Beginner Looking for my first DLSR

r5_rxk

r5_rxk

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Hi guys,

looking to start up photography as a hobby and being honest I haven't got a clue where to start
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, does anyone have any tips or advice and best kind of set up kit to get started? I know all depends on how much you want to invest etc, initially around £500 would be good for a SLR body with standard lens? will this get me something fairly decent if so any recommendations? Ive used a Canon before, no clue what model or anything like that. I know both Canon and Nikon are top brands, any preferences on which you prefer?

Also some advice on lenses would be great, ideally would be mainly for car photography but also landscape, scenic shots.

Im thinking maybe the Nikon D3300 or D3400 . Any thoughts?

thanks a bunch !!
 
I would go down the used route, you get much more for your money. I can't really comment on Nikon, as I use Canon myself. Canon wise I would go for the xxd range. A 60d and 18-55 kit lens is probably in your price range, maybe a 70d or even a 7d.
 
Nostromo said:
I would go down the used route, you get much more for your money. I can't really comment on Nikon, as I use Canon myself. Canon wise I would go for the xxd range. A 60d and 18-55 kit lens is probably in your price range, maybe a 70d or even a 7d.
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Thanks for the reply. Would like to go down the second hand route definitely. Im not set on Nikon over Canon yet i think i need to try a couple of each to get a feel. With the Canon XXD range which kind of features should i be drawn to as a newbie ? Looking at the Nikon D3300 as an example has 24.2mp and the Canon 7d has 18mp.? Sorry if it seems a daft question- with so many models / ranges available getting the right one to set me off to a good start should make all the difference i imagine?
 
Don't be worried about having a lower MP count than someone else.

Pro's still use Nikon D700's with 12mp.

The lens quality is just as important as the body, maybe more so.

It all depends on what type of photography you want to do. Astro stuff (stars and night time) you'll need a camera with low noise high ISO capability etc. etc.


Almost any DSLR body from the last 10 years will be sufficient for excellent images (once you've learnt how to use it and take a photo (2 different things)).


Above all enjoy yourself.
 
GreenNinja67 said:
Don't be worried about having a lower MP count than someone else.

Pro's still use Nikon D700's with 12mp.

The lens quality is just as important as the body, maybe more so.

It all depends on what type of photography you want to do. Astro stuff (stars and night time) you'll need a camera with low noise high ISO capability etc. etc.


Almost any DSLR body from the last 10 years will be sufficient for excellent images (once you've learnt how to use it and take a photo (2 different things)).


Above all enjoy yourself.
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Thanks for the details about the MP that's definitely helped :) in simple terms what would make a pro choose a Nikon D700 as an example? Starting out I guess it can get a little confusing given how many ranges there really are. However the lens is more important?


Im particularly interested in Architecture / structures and also advertising cars ( static shots not moving, so wide angle for interiors etc ). Any recommendations :) ? thanks again!
 
The xxd range although aimed at the enthusiast, i find are easier to use than the xxxd or the xxxxd range aimed at the beginner. Obviously newer models have more features such as WiFi, tilt screen etc. You just need to think to yourself, do i really need these things. I've got a Canon 50d and it does me fine for what I want. There are very few bad (if any) dslr camera's about. They all take a good quality image. How good the photograph is depends on the photographer.
A full frame camera would be better for interiors (such as the d700) but will be outside of your price range (i would think).
 
Get down to a camera shop and get your hands on some bodies in your price range to see how they feel in your hands. If possible, have a play with the menu systems to see which is more natural to you. I think the Nikon D5300 with a couple of decent lenses is well within your budget of £500 and it's compatible with the new Nikon focusing system on their newer lenses.
 
r5_rxk said:
initially around £500 would be good for a SLR body
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There's really no need to spend that much, especially as you don't seem to know what you want. Pretty much any DSLR from the last 10 years will be fine as @GreenNinja67 says.
I'd just go down your local CEX / second hand camera dealer and see what they have. I bought a 10 year old Nikon D60 from CEX four months ago and loved using it, trading it in to CEX yesterday for a Canon 100D purely because I wanted a smaller body as I mostly talk 'walkabout' shots.
 
I was in this situation 8 or 9 years ago.
My first fair was a Canon 400D, which is just a revamped 350D.
It had quite particular limitations and I had to learn photography with technically inferior camera compared to more expensive dslr-s around at the time.
I was drawn guys deal at jrsdops for the body, kittens and a 50% of telephoto lens.

Now my point is that I could have brought a Nikon, Pentax if the price was right.
That is the limitations factor when starting off.

So by used if you can and ask local camera shop about used lens. Join a camera club as well to mix with other fair owners.

Your skill and knowledge once you have mastered your first camera will lead to your next one, what ever that may be.

XxD Canon are good even the Nikon D3300 or D3500. Just look at the used section on here
 
if you have a costco by you they have a canon 1300D for sale for £269 think the offer ends this weekend
 
If I started again with £500 I would get a used Fuji x-t1 or a similar camera with live exposure preview.

It makes starting off in photography considerably easier if or when you want to use manual controls.
 
join your local camera club take there advice on what you need and what to buy
you will find people will be quite keen to let you try there camera gear

keep away from the camera shops just now as the salesmen will sell you anything your willing to buy even if its the wrong thing for you
thats why there called salesman
mpb photography sell fair priced camera gear comes with 12 month warranty you won't get warranty on gumtree or e bay
 
r5_rxk said:
Im not set on Nikon over Canon yet i think i need to try a couple of each to get a feel.
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Orangecroc said:
Get down to a camera shop and get your hands on some bodies in your price range to see how they feel in your hands. If possible, have a play with the menu systems to see which is more natural to you.
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This is good advice. Aspects such as the menu structure, control layout, etc can seem more or less intuitive in different makes of camera, but it's a very personal thing so it's worth trying them out. The good news is that these things are baked into the manufacturers' DNA so if you get on with one camera then you'll get on with other cameras from the same manufacturer.
 
I've got the D3300 and it's a great camera, I do think what makes it even better is the lenses to be honest. It's a great entry level camera, maybe try and get a Prime lens with it if you can, I can recommend the 35mm.

Definitely go into the shops though and have a play with them, this was the best advice I received before buying and having held both the Nikon and Canon's I prefered the button layout and menu options on the Nikon.

All the best!
 
Daniel_Paul said:
I've got the D3300 and it's a great camera, I do think what makes it even better is the lenses to be honest. It's a great entry level camera, maybe try and get a Prime lens with it if you can, I can recommend the 35mm.

Definitely go into the shops though and have a play with them, this was the best advice I received before buying and having held both the Nikon and Canon's I prefered the button layout and menu options on the Nikon.

All the best!
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Daniel,feel free to join us in the Nikon D3 and 5 series thread
 
I started off with a D5300 (I think same sensor as a D3300) 18-55 Kit Lens & a 35mm F1.8 (Very cheap but a fantastic lens). It was a great camera and very small but the images were fantastic compared to the point and shoot cameras i had previously. I chose Nikon as i just like the look and all the rave reviews about the camera, but i doubt you would go wrong with any modern DSLR
 
r5_rxk said:
Hi guys,

looking to start up photography as a hobby and being honest I haven't got a clue where to start
icon_lol.gif
, does anyone have any tips or advice and best kind of set up kit to get started? I know all depends on how much you want to invest etc, initially around £500 would be good for a SLR body with standard lens? will this get me something fairly decent if so any recommendations? Ive used a Canon before, no clue what model or anything like that. I know both Canon and Nikon are top brands, any preferences on which you prefer?

Also some advice on lenses would be great, ideally would be mainly for car photography but also landscape, scenic shots.

Im thinking maybe the Nikon D3300 or D3400 . Any thoughts?

thanks a bunch !!
Click to expand...
If you do go for a 3 or 5 series Niko n come and join us in the thread
 
You do not need a big flappy mirror to take photos.
I recomend you think of your back and try something mirrorless
 
TBH any DSLR camera will produce excellent photos, it all depends on you.

But one other very important thing to consider which seldom seems to be taken into account when buying a camera is what computer do you have?

If you have a fast i7 with an SSD HDD possibly supplemented with a second 1TB spinning drive then you're good to go with most cameras.

But if you have on older slower model then a camera with, say, a 20MP sensor is going to be very slow to use.

When I first started back into DSLR photography I used a perfectly good Core 2 Duo model which worked perfectly fast with my first DSLR camera (Canon 350D) and its 8MP sensor.

But when I bought a Canon 1Ds MkII with a 17MP sensor it was very very slow at editing the files so I ended up buying an i7 with an SSD etc at over £600 to build.

So that is something to also factor in to any purchase you may be considering.
 
If you have got one by now what everyone has forgotten to mention is the shutter count in used cameras. The camera might look all bright and shiny on the outside, but if the shutter actuations are on the high side the more risk of failure sooner and it is getting towards the end of its life.. That goes for any make of camera, something to be aware of so get it checked before purchase
 
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Another recommendation for the Nikon D3300. Got mine over two years ago and I still love it to bits. In fact of all my possessions, I recon this was my best buy. The menu structure, image quality, handling are all excellent. I can't see myself wanting to upgrade for years.
 
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Just don't look at the latest D3*00 or EOS 1*00D, there are other brands. As others have advised go to a dealer that has other models from other manufacturers so you get a feel for several cameras. There's no such thing as a bad camera nowadays but it might just happen to be a camera that wasn't on your horizon that fits you best.

You say you used a Canon before, which model? If you used a higher end body before then you might get frustrated about the features, build and handling of these 'cheaper' bodies and so maybe better to go for a low shutter use mid-range model like a Nikon D7*00, Canon ESO *0D or Pentax K5/K3 with better features/handling.
 
I've had d3300 for a while now and its fantastic, would deffo buy another 100%
 
I've had mirrorless by Fuji Sony Olympus Panasonic dlsr canon and Nikon both ff and dx and keep coming back to the simple but excellent d3300,I found I don't need xtra dials functions etc and I love using YMMV,try a few different ones in a shop
 
I have been blown away by the responses. What a helpful group of keen photographers I can see you all are! I know its been quite some months since my original post whilst been at uni. I have been into my local camera world who have been helpful.

Im hoping to get a camera lined up this week. I have a trip to rome at the end of the month which I'd like it for, for some landscape shots of buildings ( I study architecture) and also the car static photography to start up soon.

In regards to my PC setup I use a MacBook air. Will this effect my choice in camera?

They went through a few older range stuff they had for around £150-£200 for the body such as a Nikon D5000, Nikon D50, D90. (Anyone have any experience using these?) With being an older models would I be just be better of buying a slightly more up to date version which is going to last me such as the D3300 which seems a popular choice.
 
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@r5_rxk: People may be suggesting that Camera A is better than Camera B because of the specifications. It seems to be always all about number of MPs, frame rate, faster shutter speed, those features here and there.

When you have narrowed down to the last two or three choices after taking in other people's advice, here is a golden advice...

Go to a shop, ask to look at this and that camera, pick them up, hold them, try them out. See how you feel holding them.

Is it too heavy for you? Too big? Do you feel comfy pressing this and that button? Do you feel happy taking off and putting on the lens (remember Nikon lens goes the other way compared to other cameras), never mind how fast the shuttle speed is, is pressing the shuttle release button to your liking? Do you feel happy popping in a memory card or is it too fiddly for you?

Same with people suggesting Car A is better than Car B, but you have to make your final choice based on how you feel getting in and out of the car, how you feel sitting down, do you feel okay with the gear stick? The controls? Better to test drive and see how you feel driving the car than rely on the specifications.

When you have made a list of two or three cameras after soaking up other member's advices, please try them out first before buying.

Best wishes with finding your dream camera.
 
r5_rxk said:
I have been blown away by the responses. What a helpful group of keen photographers I can see you all are! I know its been quite some months since my original post whilst been at uni. I have been into my local camera world who have been helpful.

Im hoping to get a camera lined up this week. I have a trip to rome at the end of the month which I'd like it for, for some landscape shots of buildings ( I study architecture) and also the car static photography to start up soon.

In regards to my PC setup I use a MacBook air. Will this effect my choice in camera?

They went through a few older range stuff they had for around £150-£200 for the body such as a Nikon D5000, Nikon D50, D90. (Anyone have any experience using these?) With being an older models would I be just be better of buying a slightly more up to date version which is going to last me such as the D3300 which seems a popular choice.
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I used a Nikon D60 earlier this year and liked it, more than capable. I think you'll be fine with any second hand DSLR with >10MP and an APS-C sensor
 
I would echo Nikkon d3300, it was my first camera with the kits lens - which I stuck with until I learned the ropes and had saved up for more lens etc
 
r5_rxk said:
I have been blown away by the responses. What a helpful group of keen photographers I can see you all are! I know its been quite some months since my original post whilst been at uni. I have been into my local camera world who have been helpful.

Im hoping to get a camera lined up this week. I have a trip to rome at the end of the month which I'd like it for, for some landscape shots of buildings ( I study architecture) and also the car static photography to start up soon.

In regards to my PC setup I use a MacBook air. Will this effect my choice in camera?

They went through a few older range stuff they had for around £150-£200 for the body such as a Nikon D5000, Nikon D50, D90. (Anyone have any experience using these?) With being an older models would I be just be better of buying a slightly more up to date version which is going to last me such as the D3300 which seems a popular choice.
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For £200 you might actually be able to get a d7000 with a faulty flash if you are lucky enough to find one on ebay.
I got one on ebay for that much and sold it there for the same amount.
If you feel you miss a flash then get a cheap Chinese flash later when you have more money.
It is a better camera than all the models you mentioned although a d90 is not bad
 
First off if your buying used. Avoid e.bay if possible recent events have found me using wex photo .ALL there used cameras and lenses come with a 1 year unconditional warranty and that includes a 30 day change your mind built into it .the service from them is stunning .

Don’t as others have pointed out be drawn into the more megapixels is better thoughts either ,I use a 10mp canon 1Dmkiii and the results are stunning ,I don’t need a camera that does video or has moveable screens if I want low angle I lie down . A starter camera from either Nikon or canon will have a low shutter life expectation a pro body will have 4 or 5 times more life expectancy .and will feel better to use ,it’s amazing how many shots you take at 10 frames per second
 
r5_rxk said:
Thanks for the details about the MP that's definitely helped :) in simple terms what would make a pro choose a Nikon D700 as an example? Starting out I guess it can get a little confusing given how many ranges there really are. However the lens is more important?


Im particularly interested in Architecture / structures and also advertising cars ( static shots not moving, so wide angle for interiors etc ). Any recommendations :) ? thanks again!
Click to expand...

Let's be honest they don't really, not anymore. Most pros I meet have Nikon D4s, D5s or one of the D800 series. Funnily enough I very rarely see Canon in my line of work. Having said that the D700 is still a very good camera but I feel 12mp is low these days, especially when you need to crop.

Car photography and landscapes can be done with the same kit which is positive news, any of the starter cameras with kit lenses should be a good option for you and you can upgrade your gear over time. You'll probably want a tripod and a remote trigger as well.
 
Scirocco_09 said:
Let's be honest they don't really, not anymore. Most pros I meet have Nikon D4s, D5s or one of the D800 series. Funnily enough I very rarely see Canon in my line of work. Having said that the D700 is still a very good camera but I feel 12mp is low these days, especially when you need to crop.

Car photography and landscapes can be done with the same kit which is positive news, any of the starter cameras with kit lenses should be a good option for you and you can upgrade your gear over time. You'll probably want a tripod and a remote trigger as well.
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I disagree quite strongly with that first bit. I have a D300, a D700 and D7100. Since I got a micro 4/3 for when I want something lightweight I have not used the D7100. If MP was important it would have been the D300 sitting in the drawer.

Don't get me wrong, I would not have got this picture https://flic.kr/p/FAWZzD with my D300 or D700, but how often do I need to take a macro shot with a 17-50 lens?
On the other hand, I got this shot with a lowly 10MP camera just by using a more suitable lens (Even if it did only cost £5): https://flic.kr/p/oiej2j
 
Scirocco_09 said:
Let's be honest they don't really, not anymore. Most pros I meet have Nikon D4s, D5s or one of the D800 series. Funnily enough I very rarely see Canon in my line of work. Having said that the D700 is still a very good camera but I feel 12mp is low these days, especially when you need to crop.

Car photography and landscapes can be done with the same kit which is positive news, any of the starter cameras with kit lenses should be a good option for you and you can upgrade your gear over time. You'll probably want a tripod and a remote trigger as well.
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There are exceptions of course. I know a photographer in Manchester who has 3 d700. His stuff is in magazines, brochures, newspapers, on the side of bus stops, celebrities, music stars, big events. He is featured in photography articles with 5 page spreads, won loads of awards.
 
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