Thinking about a change in DSLR - any views welcomed!

[steven_9709]

I currently have a Pentax k-x (had it for nearly 2 years now) and whilst I'm fairly happy with the IQ, I'm hankering after a change. There's a few things that annoy me about the kx (lack of AF points, batteries etc)

After doing a bit of research, I'm thinking I might go for a Nikon d5100

I'd probably only go for one additional lens after the kit lens, and that's a 55-300mm

It's currently £479 on Amazon for the d5100 and 18-55 kit lens which seems an ok price

I also though about maybe the Canon 600D, but on doing some comparisons, it seems the Nikon is the (slightly) better camera

What are people's views of the Nikon d5100?

Thanks

 

[Strobe]

We are a Nikon household. I have the D7000 and the better half uses a D5000. Can't comment specifically on the D5100 as never owned one but we are both very happy with the Nikons we use. The D5100 uses the 16mp D7000 sensor which is held in very high regard for its dynamic range and high ISO performance. In reality, all the DSLR's in that price-range are good and it comes down more to ergonomics, specific lens requirements, etc.
2 kit lens options for the D5100 is £750 (including the 'newish' 55-300 VR) and similar for the 600D (including the 55-250 IS). Anyhow, if you have already invested in Pentax, why don't you just upgrade the body, the K30 is just out and looks to be similar money and initial reviews are good?

 

[simonblue]

Yep there nothing wrong with the D5100 a nice camera,Nikon have a good range of lens.

 

[nheather]

I'd say they are pretty similar. The Canon wins in some areas (pixels on CCD and Screen for example) whereas the 5100D wins in other areas (battery life for example).

Otherwise on paper they look near identical.

I'm sure you are aware than both have their fanboy following that will rubbish the other brand regardless - you need to rise above that, both are good.

I'd say the best thing to do is get yourself down to Jessops and have a little play with both. Obviously, you won't be able to judge the performance but what you will tell is what feels best in your hand - weight, grip, position of buttons etc. I'd would then go with the one that you feel most at home holding.

Cheers,

Nigel

 

[Bill Bruner]

I currently have a Pentax k-x (had it for nearly 2 years now) and whilst I'm fairly happy with the IQ, I'm hankering after a change. There's a few things that annoy me about the kx (lack of AF points, batteries etc)

After doing a bit of research, I'm thinking I might go for a Nikon d5100

I'd probably only go for one additional lens after the kit lens, and that's a 55-300mm

It's currently £479 on Amazon for the d5100 and 18-55 kit lens which seems an ok price

I also though about maybe the Canon 600D, but on doing some comparisons, it seems the Nikon is the (slightly) better camera

What are people's views of the Nikon d5100?

Thanks

Steven - you really can't go wrong with a £479 D5100. You may miss your K-r's in-body image stabilization, however. Have you considered the K-30? (£599 body-only at Amazon) You can keep your lenses, it is weathersealed, it shoots 6fps compared to the Nikon's 4, it has a larger and brighter viewfinder than the D5100, and it has more cross-focus points than the Nikon. It still has the Pentax battery life issue, however (but that can be remedied with a £16.74 AA battery adapter).

If the K-30 is too dear, or the battery life issue is a dealbreaker, I do recommend the D5100.

Cheers and good luck with your decision,

Bill

 

[DolbyDan]

Another recommended for the D5100

 

[steven_9709]

Thank you all for the replies

One thing that had come out of this is the image stabilisation.

My kx has in body IS, but the D5100 doesn't. I assume it's built into the lenses?

Will I notice much difference in shake (or lack of) between the IS in the body of the kx verses the lenses of the D5100?

 

[shotokan101]

In lens IS will be at least as good as in-body IS and in lens also has the advantage of stabilising the image you see through the viewfinder

 

[P-P-S-S]

Another vote for the D5100. Excellent camera. The only advice I would give is not to buy it from non-UK online shops because you don't get the 2 year warranty and also if something happens to the camera you have to send it to the company in the country where it is based in order for it to send it to Nikon to repair it. Whilst that is fine it is also in my opinion a pain in the back side. OK, in the interest of being impartial I have to say that these foreign websites do sell the MAC warranty (which enables you to send the camera to the UK for repair) but after you purchased that then there won't be much difference in price.

 

[Bill Bruner]

Thank you all for the replies

One thing that had come out of this is the image stabilisation.

My kx has in body IS, but the D5100 doesn't. I assume it's built into the lenses?

Will I notice much difference in shake (or lack of) between the IS in the body of the kx verses the lenses of the D5100?

shotokan is right - shooting with in-body IS is about the same as shooting with lens stabilization - but there is one complication with lens stabilization - not all lenses are stabilized. You have to make sure to buy stabilized lenses (VR for "Vibration Reduction" in the Nikon system). Almost all modern Nikkor lenses have VR - older lenses do not.

Cheers,

Bill

 

[Captain_Danger]

I have recently purchased the D7000 and its been an awesome bit of kit. I only have 2 lenses for it at the moment, but it covers that majority of stuff that I want to shoot. I don't have any macro lenses or anything of that sort, just the Nikon 18-105mm that came with it and a Nikon 70-300mm VR telephoto (£400).

I was looking at an F2 lens, however the extra money im not sure if its worthy of the things I am shooting, since I am shooting the majority of stuff in good light. Also the weight, blimey, I was shocked at how heavy the F2 telephoto's are, need to be a bodybuilder to hulk those things around.

 

[steven_9709]

Well, took all my Pentax stuff down to LCE today and traded it in against a new camera. Now the proud owner of a Nikon D5100

Thanks for all the replies

 

[DolbyDan]

Good Stuff! If you need any tips let me know! The sensor does like decent glass and I am turning into a bit of a prime junkie!! Don't be scared to go as high as 4000iso the camera is a light maker lol. Lightroom 4 really knows how to get the best out of the dynamic range of the sensor, I tend to underexpose a tad by purpose and recover it later.

 

[steven_9709]

Is this the highly-rated 'nifty-fifty' I keep hearing about?

Nikon AF NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8D Lens: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics

 

[hyeongseong]

Is this the highly-rated 'nifty-fifty' I keep hearing about?

Nikon AF NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8D Lens: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics

you want the afs version of that lens. the d version will not auto focus on d5100.

 

[davisa]

Well, took all my Pentax stuff down to LCE today and traded it in against a new camera. Now the proud owner of a Nikon D5100

Thanks for all the replies

Funnily enough, I've just gone from a Nikon to a Pentax K30

I'm sure you'll enjoy the Nikon