Ask Matthew...
Our resident Nikon expert Matthew Richards answers your questions and solves your problems. If you have a Nikon-related question, email it to mail@nphotomag.com
Q
I live by a lake and shoot lots of landscapes and bird life. What Nikon DSLR and lenses would you recommend for $500?
Geraldine Williams
A
I’m afraid there are no Nikon DSLR with lenses at that price that will suit your needs. The best I could suggest would be a Nikon D3500 DSLR kit with an AF-P 18-55mm VR lens at £449/$497, plus an additional Nikon AF-P DX 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED VR telephoto zoom, at £339/$397. A twin-lens kit is available in the States, that includes a D3500 body with both an 18-55mm and 70-300mm lens at $597, but I’d avoid that because the telephoto zoom is the version that lacks VR (Vibration Reduction), which is an important feature for handheld shooting with a telephoto lens.
You might also like to consider the mirrorless Nikon Z 50 camera kit with 16-50mm VR and 50-250mm VR lenses. It’s pricier at around £1109/$1097, but you might be able to find a good secondhand kit somewhere.