15K Budget Suggestion/Advice Please!

[bcknot]

What do you think?

Budget: S$15K

Purpose: Family & travel shots. Mostly portraits, scenery & sometimes events.

Option 1: Nikon D4S with 1 or 2 lens

Option 2: Nikon D800 with more & better lens


Any suggestions please? and what lens should I get?


thank you!

 

[JacePhoto]

I just saw the sample pics of Nikon D3300. That's what I would be getting. Haha

Sorry I apologise for not answering yr question.

I love my D800 for its megapixel. But not when traveling. D4 would be good because of AF and grip is well balanced.

If I were u, I may just go for D4.

 

[Light Machinery]

I will not mention about the D4s as I don't know anything about it. What I mention below is based on my work with both the D4 & D800 / D800E.
Well here are my recommendations.

With your budget you are able to get the 14-24mm, 24-70 & 70-200mm & a camera body with some spare change.

Get the D4 if you need to shoot events at a fast pace, high shutter speed under low light environment (high ISO), high frame rate and the huge buffer.

Get the D800 / D800E if you don't need the speed and high ISO performance. The D800 will do very well for family travel, portraits & scenery shots.

Both cameras have the same AF module, so AF performance is similar.

The image performance of the D4 and D800/D800E is very good, sensor dynamic range goes to the D800 at ISO 400 & below, sensor noise performance & detail retention goes to the D4 at ISO 6400 & above. The D800 / D800E retains detail better up to ISO6400 vs the D4.

The only draw back is the heft and the amount you will be packing for your travel. The weight of a D4 or D800 plus the 3 trinity lenses is quite heavy. It is no small matter to lug them around when travelling with a family.

I always pack a D5100 when I travel with my family. When I am travelling alone for work I will lug the D4 with a back pack.

 

[daredevil123]

Purpose: Family & travel shots. Mostly portraits, scenery & sometimes events.

It sounds like the main stuff you will be shooting is family and travel. If your travel is not very hardcore (ie, not pure photo trips), maybe consider the D610 or the most the D800. Both these bodies can handle the occasional event very well.

D610 will be lighter but is no slouch when it comes to portraits or scenery. As for lenses, it really depends on how much weight you are willing to carry. If weight is a concern, the following combo is worth considering:

1. 18-35G or 16-35VR for UWA
2. 24-85VR or 24-120VR for standard zoom
3. 28-300 if you travel a lot and really want to save on weight
4. 70-200 F4
5. if you like primes, 28/1.8. 50/1.8, 85/1.8

If you want best of everything and don't mind the weight:
1. 14-24 and/or 16-35VR
2. 24-70/2.8
3. 70-200/2.8 VRII
4. primes 24/1.4, 35/1.4, 50/1.4. 85/1.4

 

[shutterspeed]

In addition the D800 / D4, will suggest a light competent handy cam like the Sony RX100 for certain situations where you need someone to take a family photo. Noticed that quite a few people struggle with big DSLRs and I often forget the last setting isn't suitable for general photo.

 

[x0tiq]

I was surprised no one mentioned DF ... and yes. It can take events too ... :cry:

 

[jeff7id]

I was surprised no one mentioned D610 ... and yes. It can take events too ...

Ah I just noticed that Bro DD123 has recommended D600/610 :thumbsup:

 

[richardlim31]

I was surprised no one mentioned D610 ... and yes. It can take events too ...

with a budget of 15K...only recommend him the very best of the best of Nikon

 

[Shizuma]

buy pentax Q10 and use the balance $14 500 on travelling itself.

 

[bcknot]

Thanks bro

It sounds like the main stuff you will be shooting is family and travel. If your travel is not very hardcore (ie, not pure photo trips), maybe consider the D610 or the most the D800. Both these bodies can handle the occasional event very well.

D610 will be lighter but is no slouch when it comes to portraits or scenery. As for lenses, it really depends on how much weight you are willing to carry. If weight is a concern, the following combo is worth considering:

1. 18-35G or 16-35VR for UWA
2. 24-85VR or 24-120VR for standard zoom
3. 28-300 if you travel a lot and really want to save on weight
4. 70-200 F4
5. if you like primes, 28/1.8. 50/1.8, 85/1.8

If you want best of everything and don't mind the weight:
1. 14-24 and/or 16-35VR
2. 24-70/2.8
3. 70-200/2.8 VRII
4. primes 24/1.4, 35/1.4, 50/1.4. 85/1.4

 

[bcknot]

Thanks!! Very good thought

I will not mention about the D4s as I don't know anything about it. What I mention below is based on my work with both the D4 & D800 / D800E.
Well here are my recommendations.

With your budget you are able to get the 14-24mm, 24-70 & 70-200mm & a camera body with some spare change.

Get the D4 if you need to shoot events at a fast pace, high shutter speed under low light environment (high ISO), high frame rate and the huge buffer.

Get the D800 / D800E if you don't need the speed and high ISO performance. The D800 will do very well for family travel, portraits & scenery shots.

Both cameras have the same AF module, so AF performance is similar.

The image performance of the D4 and D800/D800E is very good, sensor dynamic range goes to the D800 at ISO 400 & below, sensor noise performance & detail retention goes to the D4 at ISO 6400 & above. The D800 / D800E retains detail better up to ISO6400 vs the D4.

The only draw back is the heft and the amount you will be packing for your travel. The weight of a D4 or D800 plus the 3 trinity lenses is quite heavy. It is no small matter to lug them around when travelling with a family.

I always pack a D5100 when I travel with my family. When I am travelling alone for work I will lug the D4 with a back pack.

 

[amts]

The D800's MP count was a bit of a turn off for me. It meant that I needed to get larger and faster cards and more HDDs to cope with the RAWs. I settled for the D610 as it is very capable for family and travel and spend the rest on lenses. I also use it for event photography.

 

[daredevil123]

The D800's MP count was a bit of a turn off for me. It meant that I needed to get larger and faster cards and more HDDs to cope with the RAWs. I settled for the D610 as it is very capable for family and travel and spend the rest on lenses. I also use it for event photography.

Actually, 24MP is not that far off from 36MP... 30MB per file compared to 43MB per file for 14-bit lossless compressed.

 

[amts]

Actually, 24MP is not that far off from 36MP... 30MB per file compared to 43MB per file for 14-bit lossless compressed.

That's a 50% increase. My HDDs will fill up 1.5x faster. It was already bad enough as I was coming from a D700 which was 15MB per file.

 

[scapetist]

but a 1TB hdd is only 70-80 dollars these days.

 

[jeff7id]

Thank you to D800 with 36 Megapixel images, I have total 8 TB hard disk !!
All hard disk are full, I am looking for new hard disk soon.

So I cannot recommed D800 to TS. It will be wise to choose D4/s instead.

 

[richardlim31]

Thank you to D800 with 36 Megapixel images, I have total 8 TB hard disk !!
All hard disk are full, I am looking for new hard disk soon.

So I cannot recommed D800 to TS. It will be wise to choose D4/s instead.

Yes TS maybe hold on for awhile and wait for the D4S it may be a 24mp pro cam.

 

[Blur Shadow]

Thank you to D800 with 36 Megapixel images, I have total 8 TB hard disk !!
All hard disk are full, I am looking for new hard disk soon.

So I cannot recommed D800 to TS. It will be wise to choose D4/s instead.

That's because you keep all your photos mah! Haha!!

I habitually eliminate at least 50% of my shots and resize all my casual images to store in jpeg format. My 320GB backup harddisk is not even 50% full despite storing my image archives since 2005.

As for the selection of cameras, I'd go for the D800 if I am into dedicated landscape / studio photography. My the general do-it-all, I'd wait for the Nikon D4s.

 

[paulboh87]

i recommend d610
sigma 35mm f1.4
nikon 16-35 f4
24-70 f2.8
70-200 f2.8

then get a good light weight carbon fiber tripod
and Lee filters GND hard and soft and CPL

left over money save it or use it for more holiday

 

[bcknot]

Nice. thanks!

i recommend d610
sigma 35mm f1.4
nikon 16-35 f4
24-70 f2.8
70-200 f2.8

then get a good light weight carbon fiber tripod
and Lee filters GND hard and soft and CPL

left over money save it or use it for more holiday