Been instructed to buy a D80. I'll get it from Pixmania, we don't have Jessops here.

I'll get body only as we have a lens from the film camera.

What else should I get? Pixmania-branded SD cards are slightly cheaper than SanDisk, but are they as reliable? I don't mind spending a bit more for a better product (what's a tenner on that invoice already). Will shoot mainly landscape/portrait, no motorsport - does that mean I don't need a high-speed card? (sorry, me fick).

I don't see that I need a card reader, as with our current digicam we just plug a cable into it and download to PC - is a reader so much more useful?

Owt else? :)

Thanks

I don't know what Pixmania cards are like, but I have used Kingston and Sandisk and Lexar without issue, but some of the cheaper cards have failed on me.

For the file sizes that the D80 produces, I would invest in a card reader, preferably firewire or at least USB 2.0, or you will spend ages downloading images to your computer. It will also save on your cameras batteries.

Geezer

Isn't the D80 USB 2.0 anyway?? I don't use a card reader on the D200 and it's pretty quick.

I generally use any old card and not had one fail on me yet, fingers crossed :)

You are right you might not need the highest speed cards around for landscape. The only time I have filled the buffer on mine is shooting panoramas or moving wildlife.

Some decent value for money ones are Kingston Elite Pro (https://www.picstop.co.uk/Secure-Digital-SD/Order_2/Secure-Digital-SD/Kingston-50x-Elite-Pro-Hi-Speed-Secure-Digital-(SD)-Card---2GB) and Sandisk Ultra II (https://www.picstop.co.uk/Secure-Digital-SD/Order_2/Secure-Digital-SD/SanDisk-Ultra-II-Secure-Digital-(SD)-Card-2GB). I have both these types (in CF) and never had a problem with either.

I would suggest a 2Gb card but Pixmania seem to be a bit expensive compared to Picstop/Warehouse Express (http://www.warehouseexpress.com/index.cfm?photo/flashcards/allmakes.html?cd=20061913) etc. :eek:

You can get the body for £550 or £606.64 with a 2Gb Sandisk Ultra II at either Shopping 4 Cameras (http://www.shopping4cameras.com/products/details.cfm?product=vba140ab&refer=prr&tduid=7072cec1491c54dbe060cc1feeadb84b) or Cameras2U (http://www.cameras2u.com/products/details.cfm?product=vba140ab&refer=prr&tduid=9060eb87e07249b50fa84a12e4298123) or £610 with a Sandisk Extreme III (http://www.warehouseexpress.com/index.cfm?photo/digicameras/nikon.html) :thumb:

not Pixmania! Abolute shower of sh*t
took 7 weeks to get my 3 week old 350D repaired. You can't get them on the phone (it just cuts you off). All docs are in french, you have to find and print out your own manual. And I found a cheaper deal at London Camera Exchange. Wouldn't touch them again.

Moving wildlife? That's something I didn't think about, hmm...

By my calculations, the body should cost me £500 (I can get VAT back) :)

All other quick suggestions gratefully received, before my wife changes her mind :lol1:

Edit - uh-oh, not sure I like the comment above! But remember I'm not in the UK, it will cost a fair bit of postage to ship here, no-one else in Portugal sells for anywhere near that price... and we do have a Pixmania shopfront in Lisbon, so a real face to shout at if/when necessary :norty:

Ive heard bad reports about them as well .. something about sending all sorts of ID of to them to verify your address and ID .

Am now the proud owner of a D80 and Sandisk Ultra II 2GB card. Total price when I've claimed the VAT back will be 822euros, or £552. It's coupled with our current Tamron 28-300 XR lens (non-D), which I know some of you will sniff at, but it does the job for the moment.

Shot 6 snaps on auto, and on the LCD they look like the best photos we've ever taken :eek:

Anyone want to buy an F65? :D

Pixmania - couldn't have been easier, helped by the fact that they had both products in the shop. Walk in, ask, pay by debit card, walk out again with goods :thumb:
(I saw from their website that complaints won't be that simple though - so I'll wait 15 days and deal with Nikon directly :))

Sounds like a good deal :thumb: