[Exz]

Hi guys,

Currently I own D40 but I don't find it takes nice people shot. (Its a great panoramic cam though) so I would like to buy a new camera with about 1k SGD budget. I'd also like to try out macro shots, high foreground/background contrast on faces/people shot. Which camera should I get? Ppl keep telling me to get canon but Im not sure. Any input/recommendations? (The 1K should include the macro lens if necessary.)

Exz

[Exz]

Oh must be able to take videos too

[larrytok]

Originally Posted by Exz

Hi guys,

Currently I own D40 but I don't find it takes nice people shot. (Its a great panoramic cam though) so I would like to buy a new camera with about 1k SGD budget. I'd also like to try out macro shots, high foreground/background contrast on faces/people shot. Which camera should I get? Ppl keep telling me to get canon but Im not sure. Any input/recommendations? (The 1K should include the macro lens if necessary.)

Exz

imo ur budget abit tight... nikon 60mm macro F2.8 alraedy costs 500 if not 600 over.. for a local warrantied one.. u might as well spend the 1000 $ on lens... what lens do u own first.. u also probably mean a lens with a good bokeh... with all these requirements... u should just keep ur d40, and buy a 50mm 1.4D, it has a great bokeh.. 2nd hand should be around 400$ , new ones 500+. although i tried b4 my fren's macro F2.8 60mm is quite good, but for normal portrait he thinks its not that good bah. get both for approx 1k+ . upgrade body later.. 1k cant do much. at most only get 750$ for 2nd hand D80, thats it. a 2nd hand D90 probably costs 1.1k so not in your budget .

[Hairyworm]

Body are usually the last to upgrade IMO. More differences can be seen with change in lens rather than body.

Get some lens. 50mm f/1.8 are gd starters for portrait. Start with the f/1.8, its cheaper that way if u are on a tight budget.

For macro photography, u need not only get lens but also flash too. So for ur budget of 1k, its quite impossible i would say.

[naro]

hmm.. ur budget allows u to buy the AF-S 50mm f/1.4, ideal for portrait shots.

alternatively, u can get the AF-S 35mm f/1.8 for a 'normal' lens.

[Del_CtrlnoAlt]

he wanna take video... LOL...

not enuff... think can get a LX3 to take nice panoramic video, and get a 50 f1.4...

iirc, he lan lan have to get AF-S lenses since he using D40 cos no motor servo on body...

[Del_CtrlnoAlt]

Originally Posted by Hairyworm

Body are usually the last to upgrade IMO. More differences can be seen with change in lens rather than body.

Get some lens. 50mm f/1.8 are gd starters for portrait. Start with the f/1.8, its cheaper that way if u are on a tight budget.

For macro photography, u need not only get lens but also flash too. So for ur budget of 1k, its quite impossible i would say.

i know ppl who keep on upgrade body but never upgrade lenses wor...

i myself got plenty of lenses and my DSLR is super old... cos i use more film. DSLR only for convenience.

macro can no need flash, a pop up flash couple with a diffuser works, got 1 lao jiao expert in that method... only use pop up flash to get shots. but macro not cheap. in nikon's world its called micro... and a general purpose micro is the 105mm one... budget need to add alot more to get. the 50mm micro is only good for still life.

[mokky_123]

The only nikon that can take videos are D5000 and D90...

Just a personal opinion, sell off ur D40(estimate 400-500?), top up your budget by 100-300.

First hand D90 Kit(18-105) around $1720(without any accessories).

2nd hand D90 kit around 1500~

If u willing to give up on ur premium of able to take video, then i'd go with the flow of what th rest said, keep ur d40, and buy lenses like 50mm F1.8 and a 105mm Micro lense... Or maybe just get a 18-200 sigma, all-in-one lense.

[Gollum]

Originally Posted by mokky_123

The only nikon that can take videos are D5000 and D90...

Just a personal opinion, sell off ur D40(estimate 400-500?), top up your budget by 100-300.

First hand D90 Kit(18-105) around $1720(without any accessories).

2nd hand D90 kit around 1500~

If u willing to give up on ur premium of able to take video, then i'd go with the flow of what th rest said, keep ur d40, and buy lenses like 50mm F1.8 and a 105mm Micro lense... Or maybe just get a 18-200 sigma, all-in-one lense.

not many people are willing to buy lenses that cost more than the body its used on

[Gollum]

Originally Posted by Exz

Hi guys,

Currently I own D40 but I don't find it takes nice people shot. (Its a great panoramic cam though) so I would like to buy a new camera with about 1k SGD budget. I'd also like to try out macro shots, high foreground/background contrast on faces/people shot. Which camera should I get? Ppl keep telling me to get canon but Im not sure. Any input/recommendations? (The 1K should include the macro lens if necessary.)

Exz

anyway from what you describe you want portrait lenses not macro.

macro usually for taking extreme close up of stuffs

[mokky_123]

Originally Posted by Gollum

not many people are willing to buy lenses that cost more than the body its used on

Using that logic, his D40 body's value is... possibly only more expensive than a handful of lenses haha...

Alternative would be to sell off D40 + $1000...

Buy D5000 kit, + 50mm AFS F1.8 lens.

[babybearbear]

I recommend this one: Leica reveal S-system pricing and launch date: Digital Photography Review

[etegration]

Originally Posted by Exz

Its a great panoramic cam though)

you aint seen panoramic yet.

[initialdae86]

not many people are willing to buy lenses that cost more than the body its used on

Really?

[mokky_123]

Originally Posted by initialdae86

Really?

he was joking, most peope spend more on lenses than body ba... Considering at most you'd have 2-3 body but you can have 10 lenses if u wanna