What DSLR?
Author
Discussion

Daston

Original Poster:

6,148 posts

232 months

Friday 7th February 2014
quotequote all
Hey guys,

Today I am 30 (shameless plug) and I am looking to get a Digital SLR with some of the cash that I have received.

Budget is only £200 - £250 and would be used primarily for Motorsport, car shows and macro shots (I paint a lot of miniatures) plus general the odd night shot later on (my wife is into star gazing).

Don't mind new or factory refurbed if it means more for my money.

Any ideas would be great smile

Cheers

Dave

Craikeybaby

12,065 posts

254 months

Friday 7th February 2014
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First of all - Happy Birthday!

With regards to DSLRs I'd suggest sticking to Canon or Nikon, but at your budget you would be looking at second hand.

You have quite a lot of things that you want to take pictures of, mostly with differing requirements, is your budget for body only, or body and lenses?

Daston

Original Poster:

6,148 posts

232 months

Friday 7th February 2014
quotequote all
Craikeybaby said:
First of all - Happy Birthday!

With regards to DSLRs I'd suggest sticking to Canon or Nikon, but at your budget you would be looking at second hand.

You have quite a lot of things that you want to take pictures of, mostly with differing requirements, is your budget for body only, or body and lenses?
Well I would like to get the body to start with and possibly 1 lens then take it from there.

MysteryLemon

4,968 posts

220 months

Friday 7th February 2014
quotequote all
£2-250 including a lens or just for the body?

If inc lens then something like a Nikon D80 or D5000 would probs be a good bet. See if you can find one being sold with an 18-200mm lens which would suit your motorsport needs as well as being suitable for using around the pit area or at shows etc. You could probs pick up a Nikon D3200 with kit lens for this price but the Kit will be limiting for motorsport use.

If just for body then I would be looking at a Nikon D5100.

Of course, there are the Canon, Pentax etc. alternatives but before anyone starts getting their knickers in a twist about which is best, they will all take identical quality photos and operate much the same way. The badge on the front rarely makes much difference. Nikon and Canon have the best second hand and third party lens support but you will find all manufacturers have a following and second hand market.

Daston

Original Poster:

6,148 posts

232 months

Friday 7th February 2014
quotequote all
Out of interest does the game change a lot if I were to add £100 to the budget, bringing it to £350?

Just been looking about and there seems to be more options at that price, plus there's a few deals on Sony DSLR's that drop them to that price range.


MysteryLemon

4,968 posts

220 months

Friday 7th February 2014
quotequote all
Yes.

You will get a much newer body or an older body with a better lens combo.

Depends how you want to go about it.

kybo

1,166 posts

224 months

Friday 7th February 2014
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There is this 450D
[ONLY 3 HRS LEFT]

this EOS450D

Both well under budget (atm) so let's look for a better camera

EOS550D

EOS600D

With what you want to use it for, it may be worth looking at a couple of lenses, than try and get one lens to do it all - it would have to be a fairly expensive lens to do it all well.

Some of the above do have 2 lenses - a wide and a zoom in some instances.

Happy birthday and good luck for your purchase

Scott

Mr Will

13,719 posts

235 months

Friday 7th February 2014
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Firstly; lenses are more important than the body. Better to buy a few generations old if it means you can get better glass to go with it (also easier to upgrade in future).

Personally, I'd be looking for a body and two lenses. One general purpose "kit" lens (~18-55mm) and a telephoto of some sort for the track shots. Sigma make a cheap 70-300mm APO which is by no means great but should fit the bill and also has a "macro" function to fill that requirement (only 0.5x magnification, but that's enough for miniatures). Bear in mind that you will need a tripod as well for that though.

RobDickinson

31,343 posts

283 months

Friday 7th February 2014
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Extension tubes on the standard kit lens should let you do macro on a limited budget, it's not as flash as a proper macro lens but it works and you will be shooting under controled conditions.

Try get a 40d or something and one with live view especially for the macros

Daston

Original Poster:

6,148 posts

232 months

Friday 7th February 2014
quotequote all
Thanks for the help guys. Ordered a D5100 with an 18-55mm lens should be here Monday smile

flat-planedCrank

3,697 posts

232 months

Saturday 8th February 2014
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Daston said:
Thanks for the help guys. Ordered a D5100 with an 18-55mm lens should be here Monday smile
Happy Birthday! And congrats smile I'm sure you'll love your D5100

Daston

Original Poster:

6,148 posts

232 months

Monday 10th February 2014
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Just an update, camera arrived and been shooting everything for most of the afternoon.

Cats have been great subjects smile



Still got a lot to learn

flat-planedCrank

3,697 posts

232 months

Monday 10th February 2014
quotequote all
Daston said:
Just an update, camera arrived and been shooting everything for most of the afternoon.

Cats have been great subjects smile



Still got a lot to learn
Don't forget to post shots you like in Random Photos! smilehttp://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...