D40 with one or two lens, I need help.

[BrerMouse]

I'm going to take the plunge and buy a dSLR. A Nikon D40.

The real question is do i buy the regular package of

1) Nikon D40 Digital SLR with 18-55mm f3.5-5.6G

or the two lens package

2) Nikon D40 Digital SLR Two-Lens Outfit (18-55mm f3.5-5.6G/AFS DX 55-200mm F/4-5.6G ED)

or the two lens package with the second lens being VR.

3) Nikon D40 Digital SLR Two-Lens Bonus Outfit (18-55mm f3.5-5.6G/AFS DX VR 55-200mm F4-5.6G)


So basically what i need to know is should i spend the extra money to get the two lens and if so should invest in the second with VR, or no.

I'm going to be doing a lot of shooting on vacations in the caribbean and at the World of course.

I need all the advice i can get.

Thanks

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

The lens on the standard package should be a Nikon lens - are they also Nikon lenses with the other package or some other manufacturer with a Nikon fitting ?

Do you need a zoom of such proportion ? A 200mm DSLR lens is the equivalent of 350mm lens used with a standard 35mm film camera

 

[BrerMouse]

Yes they both are Nikon lens. I'm not sure if I will need the extra zoom but I know it couldn't hurt. The base package is 449, the two lens is 549, and the two lens with the 55-200mm lens being VR is 599.

 

[PhotoDave219]

Spend the extra money on the VR lens. Those things are worth their weight in gold.

Basically if you go with the two lens set, you will have every focal length covered from 18-200.

VR is very handy in low light (IF YOU ARENT MOVING) as it will help reduce motion blur.

 

[BrerMouse]

That's what I had about decided glad to get the advice on the boards. Someone mentioned that I should spend the extra 100 dollars and get the D60 with both VR lens. I've read reviews indicating that there isn't enough difference to justify and then some say it's crazy not to upgrade.

 

[PhotoDave219]

D40 is about to be replaced by the rumored D4000. D60 has been replaced by the D5000. If you can get a deal on both lenses being VR, go for it.

I've used VR/non VR lenses in the same lighting conditions, same atmosphere, etc. The VR helps with slow shutter speeds as i just cant hold my camera still below 1/10th of a second.

As for older gen/newer gen debate..... I've used Nikon's DSLR cameras for 9 years now. D1 Series, D2 series (D2H was ________!) and now the D3 series. With each successive series, there has been a breakthrough in sensor technology that allows higher ISOs with lower noise so much so that we're reaching a point where a camera can almost see better in the dark than the human eye. (Give it 5 years).

So my point is that there's a definite advantage to buying the latest technology.

The obligatory "If i were you....." advice..... Go to a camera store and compare them. Use them both in the store and compare the image on both when they are at the same settings. Get the camera thats right for you and feels right in your hand.

 

[dixiegirl]

Photodave question for ya,
I have a D60 and love it , but I need to get a book on different techniques , such as getting sharper night pics , fireworks, and such . I know shooting at night many times requires a tripod and can be a crapshoot, I can handle that I just need some pointers on getting clearer night pics and just getting different tips ..daytime come out amazing....

But night time , I'm still not happy with.....any help would be great!

 

[PhotoDave219]

Here's a good book .... I have the first edition and the 3rd edition. (Third edition was in the bargain bin)

As for night shots, it may sound silly but you do turn the ISO setting up?

Fireworks, well I've written many a dissertation in this forum, almost a how to.
Flat out easiest is to use a tripod & shutter release and do long exposures. You'd be looking at ISO 100, f/14 and somewhere in the 10 second variety.

Conversely, if youre going hand-held.... somewhere around 1/10-1/30th at f/2.8 and ISO 800 should work.

 

[BrerMouse]

Thanks for the help PhotoDave. Found a deal a new D40 with 18-55 lens for 369 brand new with coupons from staples. I'll add the extra lens later. I just didn't think i could let this deal pass by. Thanks again for the help.

 

[dixiegirl]

Here's a good book .... I have the first edition and the 3rd edition. (Third edition was in the bargain bin)

As for night shots, it may sound silly but you do turn the ISO setting up?

Fireworks, well I've written many a dissertation in this forum, almost a how to.
Flat out easiest is to use a tripod & shutter release and do long exposures. You'd be looking at ISO 100, f/14 and somewhere in the 10 second variety.

Conversely, if youre going hand-held.... somewhere around 1/10-1/30th at f/2.8 and ISO 800 should work.

Thanks for the advice I'll have to get that this weekend! Only have 85 moredays till we goback to our happy place, plenty of time to play with my d60!!

 

[PhotoDave219]

Thats really the best way to go about it. Play at home and learn there.

This months project involves shooting 5-10 rolls of kodachrome for a project as that film is going away. Not at the mouse unfortunetly.

 

[DebS]

Fireworks, well I've written many a dissertation in this forum, almost a how to.

Would you be so kind as to give us a link to your "dissertations" on fireworks? Also any pics exif as examples? I would really appeciate any tips or suggestions you might have. Night shots and fireworks are always such a challenge at WDW. Mine are getting better but I've got alot to learn. Always trying to learn (not judging) from others pics I found that the Disney photo pools have quite a few blown out, blurry and over processed (noise and saturation) pics. I can see what they didn't do right but don't know why since they strip out the exif.

 

[PhotoDave219]

The long and the short of it is that i shoot them the same way i shot them on film, using a tripod and a shutter release.

I've found that at ISO 100, both Wishes and Illuminations are around f/11-f/16 (depending on the shells) and you manually control the shutter. I don't use any sort of automatic settings at all; i just know the shows and know what shells open when and allow the fireworks to paint in the frame.

I wouldnt push it past 15 seconds. Things tend to blow out then.

 

[DebS]

The long and the short of it is that i shoot them the same way i shot them on film, using a tripod and a shutter release.

I've found that at ISO 100, both Wishes and Illuminations are around f/11-f/16 (depending on the shells) and you manually control the shutter. I don't use any sort of automatic settings at all; i just know the shows and know what shells open when and allow the fireworks to paint in the frame.

I wouldnt push it past 15 seconds. Things tend to blow out then.

Thanks for the advice. Looks like I should get a shutter release for my next trip. I can't possibly shoot at 100 ISO without one. My digital shots are usually ISO 800 to get the speed (1/25) and a decent F in aperture priorty. When I shot film I was able to do long exposures with a shutter release. Timing isn't a huge problem. I know when I hear the phisssh they're going up.
Better go shopping and I know just the one I want