Camera for me?
Discussion
Hello, hope you kind folk can help me…
I’m after a Digital SLR that’ll do me for being an amateur but that I can us when I get better too with out having to spend out a whole load more cash on new gear if I took it much more seriously.
Second hand I guess would be a good option.
Where should I be looking and at what?
As for budget somewhere from 4-800 depending on what I’m going to end up with.
I’m after a Digital SLR that’ll do me for being an amateur but that I can us when I get better too with out having to spend out a whole load more cash on new gear if I took it much more seriously.
Second hand I guess would be a good option.
Where should I be looking and at what?
As for budget somewhere from 4-800 depending on what I’m going to end up with.
Hark, I can hear the Canon and Nikon recommendations being typed in now .....
Fact is, you have a healthy enough budget to get you into the D-SLR gang.
Best thing you can do first is visit a camera shop and try out some of the Entry level cameras.
Certainly try models from Canon, Nikon, Pentax and Sony for size and maybe even Olympus.
Only by physically holding them and trying them out will you discover which model(s) are best suited to you.
Any D-SLR made by the above mentioned companies will be capable of extremely good results.
When you have narrowed the field, you can then search for the best deal. Ask again here for more advice on lenses etc.
You should be able to afford the SLR, plus at least two lenses and associated accessories within your budget.
Regards second-hand, I'd personally stay away from secondhand D-SLR's (they get outdated so fast anyway) but certainly consider second-hand lenses from reputable sources.
Simon
Fact is, you have a healthy enough budget to get you into the D-SLR gang.
Best thing you can do first is visit a camera shop and try out some of the Entry level cameras.
Certainly try models from Canon, Nikon, Pentax and Sony for size and maybe even Olympus.
Only by physically holding them and trying them out will you discover which model(s) are best suited to you.
Any D-SLR made by the above mentioned companies will be capable of extremely good results.
When you have narrowed the field, you can then search for the best deal. Ask again here for more advice on lenses etc.
You should be able to afford the SLR, plus at least two lenses and associated accessories within your budget.
Regards second-hand, I'd personally stay away from secondhand D-SLR's (they get outdated so fast anyway) but certainly consider second-hand lenses from reputable sources.
Simon
Daimeydum said:
Cheers simon thats a great help.
Any websites you can point me to?
A good review site is www.dpreview.comAny websites you can point me to?
Online retailers I use are:
www.warehouseexpress.com - has good range of "deals", lots to look at.
www.digistor.co.uk - is Photo Optix's online site. I almost always buy from here as there extended warranties are half the normal cost and prices are usually the lowest.
Simon
I don't know if this info is any good to you but here goes.
There's the largest photographic show in the world (their claim not mine) at the NEC in Birmingham from 24th - 27th February. Link to Focus on Imaging show . All the DSLR manufacturers will be there showing the latest and greatest goodies. It would be an ideal opportunity to go to one place and handle all the camera models available. You might even find some good show deals - I saved over £100 on an HP B9180 printer last year
There's the largest photographic show in the world (their claim not mine) at the NEC in Birmingham from 24th - 27th February. Link to Focus on Imaging show . All the DSLR manufacturers will be there showing the latest and greatest goodies. It would be an ideal opportunity to go to one place and handle all the camera models available. You might even find some good show deals - I saved over £100 on an HP B9180 printer last year
Edited by ae111sr on Thursday 10th January 19:08
IMHO the lens is probably more important now than the body with D-SLRs...all the main ones have good sensors and enough functionality for an amateur. So as has been said, the 'feel' of a camera in your hands is probably the key thing - how comfortable do you feel with it?!?
And with kit-lenses Canon are often a let-down - the 18-55 is mediocre, esp. when compared to the more expensive 17-85 sometimes offered, or to the Nikon kit-lenses.
But lenses are easy to buy...
...so maybe go for a near-new or reconditioned body-only deal? I got an EOS-20D from the Canon outlet on eBay. Paid possibly slightly more than I wanted, but still saved well-over £100 vs a new one...
And with kit-lenses Canon are often a let-down - the 18-55 is mediocre, esp. when compared to the more expensive 17-85 sometimes offered, or to the Nikon kit-lenses.
But lenses are easy to buy...
...so maybe go for a near-new or reconditioned body-only deal? I got an EOS-20D from the Canon outlet on eBay. Paid possibly slightly more than I wanted, but still saved well-over £100 vs a new one...
As mentioned above, the 20D is a corker. Compare the specs to the 400D and see what's on offer from both models.
The 20D is going quite cheap as it was replaced by the 30D (more of a facelift than a redesign. Bigger screen on rear and....ummm...slightly better buffer when firing off shots). The 40D is the latest model at that price range, and it's a whole redesign. Lots of new features.
The Canon 20D seems to go for just under £300 on eBay now as I was flirting with the idea of selling mine and upgrading to the 40D. Partly because I can still get something for the 20D and because I've seen some good deals on the 40D body only. Also, everybody likes a new toy.
Decided now to delay it till early June as an early birthday present to myself and to bed in at Le Mans.
David
The 20D is going quite cheap as it was replaced by the 30D (more of a facelift than a redesign. Bigger screen on rear and....ummm...slightly better buffer when firing off shots). The 40D is the latest model at that price range, and it's a whole redesign. Lots of new features.
The Canon 20D seems to go for just under £300 on eBay now as I was flirting with the idea of selling mine and upgrading to the 40D. Partly because I can still get something for the 20D and because I've seen some good deals on the 40D body only. Also, everybody likes a new toy.
Decided now to delay it till early June as an early birthday present to myself and to bed in at Le Mans.
David
Gingerbread Man said:
The 20D is going quite cheap as it was replaced by the 30D (more of a facelift than a redesign. Bigger screen on rear and....ummm...slightly better buffer when firing off shots)
imo the only real deciding factors between the 20D and 30D are -increased frame buffer
-spot meter
-3fps setting
Personally, i'm not fussed with the larger screen or 1/3 stop iso settings.
I am looking at getting another body later this year as well
Cheers.
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