Can I please have some Help!!!!!

[craig mann]

Hi Everyone

I am kind of new to photography, I say kind of new due to the fact I’m no stranger to a point and shoot digital camera.

I am about to purchase my first bit of major kit (DSLR) and I need some advise. I have a budget of £500 to spend and I want something I can really get my teeth into. I was leaning towards a Nikon D5000 but what do I know.

I like to shoot anything that takes my eye so the kit would have to be flexible and be able to build on as I would love to take my photography further in the near future. (That’s if I’m any good though)

[andyred]

Hi & Welcome :wave:

Best advice in the initial stage would be to go to a good camera shop and try out the different brands and models to see which you like the best feel off and which controls feel the most natural to yourself.

Have a look here http://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/index.html for an idea on some of the best prices around.

Good luck with your search :thumbs:

[EOS_JD]

Yes you will also get a feel for the kit lenses that come with the cameras. I generally advise against the kit lenses but with a budget of £500 there's no room to buy a separate lens.

Go for a Canon or a Nikon - the other brands just don't seem to compare when it comes to IQ or depth of system.

I chose canon, others chose Nikon - both produce quality cameras at pretty good prices.

[mr bizzare]

my advice is to stick with the big names Cannon, Nikon, Pentax etc may be Sony, you will always find lots of second hand lenses and other goodies about to help you fill your gear bag from the big guns. For Nikon/Cannon gear I have a look at what uncle Ken has to say then take a pinch of salt.

[mr_pants]

Yes you will also get a feel for the kit lenses that come with the cameras. I generally advise against the kit lenses but with a budget of £500 there's no room to buy a separate lens.




Not to gainsay what you said, but the kit lenses don't do too badly with a little application Linky (http://www.dpchallenge.com/lens.php?LENS_ID=1115)

[taz]

You might just get a Nikon D200 with an 18-70 for that price.

[EOS_JD]

Not to gainsay what you said, but the kit lenses don't do too badly with a little application Linky (http://www.dpchallenge.com/lens.php?LENS_ID=1115)

Don't get me wrong I'm not saying all kit lenses are bad - but they are pretty restrictive. Small variable apertures meant I was disappointed what my camera would do when I got my first camera. Starting with a lens that worked well in all conditions really helped. Something like a Tamron 17-50 or even a 28-75 f2.8 are good starter lenses. Fast, sharp and max aperture of f2.8 no matter the zoom.

the kit lenses are fine when starting out but you may soon outgrow it and want more. In that case I wish I'd just bought a decent lens at the start.

[mr_pants]

Don't get me wrong I'm not saying all kit lenses are bad - but they are pretty restrictive. Small variable apertures meant I was disappointed what my camera would do when I got my first camera. Starting with a lens that worked well in all conditions really helped. Something like a Tamron 17-50 or even a 28-75 f2.8 are good starter lenses. Fast, sharp and max aperture of f2.8 no matter the zoom.

the kit lenses are fine when starting out but you may soon outgrow it and want more. In that case I wish I'd just bought a decent lens at the start.

Agreed, definitely.