Need Help - Nikon D60 vs D80 & Lenses ...

[Corduroy94]

Hello All! First off, sorry this is so long! Ok, so I'm looking to buy my first DSLR and some lenses for it. I have it narrowed down a bit but could still use ANY advice you guys can send my way. To start I've read every review online & in print that I can find on the D60 & D80 and I've even watched the demo videos and used both in store at B&H.

CAMERA -
I'm sticking with Nikon's mainly because I'm used to them. I've got a 35mm N80 that I love. Plus, I own a Nikon Speedlight SB600 which is less than a year old. I thought about the Canon EOS Rebel XSi (aka 450D) due out in April but my flash won't work with it & I don't think I'll have time to learn how to use it before my 2 weeks in Hawaii late May.

Now here's the thing, every time I go to B&H they ask what I plan to use it for and what cameras I've owned in the past. The moment they hear that I have an N80 they force the D80 on me. My big issue is that while I loved my N80 I never used even half the features on it. I only just started using it in manual so I'm hesitant to get another camera with all these features that I'll pay for but might never use.

Using it for - People (inside & out), Landscape & Scenery, Sports & Travel (no where extreme like Everest!)

My overall goal is a camera that takes good quality, sharp pictures. One where I have some freedom to utilize the shutter speed & aperture creatively - as I just started to learn. I realize that this mostly depends on the lens so I was thinking of investing in the D60 and adding on some good quality lenses. Then if I want to upgrade the body to something more advanced down the line I could.

My thoughts on the D60:
- LOVE the weight & size (I have small girl hands!)
- Screen turns off when you look thru the viewfinder
- Antidust system (could be a marketing gimmick though?)
- Easy buttons & menu on back
- Like the simple in camera editing/effects you can do
- Neg = only has one dial and a button for manual mode ss/f-stop controls BUT I didn't find it difficult to maneuver this or things like the ISO changes - just a matter of getting used to it more than anything else.

My thoughts on the D80:
- Feels pretty heavy with just an 18-55mm lenses, afraid to try with a bigger 70-200 or 70-300?
- Grip is large but not unmanageable
- Plus = has 2 wheels, one for shutter speed & 1 for aperture like my N80
- Plus = has the LDC screen on top to view settings

I guess my biggest concerns are am I selling myself & my picture quality short by getting the D60 or will the D80 be too cumbersome in weight and features that it will deter me from using it?


Lenses -
These are the lenses I'm thinking about but it seems like every review I read at B&H.com is mixed. Everyone's always talking about how this lens creeps and that lens isn't as sharp or it has vignettes?

All I'd like are 2 or 3 lenses that give nice sharp pictures under most conditions. I know nothings perfect 100% of the time and the higher my ISO the more noise etc. But I don't know if I sacrifice some sharpness for the VR feature. I know it's not the same as the image stabilization in point & shoots but a little help with camera/hand shake sounds nice if it works.

Basics:
18-55mm AF-S VR (included with the D60 kit)
18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S (great reputation - but no VR)
**some reviews swear by the 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G ED-IF AF-S for sharpness over the 18-55 lenses**
50mm f/1.8D AF (think this only works in AF on the D80 but could be wrong)


Zoom:
18-200mm AF-S VR (am I sacrificing quality & sharpness for convenience of an "all in 1" lens?)
18-135mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S
55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED AF-S VR
70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED AF-S VR


Oh my gosh - have I gone on enough? Seriously, thank you, thank you, thank you so very much for taking the time to read this! Help from real people, who aren't in it for a commission, is such a wonderful thing!

- KM :rolleyes:

[cube]

Don't get hung up on just a flash.

If weight is a problem for you, look at Olympus.

[Lovesong]

Well...Hmmm

Sounds like you're stuck between the D80 and the D60. While the quality coming out of either camera will be equal in terms of image quality, there are several differences (a number of which you have pointed out). The biggest one is the lack of an autofocus motor on the D60. What that means to you is that lenses like that 50mm you have your eyes on will not autofocus (you will have to do it manually). That's my biggest issue with the 40/40x/60 Nikon series. That second wheel may not seem like an issue now, but once you get used to it (like I am used to the control dial on my Canon), everything else seems like a PITA.

I think if you like the ergonomics on the D60, you should go for it, but do make sure that you get AF-S lenses so that you can autofocus.

Now about the glass... like all things in life, there is no such thing as a free lunch. The 18-200, like you keenly pointed out, is a great travel lens, but as the saying goes- jack of all trades, master of none. Don't get me wrong- given your other choices, it's likely going to be your best bet, but do look at a 17-55 f/2.8 as a first starter lens. It's a beautiful piece of glass, and it runs circles around anything else you suggested. It's a little more pricey than the 18-200, but you will be much happier. Also, you never mentioned what glass you have for that N80. If you already have a kit lens, you might not need to get another one.

[Corduroy94]

Well...Hmmm

Also, you never mentioned what glass you have for that N80. If you already have a kit lens, you might not need to get another one.

Currently I have the N80 kit lense which was a 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 AF and a 70-300mm f/4-5.6 AF. I probly wouldn't use either of them on my DSLR. The 28-80 was an ok lens but the 70-300 was a pain. It was a gift and they got the bigest lense for the least $ so ... I guess you get what you pay for ...

[ftaok]

Keep in mind, that my thoughts on this are based on what I've read and not any actual personal experience.

Instead of going with the D60, you might want to look at the D40. It's a great value compared to the D60. From the specs, there doesn't seem to be much more added to the D60 (from the the D40). It's basically: 10MP vs 6MP, anti-dust, LCD sensor, and the VR kit lens. It still has the lack of an in-body AF motor.

So based on the choice of a D60 vs. a D80, I'd be more inclined to go with the D80. However, if the 10MP isn't a big draw for you, I'd choose the D40 over the D60.

ft

[Eauboy]

I use a D80 and *surprise* I would lean toward suggesting it.

The separate dials for shutter/aperture is really nice. There is no question that shooting manual is a great way to work on your technique, and no question that having separate dials makes it much easier to shoot manual.

I'm glad that you're thinking about size, and how that affects whether or not you'll use the camera. To be honest, there are times that I don't take my D80 with me because it is just too big for the circumstances. [hangs head in shame] On the other hand, I have no reason to think that I'd carry a slightly smaller camera like the D60 in those circumstances, either. Perhaps if I had the D80 and a real compact P&S then sometimes I'd take the P&S, but I can't see the size difference (for me) between the D60 and the D80 being enough to be meaningful.

I love the grip on the D80. Like it was molded just for my hand.

I use the 18-200 VR lens almost exclusively. Yeah, it's probably a bit soft, but unless I'm shooting a subject especially suited for my 60mm micro, then the 18-200 is almost always going to be on the camera.

[techie4life]

Just to add my 2 cents:

I recently got a D80 kit, along with the 50mm f/1.8 from B&H online. All I can say is, I LOVE it. I don't think I could have picked a better camera for what I use if for. All of the control buttons and dials really will come in handy.

[compuwar]

Basics:
18-55mm AF-S VR (included with the D60 kit)
18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S (great reputation - but no VR)
**some reviews swear by the 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G ED-IF AF-S for sharpness over the 18-55 lenses**
50mm f/1.8D AF (think this only works in AF on the D80 but could be wrong)


Zoom:
18-200mm AF-S VR (am I sacrificing quality & sharpness for convenience of an "all in 1" lens?)
18-135mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S
55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED AF-S VR
70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED AF-S VR



With all AF-S lenses, you really should look at the D40, it's a dSLR, you'll be buying a new on in 2-5 years anyway, so spend as little on the body as possible. Plus the D40 is easier to shoot at 6MP, and it's smaller if your hands are an issue. It'll work fine with the SB-600 and with a lens list like that, you're not likely to need to crop too much.

[Qianlong]

It depends how much money you're willing to spend.

do remember camera bodies get replaced every +- 18 months for a newer model, but lenses can last a very long time.

if you want to save money get a Nikon D40 + kitlens or the newer 18-55VR lens. Take a lot of pics and decide if you need wider or longer lens and invest towards that.

The D40 and the D60 are almost the same, well except for the higher megapixel count, but that doesn't really matter.

some options:

* D40 + 18-55 (VR)

+ Tokina 12-24mm??
+ Nikkor 70-300VR??


* D40 or D60 + 18-200VR (will probably fit 99% of everyday/ hobby use)

+ Tokina 12-24mm??


* D80 + 18-200VR

* D80 or D300 + Nikkor 12-24 + Nikkor 17-55 + 70-200VR if you're really rich :-)

I know everybody is praising the 50 mm f1.8 lens but on a DSLR it's kinda long for normal use, but very good fr ex portraits.
if you really need a prime which fits the 50mm range or for low light situations take a look at the 35mm nikkor f2.

don't forget that the D40 doesn't have a slot drive motor for AF - prime lenses like the 50mm so you have to manualy focus them.


http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=257862

[seany916]

Canon Xsi in a month or 2.

(from a Nikon D300 owner)

[ChrisA]

Hello All! First off, sorry this is so long! Ok, so I'm looking to buy my first DSLR and some lenses for it....
Lenses -
These are the lenses I'm thinking about but it seems like every review I read at B&H.com is mixed. Everyone's always talking about how this lens creeps and that lens isn't as sharp or it has vignettes?

All I'd like are 2 or 3 lenses that give nice sharp pictures under most conditions. I know nothings perfect 100% of the time and the higher my ISO the more noise etc. But I don't know if I sacrifice some sharpness for the VR feature. I know it's not the same as the image stabilization in point & shoots but a little help with camera/hand shake sounds nice if it works.

Basics:
18-55mm AF-S VR (included with the D60 kit)
18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S (great reputation - but no VR)
**some reviews swear by the 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G ED-IF AF-S for sharpness over the 18-55 lenses**
50mm f/1.8D AF (think this only works in AF on the D80 but could be wrong)


Zoom:
18-200mm AF-S VR (am I sacrificing quality & sharpness for convenience of an "all in 1" lens?)
18-135mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S
55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED AF-S VR
70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED AF-S VR


Oh my gosh - have I gone on enough? Seriously, thank you, thank you, thank you so very much for taking the time to read this! Help from real people, who aren't in it for a commission, is such a wonderful thing!

- KM :rolleyes:

What lenses do you have for the N80? they should work just fine on the D80 (but not the D60)

No one will notice the difference in image quality between bodies. In the end all a DSLR body has to do is open the shutter ad record an image. All those other features are for the potographer, not the person who looks at the final result.

The D60 lacks an in-body focus motor so it can't auto-focus any non AFS lenses. Many great lenses will not work on the D60

I looked at you list of lenses. What subjects would you shoot with a 200mm lens? With a 300mm lens? If it is wildlife or sports those f/5.6 lenses are to slow

VR is nice. It can reduce blur due to camera shake but it can't freeze motion blur due to the subject's motion. If you are thinking about sports you need a faster lens.

Camera shake is not a problem if you shoot at 1/(focal length) or faster. On a 18-55mm lens that means you can shoot at 1/30th or 1/60th without VR. Do you need to shoot slower? The VR vesion of the lens would let you hand hold a wide shot at 1/10th but the subject had better not move. I would rather just use a fast f/1.4 prime lens

One advantage of the D80 is it's ability to use olde used lenses. You can find a 80-200 f/2.8 used for as low as $400

[jpsalvesen]

Get the Nikon D80 if you really want full creative control. Its advantages over D60 is separate dials for shutter and aperture, a larger viewfinder, better AF system overall, and in-house autofocus motor that will allow autofocus to work also on fast primes. You want fast primes if you're looking to do those soft available-light portraits or concert pictures etc. So, it will take you a long time to outgrow your D80.

Get the D60 if all you want good quality snapshots.

I'm also very happy with my Olympus E-510. The in-house image stabilizer works well. There's a lot of good glass available, but that glass is also slightly more expensive. The camera is lightweight but the ergonomics are good: Fits well in your hand, and you can adjust all essentials without looking at your camera. The Olympus anti-dust system is the best available. If I am to compare it to the D80, the viewfinder is smaller and the build quality is not quite the same. You might want to check it out if you're too serious for the D60 but you feel the D80 is too heavy.

[cube]

While there is little difference in weight between a consumer Olympus body and a one of the new Nikons without motor, where one gains with Oly is with the lenses, as the system has a higher crop ratio.

For example, ff you go with the E-510, which has IS and is a bit lighter than the D60, to get something comparable to the ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 40-150mm F4.0-5.6 (220g), you have to go in Nikon for the AF-S DX VR Zoom-NIKKOR 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED (335g).

The difference increases if you go for even longer lenses, including the fact that there is no bigger DX glass in Nikon, and you have to use FX, while on Olympus everything is optimized for the sensor size.

Of course there will be differences in DOF and noise.

[Naim135]

Hi a couple of years ago I got my Dad a PC:eek: the idea being that he could use it with an Epson Stylus pro 700 all in one to scan in his collection of slides and negatives which he is slowly working his way through. I lent him my Leica Digilux 1 for a time and this re-ignited his love for photography, after many months attending various digital photography and Photoshop courses he decided to by a Digital camera, he went through looking at various models Leica Digilux 3, and also variuos other size camera's and settled on a Nikon D200 body with Tamron F2.8 18-55 and also a Nikon 105mm Macro, he is more than happy with these but I did ask why not get the D80 but he pointed out you can do so much more with the D200. I can appreciate that you may be getting features you may not need but if you want to to that bit more at least you now have the choice
regards

MT:)

[carbonmotion]

I took a D40 to places in the world that haven't been touched by civilization. Mountains, Deserts, and Plains. It still looks like it's new. The light weight was a huge plus when you've got a ruck that's close to 80 pounds on your back. If you do alot of scoot and shoot, I recommend getting a lighter body. The D80 is a very nice camera and I wish my D40 had some of its features, which I didn't know at the time of purchase but now understand. That said, if you need to save a few bucks to from the body to put toward great Nikkor lenses, I would do that first and foremost.

[iTiki]

I'm in a similar situation as the OP. I have a couple of PS cameras (Nikon and Pentax) but want to move up to a DSLR. After going back and forth between Canon and Nikon, I prefer the "feel" of the Nikon. I was set to get the new D60 with the kit lens (18-55) and add the 55-200. I thought this would be a good combination to find out where most of my use would be and buy better lens' down the road to cover those needs. Now, I'm looking at the D80 with the 18-200 VR lens. This gives me everything the D60 has, plus a better body, better quality glass and AEB (for HDR). The D80 combo will cost me about $400 more than the D60 with the 18-55 and 55-200. Do you agree with my thought process or have other opinions?

Thanks, Mike

[bam bam]

I have the D80, 18-200 VR, 50mm f/1.8, 18-135 kit lens and speedlight 800. Bought about eighteen months ago. (Before the D40 & D60 came out). I really like the features of the D80 and the ergonomics. I was deciding between that and the Canon Rebel Xti and the D80 just felt better in my hand.

The first lens I bought was the 18-200 VR. I haven't used my 18-135 since. I like the VR lens a lot, great for virtually every picture outdoors. It is just OK for indoors because it is not fast enough in low light (and with two fast moving kids I got a ton of blurry pictures). Most of the time I have to strap on the speedlight, but that makes the whole outfit quite heavy.

I absolutely LOVE the 50/1.8 lens. It takes fantastic pictures and is perfect for indoors, even in low light. I'm amazed that it only costs ~$100. Very cheap and an incredible value. Everyone should own this lens.

I almost get bummed out when I have to switch back to the 18-200 lens due to the extra weight.

[jpsalvesen]

I absolutely LOVE the 50/1.8 lens. It takes fantastic pictures and is perfect for indoors, even in low light. I'm amazed that it only costs ~$100. Very cheap and an incredible value. Everyone should own this lens.
Then no-one should buy the D60. Or the D40x. Or the D40. Neither one has the autofocus screw, so autofocus doesn't work with the 50/1.8.

[numbersyx]

Then no-one should buy the D60. Or the D40x. Or the D40. Neither one has the autofocus screw, so autofocus doesn't work with the 50/1.8.

Or they can just manually focus a very fine lens

[Corduroy94]

First off THANK YOU so much to everyone that's been replying. This has been such a huge help! I'm 95% set on the D80. I really want that 50mm lense and I can't imagine always having to use it in manual focus on the D60. My photography teacher has been encouraging me to get the 50mm because she swears it always helps her students improve their photos by forcing them to get closer instead of always relying on their giant zoom lenses (guilty!).

I'm still a little hung up on a few things with the D60 (weight w/acess, dust, LCD motion sensor ...) but I think once I play around with the D80 in the store a bit more I'm not gonna care about those things. In the long run it's all gimicks and marketing and I defintely want a better camer and better pictures over any features!

Any other advice, especially on lenses, is always welcomed!! Thanks again!! Look forward to talking more with you guys!

- KM :o

[Abstract]

And just when i was going to tell you to stick with your guns and get the D60 + 18-200 mm VR lens. :o

You know you want it. You like the size. The lenses you listed before all have autofocus. The kit lenses will be great for you. If you want a "fast" (ie: big aperture) lens that will autofocus, you can still get a Sigma 30 mm f/1.4 instead of the Nikon 50 mm f/1.8 or f/1.4. It'll also give you a prime lens, just like your teacher suggests.

[Corduroy94]

And just when i was going to tell you to stick with your guns and get the D60 + 18-200 mm VR lens. :o

You know you want it. You like the size. The lenses you listed before all have autofocus. The kit lenses will be great for you. If you want a "fast" (ie: big aperture) lens that will autofocus, you can still get a Sigma 30 mm f/1.4 instead of the Nikon 50 mm f/1.8 or f/1.4. It'll also give you a prime lens, just like your teacher suggests.


Haha thanks! Like I said 95% sure. If I know myself I'll be flip flopping in my head until the moment I walk out the door with the camera in hand! :)

[Qianlong]

or you can buy an older D70s or D50, both will work with the 50mm lens.

the chip inside the D70s is the same as the newer D40.

with the money saved you can invest in a flash or wide/ long lens.

[basharar]

I was seriously considering the D80+ 50mm lens, but I got the D60 "had the D40 before" with the Sigma 30mm 1.4, IT is a lethal combo, ADL "adaptive dynamic light a serious photo enhancing feature from the nikon D300/D3" on the D60 is worth the price alone vs. D40 or D80... The sigma gives a wider picture than the Nikon 50mm, excellent low light performance and very sharp...

[Edward Abbey]

On the verge of buying the D80. I do have concerns about the weight of the camera and lens in my backpack in the wilderness. My primary use would be landscape photos. I have always wanted to get a Tilt/[shift] lens for this reason, but owning Nikon lens, I have resisted converting to Canon and the Nikor lens is too long. So I have been considering getting the Zork Multi-focal system and putting on the D80.

Does anyone have any experience with this combo?
Lens suggestions for this setup?

Thank you very much!!
Don:

[eddx]

***D60 WARNING***

Please be warned with the D60 it only has 3 focus points, and on paper, seems like not a big deal, not many people take full advantage of focus points. Trust me when you do start to your photography improves greatly. Two friends of mine purchased the D40x and both ended up selling and upgrading to a D80 because of the 7 point focus system, it makes a big difference honestly.

Lens wise, I am a big fan of the 18-200mm VR lens and the quality lose isn't anything I have ever noticed, I have seem time and time again fellow photographers changing from their 18-55mm to the 55-200mm to photograph something a bit far away, soon as they do this and put the camera to their faces, what they wanted to photograph is gone, and I already have the picture in my camera because I don't need to change my lens to zoom in close - that to me is quality lose on more expensive but less focal ranged zooms.

So go for the Nikon D80 and I will be interested to read which lens you end up buying. By the way, all the photos on my photo blog / website (link below) were taken with the D80 so that might give you an idea on the range / quality the camera produces.

[ChrisA]

On the verge of buying the D80. I do have concerns about the weight of the camera and lens in my backpack in the wilderness. My primary use would be landscape photos. I have always wanted to get a Tilt/[shift] lens for this reason, but owning Nikon lens, I have resisted converting to Canon and the Nikor lens is too long. So I have been considering getting the Zork Multi-focal system and putting on the D80.

Does anyone have any experience with this combo?
Lens suggestions for this setup?

Thank you very much!!
Don:

Have you considered a wooden 4x5 field camera? Seriously. If you are hiking with a back pack film might be the best ticket. Scan it when you get home. With 4x5 you can make some decent size prints. The D80 is limited to about 14 inches.

I don't know "Zork" but by "multi-focal" do you mean some kind of graduated diopter? If so why not just fix the image in Photoshop? Take several shots each with a slightly different focus setting then blend them in PS CS3. It is like HDR or a Panorama, a composite that blends the forground of one shot with the background of another.

With a wide enough lens set at the hyperfocal distance I just can't see why the entire DX size frame would not be sharp. DX size camera have large DOF.

[Edie]

I can't believe I am in exactly the same position - D60 v D80 - so everyone's replies have been v helpful. Does the situation change if I am intending to shoot only close-up food? I've shot for cookboooks before but only on film so am starting again from scratch.Art directors tell me the more megapixels the better ( therefore D40 at 6 is out of the question), and that 10 is minimum - but I also want to start at a basic level to get my technical skills (low) up first. Have some good lens left over from film slr.
Any advice out there?
Also has anyone attended the Nikon training courses in Richmond and recommends them?

many thanks.

[compuwar]

On the verge of buying the D80. I do have concerns about the weight of the camera and lens in my backpack in the wilderness. My primary use would be landscape photos. I have always wanted to get a Tilt/[shift] lens for this reason, but owning Nikon lens, I have resisted converting to Canon and the Nikor lens is too long. So I have been considering getting the Zork Multi-focal system and putting on the D80.

Does anyone have any experience with this combo?
Lens suggestions for this setup?

Thank you very much!!
Don:

T/S lenses on a small-format camera are more useful for architecture than for landscapes, because (a) you really don't get that much movement and (b) you only get movement on the lens not the sensor plane. If you want the same effect as Scheimpflug on a small format camera, use focus stacking and perspective correction in PP. Calmumet sells bellows systems for small-format cameras, but they're expensive and you're really not going to get big movements.

I own three view cameras and they're all gathering dust, I think these days it's easier to do panos with a high-res digital camera. By the time you deal with the chemicals to develop the film, the enlargers for anything over 4x5, paper or Ilfochrome material, and all the time involved the PP time looks pretty good. If you're scanning, you can skip the printing and enlarger parts, but seriously getting a print worthy of even a 4x5 negative or positive is going to be expensive if you're not doing it in the darkroom.

On the other hand, if you get an old 8x10 field camera, don't mess with too toxic a developer (Unfortunately PMK is my favorite, but I'd probably try Pyrocat HD if I had to shoot B&W film today) and just do contact prints, that might not be too bad.

Edit:

With a wide enough lens set at the hyperfocal distance I just can't see why the entire DX size frame would not be sharp. DX size camera have large DOF.

If you're looking for Scheimpflug, you don't want *everything* in focus, just some foreground elements and a background element, such as rocks at a lake shore and mountains in the background, or mountain laurel in the foreground and the peak in the background. Scheimpflug basically gives you a wedge of focus, which is quite different from everything perpendicular to the film/sensor plane being in focus and allows you to draw the viewer's eyes in different ways.

I can't believe I am in exactly the same position - D60 v D80 - so everyone's replies have been v helpful. Does the situation change if I am intending to shoot only close-up food? I've shot for cookboooks before but only on film so am starting again from scratch.Art directors tell me the more megapixels the better ( therefore D40 at 6 is out of the question), and that 10 is minimum - but I also want to start at a basic level to get my technical skills (low) up first. Have some good lens left over from film slr.
Any advice out there?
Also has anyone attended the Nikon training courses in Richmond and recommends them?

many thanks.

Shooting static subjects under artificial light in a controlled environment, there aren't any advantages to more focus points or in-body focus motors. Worst-case you can shoot tethered and check everything on a reasonably large screen- this also gives your food stylist a chance to see how things are progressing.

Any of the Nikon dSLR cameras will tether in Aperture 2.0 under Tiger or Leopard.

[ChrisA]

Hello All! First off, sorry this is so long! Ok, so I'm looking to buy my first DSLR and some lenses for it.

I just read your list of lenses. Every one of them is f/5.6 Is this what you want?

I don't know what you will be shooting in HI. I have a trip planned to HI also but I'll only be taking my underwater camera. What to bring depends on intended subjects.

What I'd do is just buy one lens. Shoot 1,000 or so images then later figure out what shots you missed and buy the lens that would have gotten those missed shots. I'd bet you that a 200mm f/5.6 would not have enabled you to take more then a handfull of addtional good shots the 18-70mm will cover 90% of you need. The 18-70mm has a non-rotating filter ring in HI outdoors you might be using a polerising filer all the time. the non-rotating ring makes it easier. I tand to use my 50mm f/1.4 a lot also.

[jag0009]

On the verge of buying the D80. I do have concerns about the weight of the camera and lens in my backpack in the wilderness. My primary use would be landscape photos. I have always wanted to get a Tilt/[shift] lens for this reason, but owning Nikon lens, I have resisted converting to Canon and the Nikor lens is too long. So I have been considering getting the Zork Multi-focal system and putting on the D80.

Does anyone have any experience with this combo?
Lens suggestions for this setup?

Thank you very much!!
Don:

Nikon just introduced new (2?) tilt/shift lens recently right?

[camexp]

The nikon d80 is a great camera, I strongly recommend it. The weight isnt bad, and it has a great grip. As for the lenses, the 18-200mm VR is one of the best. Another great option for a large range would be a 18-70mm with 70-300mm or 18-55 and 55-200. If you aren't into a zoom lens, the 50mm is a good choice.:rolleyes:

[Corduroy94]

So I finally decided on the D80 but I had the same concerns that you did. I’ve got small girly hands and I got used to the size and weight in a week. Now I don’t notice it at all. I've been shooting with it for over a month now and I'm so glad I picked the D80 over the D60. I still like the D60 a lot and a friend has it and it's perfect for her uses.

Unfortunately I tend to shoot a lot in the non-auto modes like M, A & S. While it seemed like something minor - having the ISO button on the back of the camera (as opposed to going into the menu to change the D60's settings) is so convenient I can't even begin to tell you. I really thought it wasn't going to be a big deal because after all, how hard is it to go into the menu and make a change? But when you're on the go those few seconds really make the difference between getting the shot and missing it - whether it's a sporting event of just that look on your kids face :) If you tend to shoot in an auto mode though you’re all set regardless of which camera.

I could go on about having the two wheels (shutter speed & aperture) vs. the one wheel and the LCD screen on the top of the camera which reminds of your current settings and the focus fields/motor .... but it's ALL those little features that make using the camera so much easier IF you tend to shoot in more than just the auto modes.

Also, I did end up with the 18-200mm VR lens for a number of reasons. First when you look at the construction compared to the 18-55 kit lenses (not the 18-135 - great lens made well!) you'll notice it's almost all plastic. The 18-200 is really well made and like any lens has it's short comings but it also has many advantages. I have noticed that there is some vignetting but this has only occurred when I have the sun shade on and am shooting at either extreme 18/200. If and when it does appear I found it easy to correct in Photoshop.

As for the "barrel slip" I think it was called, that many people have mentioned ... I haven't noticed it yet. This could be because my lens is still pretty new and it may happen with age. Fortunately I rarely shoot straight up or down so it's not a huge issue - just one I'll have to work around if it occurs later on.

Aside from that it's a great lens and the pictures as sharp as could be. Plus, just like with the camera when I've wanted to get that shot I have a big range to play with and I've seen other photographers miss the shot because they have to fumble to change the lens. Is it always going to happen - no but sometimes it can and for me personally it was something I just didn't want to deal with on vacation.

I already own the 28-80mm and the 70-300mm from my Nikon N80 and the 1st is GREAT, the 2nd ehh. Plus, I'm already taking the 18-200mm VR, 50mm 1.4 and the 105mm Macro to Hawaii so adding even one more lens was just gonna way my bag down. Maybe in the future if the need arises I'll invest in some larger glass! :) Maybe ... who am I kidding! :rolleyes:

[camexp]

Yeah, nice choice. It's nice to have a all in one lens. The d80 with the 18-200mm lens is one of the best combos in dslrs. Have fun with it!

[EgbertAttrick]

Don't get hung up on just a flash.

If weight is a problem for you, look at Olympus.

That is the worst advice I have ever heard! ;)

Olympus uses the 4/3 sensor, so you may as well use any old point & shoot, not to mention that Olympus has metering problems, giving you extremely underexposed photos 100% of the time.

Olympus DSLRs are, hands down, among the worst I have ever used.