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A Good Beginner DSLR? Help
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carnsteve wrote:
when I started saving about 3 months ago I was looking to get the Canon EOS 1000 but having read the reviews from people, they were not very happy with it and quickly traded up to the 450 or 500.
That´s why I tell you to not give a s*** about the body – in 1 year it will be obsolete no matter whether you buy Canon or Nikon, while the lenses will still be the same. The only bodies that hold their value for years are these from 1D/1Ds series. Btw there´s minimum difference between 1000D and 450D: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneos1000d/page2.asp” onclick=”window.open(this.href);return false;
carnsteve wrote:
why are all the pro’s using Nikon?
I don´t know, I also don´t know why they use Canon lenses.
I think the wory about an obsolete body is a bit strong, no camera will be obsolete until they discontinue light :D Newer bodies will certainly be released, but an obsolete Nikon D200 which is now three generations old stil takes great photos and works with most lenses: The Nikon AF system has been around since 1986 and the AF-S since 1992, with no sign of being discontinued. It’s a bit like computers: if you worry about obsolescence you won’t ever buy one.
I would suggest you do a lot of reading to really get a feel for what these cameras wil allow you to do. This will have a bonus of bringing up photographic terms that you may not be familiar with and so you will learn a lot if you follow these glossary terms. When I was looking for a camera I used http://www.trustedreviews.com/ and http://www.kenrockwell.com/canon/index.htm which I found to give good clear and extremely detailed performance reviews. I would also suggest you get a piece of paper and make a note of what you want to do with your camera, and tick these off as you go to make sure you don’t get distracted with all the bells and whistles – HD video may be nice but if you’re buying a camera to take photos it’s an incidental concern, especially as some require manual focus. I’m not a fan of swiss-army knife gadgets, I’d rather they concentrated on one excellent task. If I want HDV I’ll go buy a camcorder…
If you want a landscape setup, go and look on this forum, and on flickr, for some photos you really like the look of, and make a note of what equipment they use. This will give you an idea of what your kit choice may allow. If you are anything like me, your developing skills will be a much bigger limitation on what you can produce than the limits of the equipment. You should also consider if you want some editing software, as post-processing can have a very important effect on the finished picture. Just go and look at HDR-style. I found it very frustrating until I realised that a lot of photos I couldn’t emulate had been photoshopped a lot.
When you have narrowed down your choice of possible cameras, go and have a look at them in the shop, and get a feel for how they sit in your hand, and you will get a feel for which one you favour. The Nikon D-90 or Canon 500D both look like great cameras, and although the Nikon/Canon war will wage eternal, either will take pictures of excellent quality. It’s not like comparing a mercedez to a trebant, they’re almost identical on spec. Nikon’s D3000 is specifically for beginners and includes loads of help functions on-board to assist you in getting to grips with SLR photograhpgy. While most people talk about a two-horse race, I also have an Olympus SLR which is a good capable camera and because it is so light, it gets carried everywhere, when I’d leave my D-300 behemoth at home. You don’t take photos if you don’t have your camera with you :D.
Lenses are important, no doubt about it, I got a zoom lens to begin with and this allowed me to get a good feel for what I wanted to do with it without shelling out for a lot of top-quality glass, as I said it won’t be the kit limiting you for a good while, by which time you will have saved up enough to buy specialised lenses, and know enoughto choose which ones you want. In six months you may be grabbed by macro or portrait instead of landscapes, and go down a completely different route with lenses – I find in Ireland if you want to do landscapes you need a second interest for when it’s wet and miserable out!
It’s a lot cheaper to buy in the UK than ROI because of the way the camera manufacturers discount to big chains, although ROI good shops will do everything they can to give you a deal to balance this out. Don’t be afraid of haggling for a few freebies, especially in Jessops :D And a good bag will make it easier to grab it whenever you go out, meaning more opportunity, meaning more photographs!
That’s it from me, I’ve written that from my perspective as someone who has started photography quite recently, so people may not agree with it but it’s from a pragmatic rather than a perfect point of view 8)
Have a read in this thread, there are ‘first camera’ threads started every week so that will serve as a good starting point…
Good luck!
Will
Willem:
1. Canon reviews written by Ken Rockwell? :D It´s like reading a Mercedes review written by Enzo Ferrari.
2. “Nikon D200 which is now three generations old still takes great photos” – that´s why I suggest buying an used 400D.
3. “what these cameras will allow you to do” – the camera will allow you what the lens will allow the camera. The body only converts light to digital data, it´s the lens who “draws” the picture.
4. “without shelling out for a lot of top-quality glass” – the top quality glass has one big advantage; after the six months of using it it´s price will be almost the same as when you bought it. So if he finds out that the 17-40 f/4 L which he bought for £530 is too wide for him he will simply sell it for £500 and buy something different, no big issue.I know that what I tell you is exactly the opposite* of what most of people do (buy the newest body with kit lens and maybe some cheapest accessories if there´s some money left), but most of people are stupid (that´s sad but true) and have no idea how to get the best for their money (if they did, most of the banks would go bankrupt).
*When you want to be the best, just look what most of people do and do exactly the opposite :)
Loads of great advise!
I think i have wittled it down to 2 cameras The Canon 500 or the Nikon 5000D.
Im looking at going into Derry in the next few days to have a play with a few at Jessops.Is there any way of getting a few catalogues to have a flick through? Companies that would send me a few out free?
MAny thanks again for the advise in this thread!
Steve
carnsteve wrote:
I think i have wittled it down to 2 cameras The Canon 500 or the Nikon 5000D.
That´s great, now you can start choosing the important parts of the equipment :wink:
PS: Nikon 5000D doesn´t have its own AF motor, think about it.carnsteve wrote:
Is there any way of getting a few catalogues to have a flick through? Companies that would send me a few out free?
I don´t think they will send you something, but you can usually get catalogues in shops. And I have Canon lens guide with MTF charts but I´m too lazy to upload it online.
But the best ting is to find reviews, for example here: http://www.the-digital-picture.com/” onclick=”window.open(this.href);return false; or here http://www.photozone.de/” onclick=”window.open(this.href);return false;I’ve got a little article up explaining mostly the difference between a D5000 and D90, but it does go in depth over the main features of a D5000 and what it means to use it for photography (specifications only tell you so much, sometimes)
D5000 will have in-camera sensor cleaning, I don’t know about the 500D. Been good so far, a blower every once in awhile and dust is not a problem for me (I check every so often)
It’s helped a few people now, so if you think it might help, here it is : http://basilphotography.blogspot.com/2010/06/d5000-vs-d90-which-camera-to-choose.html” onclick=”window.open(this.href);return false;
The Chairman wrote:
I’ve got a little article up explaining mostly the difference between a D5000 and D90, but it does go in depth over the main features of a D5000 and what it means to use it for photography (specifications only tell you so much, sometimes)
D5000 will have in-camera sensor cleaning, I don’t know about the 500D. Been good so far, a blower every once in awhile and dust is not a problem for me (I check every so often)
It’s helped a few people now, so if you think it might help, here it is : http://basilphotography.blogspot.com/2010/06/d5000-vs-d90-which-camera-to-choose.html” onclick=”window.open(this.href);return false;
“Starter bodies are replaced often, but lenses are not” – Toldya! :P
Btw all new Canon bodies have sensor cleaning (400D and newer)
Hi Steve,
Some good advice being batted around, when you pick through it. Buying your first dslr is not an uncommon situation, and you should find plenty of threads here with some good advice to other prospective buyers also.
Buying your first camera/ dslr is often like buying your first car – don’t get too hung up on performance, for now you just need something to learn with, and give yourself a chance to figure out what you really want in a camera, before plunking down a big wad of cash.
There are no real ‘bad’ dslrs. Sure, camera companies want you to believe that their latest and greatest model, and possession of it, is all that is stopping you from taking award-winning shots, but this is simply not true. As Cathal said, don’t be afraid of the used market too. Good bargains are to be had used, with many people upgrading for no better reason than to upgrade. Cathal’s a shrewd buyer, and paying heed to any used purchasing advice could save you many hundreds of euros/ pounds, but do beware of handling equipment that is out of your budget, as it’s very difficult to buy a lower-range model after handling a higher-range model.
Some salient points, that may help in your search:
– DSLR cycles are approx. 18 months before a new model is updated
– DSLR’s can often drop to 40% of original value after 2- 3 years
– Lenses will be the biggest cost of most camera systems. Lenses are a manufacturers method of locking you into their brand. Choose your brand wisely, before investing heavily in lenses.
– Lenses do not last forever. Modern lenses have electronics in them, some of which are likely to fail at some point in the future. Good luck trying to find replacement parts in 10+ years.
– Most landscape shots taken at smaller apertures (f8, f11, f16 +) for greater depth of field. Most lenses exhibit similar quality at these apertures.
– Wildlife shots often demand longer lenses to get the shot. 300mm+
– Lens prices determined by maximum aperture (f2.8, f2, f1.4, etc), reach (wider and longer lenses cost more to produce quality), and to a lesser extent brand
– Ultimate quality of most lenses limited by hand-holding the lens. Maximum lens quality only fully realisable with proper camera support (tripod/ bean-bag/ mono-pod, etc.)Hope the above helps,
Damien
So much great advise!
Any know any other local shops i can walk into to have a play with the camera & see what deals they do
I know about Jessops in Derry but thats all – Is there any more in Derry Or Letterkenny?Many thanks
SteveP C world and Currys over in the cresent link have a few DSLR’s about them Steve but I’m not sure how they are price wise
I think there is a few shop’s about Belfast so perhaps the local guys will let you know where in Belfast they are
Believe there’s a Calumet (http://www.calumetphoto.co.uk/locations” onclick=”window.open(this.href);return false;) in Belfast,
Damien
I went to Jessops to have a look at the Nikon 5000 & Canon 500 and i liked the Canon more – better to use and felt better.
I will be making a new purchase very soon in the next few weeks.I just want to take this oppertunity to say thanks to ALL the people who have helped & contributed to this thread.
You have all been great and very helpfull.I hope I can count on you all again if i need more info in the future!
thanks Steve
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