Upgrade Dilemma

Chatterstatic

New member
Im suffering from a bit of an upgrade dilemma I have been enjoying dabbling in macro/close-up with a D60 and it's kit 18-55 non VR combined with a set of Polaroid extension tubes with electrical pass through an four piece diopter set it all new to me but I'm enjoying producing images of things that most people pass by if you know what I mean and way dilemma is as follows I'm wanting to add a Nikon 55-300 which can be had for 299 euros on Amazon and have been also eyeing up replacing the D60 with a D3200 349 euros body only on Amazon.

Reasoning for the lens is to be able to back off from subjects a bit and the reasoning for for the d3200 is crop factor honestly 24 mega pixels gets me doing a Homer donut impression every time I think of it but I can get one or other for the moment then wait a couple of months for the next, I'm also going to be upgrading my tripod as the Manfrotto travel tripod I have is driving me demented stupid trigger mechanism and the way the head rotates badly and it's not that steady with a focus rail on it so a Manfrotto 055 is also on my shopping list.

If I changed the lens to a Tamron one or Sigma it would shorten the delay between items, but I'm typically impatient and it's all causing a general overload at the mo...

Help............
 

gqtuazon

Gear Head
Im suffering from a bit of an upgrade dilemma I have been enjoying dabbling in macro/close-up with a D60 and it's kit 18-55 non VR combined with a set of Polaroid extension tubes with electrical pass through an four piece diopter set it all new to me but I'm enjoying producing images of things that most people pass by if you know what I mean and way dilemma is as follows I'm wanting to add a Nikon 55-300 which can be had for 299 euros on Amazon and have been also eyeing up replacing the D60 with a D3200 349 euros body only on Amazon.

Reasoning for the lens is to be able to back off from subjects a bit and the reasoning for for the d3200 is crop factor honestly 24 mega pixels gets me doing a Homer donut impression every time I think of it but I can get one or other for the moment then wait a couple of months for the next, I'm also going to be upgrading my tripod as the Manfrotto travel tripod I have is driving me demented stupid trigger mechanism and the way the head rotates badly and it's not that steady with a focus rail on it so a Manfrotto 055 is also on my shopping list.

If I changed the lens to a Tamron one or Sigma it would shorten the delay between items, but I'm typically impatient and it's all causing a general overload at the mo...

Help............


None of the items that you've mentioned sparks my interest. I would save your Euros and aim for a much bigger fish. It minimizes any future NAS as we call it.
 

SteveH

Senior Member
The D3200 is a good camera, and the 55-300mm is a good lens (I use one a lot too!) but I think you sound like you are approaching a level where you would soon outgrow those bits of kit if you bought them - Especially as the 55-300mm isn't a macro lens and that seems to be your interest.

As Glen says, I'd save a bit longer and go for a D7xxx camera or better (possibly refurb?) and a macro lens. The 55-300mm is great for the price and I wouldn't say don't get one, but it is simply not a close up lens (Minimum focus distance is 1.5 meters, if I remember right). The Sigma 105mm Macro is a good price, and a highly rated lens.
 

Chatterstatic

New member
Thanks for the answers guys...

I had been considering the better stabilised 70-300, my reasoning for the 55-300 was more all round use but yes to do some macro combined with extensions I had read that more often than not folk get shot "pardon the pun" of 55-200's in favour of the extra reach of 55-300 or 70-300. The Non Macro lens thread is a testament to what can be achieved with a bit of working around.

One of my main issues is I have never tried any of the other lenses and on a recent trip to a store "Large Chain" I asked if the display model could be put on a camera for me just to see it in action got a response of not a chance. So I'm looking for a smaller shop that might be sales orientated. I have no real idea of how close a proper macro lens like the Sigma 105 will let me get it would be nice to try one out.

I'd like to rent one not sure if anywhere does that at a reasonable rate here in France
 
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Elliot87

Senior Member
Patience is not my virtue (not in this regard anyway) but I wish it was. It seems like you are serious about photography so if I were you I'd wait and look into getting a D7*** body as Steve suggested. I have the D3200 and like it a lot but I know it won't be long until I want more from my camera, such as better low light performance.

I have the Tamron 70-300mm and it's a good lens, not much between it (if anything) and the more expensive Nikon. I believe both are better than the 55-300 but I've not used one myself. You're right about the 55-200mm, I had mine for a very short time before upgrading. If it'd been the VR version I met have kept it for longer.

I'm looking at getting some extension tubes as a longer macro lens is currently out of my budget and not a priority. Would be interested to see some of your results with them.

Good luck in making your choice. My vote would be D7100 first, followed by a dedicated Macro or 70-300 depending on what suits your needs more.
 

Elliot87

Senior Member
One other reason to go for a D7*** body is that it will auto focus with older non AF-S lenses. I wish I had the option of buying these older lenses as some I believe are very good glass, at very good prices. In the long run that could save you some money over the D3200.
 

Chatterstatic

New member
At this stage budget allowing I would be more inclined to go up the D5200 road as rotatable lcd seems like a handy addition as is live view which I don't have on the D60, One of the biggest nightmares I find is currently when the D60 is on the focus rail with the centre bar reversed, maybe I should just get a better tripod first. :stupid:
 

WeeHector

Senior Member
I have a D3100 which I use for macro. I have a 40mm micro but also have a set of Polaroid tubes. For the past few months I've been mounting my 18-55 on a 36mm tube as this gets me as close as is physically possible at 34mm+36mm tube. It all boils down to what you want to do. Do you want to look into the eyes of spiders? I do and my present setup does that very well. Perhaps, before doing an upgrade, you should ask yourself if you are using your equipment to its full extent. If you aren't then an upgrade won't help you. Push your camera (and yourself) to the limit and then you will know if you need to upgrade or not.
 

Bill16

Senior Member
I've never owned or tried a D60, so I don't know how it compares to what I have used. But getting either a D90,D300, D7000, or a D7100 will allow you to AF with some awesome af-d lenses that are cheaper but still great quality Nikon lenses! So those are the Nikon's I would choose from if I were you, and I would look at used and refurbished too and not just new.

If you need the 24mps right away, the I would recommend the D7100! Otherwise the other models are cheaper, especially used, and also work very well! :)


Anyway I hope you'll love whatever Nikon model you end up choosing! :D
 

Chatterstatic

New member
I have a D3100 which I use for macro. I have a 40mm micro but also have a set of Polaroid tubes. For the past few months I've been mounting my 18-55 on a 36mm tube as this gets me as close as is physically possible at 34mm+36mm tube. It all boils down to what you want to do. Do you want to look into the eyes of spiders? I do and my present setup does that very well. Perhaps, before doing an upgrade, you should ask yourself if you are using your equipment to its full extent. If you aren't then an upgrade won't help you. Push your camera (and yourself) to the limit and then you will know if you need to upgrade or not.

Im playing around with the 12 20 and 36 plus the diopter set here in 53 it seems pretty limited for camera shops it was Darty that were not so helpful the salesman just spent the whole time trying to sell the most expensive lens which I didn't want.


I've never owned or tried a D60, so I don't know how it compares to what I have used. But getting either a D90,D300, D7000, or a D7100 will allow you to AF with some awesome af-d lenses that are cheaper but still great quality Nikon lenses! So those are the Nikon's I would choose from if I were you, and I would look at used and refurbished too and not just new.

If you need the 24mps right away, the I would recommend the D7100! Otherwise the other models are cheaper, especially used, and also work very well! :)


Anyway I hope you'll love whatever Nikon model you end up choosing! :D

Watching Fleebay and Leboincon "French online free ads " like a hawk
 

Chatterstatic

New member
Well I kind of nullified the dilemma as I had already ordered the 55-300 VRII from Amazon and was in an shop to day and accidentally purchased a new D5200, It feels so much nicer than the D60 and having a flip out lcd is nice now if that battery could just charge a bit quicker svp
 

SteveH

Senior Member
The flip-LCD will be a big bonus for macro I would think, if I could have feature added to my D7100 (Not including things like "D4 internals"!) it would be the flip-LCD. It simply should be a feature from the D5xxx up IMO.

Have fun with your new set up!!
 

Chatterstatic

New member
Another question which is kind of related to all this I have a set of 52mm diopters can I just use them with a 58mm to 52mm step down adapter or do I need to invest in a set of 58 mm diopters?
 

Chatterstatic

New member
Nice, I like that! :cool:

I hope you got a good deal?

It was a kit so OK'ish although not as good a deal as the d60 was when I got it years ago as that was purchased in a tax free region, I had the old 18-55 with no VR so the new one feels and views a lot nicer to my eye so I really glad I didn't go the body only route.
 
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