Help Buying Camera - Quick!

[drummage]

I need to buy a camera soon before our vacation. I have a digital that I love (Olympus 4040), a stupid point & shoot that my daughter broke last weekend by kicking the soccer ball at her indoor game smack into the lens, WHILE I WAS SHOOTING HER! I was glad because I did not like it, even though I got a bruised eye in the process. I want a great SLR with a spot meter, quick AF that I can use at my kid's soccer (indoor & outdoor), basketball games, birthday parties, family events, vacation. I love a good zoom AND the wide angle. I scrapbook like crazy, so I took a photography class. I am just learning how to put all the information together, so I want somehting that will take awesome pictures on the auto-everything setting and that I can also switch to manual to become a better photographer.

A friend who is a very good amateur photographer recommended the Nikon N80 & a Tamron 28 - 300mm f3.5 - 5.6 ( I think) lens. I like the idea of one lens, that can do it all; but I see a lot of 28 - 100mm & 70 - 300mm lenses, too. I would like to stay under $700 total (not counting batteries, bag, etc.) and his suggestion fits the bill. He is a Nikon guy through & thorugh, though & I have read the N80 doesn't focus as fast as some others and the latch on the door allows dust to enter the body. I hate to make such an important decision so quickly, but we leave for Disney World next Friday & I really need something before then as I do not want to rely purely on the digital. HELP!!

[another view]

I have read the N80 doesn't focus as fast as some others and the latch on the door allows dust to enter the body

The F100 will focus faster, and the F5 a little faster yet, but they're bigger, heavier and more expensive. Same with the gasketing - some on the F100 but much better on the F5.

Starting with the easy one, I wouldn't worry about dust in the camera thru the back door unless you're going to Iraq or another really difficult location. In most (like 99.9%) situations, it's really not going to be a problem. Regardless of the camera, it's always best to be careful when changing film - standing on the beach on a windy day and opening the camera back is probably a bad idea, etc... Dust is really more of a problem with digital SLR's, but that's a whole different topic.

OK, now the other one - the AF speed is a different story. The N80 has five AF points in the view finder. The fastest and most accurate sensor will be the one in the sensor - I'd recommend locking the AF selector on the center spot. Lens speed also is very important with AF speed and accuracy. The faster the lens (f1.4, f1.8, etc) the better off you'll be. The lens you list is fairly slow (300mm @ f5.6) and that aperture is about the limit of what an AF system will work at.

With lenses, the two main options are zoom or prime (non-zoom fixed focal length). Fast zooms will have an f2.8 aperture constant through the focal length range, like the 70-200 - but it's much bigger, heavier and that lens alone is about twice your whole budget. Another good option would be the 180mm f2.8 prime lens - it's much smaller and a used one would be very reasonable. Something to keep in mind down the road for sports, and it's one of the best lenses Nikon makes.

The "all-in-one" lens might be a good option for vacations, but if you get more serious about it you might want to add some faster lenses later. Other good ones would be the 50 f1.8 (under $100) and the 85 f1.8.

[Speed]

The F100 will focus faster, and the F5 a little faster yet, but they're bigger, heavier and more expensive. Same with the gasketing - some on the F100 but much better on the F5.

Starting with the easy one, I wouldn't worry about dust in the camera thru the back door unless you're going to Iraq or another really difficult location. In most (like 99.9%) situations, it's really not going to be a problem. Regardless of the camera, it's always best to be careful when changing film - standing on the beach on a windy day and opening the camera back is probably a bad idea, etc... Dust is really more of a problem with digital SLR's, but that's a whole different topic.

OK, now the other one - the AF speed is a different story. The N80 has five AF points in the view finder. The fastest and most accurate sensor will be the one in the sensor - I'd recommend locking the AF selector on the center spot. Lens speed also is very important with AF speed and accuracy. The faster the lens (f1.4, f1.8, etc) the better off you'll be. The lens you list is fairly slow (300mm @ f5.6) and that aperture is about the limit of what an AF system will work at.

With lenses, the two main options are zoom or prime (non-zoom fixed focal length). Fast zooms will have an f2.8 aperture constant through the focal length range, like the 70-200 - but it's much bigger, heavier and that lens alone is about twice your whole budget. Another good option would be the 180mm f2.8 prime lens - it's much smaller and a used one would be very reasonable. Something to keep in mind down the road for sports, and it's one of the best lenses Nikon makes.

The "all-in-one" lens might be a good option for vacations, but if you get more serious about it you might want to add some faster lenses later. Other good ones would be the 50 f1.8 (under $100) and the 85 f1.8.

Welcome to the forum! Since Another View stole my thunder, I'll just piggyback on what he said...

I own a N80 and a F5. The N80 is a great camera. The F5 does autofocus faster, but it heavier and much more expensive. (Used they are $800-$900)

The N80 is light, easy to use, and inexpensive for what you get. It is loaded with features. If autofocus speed is a must, then use the center focus point. In bright light they all work fine, but when the light level starts dropping, use the center one. With the N80, you can lock the focus point at one spot, so you don't accidentally move it.

The 28-300mm is a nice all-around lens and it fits nicely in your budget. It will be a nice do-everything lens for your trip. As time goes by, definitely add faster lenses to your bag. A 28-70mm f2.8 is a very versatile lens. You can get them for as little as $329 for the Sigma (I know a pro who traded in his Nikkor for this one since it's so much smaller and lighter). I love mine, and use it for most of my indoor shots. It's fairly wide, and it's fast. Great lens for the price.

A 70-200mm f2.8 or 80-200mm f2.8 would be an awesome lens to have in your bag. But bring your big checkbook with you. I'm still waiting to get one for that very reason. My 70-300mm f4-5.6 does all my long range shooting.

Primes are fast and compact, and may or may not fit your needs. I have a 50mm f1.4 which I LOVE dearly. It is fast, sharp, and light. The f1.8 version goes for around $100, so it's a great buy. (Do you really need that extra half stop of light?) I recently got an 85mm f1.8, and it's a very nice, fast lens as well. There are other primes out there like Another View mentioned, that may fit your needs very nicely. They are usually lighter and faster than the zooms, but not as versatile. You'll have to decide what your needs are.

Hope we've helped. Let us know what you decide on, and how you like it.

[another view]

Since Another View stole my thunder

Yeah, yeah, too quick for you, eh?

They are usually lighter and faster than the zooms, but not as versatile. You'll have to decide what your needs are.

There are other pros and cons in the prime versus zoom debate (that's a hint - everyone will have a different opinion). Some people will tell you that zooms aren't as sharp as primes. That's usually true unless you're talking about big expensive pro-level lenses, but all zooms have gotten so much better than they were a decade ago - it's really no where near as true as it used to be. Unless you're making big prints and have all of the technical stuff absolutely perfect, I wouldn't worry too much.

Two other things about primes: First, there's less chance of lens flare when doing something goofy like shooting into the sun (and getting dramatic images because of it!). This is because there is fewer lens elements to cause flare in a prime. The other thing is that since you have to zoom with your feet (move yourself in or out to change composition) there's a tendancy to think more about what you're doing. It's a slower process, and not always best because of this. But I like it...