Camera for a beginer

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SuperzShields

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Ryan
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Hi, this is my first post here but i've been looking around the forums here and THINK i have a understanding of what im looking for.

Basically i want something to get me started that will allow me to shoot a range of things such as landscapes portraits and airshows. I dont mind whether i buy the body and lens together or seperatly.

As this is my first camera i would like to stay under £350 incase i don't enjoy it as much as i think i will. I understand that i'm probably going to have to go used at this price point and are more than willing to do that.

So what are your recomendations?

thanks in advance, Ryan :)
 
You don't really have to :) A K-r is a brilliant starter camera with built in stabilisation, light yet well made. You can get one with 18-55 lens for less than 400 if you search.
 
Ok thanks the 550 is a bit out of my price range at the moment but I'll give it a look.

The k-r does look nice but do you know if it's range of lenses is as good as say cannon or nikon for in the future if I want to have various lenses?
 
There are not as many as for the Canon/Nikon mounts that is for sure. But I would be very surprised if you had a problem finding a lens to fit a need of yours.

On top of that pretty much all the Sigma/Tamron lenses are also available on the Pentax mount.

What you do get which you really don't get with Canon/Nikon or indeed any other manufacturer is some really good really small pancake lenses that make the K-r very light and portable. I have the 40mm on my K-5 all the time, I am buying a 21mm next and a 70mm after it. Not to mention that extremely affordable lenses like the 18-55 WR are not only excellently built compared to Canon/Nikon/Sony offerings but are also weather sealed.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/74901137@N00/5921030261/

And look at the size... (the K-r is even smaller!!!)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/74901137@N00/5921293611/

I moved from a Nikon D7000, absolutely no regrets whatsoever :)
 
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ok thanks, i'm gonna try and find somewhere i can go to see how it feels in my hand, i'm also looking at the nikon d3100 as that looks like something i could fairly compare the K-r to
 
I had a similar budget to yourself - Got a second hand 20D off ebay with kit lens for £200, and paid £150 for a new 55-250mm !

Perhaps you could get a 20D too!
 
Just looked and it seems like it could be possible to pick up a 20d but being 5 years old now does it lack features that either the k-r or D3100 have?
 
SuperzShields said:
Just looked and it seems like it could be possible to pick up a 20d but being 5 years old now does it lack features that either the k-r or D3100 have?
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Ye it does but i thought about it this way:

You can get exactly the same shot with a 20D than you can with all these new features on the k-r and D3100 etc ( they just make it easier ). In my opinion, you learn more because you have to do more/change settings to get that shot :)

ANd if you get one, make sure and ask the shutter count - i reckon 20-25k acusitions is fine :)
 
Yeh it's abit far but I'll keep them in mind :)

If anyone owns/previously owned the k-r or the d3100, please could you upload some pictures for me?

Thanks again :)
 
As has been said above, get down to a local camera shop and handle a few different cameras roughly in your price range.
Be prepared to look second hand, as you will either get a nice saving (that you can put towards better lens(es)) or a better body (higher up the range).

:)

Lots to learn, but you have come to the right place, lots of helpful people here who can help you improve.

Sam
 
No problem, and dont rush into buying in the shop.. Get an idea of what you like there, make some notes then come away and do some research online into the camera and the system (lenses), come back here and let us know how you got on and what your thoughts were and you should get some more advice to help you.

:)
Sam
 
You mentioned you wan't to shoot airshows - Keep in mind your after a body which has a good FPS ( perhaps 5 FPS ) and fast shutter speeds.
 
what do you guys think of the nikon D5000 in relation to the others mentioned? I have found one thats under a year old with a 7000 shutter count, comes with 18-55 kit lens and some other accesories for £300. would this be a better deal as i could then have money to put towards a lens of my choice?

thanks, Ryan :)
 
My personal preference would be a d80 or d90 (mainly as they have a motor in the body).

As has been posted tho, get yourself to a camera store and handle the beasties. If they feel right then add them to your list. Lenses, you can look into later on.

20d/30d canon are meant to be very nice too.

See if there are any second hand/used camera stores near you (london camera exchange perhaps?) and see what they have in stock. Usually helpful people.

Good luck on the hunt.
 
Right so I just got back from currys and after a quick play I found the pentax a little small to hold comfortably, the nikons felt good and and fit in my hand well although they felt a touch on the cheap side. I also looked at the canon 1000d and 1100d and they felt pretty good in my hand but for the price of the nikon they lack features.

I really don't know what to do, I'm pulled towards getting a second hand nikon, but I found the canon better in my hand, also for the same price as the nikon I could get a pentax twin lens although it wasn't as confortlable.

Oh and also I've defiantly ruled out the d3100 as the resolution on the screen is appalling.

Basically any more advice on whether to get a lacking feature canon or a gadget filled nikon would be highly appreciated :)
 
If the K-r didn't feel good to hold skip it, at the end of the day that is half the pleasure of taking pics :). That is the most important thing in a camera nowadays. It has to feel good to hold and use. I bought the K-5 cause it felt absolutely perfect in my smallish hands while the D7k was massive!

I wouldn't normally go for it as I'd rather just spend a bit more cash and go for a s/h D90 but what about a s/h D5000? Bigger than the D3100, in some ways better specced too and because they are not loved much (only cause it was not much of a step up from anything at the time) they can be had for very little money.
 
i was thinking the d5000, i've found several s/h for £300, which for the specs seems to be really good.

i keep finding myself going round in circles decidng that i have my mind set on a camera then later on going actually no i'd be better of with something else.

im pretty drawn to the 1100d but it seems overly expensive compared to others with much higher specs
 
Sorry can't get onto classifieds as I've not been a member long enough so could you message me the details please?
 
HopefulM said:
The D5000 is a great camera - the flip screen is a godsend if you don't like lying down on the ground :lol: and it's really user friendly and easy to get round.

and I am selling mine as I've just upgraded - thread here :
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=336805

and someone else has the kit lens here :
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=338652

I might even throw in a Lowepro TLZ bag for you if you're interested :)
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Nikon d5000 is a good camera to start. buy a not so expensive camera at shoot them everyday, and dont forget to buy lenses... :D that's should do. :D

Cheers
 
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