Camera & Lense Recommendation

[TheReefGeek]

I want to save up for a good digital SLR camera.

I want to take macro shots of my tank, and have good zoom for outdoors.

I am looking at the nikon 50 or 70, anybody have experience with these taking macro shots, what lense(s) do you like?

[Matt]

I just bought the Nikon d50 for my wife's birthday. We're still learning how to use it, but we'll be posting some aquatic shots soon. It came with the 18-55 dx lens. We don't have any other Nikon lenses yet.

So far, an impressive camera.

Matt

[TheReefGeek]

I have been reading up on that camera and lense.

Where did you get it from? How much?

I have been considering ordering from this website:

http://www.adorama.com/INKD50K.html

[Matt]

I was a bit more impulsive, and had a delivery deadline. I got it from McBain, where they're on sale right now. Still a bit more than you'll pay with careful online shopping, but they'll honour the warranty locally and they're a good outfit to deal with.

HTH,
Matt

[TheReefGeek]

I just found this:

http://cgi.ebay.ca/Nikon-D70S-D70-S-...QQcmdZViewItem

Amazing deal! Now I know how much I have to save up. That package comes with the two lenses I want too.

[Ruth]

Just remember you are going to get dinged with duty, GST and brokerage fees. I know when I bought my Canon last year I looked on e-bay quit a bit and by the time I figured their shipping fees, exchange, brokerage etc. it was cheaper to buy it in Canada. I have that same zoom lens and actually prefer the quality of my pictures with the 70-200mm lens but that's just me.

[TheReefGeek]

I will calculate it out, I need a shipping quote, and if they ship USPS brokerage is $5, and GST is always charged. There shouldn't be any duty on a camera made in the US coming into Canada.

I have researched the lenses all day today, and the 18-55 gives the closest focal distance for macro shots, and the 55-200 vs. 70-300 lenses for nikon are very similar, but the extra zoom of the 300 would be nice, and it is cheaper too.

Any places to recommend looking in Canada? The prices I have seen are so much higher.

[muck]

Isn't Nikon a japanese company?

[Ruth]

I am still learning how to use my camera. I bought it from a place in Vancouver and I'll try to find the name. For a macro lens I use the 100mm 1:2 - you can get super close and still have great shots. What I like about the 70-200 is the quality of the pictures over my 70-300 - there is really no comparison but like you say it is quite a bit more expensive. I use that lens for taking action shots at ropings and such. I really have to get one of those camera boats built so I can take some pictures of my tanks because I just have no luck taking them through the glass - they turn out aweful.

[Ruth]

Originally Posted by muck

Isn't Nikon a japanese company?

I think they are - I know when I researched the Canon there was duty because it was a Japanese camera and I'm pretty sure Nikon is as well.