So I decided I'm going to buy a DSLR Nikon with my tax return this year. I'm only getting $600 back on my taxes, so that's my budget. The camera's I had in mind were the D40, D60, and D3000. I'm favoring the D60 and D300 for the 10.1mp. I also am going to need lenses, memory card, and maybe a bag. I will be taking pictures of my tank, car, nature, and just fun times with my friends and me. I've always wanted a DSLR camera and just never had the money to buy one till now

buy a Rebel...atleast its not crippled like the Nikon offerings

You don't need to have Ashton Kutcher's money to take good pics.

This will get your foot in the door. Nice little kit.

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/product...&lid=627063

lol I think what ^^they^^ mean, is that you should try to be open minded.

...

Really any of the three you listed, as well as the ones they suggested, will do you right for the purposes you've listed.

I would suggest browsing the used equipment online at Adorama. They are in New York and you may actually get more for your money with a used body. This is a common source for pro shooters like myself looking to pick up third and fourth bodies for remotes. Now is a pretty good time in the used market. By the way, Nikon is the right choice..... the glass is spectacular and the mount hasn't changed in decades unlike Cannon. Take it it from some one that shoots for a living..... don't discount the used market.

Good Luck

Those awesome older lenses that rely on the in body focus motor will work great on those cams for AF huh

05X's law...Godwin's law of photography theads.

OP, do not listen to advice from people who use Nikons regularly in real life. 05X has read about them extensively online and has attained a high degree of expertise regarding their features and usability.

I have to say..you post more useless stuff then most other people for being SOOOOOO well versed in photography. Most of the time you just try and post off the wall stuff that doesnt help.

I'm set on a Nikon and that's that. I know plenty of people with Nikons that love them. No one has said why cannons are better, even from research the cannons seem a bit pricier for less. I've also wanted a Nikon way b4 Kutcher even thought about doing Nikon commercials. The lenses are interchangeable and yes they have stayed very similar throughout the years. my concern is what Nikon to get. I'm really favoring the D60 as it is slightly smaller than the D3000. I'm also looking for a close and wide angle lenses, and I have been considering buying just a body and then lenses separately.

racerfreak, have you

1. done the side by side on dpreview?
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare_po...40&show=all


2. personally handled each of the models you're considering?


I would rule out the D40, its old, and can be quickly grown out of

the D60 and D3000 appear to be virtually the same, however, the D3000 is newer and has newer auto focus system and a bigger LCD screen

I would strongly consider a used D80 or a D90

i have had a d40 for about 3 years now. it was my first dslr. it is easy to use and i have been very happy with the pictures i've been able to take with it.

however, i will say that i somewhat regret not having shelled out for a camera that had a higher resolution (i do much more cropping with aquarium shots than i ever thought i'd do when i was originally evaluating which camera to purchase). something to consider.

I will share with you the bit of knowledge that got dropped on me yesterday, and I will share it with authority and as though I am an expert. Although it's quite possible that I am wrong, I will argue its accuracy in the face of any evidence to the contrary.

The D3000 and D5000 can't use the same range of lenses that the other Nikons can, limiting you in your future glass selection.

Bodies are cheap compared to lenses. I have a D5000 and as someone that likes to take RECREATIONAL pictures it is PERFECT. I like the fact that I can hand the camera to anyone and say, "It's just like a regular digital camera." They look at the screen hold the focus, say cheese and snap the shot. SIMPLE.

OC is correct on this one. it probably wouldn't matter that much since most of the lenses that don't work on the D3000 are pretty pricey or pretty old. Ken Rockwell is pretty disparaging of the D3000 as well.
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d3000.htm
just in the spirit of full disclosure, i am a nikon guy.

I feel like I have to be honest here, I don't want anyone to be crippled by a camera that can barely operate any lenses. For those of you considering an entry level nikon (d40,d60,d3000,d5000), please realize that this very small and restrictive list contains all of the lenses you can use with full functionality:

NIKKOR:

Wide-Angle
AF-S DX 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G ED
AF-S DX 12-24mm f/4G IF-ED
AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8G IF-ED
AF-S 16-35mm f/4G ED VR
AF-S 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED
AF-S 24mm f/1.4G ED

Mid-Range
AF-S DX 16-85mm VR f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED
AF-S DX 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED
AF-S DX 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED
AF-S DX 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II
AF-S DX 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR
AF-S DX 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED
AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8G IF-ED
AF-S 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED
AF-S 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6G VR IF-ED
AF-S 28-70mm f/2.8D IF-ED
AF-S DX 35mm f/1.8G
AF-S 50mm f/1.4G

Super-Zoom
AF-S DX 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR
AF-S DX 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED
AF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G DX VR IF-ED
AF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF VR DX II

Telephoto
AF-S DX 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED
AF-S DX 55-200mm f/4-5.6G VR IF-ED
AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8G VR IF-ED
AF-S 70-200 mm f/2.8G ED VR II
AF-S 80-200mm f/2.8D ED
AF-S 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G VR IF-ED
AF-S 200mm f/2G VR IF-ED
AF-I 300mm f/2.8D IF-ED
AF-S 300mm f/2.8D IF-ED II
AF-S 300mm f/2.8G VR IF-ED
AF-S 300mm f/2.8G ED VR II
AF-S 300mm f/4D IF-ED

Super-Telephoto
AF-S 200-400mm f/4G VR IF-ED
AF-I 400mm f/2.8D IF-ED
AF-S 400mm f/2.8D IF-ED
AF-S 400mm f/2.8D IF-ED II
AF-S 400mm f/2.8G VR IF-ED
AF-I 500mm f/4D IF-ED
AF-S 500mm f/4D IF-ED
AF-S 500mm f/4D IF-ED II
AF-S 500mm f/4G VR IF-ED
AF-I 600mm f/4D IF-ED
AF-S 600mm f/4D IF-ED
AF-S 600mm f/4D IF-ED II
AF-S 600mm f/4G VR IF-ED

Macro
AF-S Micro 60mm f/2.8G IF-ED
AF-S Micro 105mm f/2.8G VR IF-ED
AF-S DX Micro 85mm f/3.5G ED VR

SIGMA:

Fisheye
4.5mm f/2.8 EX DC Circular Fisheye HSM
10mm f/2.8 EX DC HSM Diagonal fisheye

Wide-Angle
8-16mm f/4.5-5.6 DC HSM
10-20mm f/3.5 EX DC HSM
10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM
12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 EX DG ASPHERICAL HSM
14mm f/2.8 EX HSM RF APO
17-35mm f/2.8-4 EX DG ASPHERICAL HSM

Mid-Range
17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM
17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC Macro HSM
17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC HSM "for Nikon Only"
17-70mm f/2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM
18-50mm f/2.8 EX DC HSM MACRO
18-50mm f/2.8 EX DC HSM "for Nikon only"
18-50mm f/2.8-4.5 DC OS HSM
18-50mm f/3.5-5.6 DC HSM
24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM
30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM
50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM

Super-Zoom
18-125mm f/3.8-5.6 DC OS HSM
18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC
18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS
18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM
18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM

Telephoto
50-150mm f/2.8 APO EX DC HSM
50-150mm f/2.8 APO II EX DC HSM
50-200mm f/4-5.6 DC OS HSM
55-200mm f/4-5.6 DC HSM
70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM
70-200mm f/2.8 APO EX DG HSM MACRO
70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 DG
70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG MACRO "With Built-in Motor"
70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 DG APO Macro
70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG OS
85mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM
100-300mm f/4 APO EX DG HSM
120-300mm f/2.8 APO EX DG HSM
300mm f/2.8 EX DG APO HSM

Super-Telephoto
50-500mm f/4-6.3 APO EX DG HSM
50-500mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM
80-400mm f/4-5.6 EX OS
80-400mm f/4.5-5.6 EX DG APO OS
120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS APO HSM
150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS APO HSM
300-800 f/5.6 APO EX DG HSM
500mm f/4.5 EX DG HSM APO
800mm f/5.6 EX DG APO

Macro
150mm f/2.8 APO EX DG HSM MACRO
180mm f/3.5 APO EX DG IF HSM MACRO

TAMRON:

Wide-Angle
10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 AF Di-II LD

Mid-Range
17-50mm f/2.8 SP AF XR Di-II LD Aspherical [IF] (A16NII)
17-50mm f/2.8 SP AF XR Di II VC LD Aspherical [IF]
28-75mm f/2.8 SP AF XR Di LD Aspherical (IF)(A09NII)

Super-Zoom
18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 AF XR Di-II (A14NII)
18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 AF Di-II LD Aspherical Macro NII
18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 AF Di-II VC LD Aspherical [IF] Macro
28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 AF XR Di VC

Telephoto
70-200mm f/2.8 AF Di LD MACRO
70-300mm f/4-5.6 AF Di LD Macro (A17NII, with built-in motor)

Macro
60mm f/2 SP AF DiII LD (IF) Macro
90mm f/2.8 SP AF Di MACRO Model 272E

TOKINA:

Wide Angle
12-24 f/4 AT-X 124 PRO DX II

+1 to lat

Yeaaah...all of the glass companies are making their newer models with motors in them, so the fact that you won't be able to use the old-school lenses is...uhh...well... LSS it shouldn't be too much of a factor for ya.

Is that all?

I owned a D60 for a couple of months and exchanged it for a D3000, there is not much difference in the cameras, the D3000 is in my opinion just a replacement model of the D60 as those have been around for some time, pretty much the same camera with some very minor upgrades.

The one and only thing that I do not like about the camera is that they do not do video, not a big deal but that video option is missed when i upgraded from my P&S. But if i wanted the Vid capability I would of had to upgrade to the D5000 and spend more. I opted for a lense upgrade instead of the video cap.

I purchased mine at sams club for $529 and that came vith a AF-5 Nikkor VR 18-55mm lens, battery and charger and I purchased a AF-5 Nikkor 70-300mm lens sepratley ( a pretty penny i might ad ).

The stock lens is pretty good for really close shots and landscapes as well as general portraits but you will need somthing a little better if your main goal is to get really really close to your fish and corals. But the 18-55 does a decent job but with the restrictions of the glass on a fish tank, you are limited to the lens zoom the 18-55mm does not cut it if you want a really close shots of a coral in the middle or back of your tank and I would reccomend a a 55-200mm lens for those instances, at times I wish that is the lens I would of purchased instead of the 70-300mm but my god does that 70-300mm open up a whole new world on large landscapes.

The thing with a DSLR though is getting a new lens is like getting a brand new camera. Every time you change that lens you open up possibilites of the perfect shot.

Regrets on the D3000: No Movie mode

Lens Regrets: Stock 18-55 dont cut it for fish and coral close ups in a fish tanks in my opinion and the 70-300mm is to powerful for nano size tanks. ( Probably would work on a 200g just fine though ).

If I were you, Id pony up another $100 and go with this.

Includes HD Movie Mode and is very very nicely priced for what you get.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Nikon-D5000-12.3...-Offer/11714567

Then buy a 18-55mm off ebay for less than $100 off ebay down the road ( all over ebay for less than $100 last time I looked.

But if you are dead set on the $600 or under budget, go with the D3000 kit, either way your gonna be happy.



But DO buy from wal-mart as you can not beat their no hassle return policy and that is 90 days, that to me is priceless as I often change my mind. If you want to return something to some schmuck online store your lucky if you would even get an exchange if something went wrong.

D3000 Kit is $456 at wal-mart.com Includes 18-55mm VR lens.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Nikon-10.2-MP-D3000-Kit/12169833

If you wanted, you could purchase that camera and this lens and be just over $650 and have a bad ass setup.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Nikon-AF-DX-Nikkor-Lens/9914706

Hope I have been some help.

Ideally the perfect all around lens would be a 18-200mm but expect to spend upwards of $700-800 on that lol

I would never spend 7-800 bucks on a slow lens just for a big range of zooms

slow is slow

for that same $7-800 you could get a sigma 70-200/2.8

smaller zoom range, but leagues more quality and speed

right now I'm between the D40 & the D60. I know the D40 comes with 2 lenses compared to the D60, I'm not looking to be mr fancy. As long as it's better than my point and shoot and i can take close ups of my tiny hermit crabs and small zoa's I'll be happy. I have a feeling the D60 is a better choice if I ever need to crop a picture, and I have a feeling I will need to.

Not gonna happen with the kit lenses that would come with it..I would imagine the 18-55 and the 55-250..neither will give you close ups..I think you need to do more research before you waste your money on lenses that dont do what you want.

i have heard that these are a good solution to buying a macro lens:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Macro-Extension-Tube-R...=item562d95055e

supposedly they work relatively well for being a cheap solution.

yea if they are electronic ones..those will not let you AF or control the fstop.
You would need a set of Kenkos to retain all electronic functions of the lens.

well this is why i made this thread, what kind of lenses would I need to take pictures of small hermit crabs and zoa's? do I just need a macro addition?

you would need a Macro lens if you want to take pics of small hermits very close up. I dont know what kind of closeup your expecting to get so no one can really answer if a Macro would work or if extension tubes stacked on a 18-55 would satisfy you.
Oh and if you want a macro..the cheapest one you will get that will autofocus on the body you want cost around $550. The Tamron, Tokina, Sigma 105 wont AF. since they all rely on screw drive AF..now 90% time you manual focus during macro shooting..But its kinda stupid to spend that kind of money and not be able to AF to double duty the lens as a nice short tele lens as well.

well I'm sold on the Nikon D40, I was checking reviews this morning and this sold me:

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d40.htm

Now I just have to find the best deal.

If you read enough of the camera forums you will learn that many enthusiasts and pros don't hold ken rockwell's opinions in high regards. I personally would go for the D5000. It has the newer sensor that would allow you to shoot at higher ISOs with less noise than the older sensor of the D40.

LOL he is nothing but a Joke...If you follow what he says as good info good luck
You are pretty closed minded on a camera..Even if you want a Nikon..I mean why dont you save a little more and get a D90 and not waste your money on the D40..atleast the D90 is fully function not water down thing like the D40 is. Hell if I was a Nikon shooter I would take an OLD D50 over any of the new D40/D60/D3000/5000 cameras. Why not even look into a nice used D80 as well.

The D50 is the camera that anyone insisting on getting a base model nikon should get

another problem I have with the D40 is that in an effort to make it "easier" to use, there are very few buttons, which means that functions are buried within submenus, which in my EXPERIENCE, made it an inconvenient camera to use

used D80s are going for less than $600

racerfreak - please hear me out on this one. I have a D40 and a D80. I have not touched the D40 in about 1.5 years. if you plan on shooting anything above ISO400, good luck

as much as I love nikon, the D40 really does fail at life

since when is buying the cheapest possible item, the best idea when dealing with electronics?

be patient, save a few more bucks, and get a decent setup, ESPECIALLY since you want to take aquarium pics - if you are sweating a few hundred bucks for the camera body now, imagine when you start searching for true 1:1 macro lenses

you might think that your lighting is big time, but to a camera sensor, our 1000W MH's mean nothing
- I can guarantee you that you will be frustrated if you attempt to take aquarium close ups with a D40 and a slow 200mm lens (f/5.6)


no one listens 05, you should know that by now....these threads pop up every couple weeks, we give advice, OP ignores it, we move on

Pretty much.

i got my d40 with the 18-135mm lens that was being packaged with the d80.

the d80 is a better camera. the d40 is a fraction of the price. it doesn't do everything that a lot of other cameras do. i don't know. i guess what i'm saying is, it's not the ultimate camera, and i don't think i'd be happy with it if i were more of an enthusiast, but it's worth at least thinking about for someone just getting into DSLRs?

i agree with this. i am constantly struggling to find things in submenus.



i have experienced this frustration. but, isn't this more a problem with the lens, not the body?

(i'm (painfully obviously) not an expert here, so i'm not weighing in with anything other than anecdotal evidence and personal experience)

I just finally purchased a Nikon DSLR myself after doing extensive research. I decided to pay a little extra and get the Nikon D90 which I now absolutely love!!!!! I highly recommend you check out B&H cameras: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=n...itialSearch=yes
Here is the link to the Nikon d90....with most of the B&H dSLRS, if you "add" the product to your shopping cart you will see the actual price they are selling it for is much less then the "suggested retail" price, FYI. B&H usually has the most competitive pricing online...

to an extent, but it doesn't matter what lens you have if your camera produces so much noise above ISO400 that the pics looks like pixelated rainbows

IME, the D40 is useless in low light above ISO400


timdanger - think of our hobby of photography like the hobby of reef keeping

we almost always advise noobs to save up and get the right lighting, the right test kits, quality live rock

we almost always advise against buying the cheapest stuff that "works" but isn't necessarily quality (i.e. PC lighting)

i recently went to a wedding where the reception was in a hotel ballroom -- i probably took about 200 pictures in that ballroom, and i would say only a handful of them came out well, regardless of what settings i was using/flash (i don't have an external flash, only the d40's built-in unit)/etc. everything looked taupe-y/dark/dull.

i wonder if the low light was my problem.



i can appreciate this. i guess i was just suggesting that, to use your analogy, if the near-term goal is only to keep some beginner livestock like a clownfish and some softies/mushrooms, PC lighting is not an unreasonable choice. you might want something more down the road, but then again you might not.

For an entry level camera I'd go with the d5000 hands down! For some saying that not all lenses will fit the d5000, this is true but just because a specific lens can't fit your camera doesn't mean you won't be able to find the right lens you're looking for/need. Below I liked some articles and reviews of the d5000 and plus you get HD video!

Nikon D5000 CNET review

D5000 vs. D90

good point...I just think he'd be frustrated and give up

and we all know how quickly things escalated from the days of softies/shrooms to LPS then on to SPS/clams

Abot the best that can be expected with a stock AR-5 18-55mm VR lens that came withy D3000.

Not really good on close ups or fast motion on.



more

Maybe because the shots are poorly taken?

o snap!

more

The problem isn't the lens, it's the person behind it.
(Yes, I'm tired, therefore mean today)

i don't want to hear anything about me being mean ever again

No promises.

No because it is with a slow lens that isnt meant for the purpose at hand. If you have any questions about my photography ability look at these pictures tanken wth the same camer, with a good lens ment for their purpose

I never claimed to be an expert as I dont beleive the poster is either, just showing hard evidence on what he can expect with a lens not meant for what he wants to do with it.





more


.

Those pictures of the fish tank have so many things wrong with them, no lens would make them look good. Firstly, try keeping the lens straight to the glass instead of at an angle. 


But this thread isn't about your abilities.

So i see you finally take my approach to it and not sugar coat anything

marry me

It's not the motion blur that's the problem, it's that they're completely out of focus

A base body and kit lens can most certainly take better pictures than that.