Please help me help a friend - first DSLR recommendations?

Daysleeper40

Daysleeper40

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Fi
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Hi All,

A friend of mine recently asked for some help in choosing her first DSLR camera. Problem is, I am so out of the loop with what is on the market that I'm not sure what to recommend other than to buy second hand.

I only have a Nikon D60 and three lenses so not exactly a fount of knowledge. I'd like to help though so thought I could make a suggestion for a budget / medium / more expensive option for her for at least Nikon & Canon. She is not sure of her budget yet - but it's going to be £££'s rather than ££££'s!

So going by MPB prices I thought for Nikon I would say:

Budget - D40 / D60 (£150 - £200)
Medium - D80 (£270ish)
Splurgy - D90 (£???)

Plus a AF-s 55-200mm or 18-105 VR for £130-£150ish?

Could anyone help me with some Canon suggestions please - or any better Nikon options?

Thanks,
Fi
 
If she doesn't know then I'd say her best bet is to find a local retailer and handle all the ones in her budget - nikon, sony, canon & pentax. She may find some too small, too large or just plain annoying. Without picking them up she'll not know!

LCE sell second hand of every sort so they're a good bet if there's one nearby. They do new too so there's a good chance to compare the second hand ones with the new ones and see whether the new ones are worth any premium.
 
srichards said:
If she doesn't know then I'd say her best bet is to find a local retailer and handle all the ones in her budget - nikon, sony, canon & pentax. She may find some too small, too large or just plain annoying. Without picking them up she'll not know!

LCE sell second hand of every sort so they're a good bet if there's one nearby. They do new too so there's a good chance to compare the second hand ones with the new ones and see whether the new ones are worth any premium.
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:plusone::agree: best advice is have a play with as may camera's as possible.
 
pete.rush said:
:plusone::agree: best advice is have a play with as may camera's as possible.
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I also agree - but she would like a starting point and really wants to understand what she can get for how much. She has no point of reference at the moment and doesn't feel confident going to shops without some idea of what they are talking about.
 
If I was starting again I don't know which brand I'd opt for. Probably Sony but the future of Sony as a whole is in doubt. The advantage on Sony is the internal don't move so giving more stability to the image. They are in cahoots with top lens manufacturers. The NEX range is getting excellent reviews. More professionals are seen with them these days. Canon I feel have the edge in Lenses for the mass market but the bodies of Nikon take some beating. I suggest she spend time with as big a range of products as possible. Consult with users although most are very defensive of their chosen brand. Read as many reviews as she feels necessary. I really don't think the brand is the important part. Many brands are comparable in many price brackets and some through away standard of cameras have given valuable or iconic images.
 
i would say have a look at d90's as it might be difficult to play around with a D80 but i would also bad the idea of going into a shop and just looking round. the D90 is a very good camera and fill the requirements of anybody who is starting photography. D90's are actually quite cheep second hand so it would be worth telling her to search around looking at prices.
 
Depends a little what she would like to shoot. I shoot my little boy most nowdays followed by other family pictures, and use a second hand 5d Classic (£550-600 nowdays) and an 85mm 1.8 (around £200-220). For portraits I find this excellent.

If that is not the main interest or is over budget Canon 40D or 20d are still excellent. I started out with a 400d, and changed as it was small and the high ISO is not great, but image wise it was still pretty good in most situations.

I think if you got a total budget for camera and lenses that would be best so you could get an idea of what you could get a whole package.

Good luck

Al
 
callumduff said:
i would say have a look at d90's as it might be difficult to play around with a D80 but i would also bad the idea of going into a shop and just looking round. the D90 is a very good camera and fill the requirements of anybody who is starting photography. D90's are actually quite cheep second hand so it would be worth telling her to search around looking at prices.
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Sorry - I don't understand what you mean about the D80? Or do you mean it might be difficult to find one to try out?

akr said:
Depends a little what she would like to shoot. I shoot my little boy most nowdays followed by other family pictures, and use a second hand 5d Classic (£550-600 nowdays) and an 85mm 1.8 (around £200-220). For portraits I find this excellent.

If that is not the main interest or is over budget Canon 40D or 20d are still excellent. I started out with a 400d, and changed as it was small and the high ISO is not great, but image wise it was still pretty good in most situations.

I think if you got a total budget for camera and lenses that would be best so you could get an idea of what you could get a whole package.

Good luck

Al
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samems said:
40D would be my choice
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Looks like the 40D would be a popular Canon choice - thanks both :thumbs:

As I said - she really hasn't decided on a budget as she doesn't know what you can get for your money. These really are just ideas for her as a starting point.
 
D5000?..:shrug: Seen a few of these go for silly money on here lately.Bargain for just over £200.
 
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