D5000 kit lens??

[sap85]

Hi all,

I am looking to get a DSLR and have a few doubts regarding the purchase. I dont have any prior experience with SLRs barring using a friends D3000 during a recent trip. I own a Nikon S10 p&s currently and have been clicking with it regularly. I have a budget of about 35 to 40k and after reading a lot of reviews have zeroed on in D5000. I request help with the following doubts that i have.

1. The kit lens with D5000 is a 18-55mm VR Len. Should I include the lens or buy only the body and go for a better lens. (I plan to use the camera during travel so hope to click landscapes, people etc.)

2. I am currently in Dubai so does it make sense to buy the camera here or would it be cheaper in India or not much difference? Any guidance on reliable shops in Dubai would be much appreciated.

3. Do Nikon cameras carry international warranty?

4. Is there any other camera I should consider? I have no Nikon or Canon preference.

Thanks a lot in advance.. A big purchase for me and I hope to make the correct decision :)

[KrishnenduKes]

About the international warranty, you will have to ask the dealer. And I do believe that anything outside India is a better deal. But do let us know about the deal/prices that you are getting and I am sure people out here will be able to help out.

Approved

[sap85]

Thanks a ton for the quick approval.. I am not here too long (10 days) and hence need to decide fast.... Plan to hit the malls today to find out various quotes :)

[hitanshu]

Dubai isnt normally that good a deal. And in Nikon india warranty is more imp than canon.

Check JJMehta prices if you will.

I would say, pickup a FAST lens along with the D5000 - something like a Tamron 17-50 f2.8 or such. Or wait.

But the 18-55s of the world are always a mediocre compromise.

[sap85]

Thanks Hitanshu for pointing out the JJMehta website.. The prices there seem quite competitve.. D5000 is listed at 35k which is just about $40-50 more than that on J&R website.

I am more inclined to buying the camera in Dubai itself as it gives me a chance to shoot pics while I am here.

And if 18-55mm is a compromise wud 18-105 be a better buy? though i will have to extend my budget a little for that.

[hitanshu]

opinions vary. ive seen a very sharp tammy 17-50 in action which is truly awesome f2.8 compared to the f3.5-5.6 18-105

[synn]

Hell no! Don't go for the tamron!

The 18-55 VR is a BRILLIANT lens, as I keep saying here. It's built like an entry level lens, but the optics are WAAAY better. Definitely go for it.

The thing about the D5000 is that it can't AF with the cheaper 50 f1.8D. If you have the money, get the 50 1.4G. It's an amazing lens.

[sap85]

Hey thanks for the inputs synn.. I checked out some snaps clicked with 50 1.4G and they look really sharp. But unfortunately at >$400 its a kind of over my budget..

I visited Grand Stores (authorised Nikon dealers) in Dubai today and this is what they quoted

D5000 (body only) 2699 AED ~Rs.34k
D5000 with 18-55 3349 AED ~Rs.42k
D5000 with 18-55 and 70-300G 3799 AED ~48k

I dont know how much these guys will bring it down after bargaining but these prices look really high as compared to JJ Mehta :(
Also the warranty in not available in India. So I think I will be better off buying it in grey out here.

Any one has any idea about grey market in dubai? Also can Nokia India warranties be bought? (The way laptop warranties can be bought.)

[powerslave]

I haven't used the 18-55 VR but having used the 17-50 f/2.8, I would personally vouch for that. It is unbelievably sharp even wide open. It's fast, is wider (1mm gain on the wide end is a better bargain than 5mm gain on the tele IMHO. You can always crop to 55mm FOV, but can't cram wider angles into the frame in PP.)

There's a reason why the Tamron's twice the price of the 18-55.

[Cyclops]

Hi,

1) 18-55 EDII VR is a good lens.

2) For carry around a 18-105 ED VR or 18-200 from Nikon or Sigma (I use it) would be great.

3) For learning purposes, better get a body and 50mm 1.4 or 1.8 and learn tricks of composition & using your legs to zoom in or out.

4) 50mm F/1.8 is real cheap and an amazing piece of optic, but it won't AF on D5000. It is a major concern at times like low light focusing or when you want a fast lock on target. * I know its too hard for me on my D40 which also doesn't allow for Auto Focus. Very frustrating at times.

5) Get a better body like D90 and a 50mm F/1.8. That will be far more perfect than the D5000 setup (IMHO, if you plan on grey market).

6) Tamron 17-50 F/2.8 is awesome, but you need to test it first with your camera as 3rd parties do offer lemons due to not so stringent quality control.

7) Don't be in a hurry or rush to get any camera. Go to the shop and try various ones from different brands and select the one that feels best in your hand and has better options.

8) Stretch your budget a bit if possible, because you should not regret your impulsive purchase a couple of months down the line (Personal experience).

Hope this provides you some help. If not, please follow your heart or other senior member's advice.

[synn]

The 70-300 G is one of the worst lenses in Nikon's lineup. The 55-200 or the 70-300 VR are what you should be looking at.