A few shots from fairly new camera..

Just had a look at a couple of photographic magazine reviews of the Nikon D5100 and they are all impressed by it and give it great reviews, Stephen, and from your shots you can see why Did you take the shots in Jpeg format or in RAW and then to Jpeg??

 

I think when you're spending a lot of hard earned cash it's best to do a bit of research to find the best camera, at the best price, in the type and range of camera you want. I spent over 3 months researching before getting what I wanted. You were right to get the D5100 rather than the D3100.

 

The Pentax K5. I was going between Canons, Nikons and others. But on doing the research, and knowing I wanted a DSLR, had a look at Pentax who are less public in their marketing but make pro quality cameras. I started off with a Pentax many moons ago and liked them then, so seeing the reviews and seeing the tech specs I waited for a good deal for a new one to come around and I'm more than happy with what I've got too. The trouble is the camera is capable of taking pics better than I can take

 

Absolutely, Stephen, mine came with a bundle of 18-55mm and 55-100mm lenses, plus there are 35 years plus of brilliant lens, of all focal lengths, that can be bought quite cheaply to add to the armoury. With an adaptor I've been able to convert two old Tamron lenses which I used with a Canon SLR in the film days. Some of the old Pentax lenses are really classed as amongst the greats by some photographers. So that is one of the advantages of choosing a Pentax. I managed to get several lenses that should cover my needs, although I want to dabble in Wild life photography so there is just one last big lens I want to get. As you say there's a lot in the menu of the many things it can do. It's fun just trying them all out and seeing just how good a shot you can get.

 

Well, believe it or not, Stephen, there are adapters for Nikon lenses to Pentax cameras and adapters for Pentax lenses to Nikon cameras!! They cost from about £25 upwards. To be honest, I have the two Tamron lens with adaptors for the Pentax and plus a Sigma, Pentax fit, 24mm wide angle lens, so I'm quite happy to use third party lens if they are of good enough quality....and the price is right The biggest focal length lens I've got at the moment is a Pentax 80-320mm lens, made in around 1996, which is a really sharp glass, and because of the type of sensor in the K5 it actually makes the lens the equivalent of 480mm....so it's useful for wildlife stuff. I've got my eye on a 500mm lens as the very last lens I want, which again will turn it into the equivalent of around 850mm. But it has to be at a reasonable price!! Have a look at the Thread "New Camera, Old Lens" and you'll see some of the lens there.

 

The D5100 is a really great camera, Stephen, the more I read the reviews the more I like it. You've got plenty of features on it to help give some great shots.

Actually, they're not as big as they look and my Pentax 80-320mm lens is in fact smaller in length than my Tamron 80-210mm lens. It gives the equivalent of 480mm because of the size of the sensor in my K5 and the fact that the 80-320mm lens was built for Pentax's that had a full frame [bigger] sensor, so mathematically it translates to make the power of the lens bigger. They extend when you go to full zoom but I carry one in pockets, along with a wide angle lens, while I've got a fast lens [f1.4/1.7] on the camera.
If you were thinking of buying a second hand suitable Nikon branded lens you'd have to borrow my banjo and sad eye'd dog which Ziggy and I use to raise funds by singing on the corner....we get paid to stop . But there are really great third party lens such as Tamron or Sigma. I bought a Pentax fit Sigma 24mm wide angle lens for £39 in mint condition which has given me some really sharp and atmospheric landscape shots, it's a classy lens!.
For the focal size of lens you seem to be thinking about [500mm to 850mm] I, personally, wouldn't get fixated by the need to have one before you really get to know your camera. The bigger the focal sized lens the more weight there is, the slower the lens [f.4.5 to f8] tends to be, if it's a fixed focal lens then it's going to be loooooooong and also the more the need of a tripod!!! Prime [fixed focal] lens tend to be sharper than zoom lens but can get to a heck of length and weigh a ton. Perhaps you might start off with a 200mm or 300mm?? I've bought a total of 11 different lens from E.Bay of all sizes and they include Tamron, Tamakur, Sigma, as well as Pentax to cover what I think I would need, and not had a bad one yet. It all depends on what kind of photography you want to do and what you will enjoy. I wander from macro to wildlife, landscape and other bits and pieces, Jack of all trades, Master of none!!
Your camera offers the same resolution as the D700 and also the same ISO settings, it's got 14 bit RAW format, 1080p video standard, filters and loads of stuff that so called higher end cameras have got. You made a good choice there.

 

Good afternoon Stephen great images,yes its a great camera and a good choice,looking forward to seeing your photos my friend