| Joined: | Sun Apr 1st, 2012 |
| Location: | South Lakeland, UK |
| Posts: | 4066 |
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I have a D3100 I brought the 18-105 lens for it and I am very happy with it. I use it to record my projects and family. Saving the clicks and knocking about off my precious D200.
If you go online you may be able to find the feature list of both cameras but frankly from the point of view of the final photograph I defy anybody to know the difference between one taken with each camera, they will look exactly the same and that is all that matters.
As JK says the lens is a bigger question than the body, either body would be good but given the choice it probably makes more sense to go with the newer design, although I can't fault the D3100 at the price. It's a tad slower than the D200 but unless you are taking motorsport pix or other high speed activities then that shouldn't be an issue.
One thing to be aware of, the D3XXX cameras need an 'S' lens, The body doesn't have an autofocus motor built in so relies on the lens having the autofocus motor which the 'S' lenses have.
Your choice of lens depends entirely on your subject matter, anything between 10mm right up to 300mm and beyond. It isn't a good idea to try to get a 10 - 300mm lens!!! The shorter the zoom range the better the image, I find the 18-105 OK for what I want but as soon as I want top quality photographs I reach for my 80-200 or 18-35 or one of my fixed lenses.
When I went digital with a D1 back in 2005, I only kept one of my film lenses, the 60mm Nikkor Micro lens, which I used for nearly a year before getting my first zoom, the 80-200mm f2.8. A 35mm 'S' lens if you can find one at a good price would be a good starter lens while you learn the complexities of the camera. I love my 50mm f1.4 for low light candids and pix of the kids, but the 'S' version is an arm and a leg £££/$$$ !!!
The main thing is to use the camera and post some photographs here for critique, if you have issues ask, somebody will have the answer, we have all been there.
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Robert.