Quote from: ZLTFUL on September 18, 2009, 11:13:04 AM
So I have decided to purchase a DSLR after my weekend in Indy with my roomie's D40.

After some exhaustive research, I have decided on a Pentax K2000 body.

I will also be needing some lenses. Right now, I will be going with a 18-55mm Pentax lens and a 55-300mm also a Pentax.

Anyone have any advice for an even greater zoom lens? I want to be able to see the hair on Vermulen's mole next year at Indy!

The Nikon 18-200mm VR is one of the very best zoom lenses in the DX format.  Get the D90 you liked and that one lens and you're set with a fine system for around $1,500 all in.

I have a Canon XSi with the 18-55mm lens as well as a 75-300mm lens that I got as a package from Target. It works pretty well, but anytime I'm at an event I find myself switching lenses constantly when taking pics of cars and things close up as opposed to long range action shots.

What would I look for in a "do-it-all" type lens? I'm just learning about all the esoteric parts of DSLR photography so I'm just learning what the specs mean.

I have a Nikon D200 and it does more than I know how to do. Awesome photos and tons of adjustibility. Just buy good lenses. even a great cameras cant fix bad glass.

unasked advise. what ever you buy, BUY THE EXPANDED USER MANUAL. inevitably you will set something by accident and not be able to reset it with the book. I have a whole file of vacation shots that are poop thanks to a miss set white balance

Quote from: yamifixer on September 21, 2009, 08:09:37 AM

unasked advise. what ever you buy, BUY THE EXPANDED USER MANUAL. inevitably you will set something by accident and not be able to reset it with the book. I have a whole file of vacation shots that are poop thanks to a miss set white balance

there's a reset to default command in the control menu. many photographers will advise you to reset to default before every shoot and then set for current conditions to avoid just the problem you had (forgetting what was set the last time you shot).

Quote from: Randimus Maximus on September 18, 2009, 11:21:33 AM
Don't shop where IZ does.

That is all I have.

Oh, and Stella's D90 really kicks ass.

your best bets for purchase of camera gear are BHPhoto or Adorama, both in NYC, don't go with any of the other NYC dealers as they are mostly crooks. I prefer Nikon gear myself, and have been looking at getting the D40. Still have my old F2/FE2 and a few lenses.

I love my D60!  Used it today for my sons lacrosse practice/police footchase/arrest on the field.....gotsta love Wheaton! 

Camera came with two lenses, a case and two 4 gig sd cards for $699 or thereabouts.  Purchased from Ritz camera.

Good luck!

Another vote for Nikon gear.  I took thousands of frames on my 35mm N65, and have taken probably 100,000 frames with my D70.  The D70 still works great and is just needing a good cleaning as there is dust on the CCD.  I have traveled with my N65 and D70 and they are very durable.  The D70 has spend many a hour in the tankbag on my M750 without complaint.

JM

I grew up on Nikons so I'm a bit biased. Regardless, Derby had good advice on getting into a lens system you like. If you get a good set of lens, you can use them with any grade body by that maker. So invest more money in your lens than your body when you're starting out.

3 reasons I ended up order a Pentax K2000
1. Price. It was $100 cheaper than just a Nikon D40 body.
2. Megapixels...I understand for the average user, this means little to nothing as you can get great large prints from substantially less. But I plan on blowing ALOT of what I shoot into life sized posters. As an example, 2 shots I took with my roomie's D40x (the 10.2mp version) have been blown up and when compared to a picture I took and blew up on an 8mp point and shoot, it is flawless whereas the point and shoot got grainy looking at the same DPI...
3. My cousin is a photography professor at NYU and is switching over to Canons from Pentax and is selling me 5 of his lenses dirt cheap. Including a 650-2600mm (yes you read that right lol) for under $500!!!

Thanks for the advice guys. I really do appreciate it. In the end, it was down to the K2000 and the D40. And most likely, if this hobby sucks me in as bad as motorcycles, and I can make some money off of it shooting my motorcycle hobby friends, then so much the better!