Nikon D90 12.3MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only) Review

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(More customer reviews)I am far from a professional photographer, but I take it as seriously as possible while still referring to it as a hobby. I take mostly pictures of people at events and many of my baby son without flash in low light situations.
I had been using a Nikon D40x for 1 year and very early reached my limitation with that camera. The Nikon D40x has very nice image quality, but the camera's interface is not suited for a more serious shooter who wants quick single button or dial access to such shooting parameters such as white balance, shooting mode, metering mode, etc. I also felt very limited by the D40x not having an in-body focus motor that would allow me to use non AF-I/AF-S lenses (which are lenses without the focus motor built-in).
The Nikon D40x limitations were severe enough that I was about to consider purchasing a Canon 40D until the Nikon D90 appeared just in time. PROS:
1. Fantastic set of separate buttons on the camera to control parameters like ISO, white balance, metering, autofocus, image quality, shooting mode, etc.
2. Two command dials
3. High resolution 920K pixel LCD screen (like the one on the Nikon D300)
4. 12.3 megapixel CMOS sensor
5. Low noise high ISO capability (for low light shooting) I can shoot ISO 1600 with good image quality with this camera, while on my D40x I could only shoot with ISO 400 and obtain acceptable IQ. I will even use ISO 3200 frequently with very usable results!
6. Separate top-viewing LCD screen in addition to the rear high res screen, to show shooting parameters constantly
7. In-body focus motor which allows the use of Nikon's non AF-I/S lenses, including wonderful and CHEAP prime lenses such as the Nikkor 50mm 1.8 (~$100 lens!)
8. Continuous shooting of 4.5 frames per second
9. Small size, although larger than the D40/D40x/D60, it is still substantially smaller in the hand than the D300/D3
10. 720p 24fps MPEG video shooting capability with incredible ability to use depth of field that I cannot achieve with my Sony High-Def camcorder.
11. Eleven auto-focus points (not as nice as the 51 points on the D300, but substantially better than my D40x with its 3 points)
12. GPS option
13. HDMI output
14. Enormous number of options to customize camera and shooting settings to fit your style of shooting
15. Fantastic image quality right out-of-box if you don't want to do any post processing
16. Terrific build quality
17. Top notch camera ergonomics (but this will be a very personal opinion that differs for each shooter)CONS:
1. "Rolling shutter" phenomenon while recording video: The D90 CMOS sensor has the same problem that other CMOS video recorders have when recording video. If you move the camera, especially horizontally, you get a "jelly" or "rubberbanding" effect where the image wobbles significantly. It is nice to have the video features, which looks very sharp at 720p, but it is NOT a substitute for a video camera. If you use a tripod, and do not do quick zooms/pans, the video quality is excellent. Without a tripod, however, you may get nauseous watching a wobbly video. The sound is also in monoaural.
2. 1/200 flash synch: Not a problem for me, but it might be for you.
3. No weather sealing: This is found on the Nikon D300/D3 and even on similarly priced models from other camera companies
4. The buffer will fill up after about 8 continuous RAW + JPG (FINE) shots. This number differs depending on the shooting parameters that you will choose. If you shoot primarily JPG, the buffer seems to allow a very large number of continuous shots, but I have not quantified this for JPG only.TIPS:
1. Get the FREE Nikon ViewNX software from Nikon's site as your 1st step in your workflow. This will let you examine your RAW images that you can process for either Nikon CaptureNX2 to do further RAW processing or just export to JPG or TIFF for a JPG/TIFF editor such as PhotoShop.
2. Recommend buying the Nikon CaptureNX2. It is a RAW converter (if you shoot in RAW) that will read the camera settings properly for export to JPG or TIFF. Capture NX2, however, is not as slick as the Adobe products and Capture NX2 requires a fairly powerful computer, otherwise it can run pretty slowly on a PC > 3 years old.
3. If you use JPEGs out-of-camera, consider increasing the sharpness above the default 3 or 4. Nikon uses a very conservative sharpening default setting. Nikon has also decided to change the default JPEG images to match the higher end D3/D700/D300 cameras which produce more neutral images. Consequently, the D90 images that are less punchy than the D40/D40x/D60/D80, so you may also want to turn up the in-camera saturation and contrast.The Nikon D90 has all of the interface features that serious and even professional photographers need with wonderful image quality.

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Fusing 12.3-megapixel image quality inherited from the award-winning D300 with groundbreaking features, the D90's breathtaking, low-noise image quality is further advanced with EXPEED image processing. Split-second shutter response and continuous shooting at up to 4.5 frames-per-second provide the power to capture fast action and precise moments perfectly, while Nikon's exclusive Scene Recognition System contributes to faster 11-area autofocus performance, finer white balance detection and more. The D90 delivers the control passionate photographers demand, utilizing comprehensive exposure functions and the intelligence of 3D Color Matrix Metering II. Stunning results come to life on a 3-inch 920,000-dot color LCD monitor, providing accurate image review, Live View composition and brilliant playback of the D90's cinematic-quality 24-fps HD D-Movie mode.

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Nikon TC-20E II (2.0x) Teleconverter AF-S for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras Review

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(More customer reviews)I use the TC-20E II with a 400mm f2.8 ED IF AF-S, and it's superb. I was concerned whether there would be a reduction in sharpness, and perhaps there is a touch (but perhaps that's also a product of shooting at 800mm and ANY camera shake being noticeable), but this 2x converter is much sharper than the TC-14E 1.4x I also own. Yes, these newer converters must be used with the newer lenses, as others have mentioned.

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2.0x AF Teleconverter for use with Nikon AF lenses for Nikon SLR cameras

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Nikon D60 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens Review

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(More customer reviews)I've been using Canon PowerShot point-and-shoot digital cameras for the past 6 years, and because they're so small, portable, and unobtrusive, I've ended up taking a lot more photos that I ever did, because I had my camera with me. The good thing is that I've taken a lot more pictures, and most of them have been very good (the camera gets much of the credit here). But the bad thing is that I started to reach the limits of what a point-and-shoot camera can do.
The biggest problems I had with my compact point-and-shoot camera was the lag between shots and the generally poor performance in low-light settings. For most shots, these weren't big problems, but when they were a problem, they were a huge problem, and there's not much you can to solve it without moving to a better camera. I don't think I'm the first person to reach a brick wall when using compact digital cameras, which is why there are now some excellent options that don't cost a fortune.
After reading a lot of reviews for digital SLR cameras online, I narrowed it down to two choices: the Sony A300 or the Nikon D60. I love my compact Canon, but I wasn't all that impressed with the Canon dSLR's that I looked at, either in terms of price or features.
The Sony is priced very competitively and offers some great features, such as auto-focus and image stabilization built into the camera itself, not relying on the lens. The A300 also has live preview on the LCD screen, which the D60 doesn't offer (live preview is what you get on a compact camera: you see what you are shooting as you take the picture). Finally, the A300 has more focus points than the Nikon. I spent a long time in several stores doing side-by-side comparisons of these two cameras. After many test shots, I finally chose the D60 for the following reasons: it felt more compact and less heavy than the Sony, I liked the way the lens felt when I was zooming, its LCD menu system was much clearer and more intuitive, and the Nikkor family of lenses is unbeatable. With a dSLR, it really gets down to which line you want to commit to for future lens purchases. I wasn't sure I wanted to go with Sony, when Nikon is well-known for quality optics.
I ordered the D60 from Amazon and I'm glad I did, since they have a 30-day price match policy. If the price of the camera decreases within 30 days of your purchase, all you have to do is email Amazon, and they'll credit you with the difference. The price of the D60 went down three times after my purchase (it's even lower now, but I've passed my 30 days), and Amazon was fast to process the refund for each decrease. Please note that it's your responsibility to check on the current price. Amazon will not notify you that the price has gone down, and why should they? So if you do buy this from Amazon, be sure to check every couple of days to see what the current price is.
As for the camera and the lens, I couldn't be happier. I love how it feels and how easy it is to use, at least for basic shots. Of course it won't fit in my pocket the way my point-and-shoot did, but it's not nearly as huge or heavy as I'd expected. The kit lens has VR (vibration reduction) which is a good thing to have, and it's well balanced with the compact body of this camera. In other words, the camera doesn't point down under the weight of the lens. Everyone who has tried out my new camera has commented on how compact and ergonomic it feels.
The camera works extremely well in low-light settings, with or without flash (you can defeat the flash if you want, and I find that in many situations, I get better results that way). The flash is a lot more powerful than what you get on a compact camera, and the coverage is more even.
So far, I've mainly used the "auto" mode, but I've taken some pictures in macro mode. It's graat to be able to take pictures in rapid succession, without having to wait the way you do with a point-and-shoot. Most important of all, the image quality is outstanding. The difference is noticeable and consistently better than what I was getting with my point-and-shoot.
The LCD menu is intuitive and visually appealing. That was one of the reasons I went with the Nikon in the first place, and I haven't been disappointed. By pressing the right button as you move the mode dial, you can see a description of what each mode does, which is very helpful. It's sort of like having a "help" system built into the camera, without having to carry around the instructions. Having said that, the instruction manual is really quite good. It won't teach you everything you need to know about digital SLRs, but it does a good job of explaining the camera's features. Nevertheless, I recommend buying a more extensive guide book which is specific to the Nikon D60 (there is one by David Busch which is currently available, and several more are scheduled to appear within the next couple of months).
So, I love this camera, especially at the very reasonable price point. However, there are some things that you should consider before making a final decision. First, the D60 will only provide auto-focus with Nikkor AF-S lenses. That means that most Nikon "prime" lenses will require manual focusing. That wasn't a big deal for me, but it is a limitation. Second, the D60's 3 focus points put it at the low end for this feature. Third, the D60 uses SD cards, while the Sony uses Compact Flash cards, as do many higher-end dSLRS. This isn't really a plus or minus, since SD cards are generally less expensive than Compact Flash, but some users say that Compact Flash cards may be more durable in the long run (they're larger and thicker). Finally, unlike the Sony, the D60 does not provide live preview. In other words, you don't see the image on the LCD until after you have taken it.
With all of that, I'm very pleased with my decision and I am having a lot of fun with my Nikon D60. If you're ready to move up from your point-and-shoot to a dSLR, you cannot go wrong with the D60.

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Nikon introduces the new D60 digital SLR camera, to provide stunning picture quality and versatility in an easy-to-use, compact camera design. The New D60 Digital SLR joins Nikon's award-winning line of D-series digital SLR cameras and shares a form similar to the D40 ? Nikon's smallest D-SLR camera ever. With 10.2 effective megapixels and a wealth of innovative and user-friendly features, the D60 enables both photo enthusiasts and those new to digital SLR photography to capture incredible images like never before. Nikon D60 Features at a Glance Extraordinary 10.2-Megapixel DX-format Nikon Picture Quality Includes AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR (Vibration Reduction) Lens Fast Startup and Split-Second Shutter Response Shoots Continuously at up to 3 Frames per Second Active Dust Reduction System with Airflow Control Easy Operation with Intuitive Controls Up to 500 Pictures per Battery Charge Based on CIPA battery testing standards Bright, 2.5-Inch Color LCD Monitor with 170-Degree Wide-Angle Viewing Nikon's Smallest Digital SLR Ever! Automatic Exposure with 8 Digital Vari-Program Scene Modes In-Camera Editing Functions Users will immediately appreciate the D60's fast 0.18-second start-up time and split-second shutter response, which combine to eliminate the frustration of shooting lag ? a common issue with many point-and-shoot digital cameras. With a fast and accurate autofocus and the ability to shoot continuously at up to three pictures-per-second, the D60 faithfully captures pictures that other cameras often miss. The D60 does all this while delivering extraordinarily vivid and detailed pictures, ensuring that fleeting expressions, special moments and memorable events are captured beautifully. Packaged with Nikon's new AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR image stabilization lens, the D60 camera and lens outfit delivers striking image sharpness. What's more, Nikon's p

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Nikon 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR ED Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras Review

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(More customer reviews)If you take photographs for fun then this is a great lens. I am using it on the ultimate fun camera, a Nikon D40 and the lens completes it very well. I usually don't analyse things to death like photographing text from a Newspaper or grid patterns to measure sharpness or distortion. I just use it to take pictures and observe the results like a normal person would. Having said that I am quite critical and have had really good cameras with excellent optics.
Overall this lens feels like it is a really good product and feels very robust and well made. It is well finished and shows good attention to detail and quality control. The two rings (zoom and focus) feel and glide very well. albeit with a very slight plastic sliding sound. The switches feel fairly OK and generally everything seems like it will last a very very long time. Of course it cannot match a mid 80's Nikon prime lens but it is hard to make such a comparison. Firstly they are built differently with different numbers of components and secondly they are used differently.
Personally I don't understand the difference that a steel camera mount would make over the plastic one this lens has. I suppose if you remove and replace the camera lots of times then it could make a difference. Although having said that a plastic surface on the lens would be kinder the steel mount on the camera. Plastic being self lubricating would prevent both from being scratched. I don't sleep less well at night because of it.
Visually the lens looks a bit plain and lacks the silver ring that the 18-55 came with. It also lacks an writing on the forward business end of the camera. There are also no markings for focal length.
One thing about this lens that I do find very annoying is the extremely fiddly lens cap. Because of the way they moulded the cap the two surfaces you press together to unclip it from the lens front are very short and smooth and have an angle on them that makes the fingers slip off. As a consequence the lens cap has fallen out my hand onto the floor a few times. That is something to remember if you are standing on a grate, a dirty floor or on a clifftop. This is a common problem with the 18-135 and 18-200 lenses.
Now to the lens' performance. It focuses extremely fast and very silently. It has a very useful reach. I have found you can overcome the smaller minimum aperture with a higher zoom and this gives really good bokeh for portraits. The VR works a treat as well. In combination with the camera's really good performance at high ISO it makes it very capable at photographing the insides of restaurants and houses without the need for flash to ruin the colour balance.
The lens is very sharp. The photographs I took came out very well. I have no issues with them whatsoever and anything that went wrong in taking those images I would put down to my relative inexperience.
The lens did not have any negative effects on the colour, I didn't notice any purple fringing or anything other than really pleasant results. Overall I am actually very happy with the sharpness and detail this lens captures.
I am wondering whether to use a UV filter and am not sure about using the petal design hood. There are all sorts of views about the advisability or otherwise of these items.
Other products I compared this to are the 18-55 lens my D40 came with. In its own right it is an excellent lens and seems sharp. It does feel a bit on the lightweight side compared to the 18-105. The 18-135 I tried felt a little bit crude in how the zoom ring moved. It didn't feel as well finished compared to the 18-105 and made plastic sliding sounds when operating the zoom ring. That lens was very sharp too but holding it steady at 135mm was a bit difficult.
I used a 50mm 1.4 manual focus lens from the 80s that had awesome bokeh but was otherwise a pain to use. The other lens I tried was the 18-200mm which was an awesome lens. It had a focus that seemed even faster than the one on the 18-105 but it was a little too big and made the camera feel very front heavy. Because of that it lost a bit of the fun factor. Along with the fact that it was almost 3 times more expensive I am glad I bought the 18-105.
I paid A$385 at Ted's in Highpoint. $385 would equate to US$246 in November 2008. An 18-200 sells for A$1045. Even the 18-135 often sells for more so I feel I got something of a bargain. The people at Ted's are fantastic for customer service and I'm sorry I didn't buy my D40 from them.
Anyway I hope this review helps someone.

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This 5.8x zoom, designed exclusively for use with Nikon's DX-format, features Nikon's VR image stabilization and is perfect for portraits and action. The wide-ratio 5.8x zoomCompact, versatile and ideal for a broad range of shooting situations, ranging from interiors and landscapes to beautiful portraits--a perfect everyday zoom. Vibration Reduction is engineered specifically for each VR NIKKOR lens and enables handheld shooting at up to 3 shutter speeds slower than would otherwise be possible, assuring dramatically sharper images.

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Nikon 70-300mm f/4-5.6G AF Nikkor SLR Camera Lens Review

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(More customer reviews)First off, let me tell you that this lens only works fully with the latest Nikon SLRs because it has no aperture ring to set f/stops. You must do that electronically using a D100, D2H, D70, N80, N75, F5 or F100. However, Nikon does provide a nice compatibility chart telling you how to use this lens on older Nikon cameras. So you can use this lens on S and P modes with the N90s, N8008s, N 6000, and N4004. This backward compatibility of lenses and bodies is one of the strongest points of the Nikon system. Even a 24 year old lens can be used with a new Digital SLR, to some extent.
The lens is very light for it's zoom range. It has a reasonably substantial feel, unlike some of the Sigma lenses I've used. It's made of polycarbonate, which is the same stuff the F117 Stealth fighter is made from.
If you shoot lots of portraits, this is the lens to get. The telephoto allows you to throw the background out of focus with relative ease. The lens has a 9 bladed iris, so out of focus elements are rendered in very subtle and beautiful forms. The Japanese call this "Bokeh" and much has been written about it. It's very nice that the Nikon engineers took this aesthetic principal into account when designing this economy lens. Once again, Nikon proves to be a design driven company.
The zoom ring has a nice feel with good manual dampening. Zooming is precise with no "slop" or wobble. Manual focus is about average for a lens of this caliber. It's possible, but no great joy. Since I'm used to the silky feel of Nikon's old AIS lenses, I doubt anything could rate higher. Autofocus for this lens is much better, and seems to be quick and precise. About the only time it balked was when shooting delicate cloudscapes. This is common for AF lenses and simply requires you to quickly disengage the AF on your camera body and rack the lens to "Infinity" setting.
My D70 DSLR made this lens handy to grip and insanely light. The great thing about using this lens on a DSLR is that you end up with a 450mm zoom lens! great for bringing in distant objects. Watch out when shooting against strong backlight, however. This lens seemed to have more than a little "Purple fringing". Shots done in normal lighting conditions exhibit zero fringing, and superb sharpeness. So that's the good news.
Overall this lens is a great bargain and worthy of the Nikkor name. Don't let the low price fool you. Although it's not a Nikkor 80-200 f/2.8 by any means, this lens is highly capable and a great second lens for your D70 Digital SLR or N series 35mm SLR. Nikon USA offers a 5 year warranty FREE if you mail the registration postcard in within 10 days of purchase. So be sure to get that in the mailbox right after buying!

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Nikon 70-300mm f/4-5.6G AF Nikkor SLR Camera Lens

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Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX Nikkor Zoom Lens Review

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(More customer reviews)We have here the Nikon 18-55mm kit lens that is seemingly designed to do one thing: make you want more. I received mine as part of my kit package with my Nikon D40. It is a decent lens that cuts corners all over to keep price down, and doesn't really do anything great. However, for those first starting out, it's light as a feather, simple to use, and at least for the initial month or so, all you need to get out and start capturing memories.
As expected for the price, it is of relatively low-grade plastic construction, to include the mount (the part at the rear that connects to the camera), however the optics are uncharacteristically sharp. While it is an AF-S lens (focusing element in the lens and not the camera), it doesn't benefit from full-time manual override found on other AF-S lenses (that is, you're able to make manual adjustments after the lens has focused). I'm sure that Nikon did this as a cost-cutting measure. For users of this lens, this shouldn't be an issue as you can always switch over to manual focus anyway via a switch on the lens or camera (save the D40/X which doesn't have an internal focus motor and as such no switch on the camera). However, more experienced users will find the manual focus ring quite distasteful. Also, since the front element rotates, use with a polarizer will be annoying.
With a variable aperture of 3.5-5.6 you can easily get available-light shots for outdoor daylight photos, and well-lit indoor photos without jacking up the iso too high at the wide end, but near the long end, you're going to need to use a flash unless you use a relatively slow shutter speed or high iso setting. You're going to get some vignetting (darkening of the corners) on the wide end, as with any wide-angle lens, but this can be corrected with most post-processing software, like Photoshop. Also, there will be CAs or purple fringing with high contrast images.
The range is quite short, though not as bad as say the 17-35 or the 35-70 (which outclass this lens in every way, shape and form), and will definitely have you wanting for just a little more reach at the long end. The Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ($199.95 Amazon) is an excellent compliment to this lens, or if you can afford it, the Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G AF-S VR ($473.32 Amazon). The difference between 55 and 70 is fairly small and won't be missed (but the difference in price will hurt a little more). 18mm will most likely be plenty wide allowing you take large group, landscape shots, and even some fun distorted portrait shots due to the barrel roll at the wide end.
All in all, this is a lens to get you started, but leaving you wanting for more. More range, faster light gathering, better construction, etc. Its cheap construction is enough to keep price down, but won't take very much abuse. Also, being a kit lens, you'll be hard pressed to sell it unless packaged with the camera if you ever upgrade lenses in the future. It is what it is, with the only alternative at this price being the Nikon 50mm f/1.8D ($109 Amazon) aka, the nifty fifty.

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Designed exclusively for Nikon DX-format SLR cameras, this 18-55mm lens approximates the picture angle performance of a 27-82.5mm lens in the 35mm format, ensuring superb versatility in a wide variety of shooting situations. The lens offers such features as a Silent Wave Motor (SWM) with a compact rod-type design that provides fast, ultra-quiet autofocusing; an ED glass element that minimizes chromatic aberration and produces a superior optical performance; a hybrid aspherical element that delivers high resolution and contrast; and a seven-blade rounded diaphragm that produces more natural out-of-focus highlights. The focus mode switch, meanwhile, makes it a breeze to switch quickly between autofocus (A) and manual (M) focus. Finally, the lens's Super Integrated Coating minimizes ghosting and flare to provide an even higher contrast and more vivid images, even in challenging light conditions. All Nikon lenses carry a five-year warranty.

Focal length: 18-55mm
Maximum aperture: f/3.5-5.6
Minimum aperture: f/22-38
Lens construction: 7 elements in 5 groups, with one ED glass element
Picture angle: 76 to 28 degrees (at 50 feet)
Minimum focus: 0.9 feet throughout entire zoom range
Filter attachment size: 52mm
Included accessories: LC-52 snap-on front and rear lens cap
Dimensions: 2.7 inches in diameter and 2.9 inches long
Weight: 7.2 ounces

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Nikon D300 DX 12.3MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only) Review

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(More customer reviews)Since 2006 I have owned a D200 for serious shooting situations and I got a D40 in early '07 for everyday shots (an awesome camera - I give it SIX stars! - a whole separate review is needed!), and after hearing about the D300 release in late 2007 I debated over whether to get one. I was really happy with my D200, which I took on some overseas trips and it performed perfectly. After demo-ing a D300 in stores and reading some online reviews, I decided to take the plunge. It was a big investment but now I have no regrets - if not for the entire package, then for one thing: COLOR! Or one more thing: what Nikon calls 'Active D-Lighting' (translation: a significant change in the processor's realistic rendition of contrast, highlights, shadows, etc. - the entire package of "TONE"). Also - can an LCD rear-screen get any better than this?? In Jim Cramer-parlance I have to say that this model is definitely "best of breed".
Pluses and minuses: (note: edited every once in a while since I've used it for almost 6 months now and thousands of captures - last edit was done on 4/9/08)
PLUSES:
- Incredibly vivid, pleasingly, really surprisingly saturated color reminiscent of Velvia (high-saturation Fuji film used in slides, etc.) is now made possible by selecting the "Vivid" option in the "Picture Control" menu and cranking up the "Saturation" option - there are three levels beyond the default "0" - which sets it just about at the highest possible saturation that could be set in the D200. Even boring photos of things around the home, outside, etc. seem interesting and... well, exciting and vivid... with it set at +2 or +3 (although the +3 setting is a bit extreme for people photos, and renders their skin color a bit more intense than appears naturally). At the +3 setting even blase photos of ordinary things approach purposely-understated "art" in a MoMA-like way. For people I am finding Vivid+1 or Vivid+2 a bit more natural indoors with natural light, as the Vivid+3 saturates just a bit more than I prefer. Just like Velvia, these settings also do not warm the cool colors - one of the minuses of other cameras' 'vivid' settings - this is what's best (your cool blues, greys, greens, etc. stay cool, while the reds, yellows, oranges, bright blues/greens/etc. - watch out!) (Edited note: after about 3,000 shots I saw that indoors it might be best to do a manual white balance preset off a white wall or carpet or something and then shoot in vivid mode, since in the automatic WB mode the reds tend to get boosted quite a bit under typical indoor light and some of my subjects looked like they had a very dark suntan, or even a sunburn, in the middle of December! Careful with this... also tried standard - i.e. not vivid - color settings with +1 or +2 saturation, and these were very realistic, although the backgrounds can be dull if you're intent on vivid colors all-around. Maybe best to use those on portraits only. Try them all out and see what works best.)
- On-board so-called "Active D-Lighting" renders shadows and highlights in an very realistic manner, with no raising up of delicate shadow tones to mid-levels (as my outstanding, near-perfect-in-its-class Nikon D40 tends to do) - this really must be seen to be believed. Coupled with the color quality (and deep saturation noted above), the detail in the highlights is excellent. The D40/D200 have this feature in post-capture (i.e. you adjust the captured image yourself) but this seemed rather crude; here it is said that the Nikon actually computes the needed adjustment and does it specifically for the scene you've captured. No more blown or off-color highlights in those 'rare' occasions when overexposure seeps into a shot in a very contrasty frame.
- The new LCD screen is 3" in size and has a whopping 920,000 pixels (versus 230,000 for the D200, D80, D40, etc.) of resolution - which means image review to check focus, color, etc. is impossibly accurate and well beyond the already very high quality of Nikon's 2.5 inch screens and way, way beyond that of the Canons with the greenish-greyish-tinted LCDs even on expensive models like the much-venerated full-frame 5D. Doesn't even come with a LCD protector cover like the D200 did because it's made with tempered glass and is super resistant to scratching, damage, etc. No more looking through plastic - however transparent - when reviewing shots or setting colors, lighting, etc. (Kind of always bothered me, that.)
- 100% coverage viewfinder - excellent, and not cluttered up, making composition cleaner; nothing engraved in the viewfinder to get in the way (although you can optionally set the horizon-level grid to be on all the time, which I do, since it leaves an open space in the middle anyway, and those off-balance shots are a pain to fix).
- 51-points of autofocus available - at first I didn't really care much as I tend to do the old-school method of using one point for focus, then recomposing - but I started using the 51-point AF mode (the full-rectange setting that uses all sensors) and found that I don't need to do this as the D300 always seems to pick the object I wanted to focus on - making things much, much easier - although for really unusual shots with a subject in focus and others way out of focus, I move to the manual mode; the AF system is excellent in speed and accurate tracking of the object of focus as well (i.e. a running child, etc.) The 51 points make this very easy to do. Fiddling around in the store I saw on the big $5k D3 the points are better looking (little red spots) and less intrusive when composing than these large-ish black rectangles on the D300, but I can live with that (although it reminds me "hey, you don't have a D3!...").
- There were issues about firmware and exposure on the D40, D80, where they tended to expose too brightly, and we had to set it manually to -0.3 or -0.7 to get back to normal exposure. Not on the D300. Perfect all-around. Still, adjusting WB and exposure can make or break the shot. Especially nice is the cloudy or 'shadow' setting for indoor shots in bright sunlight; everything looks pleasingly warm, even if just a tinge more than natural. Give it a try if you like warm colors. Interesting shots can be had using 'tungsten' outside in the snow - a blue-grey monochromatic world. (If you have snow, that is.) Manual WB setting is easy off of a wall, or carpet, or napkin, etc. as usual with the Nikons in this range, and makes quite a bit of difference in odd-lighting situations (i.e. very dim room, etc.) where the automatic presets, although excellent, don't work well (especially that 'tungsten' - in normal home incandescent lighting in the evening everything is medium-blued-out - who uses this? Or am I using it incorrectly? I set WB in that situation off the wall or rug.)
- other than the full-frame sensor (no small difference, that is) and high FPS, there appears, from what I am reading, to be no major differences (unless you're a sports or news shooter) from the highly-lauded D3, which costs 3x what the D300 costs; the D3's awesome high ISO performance can be mimicked by turning off the high ISO noise reduction set "on" in the default mode in the D300 (see below) Of course, the D3 has many other features that make it best for pro sports shooters, etc. who need that size and power, and of course, full-frame has no comparison - but I have a bag full of DX lenses (and some non-DX primes) and not ready to put out $10k+ for a D3 plus a 14-24, the new 24-70 and the 70-200, etc. that I'd want. The differences in picture quality due to the full-frame sensor (and other features I wouldn't need as I don't shoot sports or news) are outweighed by the cost involved and the marginal nature of the difference overall. Image quality is essentially the same - except for the pluses of the full-frame, especially noticeable in really big prints. Also the usual full-frame focal length versus DX issue remains alive here - yes, that "35mm on a DX is equivalent to a..." continues, and probably will as long as DX lenses remain in our bags. Edit: I have tried the D3 for a shooting session and it does focus incredibly fast, much faster than the D300 in some cases. The speed of the focusing and the shutter itself are unbelievable; that camera is the Ferrari or Lamborghini of Nikons. The D300 may be the Porsche - hey, not a bad compromise - it's unlikely that the average pro-sumer will need the power of the D3 (or of a Ferrari - ever try to do 140mph on the NJ Turnpike?).
These were my big main pluses which justified the transition from the D200, but there are a few more which don't really appeal to me but will for some:
- Live View (you can see the image on the LCD screen) - perhaps this might appeal to a tripod-user setting up a photo, but I doubt I'll ever use it. Smacks of "point-and-shoot", I think, but could be handy in some cases where it is hard to position the eye at the viewfinder (behind the sofa?...) (Edited note: should not have panned this - gave the camera to my 21 year old niece, who tried to take a Christmas portrait of my family and I together - and got half of us in the bottom of the frame, and an empty top half of the frame! - for those who basically grew up using live view digital cameras, this feature is very useful - just set it and let them shoot - I think the weight of the D300 and the fact that she had to use a (gasp!) viewfinder (as opposed to the RAZR internal cellphone camera) threw her off. Some creative cropping may save the shot, anyway.)
- Ultrasonic Sensor Cleaner - like the Canons and Pentaxes, Sonys, etc., Nikon finally offers a sensor cleaner (which is user-operated, not constantly running at each power-up if you set it that way). Might be useful after hard shooting in dusty or otherwise...Read more›

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Nikon 35mm f/1.4G AF-S FX SWM Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras Review

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(More customer reviews)I'm a wedding photographer who shoots in dark conditions often. This lens performs great in these conditions. I use this lens on a D3 body and the AF is good. It doesn't seem to be as fast at my zooms (24-70 2.8 or 70-200 2.8) but it's still pretty accurate when focusing in low light. The image quality is AMAZING. Certainly an upgrade from the older 35 f/2 version . Images has more contrast & are sharper. I also own the 24 1.4 G and I would say that the IQ on the 35 is about the same. Over all, I'm very impressed and satisfied with this 35. [...]

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Update of one of Nikon's most respected NIKKOR lenses delivers sharp images and its fast maximum aperture ensures a bright viewfinder image as well as beautiful background blur. The moderate wide angle capability of the lens is suitable for interiors, weddings, photojournalism and landscape photography.

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Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED IF AF-S VR Nikkor Zoom Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras Review

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(More customer reviews)After exhaustive research on many lens, I finally decided to plunk down the $500+ (at the time this was written) to purchase this lens. It may not be the best on the market but it compliments my Nikon 18-70mm DX lens nicely. I was looking towards Nikon's 18-200mm DX lens, however; the price pushed me to choose this one (as it was nearly half the price and my two lens can nearly cover all the range of the one 18-200mm).
QUALITY/WEIGHT:
build quality is cheap yet sturdy... the plastic is a little chinky but cuts down on the weight. My Nikon D200 has no problem handling the lens weight, however; I have heard (unconfirmed) reports that this lens is a little heavy for the lighter cameras (D80, D70, D40, ETC). The Ring Connector is metal and has a rubber gasket on the outside so as to provide minor protection (for the lens mount) from the elements.
You also have to keep this in mind, when discussing weight, quality & price; the bulk of the price of this lens is going into the glass elements (all 17 elements of them). It gets expensive when you place that many high-quality optics into a tube. I'm really not that surprised a the price, although $400 price-range would probably be more suitable for this lens
FOCUSING/LENS ATTRIBUTES:
Focusing can be quite fast... at times. You'll find, at the Max 300mm focal range, that the lens has a pretty hard time auto-focusing in on a subject. At times it would focus pretty quick, at the 300mm range, while at others it cannot focus at all. You can get around this quirk by bringing the subject into near focus (manually) then letting the auto-focus take over; it works every time. I find this focus problem disappointing especially given the price of this lens.
The quality of the Bokeh (Out of focus areas of the photograph) is very nice and pleasing. The images are sharp, vignetting (dark areas in the corner of your photos) is hard to find and lens flare rarely a problem.
VIBRATION STABILIZATION:
All I can say is that it works... it can come in handy. It's not going to stop the image guaranteed for you; it's only meant to slow down the rate at which the camera moves (vibration from holding). You can notice the difference; with it off you'll see that the image (at say 300mm) really bouncing around; then you flick on VR. It takes a sec or two but then the image smooths out, it still wobbles around, but much more slowly.
With VR enabled, you can usually go 2-3 (sometimes 4) stops down, then what you'd normally be able to do when hand holding.
THE "SHOCK" TEST:
I haven't "shock tested" my lens yet (IE dropped it) but I have heard (again unconfirmed reports here) that it holds up pretty well to a drop... although I would never recommend testing that out.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
The 70-300mm range should be noted: Although the lens states that it is a 70-300mm zoom, this lens was intended for a 35mm camera or full-frame CCD/CMOS sensor Digital Camera. All (or at least the majority) of Nikon's DSLR (D200, D80, ETC) are NOT Full-Frame sensors. They are approximately 1.5x factor of a full-frame sensor (due to the smaller sensor size).
What does this all mean?
Well it's simple, since this is a 35mm lens and not a DX lens (ie built to account for the 1.5x factor in most nikon digitals) you have to apply the 1.5x conversion. This means that the Nikon 70-300mm on a Nikon DSLR will give an apparent zoom equivalent to a 105-450mm lens. I actually do not mind this apparent zoom and this should also cut down on vignetting; as what the lens projects onto the sensor is larger then the area of the sensor itself. In short: parts of the image spills over the sensor, since this lens was meant to project onto a full-frame sensor/35mm film.
CONCLUSION:
Pros:
Pleasing Bokeh
Fast Auto-Focus (when working properly)
Vignetting is minimal
Image Stabilization (VR)
Flare is minimal
1.5x factor (105-450mm) makes for nice zoom
Colors are very good
CONS:
Plastic Casing
Near Inability to Auto-Focus at 300mm range
Price (even though it is cheaper then the 18-200mm DX)
1.5x factor (105-450mm) might make it more zoom then you need
Lens could be faster (F/4 would have been nice)
I love this lens, even for it's quirks, however; you may want to wait till it drops in price a little more (it falls almost bi-weekly). It may not be the fastest on the market, but it's size, optics, image quality and VR make this a must have lens for Serious Nikon users!

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L3)NIKON 70-300MM F4-5.6G Vr (2161)

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Nikon D300s 12.3MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II Lens Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a great camera even if Ken Rockwell doesn't really recommend it. I am a previous D200 owner, but I am very fond of this D300s. I still have much experimenting to do with this. I love my custom setup with vivid colors for landscapes and jewelry but I'm always forgetting to re-set it to normal when I'm taking people pictures. I haven't used the video as much as I want to. One draw back I couldn't edit the video with my Sony Vegas movie editing software, although I may have an earlier version of the software. Has anyone been able to do that?
The 18-200mm is the best Nikon lens made. Extremely versatile and may be the only lens you'll ever need. I love the new locking system.

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Nikon D300s 12.3MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II Lens (9740)

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Nikon D60 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only) Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this camera for my sister. She has taken amazing photos with a point and shoot and needed to step up to a DSLR. This was the cheapest nikon body on amazon at the time (refurbished from Cameta Camera). I currently shoot a D200 and the D60 doesn't have all the features I'm used to. However, it was everything I expected and takes beautiful photos. The lack of an auto focus motor does limit the camera, but the number of AF-S lenses available are continually growing.
The ability to have a 10megapixel sensor DSLR amazes me. You can make HUGE prints from this camera that are pro quality (but the camera itself won't give you the skills of a pro photographer). This body is tiny. Sitting next to a larger p&s its only slightly larger. Only having 3 AF points takes away some ease of use you get with the higher end bodies but they do focus sharp and fast.
My current favorite AF-S lenses for these non focus motor bodies would be #1 Nikon 35mm f/1.8G AF-S DX Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras. It gives the focal length of a 50mm on a film body. Perfect walk around lens and auto focus motor built in. This lens is awesome for portraits and still life.If you can only buy one lens right now, buy this one.
#2 Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S ED VR II Telephoto Zoom Lens for Nikon DX-Format Digital SLR Cameras This lens goes from wide to telephoto. You can keep this lens on the camera all day for most people's needs. On the down side, it costs twice the street price of the camera. #3Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED IF AF-S VR Zoom Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras. If you are buying a camera system to take pictures of your kids playing soccer, you need this lens. It is tack sharp for outdoor sports and gives you plenty of reach. Its also great for bird or other nature photography. Its a little heavy but much lighter, less bulky, and less costly than a 70-200 f/2.8.

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Nikon D60 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)

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Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8D ED AF Zoom Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras Review

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(More customer reviews)This lens is THE lens to own if you want to shoot indoor sports. The newspaper I work for has me out on a lot of volleyball, hockey and basketball beats, and this lens does not come off my camera. I have taken this lens out to soccer games and baseball games but use it mainly as back up. If you want to shoot these sports you'll want something up in the 300-400 range. Soccer especially.
The 2.8 aperture is a must for these low (and orange/brown) light situations. I was using a 200mm f4 but fell just short of being able to freeze the action perfectly without any blur. The little bit of extra light makes a world of difference.
I shoot with a D80 and find that I can keep my ISO down around 400 and be very comfortable with the results. In my situation (newsprint) I could go as high as 800 and be alright with it, but the glass in this lens lets me keep it low.
If you are in the fence, pick this lens up. For under 1000 bucks you can't beat it. It's ultra wide, and doesn't lose any sharpness at 2.8.
The only situation where you should not buy this lens is if you own a D40 or D40x. These bodies will not support the AF function of this lens, and seeing as how this is a great medium tele sports lens, not having AF would make this lens a bust.
They make a version with a built in motor that will communicate the D40 and D40x but it'll cost you close to 800 more.
As a side note this lens is heavy (as are most 2.8 tele lenses) There is a lot of big glass in this lens and after an hour or so of shooting hand held you will really want a mono pod. This lens has a great tripod shoe, so don't be afraid to throw it up on mono and go to town, your arms will appreciate the help
One final note. If you are undecided about this lens because it does not have any sort of optical stabilization or vibration reduction consider what you will be using this for. If you are shooting sports or action you wont need and it wont use it. If you are shooting from a tripod or good mono pod, you wont need and wont use it. The VR is only good in handheld situations when the object you are photographing is stationary.
This lens is a 5 star lens


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80-200mm D-Series Zoom lens for Nikon cameras

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Nikon 28-80mm f/3.3-5.6G Autofocus Nikkor Zoom Lens (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)This is what I condsider my "base" lens. If I grab my D50 and run out the door with just one lens, this is it. Most of my picture taking happens with this lens. Picture quality has been very acceptable. This is not a macro lens but I have been able to get closer to things than I expected. The lens is small, light, and focus is fast and precise. Well worth the low cost.

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Zoom lens that fits all Nikon SLR cameras but optimized for autofocus models / 58mm filter size

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Nikon 28mm f/2.8D AF Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras Review

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(More customer reviews)This is an undistinguished but competent lens, a viable solution for DX users looking for a "normal" lens at a bargain price, and a useful and inexpensive wide angle for FX and film shooters.
It can not be said that Nikon spared no expense in the development of this lens. They spared plenty, settling on a minimalist, simple, proven optical formula, without the close-range correction (CRC) used in some of its more-expensive contemporaries, and with an unambitious f/2.8 maximum aperture. That last detail, in today's world of small-frame DX DSLRs, becomes the lens' single major drawback. Today's zoom lenses are good enough to equal the performance of a prime in most regards, making fast apertures the last remnant of fixed-focal-length superiority in the minds of most photographers, and a prime lens as slow as an f/2.8 professional zoom is left with comparatively little to recommend it. Yet that has ironically led to this lens' one significant advantage: it has remained cheap while prices for other lenses have risen significantly, and for those whose needs it meets, it can be seen as quite a bargain.
Its performance is perfectly respectable. In fact, wide-open at normal shooting distances, it is already quite sharp, something that can not be said for many fast primes, and it manages to provide crisp, modern, contrasty color renditions, no doubt thanks to state of the art - as of its introduction - lens coatings. It has the nice, rather frictionless focus feel that was common to most early AF primes, with the easy-to-reach, front-mounted focusing ring that was a welcome holdover from manual-focus days. Many newer lenses, with focus rings hidden from easy reach (behind the zoom ring, for example) are much more difficult to use when manual focus is called for, although most do have the advantage of allowing instant manual over-ride. Like any AF-D lens, the user of this lens must flip a switch on the camera body to disengage the focus motor and switch from auto to manual focus.
There is one other nice feature of this lens that holds up very well in today's DSLR world, and that it its 28mm focal length. While anything in the 28mm-35mm range can be considered a "normal" lens for DX, Nikon's own 35mm DX prime is a bit on the long side for many, and at 28mm this lens represents an excellent alternative. I've owned and used (and posted a review of) the 35/1.8G, and I love it, but in my opinion this is one of its drawbacks. I personally prefer the slightly wider field of view of the 28mm perspective, which in my experience is a bit handier for indoor photography in tighter spaces and a bit more natural-feeling as a "normal" lens for DX. Sigma's 30mm f/1.4 is another alternative, and faster, but I found my copy to be mediocre at wide apertures and would generally hold it to f/2.8 or so anyway, taking away much of its advantage of speed - and it is a much more expensive lens.
The 28mm begins to look like a very good choice when its workmanlike performance, its "normal" field of view, and its small size are considered against its very low current price. For DX users, this lens is not exactly a bargain when purchased new - it is more expensive than the 35mm/1.8G, for example - but used prices are a different story, and for photographers willing to buy used, it can be a bargain. For a DX shooter on a budget, who is looking for a "normal" lens and who does not already have a professional-level midrange zoom that offers an f/2.8 aperture, the 28mm can be a uniquely affordable and versatile tool for general photography. Combined with inexpensive standard and telephoto zooms, this lens can complete a modest collection of starter lenses that will leave very few types of photography off limits. In fact, somebody looking to start out in SLR photography on a budget could do a lot worse than to pick up a decent copy of this lens, a used Nikon D50/D70/D80, and begin making pictures limited in quality only by their own talents.
My rating of three stars for this lens should not be considered negative. I don't think a higher rating is justified, and I don't believe in rating lenses on a sliding scale depending on their price - a four star lens is a four star lens, whether it sells for $150 or ten times that. It is up to the reader to make their own judgement as to whether the price makes the lens a more or less compelling purchase. This lens does exactly what it is supposed to do, and it does it well. The basis for my rating is as follows: the lens performs competently, but not spectacularly, as a 28mm prime. By itself, that would probably justify four stars, but it's only fair to also take into account its very modest design capabilities. Its slow speed in particular, compared with other lenses of its type, reduces its appeal; and the lack of a sophisticated, highly corrected optical formula is a factor as well. This lens, while possibly a bargain and a fine choice for many photographers, is practically the definition of average in terms of performance, and that's how I rate it.
Miscellaneous notes:
- Vs. Nikon's 35mm f/1.8G: The 35/1.8 is a bit sharper, but the 28/2.8 is sharp as well. With mostly minor distinctions, these lenses do pretty much the same things on DX, and the 28mm can be picked up on the used market for much less than the 35mm sells for. The real distinctions between these lenses are the price, the speed, and the focal length. While most will understandably settle on the 35mm, for many photographers the 28mm could be the better choice.
- Vs. Sigma's 30mm f/1.4: My copy of the Sigma was mediocre at wide apertures, removing most of its advantage over the 28mm Nikkor. It is much heavier, much more expensive to buy either new or used, and has very close to the same field of view. If speed is paramount, it is the obvious choice - otherwise the Nikon's price and overall performance make it the better buy (with the Nikon 35/1.8G probably better still).
- For FX: It's tougher to make an argument for this lens on FX. FX shooters are less likely to be bargain hunters, and there are better choices almost regardless of one's criteria for selecting a lens. I can envision a narrow niche for an FX shooter who wants an unobtrusive, lightweight lens and a moderate wide-angle view; and in such a case, this lens' low purchase price makes it a perfectly satisfactory option. Sigma's 30mm and Nikon's 35/1.8G are DX lenses and are therefore removed from consideration for FX shooters. The obvious alternatives on FX would be Nikon's 35mm f/2D or 24mm f/2.8D - but in reality, for most FX users the real alternative will be an f/2.8 midrange zoom.
- Buying new vs buying used: Good lenses tend to hold their value very well, and they last a long time. Consequently the market for used lenses is vibrant and relatively efficient. In the case of this lens, the disparity between the new purchase price and the current used market value is high, and I would advise any prospective purchaser of this lens to find a good used copy from a reputable source, such as many of the used vendors right here on Amazon. Be sure to price-check against other vendors to ensure you're getting a fair price, of course. Buying used avoids the large one-time depreciation from buying new and will probably allow the user to re-sell the lens at some time in the future with little or no loss of value. This is a good strategy for any cost-conscious photographer.Other Lenses:
I've had the opportunity to own and use many different Nikon lenses and have posted my impressions of some of them here on Amazon. For those interested, here are short summaries. I have used all these lenses on Nikon DX-sized DSLRs, most recently my current D90. Refer to the full reviews for further detail.
Sigma 30mm f/1.4 HSM: *** Poor focusing consistency and below average large-aperture acuity combine for disappointing real-world performance. Fast max aperture, very capable if used with appropriate care.
Nikon 35mm f/1.8 AF-G: ****1/2 Terrific lens at a bargain price. Not without flaws, but excellent in all important respects. A pleasure to use.
Nikon 35mm f/2 AF-D: **** Sharp, especially at large apertures, moderate contrast. Classic "normal" lens for DX but consider new 35mm f/1.8 AF-S instead.
Nikon 50mm f/1.8 AF-D: *** My sample was unacceptably poor at large apertures. Perhaps a below-average sample. Focal length not ideally suited to DX.
Nikon 85mm f/1.8 AF-D ****1/2 Very good short-to-moderate telephoto on DX. Acceptable at large apertures, very sharp stopped-down, moderate contrast. Potentially excellent for portrait use.
Nikon 16-85mm VR ***** Very sharp at all settings, excellent contrast, very useful zoom range including true wide-angle at 16mm. Excellent VR. Best-kept secret for DX users.
Nikon 28-200mm AF-G *** Of two samples, one was excellent and one poor, so watch for sample variations. Very good contrast. Not ideal hand-held due to lack of VR. Not ideal for tripod use due to design.
Nikon 55-200mm VR **** Very good lens, very good sharpness and contrast, no fatal flaws. Cheap feel and feature-challenged, but has effective VR. A bargain.
Nikon 70-300mm VR *** My sample had very poor performance above 200mm, good to very good elsewhere. Good contrast, generally very good focus performance. Good sports/action lens. Not good where critical sharpness is desired. Possibly a below-average sample.

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28mm D-Series Wideangle lens for Nikon cameras

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Nikon D3000 10MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens with Sunpak PF30X Flash + 8GB Card + EN-EL9a Battery + Nikon Gadget Bag + Nikon School DVD + Accessory Kit Review

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(More customer reviews)Very nice camera and this merchant is the best. The bundle costs almost exactly what it would cost you to leave a retail store with just the camera and an SD card.

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Kit includes: ♦ 1) Nikon D3000 Digital SLR Camera & 18-55mm G VR DX AF-S Zoom Lens ♦ 2) Sunpak PF30X Electronic Flash Unit (for Nikon i-TTL)♦ 3) Transcend 8GB High-Capacity SecureDigital (SDHC) Card♦ 4) Spare EN-EL9a High Capacity Lithium-Ion Battery Pack ♦ 5) Nikon Compact Digital SLR System Case ♦ 6) Precision Design USB 2.0 High Speed SecureDigital (SD/SDHC) Card Reader ♦ 7) Precision Design Memory Card Storage Wallet ♦ 8) Precision Design Deluxe 6 Piece Lens & Digital SLR Cleaning Kit ♦ 9) Image Recall Digital Image Recovery Software ♦ 10) Nikon School DVD: Fast, Fun & Easy IV The 10.2-megapixel Nikon D3000 Digital SLR Camera enables users to capture stunning images with superior performance. Features include a 3.0-inch monitor, Active D-Lighting, 23 Scene Modes, In-Camera retouch image editing, shooting as fast as 3 FPS, ISO sensitivity from 100 to 1600, built-in sensor cleaning, 11-point AF System and much more. The Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR AF-S DX Lens is an ultra compact, lightweight standard zoom lens with a 3x focal zoom range and Vibration Reduction.
The Sunpak PF30X Digital i-TTL flash offers 90° bounce for fully vertical ceiling bounced shots. Provides up to 140 flashes at full power on AA Batteries. Its light output can be adjusted with a range of 7 settings (-1.5EV to +1.5EV increments).
Take more high-resolution pictures with this 8GB High-Capacity SecureDigital (SDHC) memory card.
Increase your shooting capacity with this powerful EN-EL9a Lithium-ion rechargeable battery. This multi-compartment, Nikon-brand case will easily hold your camera, lenses, flash, and accessories. Learn more about photography principles and go beyond the basics of your camera with this easy-to-understand training DVD featuring Nikon DSLRs.

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30 PC Ultimate Super Savings Deluxe Accessory Kit, Includes Flash, Lenses, Filters, and a Bunch More Accessories For The Nikon D5000, D3000, D90, D80, D60, D40, D40x Digital SLR Cameras Which Have Any Of These (18-55mm, 55-200mm, 50mm) Nikon Lenses Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)If you need all of the surplus stuff in this package, you may get your money's worth. For the lenses, i would pass. I'm no expert to be sure, but these lenses are a pain to use. they screw on to your existing lens, and it just takes too much time and effort. Trying to keep your lens clean while doing this is a challenge.
The battery is as advertised, for the camera it says it fits, in my case, the nikon d-5000.
This total package reminds me of when I used to pick my cereal based on which one had the best toy inside the box. Sometimes, I ate some really crappy cereal. If you want a box full of toys, it's here. if you want quality lenses, for quality photos, better shop around.

Click Here to see more reviews about: 30 PC Ultimate Super Savings Deluxe Accessory Kit, Includes Flash, Lenses, Filters, and a Bunch More Accessories For The Nikon D5000, D3000, D90, D80, D60, D40, D40x Digital SLR Cameras Which Have Any Of These (18-55mm, 55-200mm, 50mm) Nikon Lenses


1) 0.5x Wide Angle Macro Lens2) 2x Telephoto Lens 3,4,5,6) "3" Piece Filter Kit w. Protective Case 7,8,9,10,11) "5"-Piece Deluxe Cleaning Kit - contains cleaning tissues, lens cloth, cleaning solution, blower brush, cotton swabs 12) Lenspen Cleaning System - A great cleaning tool 13) Digital Slave Flash - Stylish, Compact Design, Includes Flash Bracket 14) Hurricane air blower - This should always be the first step in cleaning your photo equipment 15) Deluxe Camera Case - Protect your valuable camera investment 16) 4GB SecureDigital Card - Take more pictures faster 17) High Speed USB Card Reader - Transfer files easily and quickly 18) Universal Screen Protectors - These reduce glare, enhance view, prevent scratching 19) Full Size 57 Inch Tripod - Tripod with Carrying Case 20) Memory Card Wallet - Keep multiple memory cards protected 21) Lens Cap Keeper - Never lose your cap again. 22) High Capacity Lithium Ion Battery - an essential accessory. No power, no pictures! 23) AC/DC Rapid Battery Charger - This plugs directly in to your wall outlet or your car cigarette lighter and charges your battery in approximately 60 minutes24) Microfiber Cloth - Eliminate dust and smudges 25) ClickFree - Automatically searches for and burns your digital photos files to disc. Capacity: Approx. 2,000 photos or up to 4.5GB per disc.26,27) Two lens pouch, which reduces that lens flare will mar your photos, and also helps to shield the lens from scratches and impacts. 28) Flexible Tabletop Mini Tripod - Do not be the invisible person in your family photo album! 29) Compressed Air Duster Spray 30) Deluxe Neck Strap PLEASE NOTE: Some cameras require a adapter tube to fit lenses.

Click here for more information about 30 PC Ultimate Super Savings Deluxe Accessory Kit, Includes Flash, Lenses, Filters, and a Bunch More Accessories For The Nikon D5000, D3000, D90, D80, D60, D40, D40x Digital SLR Cameras Which Have Any Of These (18-55mm, 55-200mm, 50mm) Nikon Lenses

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Nikon 50mm f/1.4D AF Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I don't even know where to start. This lens produces sharp pictures and great color and contrast. This lens is perfect for low light and/or action/sport photography (as this lens is famous for being one of the fastest lens together with its brother 50mm f/1.8). This lens is also perfect for portrait and other general purposes (macro etc). This is definitely a very versatile lens.
However, I think you should really consider buying the f/1.8 first before thinking to buy this f/1.4 lens (mainly because it is more than twice the price of the f1/8 and most of the time the f/1.8 version is fast enough in my opinion). Some examples where the faster f/1.4 lens might make a difference: low light wedding/concert or indoor sports photography (where the light is often low from the camera perspective) such as hockey, track and field, skating, gymnastic, basketball etc.
As much as I want to encourage everyone to buy this lens right away, let me mention some of the limitation that you would see (which I think will be helpful to go over before deciding to buy this lens):
First, being a prime lens, you will need to move your feet a lot to compose your picture. If you are used to zoom lens, don't underestimate this limitation. It takes me a while to get used to it, and sometime I still find people looking at me wondering why I am moving forward and backwards. the good news is that most of the time, they don't think I'm weird, but they are actually wondering if I'm a professional photographer.
Secondly, the focal range of 50mm, which is considered the normal lens and great for portrait lens. but on many DSLRs which is not full frame (unless you have a full frame Nikon DSLR like the D700 or D3, then 50mm is 50mm), this lens become a 75mm equivalent which is in the border of a short tele lens. I actually like the 75mm equivalent though I often have to move backwards when taking picture of a group of people.
Sharpness increases as you stop down to f/2. I actually prefer to use the widest most of the time and the results are still nice. Personally (when shooting low light action/sport), I'd rather use f/1.4 aperture settings than stopped down (e.g to f/2.8) and compensate with higher ISO setting which often gives me grainy picture. But if your object is not moving (static) then it is better to stop down to f/2 or more.
If you are wondering whether you should get a fast lens or a lens with VR (Vibration Reduction), here's my take: In overall, VR does help a lot (as it will reduce camera shake) and will produce better/sharper picture than equivalent lens without VR (especially if the object is static). If the object is moving (sports/action) then VR feature alone might not help (depending on how fast the object is moving and how much light is available), and a fast lens often end up being a far better solution, even without VR feature as it will allow much faster shutter speed to freeze motion. Using tripod (and a remote) will substitute for the need of VR feature. In general I would recommend getting a fast lens with VR feature (and usually it is expensive) such as the 70-200 f/2.8 VR, but if one can only get for one or the other, then find out what do you want to use the lens for and then use the guideline mentioned here.
If you are wondering whether you will get the benefit of buying f/1.4 lens over a f/1.8 lens, just remember that the f/1.4 lens is about 60% faster than f/1.8 at its widest aperture setting. With this information, you can decide if the additional speed will justify the additional cost. The bokeh is nicer as well in f/1.4 lens but I think speed is usually the main factor in deciding whether to get the more expensive f/1.4 lens.
Here are the summary of pros and cons for this Nikon 50mm f/1.4D AF lens:
Pros:
1. Very fast (f/1.4)
2. Very sharp pictures (especially when stopped down to f/2 or more. very sharp at f/2.8)
3. Great for sport/action photography
4. Great for indoor and low light situation
5. Great for portrait
6. Bokeh is almost as good as many expensive Nikon tele-lens
7. Fast autofocus
8. Perfect for wedding photography (or no-flash event). However, or try the 17-35mm f/2.8 or 28-70mm f/2.8 lens)
9. 75mm equivalent which can be considered a short tele lens (I actually like the fact that it's 75mm equivalent vs 50mm in DSLR. if you need more zoom, you can get the Nikon 85mm f/1.8, or the 70-200mm f/2.8 VR). If you have full frame DSLR(like the D3 or D700), then this #9 pros is not applicable.
10. Sharper than its 50mm f/1.8 sibling (at equivalent aperture)
Cons:
1. Being prime lens, you need to move your feet a lot to adjust/compose
2. Some distortion at widest aperture
3. Plasticy build (though it has metal moount and internal part seems to be from metal)
4. Autofocus is not the most silent but very reasonable
5. 75mm equivalent with 1.5x multiplier on non full frame DSLR (many people find this is an odd range for normal lens. I actually like it). If you have full frame DSLR(like the D3 or D700), then this #5 cons is not applicable.
6. Autofocus does not work with D40, D40x and D60. The newer 50mm f/1.4G AF-S lens will autofocus with those cameras.
Bottom line: This lens is so versatile that I think everyone should own (either the 50mm f/1.4 or the 50mm f/1.8) in addition to all the lenses that they already have. Being a very fast lens, it enables me to take pictures in low light (sport/action photography) that I otherwise wouldn't be able to do.
Again, I would recommend everyone to get this lens (or the 50mm f/1.8). In some ways I can say that this lens will make you a better photographer.
Happy Photographing!
Sidarta Tanu


Click Here to see more reviews about: Nikon 50mm f/1.4D AF Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

Fast enough for shooting in just about any type of light, this is an ideal first lens; perfect for full-length portraits, travel photography or any type of available-light shooting. The Nikon 50mm f/1.4D AF Nikkor lens delivers distortion-free images with superb resolution and color rendition. Accepts 52mm filters.

Click here for more information about Nikon 50mm f/1.4D AF Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

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