Photographers - I need your expertise

[northepaul]

Thanks all for your input. I used to use macro lenses with my old SLR and I'd be loking for something like that. I realise that the lenses are the important bit - I think I might go and bend the ear of our local Jessops. They will let me play about a bit!

I'll go back and re-read all these posts at my leisure!

Can I offer a word of warning with regards Jessops - they give the appearance of being a place to seek advice, but most of the employees are on commission to sell you the (whichever camera manufacturer) newest most expensive camera they can. They are not interested in your needs but only in their pockets. (Besides most of the sales people are not 'experts' in cameras or photography, just anyone who happened to look right at the time)
I would really recommend an independant camera retailer, at least they have their reputation to think of, besides that of making a sale.

[elsie-scot]

If you have a couple you really like, the other thing that is worth checking is what batteries they take, how much a spare costs, how heavy they are (some cameras weight can be really increased if they still use AAs), how quick they re charge.

I am a canon fan, would love a DSLR as had a normal SLR, but do like the convieince of being able to fit my compact camera in my jeans pocket

[northepaul]

You dont specify which part of East Yorkshire you are in - if you are near Hull, there is a really good camera shop there called Hilton Photographic, 25 Paragon Street
Hull, 01482 325223

I used them about 2 years ago to buy a tripod and new ball head. They were very knowledgeable and didnt try and pressure me into anything.
Hope that helps

[Capsid]

Thanks all for your input. I used to use macro lenses with my old SLR and I'd be loking for something like that. I realise that the lenses are the important bit - I think I might go and bend the ear of our local Jessops. They will let me play about a bit!

I'll go back and re-read all these posts at my leisure!

Do you still have the macro lenses? They may still fit a new dSLR body except that you probably won't have autofocus, but then for macro work focussing the lens isn't such a big issue as it's more to do with the distance of the lens to the subject.

[chris]

If you go Canon (I'm a canon guy) I can fully recommend the 100mm 2.8 Macro lens, amazing. There's a new version of it out now too, one of the luxury ones - I don't do macro but may be treating myself to one after my next lens purchase.

It's an EF fit lense too, so if you upgraded your body (again if went the canon route) you'd be able to use it... One thing you probably need to check with Nikons mount is if you bought a seperate lense can you use it on later/better bodies. Not sure if Nikon work the same way canon do, as I've never had to look into them. Nikon's Zoom lenses are amazing optically, but Canons primes are equally outstanding.

I could go on for ages, but I won't

p.s. you could always reverse mount a ~50-100mm prime on a zoom lense.. I did this with a 300 + 50, got some AMAZING macro shots, albiet the DOF is extremely limited.

[chris]

oh ya, warehouseexpress are pretty good - they've priced matched for me in the past, I'd avoid Jessops (over priced .. infact haven't they gone under?)

If you go Canon, I can give you the details of a guy in scotland who I use - Canon US imported rather than grey imports, and his prices are pretty good. Example, I paid £200 less for my latest lense (17-40L) from him, against warehouse express a while back when i bought it.

[northepaul]

It's an EF fit lense too, so if you upgraded your body (again if went the canon route) you'd be able to use it... One thing you probably need to check with Nikons mount is if you bought a seperate lense can you use it on later/better bodies. Not sure if Nikon work the same way canon do, as I've never had to look into them. Nikon's Zoom lenses are amazing optically, but Canons primes are equally outstanding.

Theoretically if you have a Nikon F mount lens it should fit on any model...however if its a manual lens, you have to focus manually and you cant alter the aperture (on later AF and digital bodies). If you have a DX (digital lens) it *should* fit any Nikon digital camera.

(As an aside - Not sure if I am remembering correctly, Chris but Zeiss are Canon arent they? I have an outstanding Zeiss M mount 35mm lens for my Leica.)

[northepaul]

oh ya, warehouseexpress are pretty good - they've priced matched for me in the past, I'd avoid Jessops (over priced .. infact haven't they gone under?)

.

Yeah Warehouse express are ok, but I found their delivery cost a bit steep.

[Flummery]

Yep Northpaul, I know Hiltons.
Today we're off to daughter's for a Mothers' Day lunch and SIL recently bought a DSLR. I might have a play with his. (Ooh Missus!)

[chris]

Theoretically if you have a Nikon F mount lens it should fit on any model...however if its a manual lens, you have to focus manually and you cant alter the aperture (on later AF and digital bodies). If you have a DX (digital lens) it *should* fit any Nikon digital camera.

(As an aside - Not sure if I am remembering correctly, Chris but Zeiss are Canon arent they? I have an outstanding Zeiss M mount 35mm lens for my Leica.)

I didn't know Carl Zeiss lens' were Canon, for some reason I thought they were a Sony brand.. probably as most of their pro-sumer video recording device use Ziess optics. I do agree though, they are amazing. I've never gone 3rd party though,, just stubborn I tend to stick with what works.. My mrs calls me a badge snob, which I suppose looking around the house & the carsshe may be right. lol, actaully looking at my bank balance, she def is right!!

Yeah Warehouse express are ok, but I found their delivery cost a bit steep.

If I see something I like there I tend to wait for their offers! I've also called them before and said that I've seen stuff one onestop-digital (grey importer) cheaper, and they've offered me free delivery. If you don't ask, you don't get!

I'm extremely cheeky.

[bubblewrap]

I always thought Karl Zeiss lens's were German.
Carl Zeiss International

[northepaul]

I always thought Karl Zeiss lens's were German.
Carl Zeiss International

Yeah maybe I am a bit muddled as I know they make lenses for Canon too.

[organic]

Flummery - TEB gave you a link to the dpreview site... one I've always liked (in fact, I prefer it to dpreview) is Unbiased Digital Camera Reviews and News | Digital Camera Resource Page
Go to the reviews section and you'll find a HUGE list of cameras from dSLRs to little compact ones (and the "bridge" cameras that are like an SLR without the ability to change lenses).

Each review follows a standard format with standard photographs (the same in every review) covering many different shooting conditions so it's really very good for distinguishing between one camera and another.

It really helped me choose the compact digital camera I had for a while. (Canon PowerShot A700 - it grew legs while I was clambering out of a wetsuit in a beach carpark in the French Basque Country... gutted!)

[Flummery]

Thanks for the links people - intersting reading. I spoke to SIL about his and he has rcently bought a Cannon D5000. It might be worth my while going for Cannon since we will be able t borrow lenses from each other. I'm considering the additional purchase of a macro, he's considering a long lens, so there are swapping considerations to be take into account here!

I'm hoping for a shuftie round the camera shop later this week.

Still got the tripod and shutter cable from the olden days. Save a bob or two eh?

[chris]

Do you mean a 500D? (Canon)

Nikon have the 5000D

Confusing eh!

Post about them here: http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/re...ssage=32344083