Camera Birthday Gift? (for someone who is finally leaving film)?

Question

My mom has always loved film, but after I got a d40 she finally realized that digital was more convenient and just as good (okay, not, but she cant tell the difference).

She wants an SLR, and loves nikon. I was thinking of a D300, but her old camera was half the weight of one, and am worried she wouldnt like it. The d40 and d80 are simply not good enough for the enlargement she likes to make.

The lenses I am considering are the 18-200 or 16-85. We are really not on a budget, as she will keep this for a long time.

Any advice?

Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Go for the D300.

Answer 2

If she's used SLR before - consider the same brand she uses now, as her old lenses may as well fit the new digital body (with 1.5x or so magnification).

If she used Nikon before, or old lenses are not a concern - get her D80. It's 10 megapixels - D300 is 12mp. The difference between the two is less than 10% of the coverage. So she should be ok with all the enlargements.

If the megapixel count is the only concern - definitely go for D80, or even the D60 (also 10mp), if she can live without a few advanced features (I love D80's little LCD screen on top, but if she can go without it and a few extra buttons, why not save and get more good lenses?). The only concern is, if she has older Nikkor glass (non EF), then you need at least D80, because D60 won't be able to auto focus those.

The main advantages of D300 are not megapixel counts. It's the rugged all-weather metal body (which makes it this big and heavy), frames per second rates, and perhaps a bit better performance at higher ISO's. If your mother is not about to turn paparazzi, shoot sports or make career in photo journalism - she really does not need the D300 and all of its pro features.

Read this for more info as to why megapixels are not important:

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/mpmyth.h...

LEM.