General Photography thread

[Kneon Light]

A couple of Sussex Owls from yesterday (wild birds)

 

[Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo]

I am looking to get back into photography, I used to have a Nikon D80 which I was always impressed with. Looking at MPB Photographic I can get a used D80 with just over 2000 shutter for £109 which seems like a bargain. Any other recommendations? Have a budget of up to £200 which is why I am going down the used route. £40 also gets me the original kit lense the D80 shipped with when brand new which is decent enough to get started with while I save up for some more kit.

 

[Triggaaar]

I am looking to get back into photography, I used to have a Nikon D80 which I was always impressed with. Looking at MPB Photographic I can get a used D80 with just over 2000 shutter for £109 which seems like a bargain.

The D80 is a capable camera, but it's quite old now and things have moved on a lot. But it really depends what sort of photography you want to get into. If it's just landscapes and you're using a tripod, the D80 will be fine.

 

[Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo]

The D80 is a capable camera, but it's quite old now and things have moved on a lot. But it really depends what sort of photography you want to get into. If it's just landscapes and you're using a tripod, the D80 will be fine.

I had one up until a year or so ago. Always found it fairly good for everything I wanted to do, I know its not going to be the fastest so shooting fast moving sport etc isn't really going to give the best results, but for landscape, seascapes etc I never had any problems previously.

I could stretch the budget a bit to a Nikon D5100, which is only 4 years old and comes in at the £200 mark. Think I need to go off and look at a few reviews.

 

[Triggaaar]

I had one up until a year or so ago. Always found it fairly good for everything I wanted to do, I know its not going to be the fastest so shooting fast moving sport etc isn't really going to give the best results, but for landscape, seascapes etc I never had any problems previously.

I wasn't even thinking of fast shooting, there's a lot more to a camera than that. But if you're shooting landscapes, I think the D80 is a good choice. Where it's less good compared to more modern models is in low light hand held shooting, but if that doesn't apply to you, go for it.

I could stretch the budget a bit to a Nikon D5100, which is only 4 years old and comes in at the £200 mark. Think I need to go off and look at a few reviews.

The D5100 also has video capability, so if you want that the D80 isn't suitable. But if you don't need to shoot portraits in low light etc, the D80 is fine. The D5100 is a low light specialist.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond5100/

 

[Uncle C]

I could stretch the budget a bit to a Nikon D5100, which is only 4 years old and comes in at the £200 mark. Think I need to go off and look at a few reviews.

I have the D5100 and most of my pictures on here were taken with it. It's a great camera even with the off-the-shelf lens. If you have more money you should spend it on lenses.

 

[jevs]

I am looking to get back into photography, I used to have a Nikon D80 which I was always impressed with. Looking at MPB Photographic I can get a used D80 with just over 2000 shutter for £109 which seems like a bargain. Any other recommendations? Have a budget of up to £200 which is why I am going down the used route. £40 also gets me the original kit lense the D80 shipped with when brand new which is decent enough to get started with while I save up for some more kit.

If you do get a Nikon D80, let me know as NSC legend, Jack Straw, today gave a book for said camera and, if it's ok with him, i'll forward it to you.

 

[Jack Straw]

If you do get a Nikon D80, let me know as NSC legend, Jack Straw, today gave a book for said camera and, if it's ok with him, i'll forward it to you.

Good idea.

 

[perseus]

I bought a Nikon D3200 on impulse because it was relatively cheap.

I would go for Canon now from what I know. Better range of lens and better for flash photography with the cheaper models. Nikon D80 has flash "Commander" mode so it is OK for flash. D3200 has not, nor has the D5200.

DSLR are good for landscapes (compared to bridge cameras). D80 (if anything like the D200) is quicker and has more buttons for changing the auto-focusing mode quickly.

MPB Photographic are a good firm my experience as a newcomer to DSLR, but an old comer to SLR.

http://snapsort.com/compare/Nikon_D200-vs-Nikon_D80

PS: I have doubts about the Nikkor 55-200. 55-300 may be better because of the macro.

 

[Uncle C]

Mystery girl on ferry

 

[Kneon Light]

Some more of my owl shots from the weekend. Been trying to get decent shots of wild owls for about 2 years so am very pleased with these.

 

[Zukey Seagull]

Some more of my owl shots from the weekend. Been trying to get decent shots of wild owls for about 2 years so am very pleased with these.

Where did you take he photo? I would like to get some nice photos like this.

 

[shingle]

I don't normally do birds, but shot these while in Ethiopia last month.

 

[perseus]

http://www.mpbphotographic.co.uk/us...s/used-nikon-digital-slr-cameras/nikon-d80-13 £54.

Why not?

I don't want to carry around a third camera body.

 

[perseus]

D80 v D3100

D80 has the advantages of

More buttons, easier operation
Built in focus motor which means Sigma and other lens will auto-focus
Commander mode for advanced flash

Otherwise the D3100 is better.

http://www.mpbphotographic.co.uk/us.../used-nikon-digital-slr-cameras/nikon-d3100-5 £119

 

[Kneon Light]

Where did you take he photo? I would like to get some nice photos like this.

Pevensey Levels. Great place

 

[perseus]

Gulls left the stanchions and a pair of Peregrines came over at 78 minutes against Forest. They must have thought the game was over!

 

[Jack Straw]

Some more of my owl shots from the weekend. Been trying to get decent shots of wild owls for about 2 years so am very pleased with these.

Wonderful photos. I stayed with a friend in Somerset after leaving the Cardiff game yesterday. He is brilliant on birds as a twitcher, but doesn't own a camera, but took me to a local bird hot-spot where he lives. I must admit, this bird photography lark (excuse the pun), isn't easy. My efforts are too embarrassing to post on here! What's your secret Neon?

 

[Kneon Light]

Wonderful photos. I stayed with a friend in Somerset after leaving the Cardiff game yesterday. He is brilliant on birds as a twitcher, but doesn't own a camera, but took me to a local bird hot-spot where he lives. I must admit, this bird photography lark (excuse the pun), isn't easy. My efforts are too embarrassing to post on here! What's your secret Neon?

No secrets but generally the following have helped:
Get close - No matter what equiment you have the closer you get the better the pic will be.
Take time before taking the pics to watch the birds behaviour. The Owl pics were of an owl that was taking the same flight path around a field. It kept flying past a group of trees so I hid behind the trees and managed shots as it took the same path.
Try to get level with the bird - the pics don't look as good if taken looking down on them. One of my favourite pics was taken lying down in mud to get level with the bird.
Focus on the eye.
Ensure shutter speed is fast enough to freeze bird.
Practice on easy targets (ducks on a pond) first.
Birds in flight are hard! Practice on perched birds first!

Hope this helps.

 

[Jack Straw]

No secrets but generally the following have helped:
Get close - No matter what equiment you have the closer you get the better the pic will be.
Take time before taking the pics to watch the birds behaviour. The Owl pics were of an owl that was taking the same flight path around a field. It kept flying past a group of trees so I hid behind the trees and managed shots as it took the same path.
Try to get level with the bird - the pics don't look as good if taken looking down on them. One of my favourite pics was taken lying down in mud to get level with the bird.
Focus on the eye.
Ensure shutter speed is fast enough to freeze bird.
Practice on easy targets (ducks on a pond) first.
Birds in flight are hard! Practice on perched birds first!

Hope this helps.

Very helpful, thanks. Having now looked at my efforts on the computer, I'm pleased with a couple. Here is.......a Robin!