Photography Student--Need a DSLR

[OsmosisStudios]

Oh my.

Let's start with mbrobich's post.

Those lenses are different focal lengths. One is a 28mm wide-angle lens (though on a DX-sensor body like the D200, it'll be similar to a 42mm lens). The other is a 60mm macro lens (which, on DX, is 90mm). This is stuff that hasnt changed since... well ever. The only thing to consider is that on lower-end digital bodies (ie <$3000), you have to multiply the focal length to give you the apparent equivalent focal length. For Nikon, that's x1.5 (28 -> 42, 60 -> 90).

sk66's post asks you about what lenses you have, as many lenses from film cameras work just the same way on digital. Im assuming that if you were using analog cameras, they had lenses on them. If you've been using Pentax lenses, they mount and work just as they would on a digital body. Minolta lenses will work on Sony bodies, provided they're bayonet-mount lenses. Nikon lenses work on Nikon bodies (with only slight limitations with autofocus on certain bodies). Canon lenses from EOS film cameras will work as well, though older manual-focus Canon lenses will not.

As for Inkista's post... those numbers are model numbers. Canon models 40D and 50D, Nikon models D90, D200 and D300. Those are all past models. Current line-ups are slightly different:

Canon: T3, T3i, 60D, 7D, 5DII, 1DmkIV / 1Dx
Nikon: D3100, D5100, D7000, D300s, D700, D3s/x, D4.

[Septemberist_Mel]

OsmosisStudios,

Yes, after submitting my reply regarding lenses I realized that. I'd have to check my two cameras and see what kind of lenses are attached.

[RichardTaylor]

Re lenses:
You may find this tutorial helpful.

Lenses #1 - Introduction to DSLR lenses.

[sk66]

Originally Posted by Septemberist_Mel

I don't have any lenses...I only have analog cameras: a Pentax & a Minolta.

Then maybe you should look at a Pentax or Sony DSLR...there are limitations too them, not as many lenses available. But you get quite a bit for your money with them.

[inkista]

Originally Posted by Septemberist_Mel

... I figured Nikon was a good camera body to buy, as I hear most lenses, be it from an SLR or DSLR, will fit.

NIKON lenses from SLR and dSLR will fit. And similarily, both SLR and dSLR Pentax lenses will fit on Pentax dSLRs.

On Canon, only autofocusing lenses from SLR and dSLR will fit. Similarly, with Sony Alpha, only autofocusing Minolta lenses from SLR and dSLR will fit.

Olympus's four-thirds is the only mount that won't accept film camera lenses, since they completely ditched the OM mount for four-thirds.

If you want to adapt lenses from other mounts, look at Canon, not Nikon. Nikon can only use lenses from other mounts by having the mount on the lens replaced with a Leitax kit. With Canon, you can use old manual focus Leica-R, Contax/Yashica, M42, Olympus OM, Pentax K, and Nikon F lenses with simple adapter rings.

Originally Posted by Septemberist_Mel

I don't have any lenses...I only have analog cameras: a Pentax & a Minolta.

If your Minolta is AF mount, then you can use those lenses directly on a Sony Alpha, but probably not on anything else. If your Minolta is MD/MC, forget using them on a dSLR--you'd be better off with a mirrorless compact. The registration distance (the distance from the back of the lens to the sensor) is too small to be adapted to anything else. Ditto rangefinder glass.

Your Pentax lenses could work on any Pentax dSLR, and if they're not autofocus, you could adapt them to Canon without too much function loss. But if they're autofocus, you probably want a K-mount camera to go with them.

OTOH, a 50mm f/1.8 prime is cheap in just about any mount.

[bigben6]

I would second the used Nikon D90 though process, outside of MP count it provides alot of options and features but given it is used itll save alot of money, for street photography i would look at buying one or both of the following lenses:

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G DX Lens 2183 B&H Photo Video

OR

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G Lens 2199 B&H Photo Video

At basically $200 each it will give you good fast glass, for low light, very sharp, and good value to start with with alot of creative aperture options. Compared to the previously suggested 28mm and 60mm options this would be a bit cheaper, new, in lens focus motors, but a narrower or more limited zoom range. The 28 is wider than the 35 and the 60 is longer than the 50, which means you just have to decide (if buying primes) what kind of focal lengths you want..... ofc you could buy all of them too and have lots of options or a good zoom.... thats your call.