Best camera body to fit old 35mm lenses

Both lenses will work as intended on the D80 or better (modern DSLRs). Just don't get a D40/x/60 and you should be set (D40/x/60 don't have an internal focus motor which is required to AF the lenses you have).

(I'd spring for the D300 myself and upgrade the zoom later... mmmD300)

they will work on a D80 or D300 just as they did on your SLR. Of curse if cash is not problem D300 is the one to get but a D80 is an excellent camera too. Also, we are all waiting for the D80 to be replaced (D90). We expect it to be a D300 in a D80 body. If you are not in a hurry I will suggest to wait a few weeks or a couple of months. your lenses will work in that model too, almost 100% sure! Rene'

I have both lenses & they work fine on my D80. I too am waiting for the D90 to appear (September??).

You're not very deeply invested in Nikkor lenses, so don't rely on that as a primary factor in choosing a camera. Get the camera with features you can grow into. That may very well be something like the D80. But don't let a couple of fairly ordinary lenses dictate your choice.

(Naturally there are exceptions. When I first got into the Nikon system it was for one specific lens, the 28/3.5 PC Nikkor. I bought the lens before I even owned a Nikon body. Everything else was built from that odd beginning.)

Thanks for the input.

"But don't let a couple of fairly ordinary lenses dictate your choice."

If I went D300 then, these lenses be wasted on this body and a waste of time? If so what's the best all-round lens for getting the most out of the D300? - the 18-200 VR 3.5-5.6? or one of the fixed 2.8s?

Best? D3 with 24-70mm.

To give you an answer that will really help you please give an idea about the total budged.

A possible start might be a used D200 with a used 35-70mm f2.8 Nikkor zoom. Excellent image quality at moderate zoom range.

You should consider an 18-70 or 16-85 if you get a crop sensor DSLR. 28mm isn't wide enough.

"I am currently looking at either D80 or D300, but there is a large price diff and I fear that neither lens would do the D300 justice "

Thomas

The happy Medium is the D200. It is more reliable and better equipped than the D80 and much cheaper than the D300. Though I use a D300 since last november I still use my D200 - and I am happy with its results. AF and high ISO are not as perfect as the D300's but IQ of the D200 is still top class. IMO even a second hand D200 is the better buy in comparison to a new D80. Because of the crop factor I would buy a wide angle zoom with a reasonable price like the Tokina 12-24/4.

Thanks Frank. How about the 18-200 VR 3.5-5.6? Would this match well to a D200 and be a good all-round lens if I could just afford the one? Some earlier comment have me doubting whether the 50mm1.8 and 28-105 I already have will provide a good result.

Dont get the D40/60, you wouldnt want them anyway and they wont work with your stuff.

I would go for the D200 or D80, unless you want to spend your money on a D300. That way you will have some for more/better lenses.

I don't think you need to go buy a whole set up! All you need is digital body, right? You already got two lenses, right? The 50 mm will work great with any camera. On a DSLR the angle of view will be longer (75 mm) but people are happy with it. The 28-105 will do fine too. YES! You will be missing a wide angle coz your 28-105 won't be that wide on a DSLR (42-157) but after you use what you have you can start looking for any lens you think you need. I think that is what you wanted at the beginning, am I wrong?

"Would this match well to a D200?"

Thomas

It depends... ;-) I have taken pics with the VR-Nikkor 18-200 mm and with the Sigma 18-200 mm OS on a Nikon D200 and Canon 20D. IMO both lenses are great compromises for amateurs seeking for a all-in-one solution. If you don't intend to print much larger than 8x10 inch go for one of them. If you want to print 16x20 inch or bigger, you'd better use two Zooms to cover 18-200 mm. BTW I was really astonished by the image quality of the Sigma's macro function. It is extremely high. Never seen before a macro IQ like this with a superzoom lens. In a large circle around the centre IQ is first class, the outer parts of the pic are weaker (but who cares?). If I were you I wouldn't invest in one new lens. I would keep the 50 mm and the 28-105 and complement these two lenses with a Tokina 12-24/4. (I love this lens because its IQ and build quality is terrific while its price is low.)

I am curious is this the Thomas Hanrahan that lives in New Mexico?

I'll cast a vote for the D200 if it's in your price range. It's a superbly-built camera that will serve your needs for a very long time, and right now you can get them for $1000 new at a real place like B&H. Can't beat it if you have a $1000 budget. Put your lenses on it and enjoy. Pick up a cheap ($60-70 used) 18-55mm lens to experiment with wider angles if you want; you can always sell the 18-55 and get your money back towards a different wide zoom.

If $1000 is too much, I would, without hesitation, suggest a used D80 ($500-550), or a used D70 or D70s ($300). Any of these cameras, from the D70 up to the D200, will take GREAT images. There's a lot to learn in this digital game. Maybe the best thing is to shoot your lenses on a cheap D70 and learn all the fun stuff you need to learn. From Photoshop and Nikon Capture, to printing and papers. Sell it in a few months for $300, or a few years for $200, and get something "better" when YOU know what better is from experience.

Don't shy away from the older cameras if you really have a budget to consider. You'll have lots of little expenses in the beginning that you aren't expecting, and those cameras still work great. Do you have Photoshop? If not, figure on $50/$90 for Photoshop Elements 5 or 6. Backup? You'll probably spend some money there, too. It's all fun, don't get me wrong. Just don't believe that you must have the latest D300 if that's not your monetary world.

Thomas, I'm afraid my remarks might have given you the wrong impression. I don't mean to imply that your existing lenses won't deliver excellent results with a compatible dSLR. The 50/1.8D AF Nikkor is an outstanding lens and the single best buy in the entire Nikkor lineup.

Thanks so much for all the input. Think I'll scour around for a 2nd hand D200 and take it from there.

To Phil - no not from New Mexico, I'm from right down under in New Zealand.

"I don't think you need to go buy a whole set up! All you need is digital body, right? You already got two lenses, right? The 50 mm will work great with any camera. On a DSLR the angle of view will be longer (75 mm) but people are happy with it. The 28-105 will do fine too. YES! You will be missing a wide angle coz your 28-105 won't be that wide on a DSLR (42-157) but after you use what you have you can start looking for any lens you think you need. I think that is what you wanted at the beginning, am I wrong?"

Absolutely 100% right. Initially I just want the best body to complement the 2 lens I have so I can get my teeth into things so to speak. However, I was unsure as to whether these lenses would be good enough (if I'm going to get the same picture quality regardless of body due the fact that these lenses can only do so much, then why would I get a D200 or D300?). What I'm hearing though is that I should also plan for the future and once I've honed my skills, a D200 will provide an advantage over a D80 when I can finally afford to upgrade lens. I guess I should consider waiting for the D90 too I guess, but I don't know how long it will take for it to come out, and even then it will be expensive for some time. I don't want to wait too much longer... getting itchy. Cheers, TH

I did not read all the responses, so forgive me if this advice has been given already. You may want to consider a D 200 or a D 70. Both cameras are outstanding and fairly low in price. I am using a D 200 and love it. Keep your older lenses. They will work fine on your new/used camera. Pick up an SB 800 or SB 600 when you can. Sometimes deals are to be had which include these.

You should be able to pick up a good used D 200 or even a new one (new old stock) for under $1,000.

Hope this helps.

Re earlier question on Budget..

Bodies only cost (US$): New D80 - around $700, New D200 - around $1000, New D300 - around $1600

My budget was around $1500, so I could stretch to the D300, but then no money left for new glass. Therefore the 50mm 1.8 and 28-105 from the 35mm would simply HAVE to work until I can save up over the next year or 2. However as I say, this could be money wasted if these lenses aren't able to bring out the best in the body (assuming I get my own skills up to par of course!).

The consensus seems to be that extra $600 for the D300 is unnecessary/not worth it and to rather go the D200 (at $1000 or less if 2nd hand) and see how the 2 current lenses go, and if need be I still have $500-$600 up my sleeve for extra glass if needed.

Thanks all again...

Thomas, I wouldn't worry too much about using those older lenses. That 28-105 was a pretty good lens in it's day and it will still perform well on either hte D80 or the D300. As for the 50mm f1.8, it's probably Nikon's best bargain and a damn fine lens to boot. What's a shame is that you can't stretch your budget to the D700, because you wouldn't have to deal with the crop factor. With either of the DX format cameras your going to find that you'll need something that gives you a wider perspective. If you think that you may someday want to return to the FX format, I would suggest that you look into a D80 Kit in combination with the 18-55mm VR. The 18-55VR is dirt cheap and I don't lke it's use of a plastic lens mount but you'll be quite pleased with it's optical performance.

Thomas... i feel for you! I know you want to get your camera and start shooting! Your 50 will do great with a D80, D200 or D300. As many people say it is one of the best lenses around there. You pictures will be very good quality no matter what camera you use. The only problem is you will have to compromise. You will have to use your feet to zoom. My first camera came with a 50 mm lens and it took me over a year to buy my second lens. just relax and enjoy it. Rene'

I aggree with Lex >> "You're not very deeply invested in Nikkor lenses, so don't rely on that as a primary factor in choosing a camera. Get the camera with features you can grow into.....".

I would also like to some words here, as you said you have used a 35mm, than I don't think that you will feel better to invest in crop sensor body like D80 or D300, you should consider to get a FX body like D3 or D700, where you will feel your existing lense angles some-like your old 35mm. You may wait till the prices get down of these bodies when new inventions introduced.

At now, you can still be very confortable to enjoy your existing 35mm, if that is working fine. Don't follow blindly the others just because of the others are using digitals, just go for your needs. Today what you will invest, will be looking too much after a little more time passed, when the far superior DSLR will be available in much affordable price.

Mate, a D700!? Just can't afford it.. even the D300 would take all my bux leaving quite a wait for a new lens. Maybe in 2 or 3 years time I can look at a D700 - I wouldn't be ready for anything like that until then anyway.

One of the reasons I'm leaning D200/D300 is Sports. However is is true that most of the older lenses (like the 2 I have) have much slower response and auto focus making them too slow for action photography??

"One of the reasons I'm leaning D200/D300 is Sports. However is is true that most of the older lenses (like the 2 I have) have much slower response and auto focus making them too slow for action photography??"

I understand that with only a 28-105 (effectively a 42-160) I don't have the greatest zoom for Sports, so I'm really referring to "action" in the broadest of terms, i.e anything fast-moving including just the kids running around in the back yard. Are the auto-focus speeds significantly better with the new lenses?