Estimated Cost of A DSLR system

[wainism]

hi,
wanna get the advice of u guys.
just wanting to estimate the cost of getting a DSLR system so that i know roughly how much i need to save.
basically interested in landscape, abit of sports(currently have abt 3 yrs left of NTU inter hall level sports) and event photography(dinner and dance) and maybe portraits. interests in order of preference.

Current List That I came up with

01 x dry cabi = $120?
01 x D70 Kit = $1700?
01 x 80x 1 GB CF card = $190(does the D70 package come with a 80x card?)
01 x Flash(seems like most ppl advise SB 800?) = $650?
01 x tripod = $200?
01 x bag = $100-$200?
01 x zoom lens(pls advise)[for those in NTU, one that can comfortably zoom from the main field grand stand to the field]

sigh, DSLR system very ex!!! :sweat:
but really quite limited by my A80
so seriously considering joining the fray, hope u guys can help...

 

[dragius]

In terms of lense i think you will to have:

1. Zoom Lens
2. Wide Lens
3. Macro Lens ;p

 

[wainism]

yeah, i know that eventually those will catch up with me. but cos i have limited cash now. i will pic a zoom first i think. followed by a WA. not quite interested in MACRO yet. so that will be the least of my considerations.

 

[Prismatic]

Maybe you can try a cheaper tripod first?
If you are going to be shooting sports, a monopod will serve a bit better.^^

 

[AJ23]

Basic setup
D70 Kit = $1700 or slightly less (body + 18-70mm lense)
CF card = $150 (Lexar 1GB 80x)
Flash =~$350-650 (SB600 or SB800)
Zoom lense = ~$550+ (Nikon AF-G 70-300mm)
Prime lense = ~$170 (Nikon AF-D 50mm f/1.8)

AA Rechargeable batteries = $3-4 per piece (Sanyo/Energizer 2300-2500mAh)
AA Battery Charger = $30-$50 (Maha/Sanyo/Energizer, etc)

Dry cabinet = $99 (Digicabi 30L)
Bag = ~$110 (Lowerpro Stealth Reporter 300AW)
Blower + lenspen = $30

U might or might not need these
Tripod = $150-200 (Manfrotto 190ProB if ~1.7m, 055 if need higher extended height)
Monopod = $100-$150 (Manfrotto, Gitzo, Slik, etc)
Tripod head = $100 (Manfrott 486RC2?)
Bounce Card = $5-$20 (can DIY or buy)
Extra EN-EL3 = $30-85 (Original or OEM)
Camera Strap = $20-35 (Op/Tech, Nikon, etc)

 

[ParkertR]

Basic setup
D70 Kit = $1700 or slightly less (body + 18-70mm lense)
CF card = $150 (Lexar 1GB 80x)
Flash =~$350-650 (SB600 or SB800)
Zoom lense = ~$550+ (Nikon AF-G 70-300mm)
Prime lense = ~$170 (Nikon AF-D 50mm f/1.8)

AA Rechargeable batteries = $3-4 per piece (Sanyo/Energizer 2300-2500mAh)
AA Battery Charger = $30-$50 (Maha/Sanyo/Energizer, etc)

Dry cabinet = $99 (Digicabi 30L)
Bag = ~$110 (Lowerpro Stealth Reporter 300AW)
Blower + lenspen = $30

U might or might not need these
Tripod = $150-200 (Manfrotto 190ProB if ~1.7m, 055 if need higher extended height)
Monopod = $100-$150 (Manfrotto, Gitzo, Slik, etc)
Tripod head = $100 (Manfrott 486RC2?)
Bounce Card = $5-$20 (can DIY or buy)
Extra EN-EL3 = $30-85 (Original or OEM)
Camera Strap = $20-35 (Op/Tech, Nikon, etc)

D70 Kit = $1700 or slightly less (body + 18-70mm lens and usually 1 or 2GB 80x lexar - MS Color)
Flash =~$350-620 (SB600 or SB800)
Zoom lense = ~$320+ (Nikon AF-G 70-300mm) - the ED costs 620. or just get the sigma.. 300+ also and has 2 ED elements.
Prime lense = ~$170 (Nikon AF-D 50mm f/1.8) <-- good lens.

 

[coldman]

01 x dry cabi = 20L (S$79) or 30L (S$99) or >30L (S$100->S$300)
01 x D70 Kit = $1700
01 x 80x CF card = 1gb (S$199) or 2gb (S$299)
01 x Flash = sigma 500 super dg (S$400) or SB800 (S$630)
01 x tripod = manfotto (cheaper) or giottios (more ex)
01 x bag = nikon free gift bag (free) or lowepro (more ex)
01 x zoom lens = sigma 70-300mm micro (cheaper) or sigma 50-500mm (ex)

landscape = use wide angle or the tilt lens.
sports = high zoom lens. (eg. 50-500mm)
events = low zoom lens. (eg. 28-125mm)

just my 2 cents worth.. ;p

 

[imaginary_number]

what's your max budget?

If you've a small budget, you can consider the following combination
- a 2nd hand 300D ($~900)
- kit lens (~$80 2nd hand) or sigma 18-50 f3.5-f5.6 ($190 brand new)
- 2nd hand Sigma 70-300 APO II (~$280).
- sigma ef500 dg super (~$350 new) or an auto-flash like metz32z-1 (~$100 2nd hand).

So, with a budget of $1300, you can get a decent system that covers 18mm to 300mm and a reasonably good external flash for your flash photography.

 

[ParkertR]

01 x tripod = manfotto (cheaper) or giottios (more ex)

don't mind me but... when did giottios stuff become more expensive than manfrotto? :S

 

[AReality]

If U're interested in taking interhall sports, get a 70-200 then. 200mm with 1.5x crop is enough for quite a lot of sports. For indoor, get at least a f/2.8 lens.

 

[manx]

hi,
wanna get the advice of u guys.
just wanting to estimate the cost of getting a DSLR system so that i know roughly how much i need to save.
basically interested in landscape, abit of sports(currently have abt 3 yrs left of NTU inter hall level sports) and event photography(dinner and dance) and maybe portraits. interests in order of preference.

Current List That I came up with

01 x dry cabi = $120?
01 x D70 Kit = $1700?
01 x 80x 1 GB CF card = $190(does the D70 package come with a 80x card?)
01 x Flash(seems like most ppl advise SB 800?) = $650?
01 x tripod = $200?
01 x bag = $100-$200?
01 x zoom lens(pls advise)[for those in NTU, one that can comfortably zoom from the main field grand stand to the field]

sigh, DSLR system very ex!!! :sweat:
but really quite limited by my A80
so seriously considering joining the fray, hope u guys can help...

Cheap solution will be a FZ-20.

My friend and I each bought a digi cam in the same month. I got a D70 Kit, he got a FZ-20.

1 D70 Kit = 2x FZ-20

He can take pictures that I can't. These are the only advantage I have over him with a Kit lens only:

1. No shutter lag
2. Power up time
3. Zooming and focusing SPEED (not zooming power)
4. More accurate colours, FZ-20 is very vivid
5. Less noise
6. Kit lens is wider than FZ-20. FZ-20 can add Wide lens kit though.
7. Flash, D70 got more option to play with a SB-600/800
8. Multiple shots
9. Continuous auto focusing (AF-C)
10. Batt. Life. ~1800 vs ~200.

So far...that's all.

But if you want to learn photography, I think SLR is still the way to go.

 

[wainism]

those are the reasons y i wanna upgrade as soon as i have the cash.
1.shutter lag makes it very difficult to cover sports action
2.focusing speed also,by the time i focus with a consumer cam.the action has passed already(most of the time,cheat with focus lock)
3.noise is one major major problem.
4.flash also,as most times indoor lightings poses a problem
5.multiple shots are another problem
6.pretty damn pissed off with AA life,even though i dun use the LCD screen!

haha
so now trying to formulate a way to get a D70!

 

[wainism]

If U're interested in taking interhall sports, get a 70-200 then. 200mm with 1.5x crop is enough for quite a lot of sports. For indoor, get at least a f/2.8 lens.

but for certain games like softball,rugby,soccer(basically all the field sports) i think a 70-200mm wld not be enough?

was thinking maybe 50-500mm?

but whats the disadvantage of using a SUPER zoom like a 500mm?
(i mean surely theres a disadvantage of using such huge zooms right?)

 

[manx]

but for certain games like softball,rugby,soccer(basically all the field sports) i think a 70-200mm wld not be enough?

was thinking maybe 50-500mm?

but whats the disadvantage of using a SUPER zoom like a 500mm?
(i mean surely theres a disadvantage of using such huge zooms right?)

Heavy
Price
Big
You really need a good tripod
(focus) Speed ? <-- not sure.

 

[wainism]

what's your max budget?

If you've a small budget, you can consider the following combination
- a 2nd hand 300D ($~900)
- kit lens (~$80 2nd hand) or sigma 18-50 f3.5-f5.6 ($190 brand new)
- 2nd hand Sigma 70-300 APO II (~$280).
- sigma ef500 dg super (~$350 new) or an auto-flash like metz32z-1 (~$100 2nd hand).

So, with a budget of $1300, you can get a decent system that covers 18mm to 300mm and a reasonably good external flash for your flash photography.

i reckon i need abt $3k. so thats the amt i will be working towards.
i dun mind second hand. but for the flash,been reading abt it. its like SB800 is the way to go? i was thinking along the lines of if i buy a cheaper but not as versatile one, i would have to upgrade again and waste more money?

anyway,heard the 300D is pretty old liao,and some model might be replacing it. do u guys think its technology wld be better than D70 on average?(its not a NIKON vs CANNON question :embrass: )

just asking from a consumer pt of view

cos entry DSLR wld be between the 2 liao...

 

[Winston]

i reckon i need abt $3k. so thats the amt i will be working towards.
i dun mind second hand. but for the flash,been reading abt it. its like SB800 is the way to go? i was thinking along the lines of if i buy a cheaper but not as versatile one, i would have to upgrade again and waste more money?

anyway,heard the 300D is pretty old liao,and some model might be replacing it. do u guys think its technology wld be better than D70 on average?(its not a NIKON vs CANNON question :embrass: )

just asking from a consumer pt of view

cos entry DSLR wld be between the 2 liao...

The new replacement for 300D would be better than D70, simply becos ITs 2005 and D70 is a early 2004 product.

THEN AGAIN, the D70 replacement or D100 replacement (D200 i think) would be better.....and the Cycle goes ON and ON and ON....

Reminds me of Intel and their processors.....newer and faster ones by the months...

Heck, a D70 is a good enough camera for a starter. or 300D for that mattar IF you have a family of Canon users or friends who will tend lend u their 'L' lenses..lol :devil:



D70 kit lens shld cover the wides to std zooms.
Cheap tele will be a Nikon 'G' 70-300mm, hits 300mm for ard $200.

A Sigma 50-500mm isnt really cheap, for its price, I would consider a 2nd hand 70-200mm f/2.8 (2 touch or Sigma) and a 2x TC.
(a 2nd hand 2touch 80-200mm shld be $1k or so...i think)


That way, I can have a 400mm f/5.6 (better than sigma's 500mm f/6.3) and a sharp f/2.8 at 200mm..
Best of both worlds..lol

For Flash, If you are on a Budget you can try the New Sigma Flash, it claims to support the new i-TTL too for D70, D2H..etc
Its $300+ i think, compared to $600+ for a SB800, and its more powerful than a SB600 in terms of guide number.

For Tripod, Maybe a Manfrotto 190 or 055 series, Depending on ur height. if ur 1.8m tall, I suggest 055 series, cos the 190 series when center column extended, I still have to bend down to look thru the viewfinder
BTW i dont think 486RC2 costs $100....the last time i got it was ard $70.

Er...Regarding the CF card.
I did a Test. (Dont ask me the details of the test, and how i conducted it)
And I was surprised to know....

Sandisk's ultra II 1GB beats Lexar's 80X CF 1GB, by a noticeable number of seconds, (more than 3) I repeated the test and the 2nd results are the same as the 1st.
(and I thought that the WA on Lexar would help speed it up...hmm...)
(Thanks to the Kind shop that lets me test both and return the slower one )
I was embrassed to return the Lexar back to its packaging and go for the Sandisk instead.

The Ultra II was slight more ex, but I figured I rather be broke for a few days/weeks than be upset by my decision months and years using it.


Bags.... Dont bother getting new ones (if you are on a budget), grab some 2nd ones in Buy/Sell, some of the bags in buy/sell are 80-90% brand new and going for only half the price of a new one.
OR....go for Safrotto lor....cheaper CHINA copy of the lowepro...sold in TCW.



Frankly
Bags, Tripods, tripod heads, dry cabi can wait a few months.
(use a dry box lor. i got a $19.90 one in Carrefour during promo, come with Humidfier meter on box, and $4 for a bottle of gel)

 

[theITguy]

Wait for the 300D replacement. What I think is that the film camera is still the better one until you can get a DSLR, allows you to shoot at 4fps (my EOS 30) up to 36 frames. Each frame can be scanned up to 20MP (4000DPI) of detail. ISO 400 film pushed to 800 is pretty nice. Problem is you cannot shoot while changing/loading film when 36 frames is finished, but a DSLR can therefore not missing much shots. Moreover you can get a cheap 2nd hand EOS 30 at $350+/- while you save up enough for a DSLR. The film one can be as backup :bigeyes:


Sorry, but I am a cheapskate sometimes. Dun blame me :sweat:

 

[wainism]

hmmm...

though i know using film is the best way to master photography, BUT(and thats a damn huge but)

the process is very very expensive. buying and developing films r just so gonna sap my cash!

so think i will save for a DSLR...
hope 300D's improvement will push down the price of D70?! heehee

or they throw in more stuff like 80X CF 1GB CF cards!

 

[Evilmerlin]

Or you could got the E300? Pretty cheap and you can get up to 400mm easily using the soon to be available Sigma 55-200mm lens. Or up to 300mm with the 40-150mm Oly lens.

Sure, you don't get the burst speed of the D70 but it is still respectable and the autofocus is fast and accurate, even in low light.

 

[wainism]

i think D70 is the way to go for me cos of its burst speed.

anyway,i dun have the slightest idea how to choose a zoom len.

anywhere i can read up on NIKON lenses(diff type/grades etc?) and its compatible lenses like SIGMA?

thx guys, u guys really gave me a much clearer pic

ps. anyone knows wheres espn,wanna hear his input!