advice please

nikon noobi

New member
Hi guys, I'm new to dslr. I just got a D60 with an 18 /55 lens.

Here's the thing, I'm on a super tight budget. I know I want a 50 mm lens after reading plenty of reviews. I saw that Ken What's his name raving about the Nikkor $100 50mm lens (f1.8) , but I know that that lens won't a/f on a D60 body . Also I'm finding the D60 is a bit slow at focusing, especially in low light conditions. Very frustrating .

Here's what I'm thinking = sell the D60 body for $150. There's a guy selling a D2h for $180 (has slight vignetting in view finder) , then get the $100 50mm lens. The way I see it, the D2h will be a lot better at a/f + has more advanced settings, smaller file sizes, more robust construction.

Or I keep my D60 and get an AF-S 50mm lens ($250)

I only shoot family shots , no sports.

What do you guys think? Thanks.
 
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gqtuazon

Gear Head
Hello Nikon Noobi. D60 is pretty much an entry level camera that was long discontinued. Your plan is not bad but I would get the 35mm f1.8G DX lens instead of the 50mm f1.8D lens. The 35mm will give you a normal field of view which is equivalent to 50mm on a full frame camera. You can include about 3 to 4 people in the frame with the 35mm.

Edit: To determine which lens will best work for you, set your kit lens to 35mm and try it out. Then set your kit lens to 50mm to see which focal length works best for your shooting style with your family. I think you'll like the 35mm better.
 
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pedroj

Senior Member
What does this mean????D2H has vignetting in the view finder...Sounds like a fault to me.....With which lens????...

Realistically a modern point & shoot could do the job...

Why I say this is the 2 cameras you've mentioned are getting very old..

To replace a shutter would not be cheap...

My old D50 has a problem with the sensor and the D2H is an older camera then it...

Just a few things to think about....
 
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stmv

Senior Member
a really solid old camera,,,, D70.. great starter camera, cheap on the used market.. then maybe an old 18-70,,, nice quality intro lens.. or 1.8d like you say.
 

nikon noobi

New member
Thanks for replies guys,

Sorry I've probably been a bit vague. Yeah the D2h I'm looking at has vignetting in the view finder on some lenses. It doesn't show up on the photos, just the viewfinder. I'm not sure which lenses are better or worse for the vignetting. I was told it could be the prism dropped out? Does that sound right?

Yeah I can appreciate that the gear I'm talking about is ancient, but I guess beggars can't be choosers. Whatever shows up on gumtree is my option.

Thanks for the "35mm" advice , I'll give it a go :)

The D60 I've got has had very little use, and does work very well, it's just the a/f that I'm not entirely happy with... too slow.

Thanks again for all the ideas and letting me know the options that are out there.
Really appreciate it :)
 
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AC016

Senior Member
I can understand your predicament, but i can't understand why you would want to go back in time. You have a 10mp camera now, why go to something that only gives you 4? So, yeah, of course it will have smaller file sizes. I know in the end it really is not all about MPs, but why go backwards? As you said, you are not doing sports, so why do you need an AF system that is super fast? I say keep the D60 and forget about investing in a camera that is an antique by todays standards.

Nikon D2H vs D60 - Our Analysis
 

nikon noobi

New member
Thanks for your reply aco16 :) ,

Yes , I totally agree, iv been going back and forth about that exact thought. The d2h appeals to me because it was built to a professional grade (albeit 2003), iv read review after review about how out of date the d2h is , but then when I google images "d2h photography " I see some amazing photos. Them I hear people rave about the colour rendering and how amazing it is , also how having less mp's gives you Less noise at low light, on top of that I really don't have time for post production right now, so I'm assuming that less detail means less editing required ? as far as a/f go's , over the holiday brake my daughter went on her very first pony ride (2 years old) , the d60 just couldn't nail it. I hate the fact that I missed out on capturing that moment because some"newer" pice of tech couldn't handle it . . , and the very last reason I like the 2dh is that I quickly started to notice after getting my first dslr, other peoples cameras, . . . Having a d60 banging on your chest seems a laugh when you see dudes with d300/7000/etc I guess having a big d2h would satisfy my male neanderthal brain :) (I said it)

But . . . Did I not nail the photo because of a/f ? Maybe it's just my total inexperience? Is 4 mp going to be less to edit than ten? Will I feel like a macho macho man?

Please help, there's a mans ego on the line :)
 

Marcel

Happily retired
Staff member
Super Mod
Thanks for your reply aco16 :) ,

Yes , I totally agree, iv been going back and forth about that exact thought. The d2h appeals to me because it was built to a professional grade (albeit 2003), iv read review after review about how out of date the d2h is , but then when I google images "d2h photography " I see some amazing photos. Them I hear people rave about the colour rendering and how amazing it is , also how having less mp's gives you Less noise at low light, on top of that I really don't have time for post production right now, so I'm assuming that less detail means less editing required ? as far as a/f go's , over the holiday brake my daughter went on her very first pony ride (2 years old) , the d60 just couldn't nail it. I hate the fact that I missed out on capturing that moment because some"newer" pice of tech couldn't handle it . . , and the very last reason I like the 2dh is that I quickly started to notice after getting my first dslr, other peoples cameras, . . . Having a d60 banging on your chest seems a laugh when you see dudes with d300/7000/etc I guess having a big d2h would satisfy my male neanderthal brain :) (I said it)

But . . . Did I not nail the photo because of a/f ? Maybe it's just my total inexperience? Is 4 mp going to be less to edit than ten? Will I feel like a macho macho man?

Please help, there's a mans ego on the line :)


If you could get a D200, then I think you'd be better. But from D60 to D2H, you'll loose too much information. It's one thing to look at pics on the web on a monitor, but when the time for prints come, then 4 mgs won't be enough, in my opinion. If you don't have enough money now to upgrade, then just wait and get the camera that you will enjoy for a little longer.

Oh, and I was almost forgetting, these things are highly addictive. There is just no end to satisfy our neanderthal brains.
 

gqtuazon

Gear Head
Thanks for your reply aco16 :) ,
But . . . Did I not nail the photo because of a/f ? Maybe it's just my total inexperience? Is 4 mp going to be less to edit than ten? Will I feel like a macho macho man?

Please help, there's a mans ego on the line :)

Not everybody is going for the bulky stuff. In fact, it is the opposite.

Let go of your ego and just get this kit for now. It is fitting for your screen name (joke! LOL!). It will take better images at higher ISO.

Amazon.com: Sony NEX-5N 16.1 MP Compact Interchangeable Lens Camera with Touchscreen - Body Only (Black): Camera & Photo
 
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