If you are able to spend £1000 on camera kit, you are entering the regions of the high quality DSLR camera. In other words, a camera suitable for the serious enthusiast.
Again, I have certain recommendations based on my experience working with students over the past 10 years.
My choice for a superb enthusiast’s DSLR is the Nikon D90 with the 18-105mm lens. This is available as a kit.
Of course, the camera must be capable of producing the finest results. It must be versatile, functional and as easy to use as possible. For this reason, I strongly recommend that your DSLR camera body should have TWO command dials – one front and one back. This way you you will be able to operate the shutter speeds and apertures with separate dials – one for your finger and one for your thumb.
Don’t laugh – this is important and saves a great deal of finger fiddling -especially when you are learning your camera craft.
With this two-dial arrangement, you will be far more likely to use the Manual (‘M’) Exposure Mode. I promise you, this will make a big difference to the way you improve your photography in the long term.
PHILIP DUNN’S RECOMMENDED ACCESSORIES FOR YOUR NIKON D90
HOYA 67mm UV FILTER
Vital piece of kit – put it on your lens and keep it there. It helps with landscape shots, but it’s mostly for protection |
LOWEPRO SLINGSHOT 102AW
Big enough to take an extra couple of lenses as your camera kit grows. I use the Slingshot-style myself |
GORILLAPOD ZOOM
Strong and versatile. YOU DO NEED A TRIPOD. a ball head is available – but maybe buy that later |
SANDISK ULTRA 8Gb SD CARD
Fast and reliable – it will do video if you want, but I think most DSLR owners want to take stills |
NIKON REMOTE CORD
|
CAMERA CLEANING KIT Care for your lovely Nikon D90 – keep it clean & free of ‘dust bunnies’. Disposable lens tissues are better than cloths
|
The 18-105mm Nikon lens has the best possible range of zoom for most subject. This lens is not ‘fast’ and does not boast super wide apertures, but it is a great all-rounder. Do not waste your money on huge zoom lenses. You will hardly ever use them unless you are seriously interested in wildlife and bird photography.
The longest lens I carry in my camera kit is 200mm – that’s on a full frame DSLR. When your 18-105mm is zoomed right in it has an equivalent focal length of about 160mm on the Nikon D90. Why do you need more? I am confident that these recommendations represent the basis for a superb set of camera equipment – good quality and no silly gimmicks.
You’ll find a review here on Photozone on the Nikon D90 with the 18-105 lens.
Like all cameras, the Nikon D90 is only as good as the person behind it. If you want to learn how to use it properly, you can do no better than come on one of my Photography Holidays or Photography Courses – and I will show you how to get the most from it.
