Beginner Which camera to go for?

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PaulR32

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Paul
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Just looking for peoples advice on what camera to go for.
Don't want to spend too much and would probably prefer to go for Canon or Nikon.
Was lookin at the canon 1300D and the 800D Is the 800D worth the extra.
What would be the Nikon equivalent of these and would I be better with Nikon or Canon.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks Paul
 
They all make good door stops, and it doesn't really make much difference if you're only looking to take general shots.

Have you got any specific types of photo you want to take? And what were you thinking about in terms of lenses? - the lens is generally far more important to the result than the body.
 
I will probably be taking mostly landscape photos. Also as I live on the north coast of Northern Ireland I would like to have a go at star photography and the northern lights.
As far as lenses go. I was planning on going with the kit lens to start with.
So far I haven't even been able to decide between Canon and Nikon
 
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Not what you want to hear, but I'll say it anyway.

1; No one can tell you what to buy, it's a personal choice and we don't understand your taste or priorities.

2; it's frankly unimportant, this is your first camera. In 12 months time, you'll almost certainly no longer care about it. Either because you got hooked and you've upgraded it, you didn't get hooked and you're no longer using it as much as you'd hoped.

Then there's the other view; if I was in your shoes, I'd buy an older better camera second hand, they're easier to use and youll lose less money when you move it on.

And cameras aren't even important, they're just a tool, and they're one of the least important tools in your arsenal.

Beginners think it's about cameras
Enthusiasts think it's about lenses
Photographers know it's all about light.
 
So, given what Phil has just said, I would suggest going in to a retailer and picking them up and seeing which one "fits". Perhaps have a look at the Flickr pools of images and see what you think of them.
 
I was always told that a camera is just a light tight box, and it's all about controlling light.
 
Yea that would probably be the best thing. The only place near me though is Currys and they didn't have much selection last time I was in.
 
Go to a shop. Hold them. Possibly with gloves on if you plan on landscapes. Decide which you prefer the menus of. Go home and research further.

I prefer Canon. Others prefer Nikon. Don't discount other brands either.

I'd echo Phil V's advice about an older but better camera - I'd prefer to go for a generation older, but the next tier up, so the previous yyD rather than the current xxxD.
 
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PaulR32 said:
Yea that would probably be the best thing. The only place near me though is Currys and they didn't have much selection last time I was in.
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Have a play in Curry's but DON'T whatever you do buy from them, go to a store that sells photography gear only and not washing machines and vacuums :)
 
PaulR32 said:
Yea that would probably be the best thing. The only place near me though is Currys and they didn't have much selection last time I was in.
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So, in Currys
Compare the Nikon to the Canon
And compare the midrange bodies to the enthusiast ones.

It's difficult if you don't understand the difference, but mid range cameras have more features accessible without diving into menus.
 
The problem I find when I go in and look at cameras is that I don't really know what I'm looking for.
Because I'm only starting out none of the menus mean to much to me yet.
 
There are a number of things you'll need to adjust on a shoot by shoot basis, such as how to change the ISO setting, how to change the focussing mode from continuous mode to static setting, the white balance from auto to cloudy to flash to sunny, even just how complicated it is to set the time or to find photos and zoom in to check the subject wasn't blinking.

When I was choosing my first DSLR, I found Canons a nicer fit in my hand and I found the menus easier to navigate.
 
PaulR32 said:
The problem I find when I go in and look at cameras is that I don't really know what I'm looking for.
Because I'm only starting out none of the menus mean to much to me yet.
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Which is exactly why you shouldn't be making such a big gamble, can you imagine buying a car when you can't drive? Would you spend 10 grand on a new Fiesta, knowing as soon as it's delivered it'll lose £1500, when a 2nd hand Focus will lose next to nothing.
 
Do you not have someone you know who is into photography who could go with you?
 
Robert Eva said:
Do you not have someone you know who is into photography who could go with you?
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I don't. None of my friends use anything other than their phone.

I was looking at the canon 750d with 18-55mm lens. Thinking that might be a good starting point for me.
 
PaulR32 said:
So you think the Canon menus are a bit more user friendly for a beginner
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No
He's saying they were easier for him.

That's the point I made earlier, it's a personal choice.
 
Well for my two penneth , If you're going for an slr it will either be Canon or Nikon, and it's a bit like the old Apple vs Samsung argument.
They are both top manufacturers making top notch kit.
Personally I have Nikon , but did used to have Canon in my film days.
My bit of advice , which would seem to be consistent with others would be to get the best lens you can / afford.
Buy the body on its own and get a non kit lens seperately.
But I would still try and find someone to assist you , are there no local clubs?
 
Phil V said:
No
He's saying they were easier for him.

That's the point I made earlier, it's a personal choice.
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Exactly. I found I got on with the Canon system better. Others feel the same about Nikon / Sony etc.,

I've not played with a recent Nikon, but I still can't find my way around my fathers camera easily.
 
The problem with buying the 750D with kit lens is you will be spending approx £520 on the body and approx £100 on the lens. Buying new means that both will lose some value if you want to resell but the 750D will lose its value faster and will keep depreciating until it's worth £50-£100 in a few years time. On the other hand if you buy lenses secondhand you may well find that you can sell them for the price that you bought them for. You would be much better off buying an older camera body from a secondhand dealer that gives you a warranty and invest the money that you save in lenses and a flash, or keep it in the bank until you have figured out what would be a reasonable upgrade. This would also put you in a position to buy a used midrange body for less money than a new enthusiast body.

So if I was in your position and had a budget of £600, I would probably spend £200 on a body and the rest on lenses and a flash.
 
Where are you that has nothing other than Currys nearby?

Most towns have some form of camera shop, but they are sometimes hidden on small side streets only to be found by those in the know.

If we know where you are (rough area/city) maybe someone will be able to recommend a shop.

I'd recommend you look at London Camera Exchange, they have branches all over the uk and sell good secondhand kit.
 
It's tough starting out, balancing budget and trying to get value for money etc. Not everyone can afford to upgrade in 12-24 months so you might be looking at it from an investment point of view.

Cameras are like cars, buy a new one and as soon as you walk out the shop it will start losing value, lenses tend to hold their value a bit better.

From my experience, I started with a Canon 350D, progressed to a 40D then to a 70D during this time I bought and sold various new & second hand lenses. I then sold it all for a Fuji X100t which I am now in the process of selling to purchase a used Nikon D5300 & 18-105 lens.

My purchases reflect my journey and my changing relationship with photography and different genres. Most the time now I'll buy second hand from MPB or on here. That said I've been using my mobile for the most part of the last 3 months!

As everyone else has said start off and see where it leads. If you don't want to spend big bucks buy a used body and kit lens (ie 18-55 mm) to get a taste for it. If you buy from mpb or other used dealers you get a warranty of a few months. If you go canon or Nikon you'll get a decent body for £100-150 and a kit lens for £40.

Try it out for £200 and if you don't like it sell the gear. If you do like it you'll learn what you like taking pictures of and what type of lenses you may need and if you need to upgrade the body further down the line.
 
An advert this morning on one of the Facebook Camera Equipment Exchange (UK) group for a Canon 700D, an 18-55 kit lens and a 55-250 IS lens and a bag. Little use. £ 275 ono. Sounds ideal for a beginner. If you like it, you can upgrade sections, if you don't you can sell it and not loose anything on it.
 
I'd be more concerned about the right lens than whatever camera manufacturer it is. I'd look for a used body and wideangle zoom bundle on eBay within budget and get that whoever makes it Nikon, canon, Pentax, sony. You'll get used to whatever menu it is.

Or buy a used sigma 10-20, tamron 10-24 or tokina equivalent and whatever budget you have left determines what used body you get. A quick look on eBay shows 2 tamron 10-24mm lenses have gone for as little as £135 in the last week.

What is the budget by the way?
 
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I agree looking at MPB.

Panasonic G1 /G2 about £50-60. Add 14-42 kit lens for about the same and you are up and running. If you don't enjoy not much lost.

Personally I think it's a great set-up.
 
If you're in or near London I've got a mint Nikon D40 + 18-135mm lens you can have for £200 everything is there: charger, card, caps, manual etc. And I'll show you how to use it.
 
Phil V said:
1; No one can tell you what to buy, it's a personal choice and we don't understand your taste or priorities.

2; it's frankly unimportant, this is your first camera. In 12 months time, you'll almost certainly no longer care about it. Either because you got hooked and you've upgraded it, you didn't get hooked and you're no longer using it as much as you'd hoped.

Then there's the other view; if I was in your shoes, I'd buy an older better camera second hand, they're easier to use and youll lose less money when you move it on.

And cameras aren't even important, they're just a tool, and they're one of the least important tools in your arsenal.
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andrewc said:
Go to a shop. Hold them. Possibly with gloves on if you plan on landscapes. Decide which you prefer the menus of. Go home and research further.

I prefer Canon. Others prefer Nikon. Don't discount other brands either.
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Phil and Andrew are both right.

Don't under-estimate the element of personal preference. When I bought my first DSLR, I went and tried the Canon 350D and Nikon D70 (entry-level models, back then) and once I had done so the decision was a complete no-brainer. Everything in the Canon worked exactly as I expected it to, and the menus were clear and logical. But the Nikon was bafflingly illogical, things rotated the wrong way, even the main control wheel was in the wrong place (on the front of the camera instead of the top). After 9 years of running a camera-based company and handling Canon and Nikon equipment every day, I still don't get on with Nikons and the main control wheel is still in the wrong place. But I know people who made exactly the same comparison, on the same two cameras, and made the opposite decision. Obviously they're mad, but it's not impossible that you might be infected with the same brand of madness. So go handle them. And if you don't have a preference after doing so, then it really doesn't matter.

PS This might not be the place for a morality discussion, but if I were you I would think about whether it's "right" to go and try out the cameras in one shop and then buy them cheaper elsewhere. Personally I think that the ability to actually handle goods in a shop is worth paying for, within reason of course. YMMV.
 
Scotty Pro said:
Have a play in Curry's but DON'T whatever you do buy from them, go to a store that sells photography gear only and not washing machines and vacuums :)
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Yes but at least any camera you buy from Curry's will have been given a good wash and vacuum! :LOL:
 
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