Wireless Home Security Camera

The Nikon D3100 is a really nice camera, especially for beginners. Both Canon and Nikon are very good, the Canon equivalent is probably a 1100D or something around that. I’ve been told that Nikon is a little bit better. The packaged lenses are fine, especially when you get the twin lenses kit. I definitely recommend that you try out the packaged ones before you buy another set.
Just spent $ 1100 on a video camera, probably should have bought a DSLR instead.

The 18-55 mm lens that comes with the D3100 is a perfect starting lens. It can shoot landscapes, group shots, full body shots as well as portraits.

Later as you learn to use your camera, you may want the longer reach of the 55-300 mm lens so you can include shooting action, sports and wildlife subjects.

What you need to know is you will want to buy only AF-S lenses if you want to be able to use lenses in the auto-focus mode. The 50 mm f/1.8 is a portrait lens and you will want to buy the AF-S version for your camera

When you decide to invest in a macro lens, look at the new AF-S 40 mm or 60 mm macro lenses

For you, I would recommend the D90, as you are looking at buying additional lenses and want to go into macro.

First, know that the D3000, D5000, and D90 for that matter are all recently discontinued. They are on discount right now because of that, and will probably be gone from the retailer’s shelves within 6 months.

The D3100 is a newer model, and will be around for awhile.

The D90 used to cost $ 1200 – which is what I paid for mine. It can be had now for about $ 899.

The D90 is a 3yr old model. A bit dated by todays standard, but still a very capable camera, and a bargain at the current price. The D90 has been replaced by the D7000, but it is several hundred dollars more.

The D90 is Nikon’s mid-level camera, intended for the advanced amateur, but a lot of that is marketing – first-timers have purchased many D90s.

The D90 also comes with a 18-105mm lens, while the entry level cameras come with a 18-55mm lens.

The reason I recommend the D90 is because you want to go Macro at some point, and have mentioned buying more lenses, and the AF 50mm in particular.

The D3000/D3100/D5000/D5100 are entry level cameras and do not have autofocus motors in them. Therefore they an only autofocus on AF-S lenses. The AF 500mm is not an AF-S lens, so it cannot autofocus on these cameras.

But the D90 does have it’s own built-in focus motor, so it can focus both AF and AF-S lenses. This opens up a wider range of lenses available to the D90; many of which are less expensive than AF-S.

For macro use, I would not recommend any macro lens under 100mm. While there are shorter macro lenses available in the 40mm 60mm and 85mm range, they require you to get very close to your subject. In contrast, the 100mm lenses allow you to be a bit further away. This is important if you are shooting bugs as they might be scared off with the shorter lenses – those under 40mm. These lenses are pretty much limited to flowers and inanimate subjects.

Two of the most popular 100mm class macro lenses for Nikon are the Tokina 100mm f/.2.8 macro and the Nikon AF-S 105mm f/2.8 macro. The Tokina is an AF lens, meaning it will only autofocus on a camera with it’s own focus motor, such as the D90. An entry level Nikon camera will only autofocus on the Nikon AF-S.

The Nikon AF-S costs $ 900 and the Tokina is $ 450. Incredibly the Tokina is every bit as good, or perhaps better than the Nikon – at half the price. That alone more than makes up for the D90 vs the entry level cameras you are considering.

Note: when shooting macro, you will likely be in manual focus mode anyway, so autofocus is not a real issue. But f/2.8 macro lenses often work nicely for portrait use when not shooting macro, and in those instances you will probably want autofocus capability.

And also for macro use, you will at some point want a macro flash. Again there are differences with the entry level cameras. Nikon has an IR flash control system, called CLS (Creative Lighting System), whereby the flashes are controlled by infrared wireless. This requires a remote commander on the camera. The entry level cameras lack this commander function, while the D90 and above have it.

You can still get the entry level cameras remote commander capability, but you have to purchase a $ 250 SU-800 commander. Again, this is not required for the D90, only the entry level cameras.

Since the Nikon R1 macro flash requires the use of a remote commander, you are saving $ 250 in your macro equipment by going with the D90.

When buying camera equipment, always look to the future. The less expensive entry level cameras may cost less today, but might cost more tomorrow when you start buying additional lenses, flashes, and so on.

There is a place for the entry level cameras – it’s for those that want a basic camera, and perhaps a second lens, such as a 55-200mm zoom. But once you start making your camera into a system, with several lenses, flashes, and other accessories, the cost/benefit advantage goes to the mid-range cameras.

My recommendation is not buying either D3000 or D5000. If you want just a simple system, go with the D3100. If you want to get into macro or add several lenses, go with the D90.

Yes, you should consider the Canon XS.
http://www.amazon.com/Canon-10-1MP-Digital-18-55mm-3-5-5-6/dp/B004L2K7VU/ref=sr_1_21?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1312899723&sr=1-21

The kit lens is ok in dim light, just not as good as others such as the 50mm f/1.8.

The Nikon AF 50mm f/1.8 isn’t a macro lens. It would be good for portrait and close up. Close up isn’t the same as macro.

Get the 18-55mm kit lens and learn from it. You can learn a lot about portrait and close up photography with it.