DSLR for begginer...
Discussion
My Mrs has decided she would like to start taking photography a bit more seriously. Always been a point n shoot photographer but in the last few years (since stopping work and having kids) has been taking more and more photos and been gradually getting better and thinking a bit more about it.
So...it's getting near Christmas and I'm thinking of getting her a DSLR. I haven't got a clue about them. What features to look for, what's good, what's not. What kind of lens to get? Most of her shots will be of the kids, both indoor and out if that's any help...
Cheers,Left
So...it's getting near Christmas and I'm thinking of getting her a DSLR. I haven't got a clue about them. What features to look for, what's good, what's not. What kind of lens to get? Most of her shots will be of the kids, both indoor and out if that's any help...
Cheers,Left
Any.
Take her to a store to try them out see which fit her hands and which have controls and menu systems that work for her.
On a technical level there all plenty good enough, you can play it safe and buy a canon/nikon anything and know you wont need for much apart from cash...
As for lenses - get the standard 18-55 kit lens and if canon add the 55-250 if you want more zoom or the 50mmf1.8 for shallow dof arty shots.
If nikon I'd be tempted to buy just the 35mm f1.8 afs,or add that to the kit lens anyhow.
Take her to a store to try them out see which fit her hands and which have controls and menu systems that work for her.
On a technical level there all plenty good enough, you can play it safe and buy a canon/nikon anything and know you wont need for much apart from cash...
As for lenses - get the standard 18-55 kit lens and if canon add the 55-250 if you want more zoom or the 50mmf1.8 for shallow dof arty shots.
If nikon I'd be tempted to buy just the 35mm f1.8 afs,or add that to the kit lens anyhow.
Depends on your budget and how much control Mrs. Lefty wants over the images but I would point out that SLRs are not really 'handbaggable' on a regular basis so may be absent on trips when a photo opportunity appears.
On that basis looking at some of the mid-sized so called 'bridge' cameras - they look like dSLRs but don't have interchangeable lenses but can do video - might be worth considering. Or the 'Micro 4/3rds' cameras from (mainly) Olympus and Panasonic which are, typically, more costly than 'bridge' cameras but do offer options for changeable lenses and both camera body and lenses are smaller than equivalents for dSLRs. Very capable cameras.
On that basis looking at some of the mid-sized so called 'bridge' cameras - they look like dSLRs but don't have interchangeable lenses but can do video - might be worth considering. Or the 'Micro 4/3rds' cameras from (mainly) Olympus and Panasonic which are, typically, more costly than 'bridge' cameras but do offer options for changeable lenses and both camera body and lenses are smaller than equivalents for dSLRs. Very capable cameras.
Lefty said:
Picked up a brand-new, old-stock Canion EOS450D for £330 with an 18-55mm lens. 
And just noticed my typo in the thread title
Don't forget a decent sized memory card of reasonable speed and perhaps a spare battery - always useful and they only cost a few quid so long as you don't buy a Canon original. 7dayshop supplied batteries have always served me well - sometimes better than the original!And just noticed my typo in the thread title
Oh, and a lens pen - great device for getting the lens clean when needed.
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