Which NIKON to BUY

[Hero]

Carefully said, we are writing about high quality optical glass manufacturing here, not the common glass that is use in windows. Homogeneity is not affected by casting or moulding processes.

I was aware that we weren't talking about window-pane glass.... Oh and sorry for mixing up a few different ways of shaping glass from a (semi) liquid form into a hardened substance. I am aware of these processes but my English isn't that well that i can flawlessly distinguish between them in writing.

Anyways what i do know is the quite elaborate story of a guy at a Schott - Zeiss plant about 8 years ago who talked about the faillure rate of (Planoconvex) lenses in relation to their size. (these were made from moulded preforms which were then ground and pollished into their final shape.) These run from less than a percent on lenses of 10mm diameter up to 20% when talking about diameters of around 70-80mm. Most of these occur due to uneven cooling (sometimes just for a few seconds in a process that can take hours with the larger lens preforms) in the moulding process. which can cause differences in the density of the material which in turn would cause bubbles, layering, wrinckles and a few more nasties. Neither of which they wanted in their precision optics.

[Shadowman]

Has anyone ever had a bad experience purchasing their first DSLR or any digital camera for that matter? I haven't although I wasn't very pleased with the night or low light photo capabilities of the Nikon P90 which is a hybrid DSLR (no interchangeable lenses, but shutter speed, ISO, and aperture can be changed). However, when I purchased the camera I wasn't really low light photography yet.

[AB26]

Hi Mark,

Actually there is a very simple answer to your question. You should know a lot about cameras as you are no newbie to photography.
If you can afford it - simple, get the D600. If you have a limited budget get the D5200.

The D600 will amaze you.

[Dave Humphries]

Has anyone ever had a bad experience purchasing their first DSLR or any digital camera for that matter?

Hi John,

I am not suggesting this applies to you, but I have found (at CiC over the years) that this tends to happen when people don't have a full understanding of photographic principles and/or haven't done thorough enough research regarding what they are coming from and going to.

That is very understandable (in fact almost unavoidable) if it is a first digital camera, or even a first upgrade from P&S.

A lucky few will come here first and/or be ultra-nerdy (like me) and research thoroughly before going out and spending or ordering, often sight unseen, off the inter-web.

My link there is proof of my attention to detail, but even with a lot of research, there will always be some details that can catch you out, especially between brands; for instance, I am always very pleased with the battery life my D5000 gives me, in comparison, on a day's shooting, my daughter often gets onto her third battery in her Panasonic GH-2 while I am just thinking about changing the first one. Now I helped her research that camera and I didn't see that coming, although it is arguably less important if you have the budget for a couple of spares instead of one, in other respects the GH-2 is just what we/she wanted.

Cheers,

[Shadowman]

Hi John,

I am not suggesting this applies to you, but I have found (at CiC over the years) that this tends to happen when people don't have a full understanding of photographic principles and/or haven't done thorough enough research regarding what they are coming from and going to.

That is very understandable (in fact almost unavoidable) if it is a first digital camera, or even a first upgrade from P&S.

A lucky few will come here first and/or be ultra-nerdy (like me) and research thoroughly before going out and spending or ordering, often sight unseen, off the inter-web.

My link there is proof of my attention to detail, but even with a lot of research, there will always be some details that can catch you out, especially between brands; for instance, I am always very pleased with the battery life my D5000 gives me, in comparison, on a day's shooting, my daughter often gets onto her third battery in her Panasonic GH-2 while I am just thinking about changing the first one. Now I helped her research that camera and I didn't see that coming, although it is arguably less important if you have the budget for a couple of spares instead of one, in other respects the GH-2 is just what we/she wanted.

Cheers,

Dave,

Very good listing of camera capabilities on your link. Unfortunately, most of those listed (burst rate, weight, controls) are not shown on advertisements in Sunday circulars where most potential buyers get their first introduction to a brand or model. Also, most television ads push the simplicity of the system as the selling point. I think to make your list effective the features listed would have to be further discussed before a potential buyer will even consider their importance.

[Shadowman]

Hi John,

Nikon D7100
My link there is proof of my attention to detail, but even with a lot of research, there will always be some details that can catch you out, especially between brands; for instance, I am always very pleased with the battery life my D5000 gives me, in comparison, on a day's shooting, my daughter often gets onto her third battery in her Panasonic GH-2 while I am just thinking about changing the first one. Now I helped her research that camera and I didn't see that coming, although it is arguably less important if you have the budget for a couple of spares instead of one, in other respects the GH-2 is just what we/she wanted.

Cheers,

Short battery life was another issue with the P90 but there were workarounds (limit use of flash, turn off LCD) and even though it limited the functionality of the camera it made a bad situation bearable. I know people will say why am I limiting myself to what I paid for, but unless you plan to return the item, finding solutions to your dilemma is better than having nothing to use at all. Also, something else I learned about the P90 is that you didn't need to have every capability, use as D-lighiting, turned on for every shot. That extra processing step, which could be done in post processing, added to the amount of time data was sent to the memory card and those extra few nanoseconds were the difference between getting the next shot or missing it.

[Dave Humphries]

My D5000 vs D7100 list is a very personal one; it only mentions the features that: are, might be, or are not reasons for me to upgrade and then usually only the things where there is a significant difference.

I agree, these are not things you'll find in the ads - hence my statement that finding some undesirable characteristics of any new camera purchase is almost unavoidable - how do you know what you don't know

The P510 isn't great on battery life either
I don't think any of those cameras are - they want to sell you another £50/$70 spare battery

I don't use D-lighting at all, so it at least it isn't that contributing for me with P510 - but thanks, I didn't realise it made things slower too.

Cheers,