DSLR Camera as a starter?

[TechSupp]

Its my ahem...50th coming up shortly and my wife wants to buy me something to celebrate it (she's fed up of buying bits for my cycle!) so after a bit of thought I came up with the idea of a DSLR camera as I traded my 35mm SLR in a few years ago to get our first digital compact camera. Seen the Canon EOS1100D with a 50-70 lens and an extra 70-300 lens. It seems to have had some good reviews for a relative starter like me but just wondering what others may think. Reason I was looking at that setup was that I quite liked having the 300mm Lens with my old camera (as well as a 28 and a 50-70, used it with a Practika BX20).

[supawat1]

I've never seen Canon makes 50-70mm lens, but they do EF-S 55-250mm Lens.

 

EOS 1100D Body is OK. If you can stretch your budget, may be consider Tamron 18-270 lens (instead of buying Canon 18-55mm Kit lens)

[teejay]

I use Canon kit, but it's also worth looking at the Nikon d3100 and also the D5100 can be had at bargain prices as it's been replaced by the d5200. Ideally go and have a fiddle with them in a shop, they are all great cameras but it's how they feel in your hands and if the controls feel in the right places that makes the difference.

[TechSupp]

Sorry, was my bad memory! Lens are actually 18-55 and 75-300,

Buy CANON EOS 1100D Digital SLR Camera with 18-55 mm + 75-300 mm Zoom Lens | Free Delivery | Currys

[elsiegee40]

We must have been in the same year at school @TechSupp

 

In my household the Nikon camera bodies have been the choice for recent SLR purchases. Results have been good. Don't get me started on the cost of the lenses... you might be able to tell that I am not the photographer of the household

Edited September 15, 2013 by elsiegee40

[MatthewL]

Go to a local shop and get a feel for the camera, I did this in Jessops when they were open and I ended up with a Sony A330, I find them a lot easier to use and cheaper than Canon & Nikon.

 

It you want to buy online, take a look here.

 

I have had better results with a Sony to the Canon's over the years, would recommend them to anyone.

[TechSupp]

We must have been in the same year at school @TechSupp

 

Signed up to here in the same year as well it seems!

[twin--turbo]

My farther in law sold his 450D and bought a 7D, then spent 1500K on accessories.

 

I can get better results with my compact as I can take it everywhere and capture the moment.

 

We even got a camera phone shot better than most of his grainy blured efforts of birds 200ft away...

 

Rob

[TechSupp]

Yes, I have taken some good photos and panoramas on mt HTC One X but as with most things, the things I want are usually just out of reach which is why I was always happy fiddling with my 35mm and good zoom lens

[plexer]

My farther in law sold his 450D and bought a 7D, then spent 1500K on accessories.

 

I can get better results with my compact as I can take it everywhere and capture the moment.

 

We even got a camera phone shot better than most of his grainy blured efforts of birds 200ft away...

 

Rob

 

But to be honest though it's not the fact that your compact is better than his slr because it isn't.

 

Ben

[teejay]

If you enjoyed messing with you SLR before, you'll have fun with a DSLR. The kit is fine, yes the lenses are from the bottom end of the Canon range, but they will be fine for what you want. Just go and have some fun with it :-)

I still use my Canon EOS 450D with the original kit lens and a couple of others I have bought since, I'm a slow learner I suppose but I'm only just beginning to reach the limits of it and it's a pretty old camera now.

[TechSupp]

Yes, I'm a slow learner as well. Can't say I was particulary much good with my 35mm but main point was I enjoyed fiddling with it. Thanks for all the replies.

[twin--turbo]

But to be honest though it's not the fact that your compact is better than his slr because it isn't.

 

Ben

 

Not saying it is.

 

I enjoy taking photographs, My farther in law is hung up on using his expensive kit. He would have been better of sticking with the 450D or a top of the range crossover.

 

Rob

[teejay]

Yes, I'm a slow learner as well. Can't say I was particulary much good with my 35mm but main point was I enjoyed fiddling with it. Thanks for all the replies.

 

It's the nice thing about digital, you can experiment at no cost as you don't have to fork out to get the pictures developed;) My main problem was that although I enjoy photography it was finding a subject that really took my interest enough to make me want to really push it further beyond sticking to the auto modes. I found that interest when we got our Labrador last year and started meeting other gundog owners, just love taking photo's of the dogs:D

[twin--turbo]

he printed about 20 shots complaining the colour was wrong.

 

it was not until I realised he was adjusting the colour to look right on his old crt ( with no Pantone colour data ) that I advised

 

1) trust the camera , printer and not the screen.

2) get a new LCD that will have more true colour library.

 

he also uses a doubler between the expensive body and expensive lense which does not help many of the shots.

 

Rob

[jinnantonnixx]

Owning a DSLR (Canon 20D with some nice lenses, including a 70-200L) as well as a four-thirds compact (a Sony NEX), I'd go for a compact if I had to choose just one camera. It's far more convenient, and, depending on the model, you still get a lot of control over the shooting. When I'm out and about somewhere new, I just pop the compact into the bag and leave the big SLR behind.

 

If you're set on an true SLR, I'd choose a Nikon over a Canon as the low end SLRs and lenses from Nikon trump Canon's.

Edited September 16, 2013 by jinnantonnixx

[JJonas]

Found on Hot Uk Deals £249.99

 

Buy Sony NEX F3 CSC Compact Digital Camera & Lens - Black at Argos.co.uk - Your Online Shop for Cameras and camcorders, Limited stock Technology.

[teejay]

The OP already has a compact digital camera.

 

I'm the opposite, for what I like to photograph I find the compact cameras a complete waste of time.

[plexer]

The OP already has a compact digital camera.

 

I'm the opposite, for what I like to photograph I find the compact cameras a complete waste of time.

 

The NEX is more a cross between the compact form factor of a digital camera with the ability to change to different lenses though.

 

Ben

[teejay]

It does, but it has an LCD screen rather than a viewfinder and the sensor size is a lot smaller. It's horses for courses, there are times when LCD screens and a compact style are great and a DSLR will be too big and bulky, others where you really do need a DSLR for the viewfinder, the larger sensor and the bigger lenses.

[witch]

mrwITch has a Nikon and finds it fairly easy to use. Don't ask me what it is though Best advice is to go and have a look and a play though