drops, hits the floor, etc etc. I humbly think that we can produce similar pre-processed images with both our lenses, and I just can't imagine myself ever breaking the 600$ point on a lense. I am thoroughly jealous.

Some things just can't be caught with slow glass...

And yes...not a hobby: http://www.dcolegrovephotography.com

(still re editing the portfolios...Happens about twice a year...I see my site and hate everything about it)

[apexede30]

The lens I use most often 28~70mm f/2.8 AFS was just over $3000. ( the price has come down a bit since then).

Heh. As a hobbyist (assuming that you're much more than that) my jaw drops, hits the floor, etc etc. I humbly think that we can produce similar pre-processed images with both our lenses, and I just can't imagine myself ever breaking the 600$ point on a lense. I am thoroughly jealous.

[DCColegrove]

They're not expensive because you bought the cheap ones....Any "decent" lense is gonna cost ya 300+.

The lens I use most often 28~70mm f/2.8 AFS was just over $3000. ( the price has come down a bit since then).

[apexede30]

I bought d60, and I absolutely love it. How pro do you want to be?

Ritz/Wolf Camera are running great deals on d300, since they bought out all of them.

D60 was reasonably priced, and I love everything about it, except for battery save mode. lenses aren't expensive either (applies to all nikons).

They're not expensive because you bought the cheap ones....Any "decent" lense is gonna cost ya 300+.

[DCColegrove]

.... lenses aren't expensive either (applies to all nikons).

Huh?

[Aptyp]

I bought d60, and I absolutely love it. How pro do you want to be?

Ritz/Wolf Camera are running great deals on d300, since they bought out all of them.

D60 was reasonably priced, and I love everything about it, except for battery save mode. lenses aren't expensive either (applies to all nikons).

[DCColegrove]

What do you think about the Nikon D3X ? :pimp:

Saved me from switching to Canon.



Good thing too... Glass is expensive.

[steinbachphoto]

id say start small and cheap. body isnt the main part of producing good photos, the lenses are. the general rule is to upgrade your glass before your body. i currently have the D40, have had for about a year now, sure its a good camera but its time to upgrade and i will be going the D200 route. the D80 was my first choice to upgrade, but then i though why go the middle range, why not go semi-pro body? its all ill ever need! for just a little more cash!

the D40 is hell cheap now, so you can buy it relitivly cheap, and then spend money on some decent lenses, then when you are comfotable using your camera on the 3 non-vari programe mode, go the semi-pro route

most of the decent lenses Nikon offers will not work on the D40

[bergie_318is]

id say start small and cheap. body isnt the main part of producing good photos, the lenses are. the general rule is to upgrade your glass before your body. i currently have the D40, have had for about a year now, sure its a good camera but its time to upgrade and i will be going the D200 route. the D80 was my first choice to upgrade, but then i though why go the middle range, why not go semi-pro body? its all ill ever need! for just a little more cash!

the D40 is hell cheap now, so you can buy it relitivly cheap, and then spend money on some decent lenses, then when you are comfotable using your camera on the 3 non-vari programe mode, go the semi-pro route

[bimmerkarl]

I have a D80...and love it!! it is a nice enough camera to do just about any day to day photo shoots with. the lens selection is great. and it didn't cost me an arm and a leg so I don't feel guilty when I take it camping or hold it out the window at 80 mph. I find the controls great as well as the battery life (3 days or so).I shot over 5000 pictures while I was deployed to sicily (one of which is my profile pic) and thousands more since then without a single problem. I even ride my motorcycle with it over my shoulder at 150++ mph. good luck.
<--- P-3 orion with Mt.Etna erupting in the background

[steinbachphoto]

D80 also has a different imaging engine, writes to a different media, has a different shutter... than the D200.

which the OP wouldn't benefit from