Need Camera advise

[gaiusmarius]

Nikon dslr camera D5000 with 18-55mm and 55-200mm

does anyone who knows about camaras know if this nikon is any good for quality macro shots of buds?

its on sale heres the link

http://www.interdiscount.ch/idshop/...ctCode=Prospekt&WT.ac=prospectteaser_Prospekt

 

[Hazyfontazy]

Nikon dslr camera D5000 with 18-55mm and 55-200mm

does anyone who knows about camaras know if this nikon is any good for quality macro shots of buds?

its on sale heres the link

http://www.interdiscount.ch/idshop/...ctCode=Prospekt&WT.ac=prospectteaser_Prospekt

the cameras fine and the included lenses cover most distances ,,but to get decent macro's u will need a macro lense ,,they are not cheap

 

[mosstrooper]

Nice camera mate, I think if it doesnt do macro shots with your present lens, then all you need to buy are these http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/3-Steps-Macro-Extension-Ring-Tube-4-all-Nikon-DSLR-SLR-/220678150339?pt=UK_Photography_CameraLenses_Lens_caps_hoods_adaptors_ET&hash=item33617158c3
They are called macro, extension, or close up tubes
Ebay in Your region is sure to have similar deals, they are chinese made if that makes a difference, but if you are on a low budget they are a good substitute for Nikon ones.

Here is a tutorial from youtube on how to use them to do close ups of flowers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciYUbVC6Ozo

 

[Finepointcanon]

That camera, yes. Those lenses, only sort of. You could grab some extension tubes and you'd be all set with that setup.
http://www.amazon.com/Kenko-Auto-Extension-Nikon-Mount/dp/B000JG88JU

 

[gaiusmarius]

wow that was quick, thanks for the info guys, will look into the extension tubes. but will that work equally well with artificial lighting as with outdoor light?

 

[mosstrooper]

but will that work equally well with artificial lighting as with outdoor light?

I cant think why not, light is light, that dude on youtube with the tutorial does some great basic stuff on lighting shots too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iw8YNNtgnGg&NR=1

If you get a cheapo set off of the net and they dont work, i doubt the more expensive ones would either, they have no optics or glass, the cheap ones are just more plastic and you have to be carefull mounting and unmounting them as they break rather easily, But if you just want to try it out its a cheap way to see.

 

[gaiusmarius]

yeah those tutorials are great, will spend time there for sure to get more info. so for that price would you say its a good deal? it's 463.- euros right now?

 

[mosstrooper]

yeah those tutorials are great, will spend time there for sure to get more info. so for that price would you say its a good deal? it's 463.- euros right now?

umm, im no sure, the link i posted was to be ebay uk the cheap extensions i meant are probably 10-12 euros, this is what i meant about just getting cheap ines to try out.

Sorry if im confusing your question and my answer

 

[gaiusmarius]

yeah no, was asking if that 463 euros is a good deal for the camera mention in my first post? the nikon with the 2 objectives?

nice to hear those extension tubes are so cheap though

thanks for the help

 

[mosstrooper]

Oh, sorry, im no sure, i suspect it is, i dont own a dslr at present, but Nikon are the Dogs bits when it comes to making cameras, though i suspect the aluminium bodied one would have cost an awfull lots more.

 

[mosstrooper]

Well i just checked ebay uk and i couldnt find a better deal, in fact i couldnt find one that had the 55-200 but they all seem to come with the 18-55, the best deal i could see was a similar price but with only one lens.

 

[mosstrooper]

This is neat, i see you can buy camera armour for this camera
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Camera-Armor-Nikon-D5000-Digital/dp/B002PLNZQS/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1297961871&sr=8-6

Handy if you rappelling down a mountain side to shoot your grow

 

[Dr.Know]

That is a really good deal for a nikon D5000 and 2 lenses, those 3 items retail for around $800-1,000 USD. Since it is only an entry level camera body it is missing some features I find very useful for macro work but with a good macro lens attached to the front the D5000 is still very capable of capturing great macros.

Don't worry about the extension tubes until after you have obtained a macro lens and flash unit. Once you have the basics then you can add things like extension tubes, teleconveters ect.

 

[mosstrooper]

Don't worry about the extension tubes until after you have obtained a macro lens and flash unit. Once you have the basics then you can add things like extension tubes, teleconveters ect.

Can you not do without the macro lens if you have the extension tubes? or am i missing something, i base this question on having watched this tutorial on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciYUbVC6Ozo

 

[Dr.Know]

Can you not do without the macro lens if you have the extension tubes? or am i missing something, i base this question on having watched this tutorial on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciYUbVC6Ozo

Not if you are serious about macro photography.
You can use extension tubes, reversed/stacked lenses, or teleconveters to get the same kind of magnification but it will not have the same sharpness or versatility as a dedicated macro lens.

I recommend these macro lenses for the D5000...
nikon af-s 60mm
nikon 105mm vr
Tamron 90mm
Sigma 105mm

 

[mosstrooper]

Fair point, did you watch that youtube tutorial though, not that im exhorting you too, its just the guy in the film makes some nice macro shots without a dedicated macro lens (at least thats how i understood what i watched anyway)

From my own point of view, on something of a budget, i cant afford to buy a macro lens,(nor even a dslr at present) but if i got a dslr, i would certainly try this route first as i can get a set of the tubes for less than £10 and if the (youtube) tutorial is right, i should get some pretty acceptable shots considering how little i would have spent on lenses extensions whatever.

I appreciate i dont know what im talking about, i take all my pics with a mobile phone so macro is hard for me (though not entirely impossible).

Im just trying to find a way to do these things on a budget myself so this is my point of view.

Thanks for replying.

 

[gaiusmarius]

wow was well worth posting this thread, thanks guys. i think ill pick it up day after tomorrow. so ideally i will need a macro lens and a separate flash as well as the extension tubes if i'm after really incredible shots of trichome landscapes?

 

[noreason]

Gaius I don't know anything about that camera but the best macros I saw where taken with macro lens and dedicate flash.The best macro lens I think it's the mp65 from canon.It goes at 5x and has a great quality image but it's not cheap.

About other stuff like tubes,magnifier and others,try to understand how they work before buy.I think stuff like tubes will decrease light,and light is an important factor to take in mind.Magnifier can decrease image quality.
Maybe using a long lens to take macros can disturb the flash during the shot,so you will need a dedicated flash.
All things you need to take in consideration if you want something serious to play with.And that camera I think it's a serious one.

G'luck finding your stuff

 

[LittleAmsterdam]

I've been involved in photography for the last 20+ years. I've purchased lots of camera equipment and would recommend to purchase used through a company called KEH.com
They specialize in nothing but used film and digital cameras and lenses. They even come with a warranty backed by KEH. I've never had a problem with their equipment and because of the cost savings continue to return for more equipment.

I understand wanting to buy NEW Digital SLR Cameras, but I use nothing but used lenses from KEH. I prefer the older fixed focal and aperture lenses I have.

 

[SKAGITMAGIC]

I've been useing a Panasonic Lumix dmz-tz5, just press the button with the flower on it and it takes pretty decent closeups, i need to keep this stuff simple.