Digital SLR camera

[mac_shinobi]

Wanting to get a decent digital SLR so it lasts etc, quite a few peeps are suggesting canons due to the motor being in the lens so if the motor goes u just replace the lens not the whole camera, am a complete n00b so any suggestions on both camera and lens??

 

Will be using it for taking pics of our pets that are hard to get good pics of as they move around a lot ie running etc and have had a few compacts and want something a lot better now

[tom_newton]

If you get an SLR, it will be better for fast moving subjects. Even the cheaper lenses are often a bit "quicker" than their compact counterparts, and button-shutter delay is negligible. You might also consider "burst" shooting - that's standard on all good SLRs.

 

I would go for Canon or Nikon. These are the best SLRs (unless you have mental money) and have thriving second hand lens markets (always good). Personally, I have a Canon 40D. You will find Linux/Windows like zealotry among some when it comes to Nikon or canon (I made sure my wedding photographer shot canon, for example...) but in all honesty neither of them have made a bad SLR yet.

[mac_shinobi]

If you get an SLR, it will be better for fast moving subjects. Even the cheaper lenses are often a bit "quicker" than their compact counterparts, and button-shutter delay is negligible. You might also consider "burst" shooting - that's standard on all good SLRs.

 

I would go for Canon or Nikon. These are the best SLRs (unless you have mental money) and have thriving second hand lens markets (always good). Personally, I have a Canon 40D. You will find Linux/Windows like zealotry among some when it comes to Nikon or canon (I made sure my wedding photographer shot canon, for example...) but in all honesty neither of them have made a bad SLR yet.

 

I was looking at the 450D to start with but will hopefully be getting it from Curries as they do the buy now pay later option which I don't have any issues with paying inside of the time frame ie 6 or 12 months.

 

However they don't seem to do the 450D but do have the 500D or the 1000D, 550D is a touch much as was looking at getting a tele photo lense , SD Card and a camera bag - everything else is included from what I can gather ref battery, power lead etc etc

 

Going to get SD Card from Aria or somewhere that do them at a reasonable price - I presume the 500D is between the 450 and the 550 and the 1000D is a noob SLR camera ??

[jcollings]

I think Jessops also offer some form of credit deal on a similar basis. May be worth a look.

[K.C.Leblanc]

Going to get SD Card from Aria or somewhere that do them at a reasonable price - I presume the 500D is between the 450 and the 550 and the 1000D is a noob SLR camera ??

 

Yep, although the 450D is being phased out. It's been replaced by the 500D which has been moved down a peg by the arrival of the 550D.

 

Have you also looked at the new Nikon D3100?

 

I'd go and try both cameras before choosing.

Edited November 2, 2010 by K.C.Leblanc

[fernt]

Have you also looked at the new Nikon D3100?

I use a D3000 at work - which the D3100 replaces - and it's excellent, especially for the price.

[Educare_AV]

I am thinking of purchasing the D3000 myself, I have noticed it is on special in the Argos at the moment.

[K.C.Leblanc]

I am thinking of purchasing the D3000 myself, I have noticed it is on special in the Argos at the moment.

 

Nikon D3000 Lens Kit (18-55mm VR) from £334.00, UK Specialist Price Comparison Site, Camera Price Buster

 

You can do better then £350.

 

Just bare in mind the D3000 is a fairly out of date camera. It uses the same sensor as the older D40X and D60.

Edited November 2, 2010 by K.C.Leblanc

[tom_newton]

IIRC the 550 is quite a lot "better" than the 450. The 1000 is the baby of the bunch, but by no means a bad unit.

I ended up with a 40D just because the 50D had been released, and I saw a 40D in PC world. Took an hour but I eventually got the price where I wanted it

[mac_shinobi]

IIRC the 550 is quite a lot "better" than the 450. The 1000 is the baby of the bunch, but by no means a bad unit.

I ended up with a 40D just because the 50D had been released, and I saw a 40D in PC world. Took an hour but I eventually got the price where I wanted it

 

What do you mean by 40D and 50D as in 400D vs 500D or are 40D and 50D other models that canon do ?

 

Will check out the Nikon 3100 but got suggested canon due to the motors being in the lense - not sure if this is the same as Nikon or not ??

 

Will defo try them both out though

 

edited

 

So in comparison if you had the choice of the D3100 or the Canon 500D which one and why as all this tech specs is confusing the heck outa me as I clearly can't take the Mega Pixels into consideration as there are a lot of other things

Edited November 2, 2010 by mac_shinobi

[sted]

What do you mean by 40D and 50D as in 400D vs 500D or are 40D and 50D other models that canon do ?

 

Will check out the Nikon 3100 but got suggested canon due to the motors being in the lense - not sure if this is the same as Nikon or not ??

 

Will defo try them both out though

 

edited

 

So in comparison if you had the choice of the D3100 or the Canon 500D which one and why as all this tech specs is confusing the heck outa me as I clearly can't take the Mega Pixels into consideration as there are a lot of other things

 

1000d is entry level canon slr

250-400-450-500-550 are mid level (lower number older camera) for what its worth mines a 400d and im happy with it its even pretty robust it survived a drop onto rocks that knocked me out for a few seconds with a minor mark

40d-50d are professional cameras

 

the diff between canon and nikon is tbh down to personal opinion as any feature one ahs the other copies. The only point i would make about nikons is you have to be a bit more careful with lenses on the newer ones i believe as they do some of the processing i think

 

just be aware the camera itself is just the start then start adding lenses / tripods /. other guff and it soon gets expensive and once you pick a brand youre probably going to be stuck there

 

megapixels is irrelevant as any dslr will take pics you can print out far bigger than you will ever need most of it comes down to feel i diddnt like the feel of the nikon the canon fitted my hand better so i went that way

[mac_shinobi]

1000d is entry level canon slr

250-400-450-500-550 are mid level (lower number older camera) for what its worth mines a 400d and im happy with it its even pretty robust it survived a drop onto rocks that knocked me out for a few seconds with a minor mark

40d-50d are professional cameras

 

the diff between canon and nikon is tbh down to personal opinion as any feature one ahs the other copies. The only point i would make about nikons is you have to be a bit more careful with lenses on the newer ones i believe as they do some of the processing i think

 

just be aware the camera itself is just the start then start adding lenses / tripods /. other guff and it soon gets expensive and once you pick a brand youre probably going to be stuck there

 

megapixels is irrelevant as any dslr will take pics you can print out far bigger than you will ever need most of it comes down to feel i diddnt like the feel of the nikon the canon fitted my hand better so i went that way

 

Mid Level one would be good enough for me - just out of curiousty how much are the pro ones ie 40 or 50D ??

[torledo]

i think it's rare these days to look at a DSLR purely for the purpose of snapping still photo's. The HD video capabilities appear to be just as important. I've read many a forum thread elsewhere which starts off promoising but then ends up tedious, on the merits of something called a panasonic lumix G1?? vs a olympus EP-1 vs the newer sony A55....and ofcourse such a discussion isn't complete without the canon's and nikon's with live view and HD video.

 

for purists it's possibly down to canon vs nikon but i don't believe they are the only games in town. have a look on vimeo to see what the various cameras are capable of...

[tom_newton]

Bloody hell, 60D is "current" now - £825.

Camera Price Buster - UKs cheapest camera gear <- might be useful.

 

Screw tech specs. For a start-out camera you'll be fine whatever you get.

1. Try holding the thing in your hands. Make sure it fits your fingers.

2. Then go for one that feels right, and you can get a good price.

3. Then ignore all forums for a week, and ignore "buyer's remorse" - it'll do you no good

[mac_shinobi]

Was watching videos I presume are recorded by the 550D and they look superb ( although you never know if it was recorded by the 550D or not )

[plexer]

50d etc... Semi pro 5d etc... Pro

 

Cameras like the sony alpha do stabilisation in the camera body but there are also lenses with motors in are also now available.

 

Ben

[K.C.Leblanc]

Will check out the Nikon 3100 but got suggested canon due to the motors being in the lense - not sure if this is the same as Nikon or not ??

 

The Nikon uses a motor in the lens. Higher end Nikon models have a motor built into the body however this isn't used if the lens has it's own motor. This does mean that the D3100 isn't compatible (well the lens will work but with no AF) with some older Nikon lenses that don't have a motor built in. If you're planning to buy run of mill lenses this isn't a big issue.

 

The Nikon Vs Canon Vs Sony thing is very much like Mac Vs Windows Vs *nix. One isn't better then the other, it's down to what you find right. Don't just compare the spec, go and try the cameras. I bought Nikon over Canon because the Nikon in my price range felt right in my hand, the Canon didn't.

[maniac]

I'd go with Nikon as my brand of choise, and get a Nikon D90 with the standard 18-55mm or 18-105mm kit lens to start with - you can always buy more len's as and when you feel you want them, but the standard kit lens' will be adequate for most people just starting out using a DSLR.

 

If you don't want to spend as much as that, then personally I'd look at a second hand D60 or D40x. I would avoid the D3000/5000 series, the build quality on the newer Nikon entry level DSLR cameras is rubbish in my opinion.

 

Once you have it, learn how to use it properly! I frown every time I see someone using one of our very nice DSLR cameras in the dreded auto mode - if you're going to buy a DSLR and just bung it in auto mode, you may as well get a good compact camera.

Edited November 2, 2010 by maniac

[mac_shinobi]

I'd go with Nikon as my brand of choise, and get a Nikon D90 with the standard 18-55mm or 18-105mm kit lens to start with - you can always buy more len's as and when you feel you want them, but the standard kit lens' will be adequate for most people just starting out using a DSLR.

 

If you don't want to spend as much as that, then personally I'd look at a second hand D60 or D40x. I would avoid the D3000/5000 series, the build quality on the newer Nikon entry level DSLR cameras is rubbish in my opinion.

 

Once you have it, learn how to use it properly! I frown every time I see someone using one of our very nice DSLR cameras in the dreded auto mode - if you're going to buy a DSLR and just bung it in auto mode, you may as well get a good compact camera.

 

Going to a camera shop this weekend and will see what they are like - I have been very tempted by the canon D550 though

 

Canon EOS 550D Product Tour EOS Digital SLR Camera - Canon UK

 

Is there a tour for a Nikon equivalent of the D550 ??

[Ric_]

I, like Tom, am a Canon fanboi and my 'new' body arrived yesterday... EOS 1Ds Mk III anyone?

 

Some tips for buying... if you have the cash, don't dismiss second hand bodies straight away. As people have said, they are still using bodies that are generations old and they are fine - my second body is a 1Ds which must be 10 years old now! There are some real bargains out there if you know what to look for.

 

I'm also not a fan of the 'kit lens' (that's the lens that they tend to supply bundled with a body). These tend to be plasticy and of no where near the same quality as all the other lenses. You will also see an f-number on the lenses. This is the maximum aperture and on this occasion smaller is better You want to be aiming for f2.8 really.

 

I'm sure I'll think of more tips... also do a forum search because a few similar questions have been asked before.

[localzuk]

One thing to remember with digital SLRs is that the mm size of lenses does not match up with analogue cameras.

 

So, an 50mm lens on an analogue camera will produce an image with a larger field of view than a digital camera with a 50mm lens. With Canon's I think the multiplier is 1.6x (so a 35mm is the equivalent of a 56mm analogue shot).

 

Something to remember anyway!

[maniac]

One thing to remember with digital SLRs is that the mm size of lenses does not match up with analogue cameras.

 

So, an 50mm lens on an analogue camera will produce an image with a larger field of view than a digital camera with a 50mm lens. With Canon's I think the multiplier is 1.6x (so a 35mm is the equivalent of a 56mm analogue shot).

 

Something to remember anyway!

 

It's all down to the size of the image sensor in the camera, as explained here. Image sensor format - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Ric_]

@localzuk: Full frame models (that's the 1Ds and 5D) have no crop factor. The 1D has a 1.2x crop and all other models are 1.4x crop.

[localzuk]

@localzuk: Full frame models (that's the 1Ds and 5D) have no crop factor. The 1D has a 1.2x crop and all other models are 1.4x crop.

 

Indeed, however I doubt he's gonna buy a £2k camera for his first one

[sonofsanta]

Another vote for "try-it-out-yourself". When I got my Nikon D70s 5 years back, it was because the 350D was too small in my hands and gave me cramp, and it just felt plasticky and cheap compared to the heft and weight of the Nikon. Pick two equivalent models (based on price, they are fairly clearly delineated by price), don't worry about features but instead look for opinions on the image processing and if you want something more aggressive (traditionally Canon) for better pictures off the card, or something a bit gentler (traditionally Nikon) that gives you a better image for work with a digital post-prod. Check out how they deal with noise at high ISO settings as well - if one camera's noise @ 1600ISO is as good as another camera @ 400ISO, you're going to want the former for fast action shots.

 

And then, when you have your options, go down Jessops or Currys and hold them in your hand. Take a couple of photos (or pretend). See how you can reach the controls without having to lower the camera from your eyes, so you can make adjustments quickly. See how intuitive they are - another advantage to my Nikon at the time was the second scroll wheel at the front, where the Canon only had the one at the rear.

 

And when you look at getting a second lens, think carefully about the 50mm prime lenses. Canon & Nikon both do some excellent 50mm prime lenses at f1.8 & below, that will give you very clear, crisp images (much better than a zoom lens - less glass in the way) and don't cost all that much, as glass goes.

 

Hope some of this waffle helps!