Ideal DSLR for Beginners

mehraj

mehraj

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Hi everyone,

probably this is the most frequently asked question ... Can anyone please advise me an ideal DSLR for me? I use a Sony DSC-H3 which I have been using just to get some frames and did loads of work using that. (Well, none of them were fabulous and I did not even expect!!)

Now I am planning to buy one DSLR camera and I need some advice!! As I have been using Sony cameras, would that be better if I go for any of Alpha series? or that be too hard for me??

Thanks everyone in advance


My photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29998075@N05/3407850428/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29998075@N05/2808515442/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29998075@N05/3247773361/

Thanks again for your patience ...
 
All cameras nowardays are of a sufficint standard that they are all 'ideal'.

The only thing that really matters is how it feels in your hands and how well you can navigate the menus, and the only way of knowing this is getting down to your local camera shop and having a look at them
 
what he said ^.
If you are on a limited budget though imo it's hard to beat the A200 for vfm (as long as you are comfortable with it).
remember that the body is only part of the equation with a DSLR & you also require a lens or lenses.
 
I have an Olympus e420 but would say to stick with something from the big 2 (nikon and canon).
 
id say go with canon and nikon, there are so many more lenses and parts for these two brands.

depends if you want to buy new, there are some good deals to be had on second hand equipment, and in my limited experience its all very well looked after.

EDIT . love your first pic also.
 
The (outgoing) Nikon D40 is a bit of a bargain at the moment (246GBP on Amazon UK). Comes with a very decent kit lens and has some really helpful illustrated menus, which you can view on the rear LCD screen. As with most entry level DSLRs, you have all of the modes found on p&s compacts, a generic "Auto" mode, as well as the more flexible P, A, S & M modes.

I'm a little biased, as I bought one last week and am really loving what it can do :), but it's certainly one of the 5 or so models that you should check out, assuming that you're looking for the best budget models around :shrug:.
 
I bought a Nikon D60 at Xmas at jessops , they had it on offer at £325 , also there was a £30 cashback offer on at the time , best thing was the guy in the store told me there was £50 back on this model , after getting home and reading the small print he'd told me wrong , I rang them back and explained that it was the fact I thought I was getting £50 cashback that made me buy the camera , Jessops then refunded me the difference without a problem ,

so to cut a long story short I got a D60 for £275 and the cameras brilliant
 
I'm a beginner with a minimal budget and after lots of reading I decided recently on the Sony A200. It was a good price (I paid £245 from Dixons with kit lens), seemed to get great reviews especially for the price. It had image stabilisation in the body, and could take old minolta lenses so loads on ebay.

Having had it for 8 days now, I can say it was very easy to learn to use and the more advanced settings you can mostly ignore until you want to. I'm very happy with it.

I've not used any other DSLRs so can't talk about them, but with your first I don't think you can go too far wrong if you stick with the big brands.

What I have learnt since getting mine is the importance of the lenses and the role they play; it is only possible to understand this to a certain level from reading. I'd heavily suggest you take the time to go into a shop and try a few cameras just to see what you get from the lens in terms of zoom.
 
all depends on how much money you have to spend. one camera is like another they all have A T and M


mehraj said:
Hi everyone,

probably this is the most frequently asked question ... Can anyone please advise me an ideal DSLR for me? I use a Sony DSC-H3 which I have been using just to get some frames and did loads of work using that. (Well, none of them were fabulous and I did not even expect!!)

Now I am planning to buy one DSLR camera and I need some advice!! As I have been using Sony cameras, would that be better if I go for any of Alpha series? or that be too hard for me??

Thanks everyone in advance


My photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29998075@N05/3407850428/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29998075@N05/2808515442/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29998075@N05/3247773361/

Thanks again for your patience ...
Click to expand...
 
I've just bought a Nikon D40 and it appears to be a very good starting point. Picked mine up from Argos, £246.
 
Thumbs up to the D40 from me aswell, but I doubt any starter DSLR's are going to disappoint so my advice would be to find a shop that stocks the major brands and go handle some. You want something that feels comfortable and the controls suit you, which is quite a personal thing.
 
either the nikon canon sony olympus or pentax entry level cameras are all great for beginners, I advise going to a shop and playing with them
 
what's your budget. i'd go for Nikon or Canon as there is a huge variety of lenses.
 
I've read this thread with interest, as I too am teetering on buying a DSLR...

I've been into three shops to handle, and two were very unhelpful (but I guess that's cause they've clicked that people go into to handle, and then buy on the internet).

Anyhow, yeah, I get the idea re handling, but then as a complete DSLR novice, it's near impossible to try navigating the menus, as I have zero idea what I'm doing.


Finally, one thing that's troubling me a little, is that my wife's being really cool in letting me spend so much on a DSLR, but I'm worried that she's going to expect something far far "wow-ier" than I currently produce now. Yeah, I've only got a Kodak point and shoot, but it's produced excellent shots for me...

Anyone care to lecture me??
 
To be honest they are all pretty much the same, offering the same functions, just in a different place on the camera or in the menu's. I had the same dilema a while ago and decided on the Sony a200. Now although i have no real complaints with it, the nikons and canons have a lot more choice on the lens side. However if you go down the D40 route you will have to buy lenses with built in motors as the d40 body doesn't have one - more expensive! I don't believe the D40 takes CF cards either? Your call but it's the photographer not the camera! The a200 has both of the above and a rather decent amount of anti camera shake. I can't comment on any of the other models because i haven't used them but you could try seeing if anyone you know owns one of the entry level D-slr's and ask to have a play, they're going to be a lot more accommodating than the shops.
 
Hi all, this is my first post and as I just bought the Sony a200 I am a little biased, my first impressions of the camera lead me to believe I have made the right choice. The deciding factor for me was that Nikon use Sony sensors and the A200 can use Minolta lens, I also like the fact the A200 has built into the body anti camera shake, this again as a newbie to photography was a strong selling feature. On the downside, decent Compact Flash is a little on the expensive side but I purchased an 8gb card which should be sufficient for my needs.
 
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