Tried to buy a DSLR today...

garry71

garry71

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Garry
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...and failed.
Why do they make them so small? I was after a Nikon D3100, and the only way I could grip it comfortably was to squash the rear button pad with the heel of my thumb. A couple of the larger models weren't much better.
Picked up another brand, and it started tracking people's faces when I was trying to look at something else. What's that all about? If I want to take a picture of someone, I'll point it at them! And I can do without the display of Xmas lights across the middle of the viewfinder showing me what it's focused on. Honest, the more gimmicks they put into these "cameras", the more it puts me off buying one.
 
That's why often people recommend trying/holding them before buying. Best try out a gripped camera like a D300s or D90
 
If there's something like face recognition that you don't like, ask the salesman if it can be disabled. Chances are most of the things like this can be turned off in the menus.
Chivers is right about DSLR sizes but going up a size means also paying more for it. Check out second hand retailers like London Camera Exchange, Ffordes or Mifsuds, or the classifieds here. Nikon D200, Canon 40D or 50D, Pentax K20D or Sony A700 should keep you happy.
 
You obviously have some experience, so I would advise a nice "meaty" camera like the Sony A700 or Canon 50D (a friend has one). Once you buy the camera of choice, read the instructions and learn how to use Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority and Manual, buy a couple of decent lenses and away you go.
 
garry71 said:
...and failed.
Why do they make them so small? I was after a Nikon D3100, and the only way I could grip it comfortably was to squash the rear button pad with the heel of my thumb. A couple of the larger models weren't much better.
Picked up another brand, and it started tracking people's faces when I was trying to look at something else. What's that all about? If I want to take a picture of someone, I'll point it at them! And I can do without the display of Xmas lights across the middle of the viewfinder showing me what it's focused on. Honest, the more gimmicks they put into these "cameras", the more it puts me off buying one.
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Hi Garry

Sounds very much like someone has been playing with that body and has enabled the face recognition - poss the sales people to highlight one of it's features - this should be able to be disabled in the settings, so would "behave like a normal camera".

I understand your frustration with the size of the body, and as above, this is why it's so important to go and have a play with differennt makes and models to see which feels best to you.

Don't worry about the "gimmicks" on a body, they can generally be switched off - don't let it put you off buyng what could be a great body, get back out there and try again :thumbs:
 
OP has an F50, a GRD and a T5 but moans about a D3100 being small, go figure.
 
Thanks for the replies.
Would prefer to stay with Nikon so I can use my old lenses, but I'll have a look at some other makes as well and see how they handle before looking at 2nd hand stuff.

It was a micro 4/3 with the face tracking by the way, and I wouldn't call an F50 small, or not the grip anyway!
 
If you want a decent size and to be able to use older lenses then try looking at a s/h D300 with a grip. I went from a D40 to a D300 and there is quite a difference in size.

Nick
 
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