First Shot with D5100 from Best Buy sell

Well, made the silly mistake to first try my 50mm D lens, duh,,,, so,, dug out the 18x55 VR G lens, which really is the right match for this camera, did a quick test with way past due flowers. Hand held, ISO 500, spot light, lens speed 1/250th,, F 5.6



I like the folding screen in back, can store it with the glass not exposed, which is great for in the hiking pack. I have already set it to manual, and trained how to use the buttton for the speed change. of the Hot buttons, the ISO is missed,, have to use the menu.. pretty easy,, but still a two step process. The sensor is pretty low noise up to ISO 1000, so lots of latitude there.

Nice. I've a question - What was the price that Best Buy had this camera? I was at CostCo this afternoon and they have the D5100 with the 18-55 and the 55-200 for $769 or something like that. If I remember right, the BB offer only came with one lens, right? I wonder if this works out to be about the same if you take into account the second lens?

stmv said:

Well, made the silly mistake to first try my 50mm D lens, duh,,,, so,, dug out the 18x55 VR G lens, which really is the right match for this camera, did a quick test with way past due flowers. Hand held, ISO 500, spot light, lens speed 1/250th,, F 5.6

View attachment 24607

I like the folding screen in back, can store it with the glass not exposed, which is great for in the hiking pack. I have already set it to manual, and trained how to use the buttton for the speed change. of the Hot buttons, the ISO is missed,, have to use the menu.. pretty easy,, but still a two step process. The sensor is pretty low noise up to ISO 1000, so lots of latitude there.

Click to expand...

I have not done this, so it may not be what you are wanting.

On page 165 of the D5100 user manual, it is explained how one can "re-assign" the function of the FN button. (ISO is one option...) Hope this helps, if not, I apologize.

Even if that flower is past it's prime...that is an excellent shot. You have steady hands...or a good tripod!

Dave_W said:

Nice. I've a question - What was the price that Best Buy had this camera? I was at CostCo this afternoon and they have the D5100 with the 18-55 and the 55-200 for $769 or something like that. If I remember right, the BB offer only came with one lens, right? I wonder if this works out to be about the same if you take into account the second lens?

Click to expand...

Well,, the Best buy was 649 dollars.. for 18x200 and 5100, approx 1600 value.. (5100 - $700 dolllars + 18x200 - 850) for say 1550 value

the costco deal is about : 5100 is about 700 price, 18x55 - 120 dollars, 55x200 - 250) for say $1070 value

so, the best buy was the better deal, but I still think it was a mistake, never to be seen again, $769 still nice price.

and good idea Ozark on assigning fn to ISO,,, since that is most likely what I would change most often.

If that's what you paid then you got an amazing deal. The website has your bundle at $1199.98. Was it an "open box" special (i.e. return) at your local store? Even so, if it came with full warranty you can't beat the deal with a stick.

BackdoorHippie said:

If that's what you paid then you got an amazing deal. The website has your bundle at $1199.98. Was it an "open box" special (i.e. return) at your local store? Even so, if it came with full warranty you can't beat the deal with a stick.

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It was online and there were a few brick and mortar stores that price matched the bundle as well. Brand spanking new. It was an awesome deal.


- william - via tapatalk

and I will vouch that both the camera and lens were not open box, totally new, I love getting the 18x200 VRII,

I have the 18x200 VR which broke, and hopefully will be sold on ebay for parts in the next couple of days.

The new version seems a bit better built, and I really like that they added the zoom lock button. My original one did drive me nuts with that zoom creep feature, right now the lens is still in that brand new stiff state, but I am sure over time, the zoom will loosen, and I will appreciate that function.

I took some test shots with the 18x200 on my D7000, and am totally happy with the sharpness. For that walkabout lens, can't beat the 18x200 for the brain dead days. Of course at 849 dollars a bit pricy, but at this discounted price, a no brainer.

I purchased the deal just because of the discount on the 18x200, almost never see that lens deeply discounted. and the 5100 is a nice bonus.


Finished setting up and learning the 5100, One feature I really really like is the quick changing the setting from the info screen ... duh... why doesn't the D800 have this feature,, I know,, tons of hot button, but still cool, and cost nothing to add to all their cameras.


I did change the function to ISO change, that is convenient. I am training myself to hit that little button for changing shutter speed, a bit akward, because I find myself convoluting my fingers a bit,, but it works. I still will use this camera in manual mode,, just my habits,,


I saw a feature in the menu for bracketing, I have not found any description yet in the manual, so, I'll have to see how this function works. I thought the 5100 does not support auto bracketing.


If I hang onto this 5100, the two lens I would buy are.... 35 1.8 DX, and the 50 mm 1.8 G.. I think those would be killer combos,, on the otherhand, the stock 18x55 VR which I have, works just fine with this camera, and frankly, is surprising sharp. Not tough, but sharp, and it focuses so darn close that it might as well double as a macro. I am not convinced the the 18x55 is good enough, except not quite fast enough for lower light. but... it is kinda hunker of a lens, large for its size, so maybe the 35 would make the 5100 more compact.

I find it kinda weird that with the 5100 I have this amazing compact camera, so so tiny, such high quality, and then the lens ends up being so large due to the G overhead. Geeee. I'll have to go to a camera store and check out the 35G to see how much smaller it is.. I really like the idea of having an ultra compact, ultra fine package,, which is exactly what the 5100 can be.

Here is a comparison, I've never seen a non G lens so I dont know what they look like

thegaffney said:

Here is a comparison, I've never seen a non G lens so I dont know what they look like

View attachment 24678

Click to expand...

but is that the 18x200? I am wondering how much smaller the 35G was to the 18x55 DX

from my research:

35G DX is 3 inches,
and the
18x55 is 2.9 inches

so going prime does not make it any more compact than just using the 18x55

compare that to a NON G lens,,
50mm 1.8 D is 1.5 inches,,

So,, essentially the G lens is 2X longer, looks like it does not matter, Prime or 18x55 will yield the same size package. If one does not mind manual focus, then can still use the 1.8D,, I'll try that to see, but not sure how bright the viewfinder is for manual focusing.

One feature I really like on the 5100 is the LiveView Lever... really convenient.

Post edit: ok, tried it with the 50mm 1.8D,, yes, the focus screen is ok, and it does have the focus confirm feature, I got nice sharp test images, and wow.. with the 50 1.8D,, really compact, throw in a 28D, and all set for those low profile days. super super light!

decided to sell 4 more lens to cover the purchase.
some oldies but goodies
75-210 F4 AF
75-300 F4.5-5.6 AF
80-200 F4.5-5.6 D (el cheapo, but sharp)

and from my usually not to sell bucket..


50-300 first Zoom,, beauty... and actually sharp.. big, classic OLD metal.. they called this the safari lens in its day.

I'll have cleaned out a bunch with this sell.

Ahhhhh ok

How is this

They are all about the same diameter, I thought the 18-200mm would be much bigger but it really isnt

If the older lenses are half the size that would be pretty small, it would be a very compact camera

I saw a feature in the menu for bracketing, I have not found any description yet in the manual, so, I'll have to see how this function works. I thought the 5100 does not support auto bracketing.
Read more: http://nikonites.com/d5100/10364-first-shot-d5100-best-buy-sell.html#ixzz2IA9VHk0

1. Turn on Camera
2. Half depress shutter button to bring up menu in LCD. (Unless LCD is already lit up)
3. Push "I" (Info button to the right of viewfinder. (Selections will light up in yellow now)
4. Push bottom of round navigator button to go down to last item on screen. "BKT" (It will probably read...BKT OFF)
5. Push OK in center of round navigator button. (When BKT OFF is lit up in yellow)
6. Choose your setting for a three shot bracketing set. (Each setting sets the difference in EV for each shot...)
7. Take your three pictures in single or continuous mode...
8. Don't forget to set Bracketing back to OFF, or you will take bracketing shots and not realize it. Of course, I have NEVER done this...LOL.


The manual explains this a lot better than me! (Page 88 & 165) :apologetic:

yup,, exactly... yup,, the 18-200 is amazing small, that is part of its appeal. I bet you will really really like it over time. Don't abuse it,, and it will last a long long time (mine broke because I dropped it.. and the casing came apart,, fixed, but it was never the same).

Compare the build of the 18-200 versus the 18-55 and you can appreciate the differnce.

I bought my wife the same lens 5 years ago, and AOK.

Thanks Ozark,, I was going to revisit that, so,, the 5100 does auto bracket, NICE. in reality,, not not much features missing on the 5100, except for the dedicated buttons/weatherproofing.