Another "Recommend me a camera" post!

[PopsPhotos]

Promaster:
http://www.promaster.com/products/products.asp

Promaster lenses:

http://www.promaster.com/lenspecifications.asp

Pops

[PopsPhotos]

Sharon, does your 50mm claim to be "Nikkor" or "Nikon?" That will make it easier to research. Also, the info on the base ring and on the front lens ring. (If it says "Nikon" it will be a series E lens." I have a couple of them and love them.)

Pops

[Sefirothe]

Pops, the 50mm says both Nikon and Nikkor on the front of the lens. In my poking around, I've seen some that say Series E on the front of the lens. This one doesnt.

Here's some pics of the other. I'm starting to think its just a 24mm AI? The word Macro and the other extra markings on the barrel near where the filter would screw in and the word Auto on the front are kind of throwing me tho.

[inkista]

In case nobody here can help you, you may want to ask on the mflenses.com or manualfocus.org fora.

[cooper]

Using older Nikon lenses of any type are somewhat chancy with Nikon equipment, especially with lower end Nikon cameras. I am not at all familiar with the Nikon N2000 so I can't give any advice regarding those specific lenses.

I am a Canon guy and although I am not saying that Canon equipment is better than Nikon gear, I know more about Canon, so I can make a recommendation for a setup. Any Canon DSLR camera you would consider can use any Canon auto focus lens manufactured since about 1980 (and that ia a wide variety of new and used lenses).

I don't recommend that a person new to digital photography purchase used equipment, you never know what you will get. Luckily Canon has some models which are well within your price range and which you don't have to sell a kidney to afford.

The very best way to buy a SLR is online... However, there are some crooks advertising on the Internet and the best way to avoid these rip-off artists is to buy from a reputable dealer. I strongly recommend either Adorama or B&H Photo. Both of these companies are New York based so you won't pay sales tax. They are extremely reputable and usually ship items very quickly. I have purchased many large and small ticket items from them and have always been satisfied. If you find photo equipment at a significantly lower price than either of these dealers, I would bet that the advertiser is a rip-off artist.

Although I recommended not purchasing used equipment at your stage of experience; I highly recommend getting a Canon Refurbished camera and lens from Adorama. I have purchased two new Canon DSLR cameras and had to send each in for service within the first 90 days. I purchased my next two Canon DSLR cameras as Canon refurbished units and never had a bit of trouble with these cameras. I have more confidence in the quality control at the service centers that at the Canon assembly line. Adorama carried refurbished Canon equipment and adds their own one-year warranty on that gear.

In your price range, I would probably recommend the Canon T1i camera with the 18-55mm kit lens. This camera and lens is capable of very nice imagery and also has some video capability. The price of a refurbished camera and lens is $549 (all prices in U.S. dollars) with free shipping. Although I usually recommend folks to stay away from bundles, Adorama offers a bundle which includes an additional 4GB CF Card, an additional battery and a slinger back pack. It seems to me that this is a very decent deal for ad additional $58 or so dollars. ($607 with free shipping)
http://www.adorama.com/ICADRT1IKR.html

Going up one notch in the Canon line is the T2i which has some additional capability, mainly along the video line. A new T2i with lens at Adorama runs $769 but, it doesn't seem to have free shipping. There are also some packages available with extra CD card, battery and carrying case which may or may not be a viable purchase and which will be over your $700 limit. http://www.adorama.com/ICADRT2IK.html

Here is a quick comparison between the T1i and the T2i. http://snapsort.com/compare/Canon_EO..._EOS_Rebel_T2i

ENJOY YOUR NEW CAMERA WHATEVER YOU BUY... Many members of this forum work with some of the highest line equipment and we sometimes forget that entry level equipment will satisfy most other photographers. All of today's DSLR cameras, even entry level models, are capable of some very good work. I would expect that the T1i or T2i have better capabilities than a DSLR camera from twenty or so years ago which people thought was a great bargain at $20,000 or so!

[PopsPhotos]

Sharon, that is an AI style lens and will work on many of the Nikon cameras. It doesn't have the electronic contacts, so the lens won't report anything to the camera, and you will have to manual focus. I can't tell for sure, but it appears from the photos that there might be the screw slot to make that an auto focus on cameras with the motor built in. (Picture 2, lower left, near the gouge.)

All (most?) Nikkor lenses will also say Nikon, but some say only Nikon. Those which don't say Nikkor are just lumped in the description as "E" because we are lazy.

Pops

[Sefirothe]

Pops, all the screws are tiny phillips head screws. The pictures don't show it great but there's no slotted screw on the mount of this lens. That's why the word Auto on the front is confusing me.

So the 50mm is a Nikkor and not a E...which means?

I really appreciate your help!

Edit to add: Finally made my choice, clicked thru Ken's site to Adorama and picked up a Nikon D3100 tonight. Hopefully it gets here quickly since its barely a state away!

[PopsPhotos]

Pops, all the screws are tiny phillips head screws. The pictures don't show it great but there's no slotted screw on the mount of this lens. That's why the word Auto on the front is confusing me.

The word auto, in this case, means auto exposure. The camera controls the f:stop for you. You will have to manually focus it. When you put it on the camera, have the aperture ring set to its smallest stop (the red one )

So the 50mm is a Nikkor and not a E...which means?

Just that it is not in the series of the E lenses. Nikon wanted to gain a reputation of offering lenses for consumers as well as professionals. So they came out with a line of lenses which were made a little more cheaply in the mechanics, but with glass as good as, or better than, their professional lenses. they didn't put the name Nikkor on those lenses for a number of years, so they could build their reputation.

I really appreciate your help!

Edit to add: Finally made my choice, clicked thru Ken's site to Adorama and picked up a Nikon D3100 tonight. Hopefully it gets here quickly since its barely a state away!

That is great. I think you will be very happy with the D3100. It has great reviews and the people I've corresponded with who have it are very happy with their choice. What kit lens(es) did you get with it?

Keep us posted.

Pops

[Sefirothe]

Pops, I picked up the AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR kit. Cant wait to get it.

Just wanted to thank everyone again for their help and answering some newbish questions. I've already learned alot here and I hope to learn more. You guys are really tolerant and have been a great help!

[PopsPhotos]

Just one more thing, Sharon: PICTURES!



Pops

[Sefirothe]

Talk about fast shipping. Got it today! So your wish is my command Pops!

Just messing around with some of the auto and default program modes, got this shot in one of the first 10 or so shots taken. I give the camera full credit!


moon by sefirothe9, on Flickr


Is it worth upgrading to a pro account on flickr? I have my own web hosting already that I can use to post my photos, but that wouldnt have the community bonus that flickr would add nor the nice access to stuff like exif data that flickr can make available...

[PopsPhotos]

Very nice. I like it, particularly for you first few out of a new camera.

I give the camera full credit!

The camera is a box to store photographs. The picture is behind your eyeballs. You saw it. You framed it. You caught it. (Yes, the camera helps you get what you see, but you first have to see it. )

Pops

[Shadowman]

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