Nicon D3200

[faraday]

I bought one in Blighty about 9 mos ago, it's ok but nothing special.

I find it to be a bit slow & bulky. Wish I'd paid a bit more & got the 5200.

[tolsti]

Thank you for this thread. Very interesting as I slowly head towards going DSLR.

[TP1]

I just realised that there is no memory card included.

Can I use the camera or do I have to wait till tomorrow to get an SD card?

[faraday]

Got to wait as the pics won't be stored.

[Goshawk]

I just realised that there is no memory card included.

Can I use the camera or do I have to wait till tomorrow to get an SD card?

so hows you getting on with the new toy TP1 ?

[TP1]

I just realised that there is no memory card included.

Can I use the camera or do I have to wait till tomorrow to get an SD card?

so hows you getting on with the new toy TP1 ?

The camera is ok but there are many things and functions still for me to learn.

What I have realised is that I need extra lenses.

I'm looking at the moment at a 55 to 200 zoom.

Haven't decided if I should go for that or for a 55 to 300?

The 35 to 55 I've got now is more for close up photography but is no good for landscapes.

There is no depth.

As about photoshop, can wait for later.

I would appreciate anybody's help with the purchase of extra lenses.

Samuijimmy, what is the lens you are using?

[rhythmworx]

If you want wide landscape the tokina 11-16 f2.8 is a nice sharp lens ask Goshawk his opinion

If you can afford the Nikon 80-200 f2.8 D (ring focus) or the AFS version is a nice zoom ask Sunshine his opinion

Sigma 50-150mm f/2.8 EX DC APO OS HSM is highly rated and has twice the resolving power of the cheaper Nikon 55-300

The Nik 18-55 4.5/5.6 can be had for a bag of chips and a carton of gravy and is good for the price, the 18-70 3.5/4.5 is just as sharp and provides you a little extra light,

Theres a lot of options at different prices it depends on what you are willing to spend, you get what you pay for really, good deals 2nd hand can be had but you need to be careful with that.

The longer you go the more you get into nice sturdy tripod territory.

[sunshine51]

@ TP1...

What Rhythmworx stated is great info. If your budget allows go for Niks 70-300 as it's

a semi pro lens, built quite strong and sharp to boot. It will cost you a lot less than

the 80-200 @ 2.8 which costs around 1200 USD new and can be picked up for around

half to 3/4 that used. Always be very careful when buying used lenses...have a play before

handing over $$$$$. About the 80-200...I love mine...it's a heavy beast & built like a tank

but I like that. It's better on legs than handheld, however that's not saying one must use

a tripod if using that lens but at the end of the day...you're hefting arm may have arugments

with your head until it gets used to it.

Edited May 28, 2015 by sunshine51

[TP1]

@ TP1...

What Rhythmworx stated is great info. If your budget allows go for Niks 70-300 as it's

a semi pro lens, built quite strong and sharp to boot. It will cost you a lot less than

the 80-200 @ 2.8 which costs around 1200 USD new and can be picked up for around

half to 3/4 that used. Always be very careful when buying used lenses...have a play before

handing over $$$$$. About the 80-200...I love mine...it's a heavy beast & built like a tank

but I like that. It's better on legs than handheld, however that's not saying one must use

a tripod if using that lens but at the end of the day...you're hefting arm may have arugments

with your head until it gets used to it.

What is your opinion on the Nikon AFS DX VR 55 - 300 f/4.5 - 5.6 ED? = 7,900 Baht

or the

AFS DX 18 - 140 f/3.5 -5.6 ED VR? = 9,700 Baht

Many thanks

[sunshine51]

^^^ TP1...

They're both decent lenses. However you must decide for yourself where

you'll be shooting regarding focal length. The 18-140 is great for the wide

end compared to the 55-300 while the 55-300 has that extra reach.

The 18-140 is a full stop faster...3.5 vs 4.5. Plus it is a great lens to stick

on your canera and leave it there as it will most likely cover everything

you're gonna want to photograph. With the shortfall in zoom range you can

easily compensate for this by simply using your feet.

I must presume that when you purchased your camera you got the 18-55

kit lens with it...yes? This is also a very good lens and very sharp at all focal

lengths which is a surprise to most folks since it is also a "cheap" lens. It

has excellent optics & mechanics in it though. On a serious note it is one

of the sharpest lenses Nikon make bar none...it just has a plactic mount

that one must consider...but is easily replaced if it breaks.

Now comes the choice...There's nothing wrong with having 2 lenses available

on a trip...taking into consideration you have the "kit" lens & want the 55-300

to facilitate the coverage it will give you. It only takes a few seconds to change

lenses once you get used to your camera body.

Plus if you go the 55-300 route you save enough Baht to find a street table, have

a bevie or two, some noodles or grilled chicken & give the new lens a further play

whilst relaxing.

So...Ub 2 U. Two lenses which will cover from 18-300 or two lenses which will cover

from 18-140...providing you keep that 18-55, which you should do because of the

reasons I stated above. But there is duplication in focal length.

Then again & I have no idea if it 's within your budget, is the 28-300 @ 3.5-5.6.

Again, the build qualty & optics are very good and you have a better lens to

stick onto your camera and leave it there. Only break out the 18-55 when you

desire to go wider than 28. This is not a DX lens but works very well on DX

bodies.

Ub 2 U man...Ub 2 U...

If it was me...I'd keep the 18-55 & get the 28-300 as an addition.

Edited May 29, 2015 by sunshine51

[TP1]

Thank you very much for your great advice and your time to explain to me in detail the advantages and disadvantages.

I will give it a little more thought and I will let you know which one I decided to go for.

Many Thanks again.

[Tywais]

New camera just arrived.

Hip Hip Hurraaaay

At the moment I'm charging the battery.

g/f has been instructed to read the manual that is all in Thai.

If I learn how to use it then I can start creating my masterpieces.

Get ready to admire

Ps. Already started looking for other lenses on Lazada, I'll come back and ask your valuable advice.

Here is the English Manual .pdf - http://cdn-10.nikon-cdn.com/pdf/manuals/dslr/D3200_EN.pdf

[TP1]

New camera just arrived.

Hip Hip Hurraaaay

At the moment I'm charging the battery.

g/f has been instructed to read the manual that is all in Thai.

If I learn how to use it then I can start creating my masterpieces.

Get ready to admire

Ps. Already started looking for other lenses on Lazada, I'll come back and ask your valuable advice.

Here is the English Manual .pdf - http://cdn-10.nikon-cdn.com/pdf/manuals/dslr/D3200_EN.pdf

Thanks Tywais but as I said before I missed the CD with the English manual when I was unpacking.

Now I've got it.

But to tell you the truth it's quite difficult to read through the manual the letters being so small.

So I found it better to watch various Youtube tutorials and start learning how to shoot better pictures.

Not that I can see any improvement at the moment but I keep trying.

I blame the lenses.....that's a good excuse.

[sunshine51]

^^^ TP1...try this link. It's the manual for the D3200 in pdf format. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader

to view the manual...easy to get online for free. Then yiu can dismiss the tiny font/words by enlaring the

pages!

Link below...

http://cdn-10.nikon-cdn.com/pdf/manuals/dslr/D3200UM_EU%2811%2901.pdf

Plus here's a Ken Rockwell guide link. I must say Rockwell is an ok source for info but

he's not a bible nor anywhere near it. But he is good 50% of the time IMO. Link below...

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d3200/users-guide/

And one more link that may help you....

http://www.cameratips.com/d3200

[rhythmworx]

TP1, one thing I forgot about in my previous post was that D lenses will not auto focus on your camera body, the D lenses are driven by a screw built into the camera, which is not there on the 3000 series bodies.

If you want auto focus an AFS lens is what you need, it has a built in motor inside the lens, such as some 3rd party lenses from other manufacturers have, the use different terms though such as HSM.....

Glad you didn't go out and buy a 80-200 2.8D...sorry my bad..

Here's everything you need to know about the history and terminology of nik lenses

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/nikortek.htm

[Goshawk]

If your budget allows go for Niks 70-300 as it's a semi pro lens, built quite strong and sharp to boot.

this is no lie . . . been around a while now, but still 1st class for the dough.

[sunshine51]

@ TP1...

Here is a link to a Ken Rockwell page which lists the compatability between

Nikon bodies & Nikon lenses. This may save you some headaches & some

$$$ at the end of the day. It is self explanatory. Hope it helps you. I forgot all

about this page until this morning....

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/compatibility-lens.htm

Edited May 30, 2015 by sunshine51

[Goshawk]

There's a new firmware update (1.04) for the D3200 from Nikon . . . maybe of interest to the OP . . . http://nikonrumors.com/2015/06/02/nikon-d3200-firmware-update-1-04-now-available.aspx/#more-93672

[TP1]

Got this morning from Lazada my 55 to 300 lens and this is my 1st attempt with the new lens.

Quite happy with it

Now I can enjoy my coffee while taking photos of lorries with the Michelin man.

[manarak]

Got this morning from Lazada my 55 to 300 lens and this is my 1st attempt with the new lens.

Quite happy with it

Now I can enjoy my coffee while taking photos of lorries with the Michelin man.

DSC_0638.JPG

the picture looks pretty, but it is not sharp.

I guess the blur comes from hand shake if the shot was made handheld.

To counter this, use the "P" (=program) mode or what ever it is called on Nikons and crank up aperture or crank down shutter time, and adjust ISO up to 800 (should still be good enough).

Also change the AF settings so that the center AF point is used, otherwise the camera will focus on the closest objects, such as the grass growing in front of your real subject.

Try again with the above adjustment and show us the results :-)

Edited June 14, 2015 by manarak

[TP1]

Got this morning from Lazada my 55 to 300 lens and this is my 1st attempt with the new lens.

Quite happy with it

Now I can enjoy my coffee while taking photos of lorries with the Michelin man.

DSC_0638.JPG

the picture looks pretty, but it is not sharp.

I guess the blur comes from hand shake if the shot was made handheld.

To counter this, use the "P" (=program) mode or what ever it is called on Nikons and crank up aperture or crank down shutter time, and adjust ISO up to 800 (should still be good enough).

Also change the AF settings so that the center AF point is used, otherwise the camera will focus on the closest objects, such as the grass growing in front of your real subject.

Try again with the above adjustment and show us the results :-)

Thank you, manarak

Haven't got a tripod yet and that picture was taken on 300 zoom.

I will follow your advice and try to do some more experimenting.

It will take some time for me to reach an acceptable standard.

Thanks again.