Help Me Choose a Camera

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Nadeem

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Hi

I'm a complete novice at photography and a bit of a leave on auto and point and shoot stage at the moment.

I am trying to learn more now and experimenting. But i'd like to replace my old digital camera and would like some advice on my next camera.

I think i'd like to purchase a dSLR with some scope for growth as i learn.

Budget for Initial kit camera and Lenses about £600 Maybe more if i can get Intrerest free or buy now pay later deal.

Type of Photography = People, Family and Events (indoor and outdoor), Maybe wildlife later, abit of anything i fancy really.

For some reason i've only looked at Canons 450D and off course now 500D or 1000D. But i think the 1000D i'm not considering any longer.

So i'd like some input as to other brands and cameras which are similar in price and performance to the canons. Some mentioned Olympus 620, Also out of the Nikon which is better say out of the D60 or (D3000, D5000)

Once i have a shortlist i will try out to see which feels most comfortable to me

Thanks to everyone who replys in advance
 
Hi and welcome.:)

you really need to develop your own shortlist. what one person likes about one camera is another's dislike.

you need to go to the shops and hold a variety of bodies.

See which are comfortable to hold and which have a control layout that fits your hand.

Try them with and without grips. different bodies are different in size.

The decision must be yours because it is a personal choice.

Buy the one that fits your hand and budget that you like the best.
 
Hi Thanks for the reply

But why do you prefer a Mac over a PC or why do you prefer a Nikon over a Sony, can't all be based on feel and control some of it's got to do with technology.

I'm just so confused with the options out there. Why don't i just buy a Sony as it has Image Stablisation in the body and not in lens say like the Canons or is it better to have in lens i just don't know :(

Off course i've been reading around and begun to understand all the focal lenghts of lenses and what that all means.
 
Actually I don't prefer a mac over a pc that's the mods having a bit of a laugh because, I always say macs are only useful when it's raining.

Anyway All of the cameras can take the shot how its composed is down to your eye/brain and understanding of the exposure.

Don't let the options confuse you. It really is best if you handle them and buy what feels right for you..

If you keep looking at all of the options and comparing you wil never buy as new models are always appearing.

Above all don't let the technology confuse you, it's only a means to an end.

When I started we had no screen to look at (film) no AF or VR/IS yet we coped.

Also consider getting hold of a copy of "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson.
It's a good read:)
 
Ok yes i've heard about that book and i'm sure your right especially as i'm very unlikey to print any image above 8 by 6 and i've managed to get soem decent images with my 5 year old 3 megapixel camera
 
Nadeem said:
But why do you prefer a Mac over a PC or why do you prefer a Nikon over a Sony, can't all be based on feel and control some of it's got to do with technology.
Click to expand...
strangely enough there is very little difference in the actual hardware of a Mac & a PC...

I'm just so confused with the options out there. Why don't i just buy a Sony as it has Image Stablisation in the body and not in lens say like the Canons or is it better to have in lens i just don't know :(
Click to expand...
there isn't a bad current production DSLR & IQ potential of competing cameras at the same level from different manufacturers varies very little really (especially so at entry level).
As for IS/VR/SSS etc. there are pros & cons to both in-body & in-lens but again similar generations perform similarly & better to have it than not.

So that leaves you with ergonomics/user interface & system & whilst Canon & Nikon do have the widest systems any of them has enough available to cover pretty much anything other than very specialist (& usually very expensive) applications.
 
Ok i've been Window shopping and managed to get my hands on all models in my budget range but to be honest i found very little difference when handling them.

Off course they all had loads of buttons, half of which i don't know what they meant being a novice.

But my list is

Cannon 450D / 500D
Sony A500 / A550 -although not seen a A550 yet
Nikon D5000

Now in terms of handling i was happy with them all the Sonys feel a bit larger then the Canons. On Nikon one thing that might put me off is soem of the buttons being on the left of the screen. Non of them had battires to switch on and try menu which is a shame.

Did also look at Panasonic G1 and Olympus E620 both of which are smaller then the above camreas.

I think will have to visit another store and try them some more hopefully get access to the menu.

Even though it is entry level SLR i don't want to decide on wrong one and i'm very unlikey to really progress beyond the intial kit apart from maybe a lens or two.
 
Well, when I first started to look at DSLR's I had half of my friends screaming Canon and half screaming Nikon.

I went into Jessops, had a good look around and ended up coming home with a Sony A300. I'd say that I'm beyond beginner now, more at an intermediate level and I'm still using the A300.

The high ISO performance is terrible but Sony really do look after you, the A500 is a great camera and I promise that you will not be dissapointed with it. I've read some cracking reviews on the Alpha forums.

Another thing to consider, when you buy a Sony they are the same fit lenses as Minolta (Sony bought out Minolta). I have a 50mm Minolta lens which works perfect on my camera, infact the ONLY thing it doesn't do is support the ADI flash mode.
 
I'd go and find somewhere where you can try the cameras with a battery in, look at the menu's, etc.
 
It's a bit of a tricky question, beginning photography.

If you aren't sure it's best to spend a little and perhaps upgrade later.

Firstly, find a big jessops or other store and handle working cameras.
If you have many stores, try em all.
Second, don't look at just those you are thinking of. Look at the mid to upper end too. Reason is, if you like photography and get on with the camera, you will want to upgrade. You mentioned you didn't like the buttons on the left of the nikon, but most models on nikon and poss canon have those buttons. They are handy :)


This being the case, look for a second hand camera store. Spend on a d60 and perhaps two decent lenses. Try a sigma 30mm f1.4, or a 50mm f1.4 or a 50mm f1.8. One of those for portrait shots. Perhaps a 70-300 for zooms (long) or a 11-16/10-20 for wide. Get a lens that you will need for most of the pics you want to take. Other lens can come later.

This is from a nikon point of view.
There are canon equivalents. Sony are a little more pricy but the same.

Then stick with it for a year and decide whether to upgrade lenses or body.

Hope that helps


Oh look for peole local to you who can lend you a camera whilst you walk with them
 
Thanks for all the input and will get into a Camera store where can get a bit more hands on.

What about awards like the ESIA etc, should those be taken with a big pinch of Salt. I will read around this froum to as i found some other decent info.
 
Awards and online reviews are sometimes a decent guide, but only you can decide what you want out of your camera. I would echo the advice above to try lots of models, perhaps even ones a little out of your price range. Remember that once you have chosen a manufacturer and bought a few lenses the cost of changing goes up a lot. You're not just buying a camera, you're buying a system.

With your budget you could also look at the second hand market. DSLRs are being released almost monthly now, so models only a few years old can be 2 generations old, and prices can drop quickly. The big pro bodies do tend to retain value but the entry level kit that you're looking at can be picked up very cheaply sometimes.
 
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