Beginner Do camera brands matter that much?

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Looking to buy my first DSLR later on in the month and currently my method is to scour eBay looking for cameras as part of a kit that have a low shutter count, I'm noticing quite a lot of Canon DSLRs which is the brand that I was originally going to go with, however is there any reason why I shouldn't or is it down to personal preference?

Won't be shooting any video content and my budget is around £450 (student) hence the second hand searching, if that makes any difference to the brands I choose at that price point.
 
No reason at all... most Canon cameras - in fact most cameras of all marques made in the last decade - are perfectly good. Once you buy a decent camera, you're pretty much tied to that marque though. Canon lenses and accessories are excellent quality, so there should be no worries on that score.
The only real decision these days is FX over DX and whether you intend to use older legacy lenses (eventually).
 
Don't limit your choice to a DSLR - Mirrorless is the up and coming thing these days :)

Just my opinion NOT wanting to start a huge discussion


Les :)
 
Brand is irrelevant. Key things are the quality and characteristics of the sensor, the operation of the controls and AF, the availability and quality of the right lenses.

An advantage of DSLR is that it's becoming obsolete and therefore it's often a bit cheaper used, but is possibly not a good place to start now if you're looking to build a system. However cameras that took good pictures will continue to take good pictures, regardless of marketing.

What do you want to photograph?
 
And once you've met the requirements for the classifieds, check on here or post in wanted. Likely to find well-cared for examples from the good folk on here.
 
Check the reviews and if you can get the opportunity to have a hands-on session so much the better as how it feels in your hand can make quite a difference but of course that's not possible with the likes of eBay. DSLR's aren't going to go away anytime soon, anymore than SLR's have gone away, though you might find you can pick up a bargain from someone rushing to get the latest technology.
Nothing wrong with any of the major brands.
 
I've always held the opinion if the camera doesn't feel right in your hands you're unlikely to take better pictures than with the one that does feel right. If it feels part of "your body" you're going to feel at home rather than always worry about an uncomfortable appendage attached to it :)
 
Brand does not matter, to an extent.

When I shot DSLRs 2007 - 2018, it was basically Canon or Nikon, the impression I got was that generally Canon had better lenses and Nikon had better bodies, but that both systems were good. There were other options, but they were the main 2 - if you are looking to build a set up second hand they will be your best bets, as there are way more options.

In 2018 I moved to mirrorless with Fuji (and have not looked back) - if you get the Fuji way of doing things, multiple physical dials for settings etc, brand does matter, because nobody else offers that. Sony are the other big player in mirrorless, whereas other brands have been a bit slower to adapt, so pries are likely to be higher as kit is much newer.
 
The most important reason to choose one camera over another is that it works best for you, Who made it is irrelevant, in my opinion.
 
:nikon: and I quite like...:fuji:.

But whatever brand you choose, do you have the eye for a photograph because if you do, you can take a picture on a disposable camera and it will probably be better than a lot of images taken on £5000 Leicas.
 
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Craikeybaby said:
Brand does not matter, to an extent.

When I shot DSLRs 2007 - 2018, it was basically Canon or Nikon, the impression I got was that generally Canon had better lenses and Nikon had better bodies, but that both systems were good. There were other options, but they were the main 2 - if you are looking to build a set up second hand they will be your best bets, as there are way more options.
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This. That's my experience. Nikon make better bodies, Canon better lenses is my experience across both systems.

At £450 though it'll be an entry level system with less of a margin in it.

Craikeybaby said:
In 2018 I moved to mirrorless with Fuji (and have not looked back) - if you get the Fuji way of doing things, multiple physical dials for settings etc, brand does matter, because nobody else offers that. Sony are the other big player in mirrorless, whereas other brands have been a bit slower to adapt, so pries are likely to be higher as kit is much newer.
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They are quite unique. Not hugely sold but not really spent enough time with them to really get to grips with Fuji APSC cameras.

The OP could consider Panasonic and Olympus M43's mirrorless systems as well .
 
Do camera brands matter? Not in the sense that brand A is way better than brand B but the brand you choose does tie you into a set of lenses, again nothing wrong with that but if you invest a lot of money over time in lenses for brand A it becomes a bit more expensive to switch brands. Some lenses can be adapted to other brands (e.g. Canon to Sony) and obviously you can sell your lenses but it is just a bit more hassle. So I would say just have think before spending a lot on additional lenses if that is the route your are going down.
 
Canon is the biggest brand and almost certainly number 1, (some Sony shooters may disagree). Have been for some years.

Consequently there are more Canon used bodies/ lenses than any other brand for sale offering the greatest choice at good prices. All their DSLR's get good reviews and their lenses are very good.

So I'd look at Canon

(PS - I am a Nikon shooter and have been for years and have not used a Canon SLR/DSLR since the A1 in the 1970's/80's - so I have no vested interest)
 
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A couple of decades ago, in the AF film SLR era, I was in the market for a new system to replace my manual focus SLRs. I'd read the reviews and was leaning towards a Canon, but when I went into a camera shop and actually tried out the bodies, it was clear that the way the Nikons worked was much more natural to me. A friend who was thinking of getting a Nikon had exactly the opposite experience and ended up with a Canon. So it does help if you can get to a dealer and try out some cameras for yourself. Some dealers, like LCE and Cameraworld and Park, have decent selections of secondhand gear. All the major dSLR and mirrorless manufacturers make very capable systems that you shouldn't find limiting unless you have very specialised requirements. Manufacturers usually have a similar interface across their camera range (e.g. the 2 dial system in Nikon SLRs, simplified to a single dial in the cheapest models), so having used one you'll have a pretty good idea how the others work.
 
Some pretty good advice in this thread for the OP and I would also suggest a trip to a camera shop or local camera club for some hands on touchy freely and a good play around with camera bodies and lenses
I think the only limiting factor on if brands matter is the budget as it is not just camera body, it is the lenses, the eco system, and third party support i.e speedlites, cables, filters, L brackets etc.

Plus is does depend what you going to shoot i.e Wildlife & nature, weddings, macro, portraits etc as this will determine your particular kit requirements. For wildlife you will need to factor a reasonable telezoom up to at least 300mm for reach.

A YouTuber photographer Irene Rudyk used for years a 5Diii & 85L lenses and I am pretty sure that was just her kit as she mainly did natural light portraits.

As mirrorless camera are increasing in popularity and users are selling off their DSLR's. There is now a very good used market of DSLR's to choose from from Canon, Nikon mainly
 
Lez325 said:
Don't limit your choice to a DSLR - Mirrorless is the up and coming thing these days :)

Just my opinion NOT wanting to start a huge discussion


Les :)
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With his budget he won't be able to go down the mirror road.
 
When I first got into digital photography I went to shop and had a play with a Canon and Nikon body.
For me the Canon felt more comfortable to hold and the menu system seemed easier.
I sold up and quit for a few year and I bought a Canon 80D a couple of years ago.
I didn't read any reviews or go and look at one in a shop because in my mind the egonomics should be as good previous models.
As for the menu, apart from a few additions it was just as easy to navigate.
 
Faldrax said:
Sony A6000 + 16-50 kit, 55-210 kit totals £458 on mbp, which is a reasonable started kit and within budget.
I'd imagine you can get similar deals on other brands of entry level mirrorless.
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That doesn't look DSLR to me?
 
Before you spend any money ask your friends who live locally if they have a camera that they can show you how it works.
I would definitely think that would be the best idea. Brand x might work well but you might find it a pain.
 
hashcake said:
That doesn't look DSLR to me?
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Apologies if I misinterpreted what you wrote - I assumed your response to Lez was intended to say he didn't have the budget for mirrorless, so was providing an example to show that options were available.
 
Faldrax said:
Apologies if I misinterpreted what you wrote - I assumed your response to Lez was intended to say he didn't have the budget for mirrorless, so was providing an example to show that options were available.
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No need mate all is fine :)
 
:pentax: I'll stick my neck out, nicest people use Pentax, Not many of us about but we soldier on.


Not many proper camera retailers around, and of those not all have Pentax but it's worth having a look.

There are no bad cameras, and there hasn't been for quite a while. Each brand has its' weaknesses and strength. Pentax has said it won't go down the mirrorless route however for APS-C cameras Pentax do quite a comprehensive range of lenses for the smaller crop cameras - DA and DA* series and there is a great range of compact primes which you don't get with Canon or Nikon.

Don't listen to what the salesmen say - the best piece of advice given on here is to go to a camera shop, pick up the cameras and play with them. You will work out soon enough which one you like best - the one you click with. Then the magic starts, as does the expenditure.
 
Ideally get your hands on one of each brand - as some anecdata, what works for me (Canon) is anathema to my colleague (Nikon) and vice versa.
 
As above, the brand doesn't really matter, it's more important how you like the handling and menus so try them out.
 
chuckles said:
I've always held the opinion if the camera doesn't feel right in your hands you're unlikely to take better pictures than with the one that does feel right. If it feels part of "your body" you're going to feel at home rather than always worry about an uncomfortable appendage attached to it :)
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This. Go and experiment. Hold the cameras. Play with the settings. Fiddle through the menu. Which feels more natural?

When I made this decision, I was stuck between the two stalwarts of Nikon and Canon. I had the same dilemma and read up on specifications. I thought I was going to buy Nikon. I bought Canon because I preferred the controls and layout. The menu was easy to navigate. Obviously YMMV but go for the one that feels right for you.
 
Bought a Fujifiilm xt10 for under £200 and a Mitsuki 24mm manual lens for next to nothing. Loving the combination. As many others have said, you're the most important part of the process. Build on your observational skills. The xt10 is light and can fit in your pocket.
 
Here is how i see the brands.

For a student i would 100% say Fuji mirrorless instead of dslrs at that price.

In particular Fuji in my opinion have really nice bokeh and build quality in their lenses at prices that are easier to manage.

Then if more budget i would say Sony mirrorless.

Canon and Nikon are expensive and to get the best of them you need deep pockets.
They have cheaper options but i feel like Fuji and Sony have them beat in those areas.
 
The OP isn’t listening :(.
 
At £450 though it'll be an entry level system with less of a margin in it.
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Is a Canon 5d mkiii with 39k shots a entry level camera ?As I bought a mint condition one with box etc for £485 with a six mth warrenty this year
 
A mirrorless camera is a digital camera that doesn’t have a reflex mirror, (the major component of the DSLR, which reflect the light up to the viewfinder). In a mirrorless, there isn’t a an optical viewfinder. Here, the imaging sensor is always exposed to light. It gives you a preview of the image on the electronic viewfinder (EVF), which is often an LCD screen on the back of the camera

BENEFITS OF A MIRRORLESS CAMERA
  • Lightweight and compact
  • Quieter than other cameras
  • No flicking mirror means no camera shake
  • Reliable video mode
Les :)
 
That Canon SX IS 20 I bought from CEX nearly 2 and half years ago is still going strong.

Only reason I tried to "upgrade" with that Sony Cyber Shot I bought on eBay last week was for a slightly more modern camera, scrap that, the Sony I bought's about 20 years old apparently, I'll probably have a trip down to CEX after Christmas when they get some newer Sonys in around the £60 mark, they do have one listed on their website at £110 but I ain't paying over £100 for a camera I'll use about 5-6 times a year at comic con.
 
I personally use several different brands (I shoot digital and film) and one thing I've found is that they are all just 'tools'... they all do the same thing (for the most part) but will take very different approaches. Personally, I would say go into a camera shop, hold a few different cameras and see what feels right for you - then look at the brand!
 
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