Buying An SLR And A Pocket Camera; Recommendations?

Minimoke · 4 Jun 2009 at 17:47

Hey all,
I'm about to purchase a DSLR and a poccket camera since I currently don't have a camera, and I would like to know what you guys would recommend.

I've got my eye on Sony, the A200k for the DSLR and I haven't really decided on the pocket camera. I'm open for all suggestions, any brand, anything!

So come on guys, give me a little hand please?

Cheers, Chris.

BUFF · 4 Jun 2009 at 23:38

The A200 is a great value starter DSLR but get to a shop & handle them all.
there isn't a bad current production DSLR but they do vary in handling & some will suit you & some won't.

there's a growing band of Alpha users here

griffo_001 · 5 Jun 2009 at 01:11

It all depends on your budget...

I've got a Panasonics Lumix LX3 and it is great and could do both jobs if required.
The sensor, while "only" 10Mp is physically larger than most other compacts [Except the Sigma DP1] so it produces a lot less noise. The 24mm wide angle is also a bonus.... Its only flaws are:
It only has 2.5x zoom
Its VERY expensive ~ £300-£350 last time I checked

For a less expensive compact I'd still look at Panasonics, and the Canon IXUS range, but there aren't really any bad compacts around atm [With the except of the own brand supermarket type jobs] If you pay >£100 you should get a good'un

dpreview is quite useful sight, and not to long ago it did round ups of more or less every type of compact on the market, so select which type you'd like [High-end, faishonable etc] and skip to the end to find which ones best

If you want an alpha I'd wait as there are 3 new consumer SLRs to be added to Sonys range soon [Correct me if I'm wrong there] One of the best bits about the alpha range imo is the Minolta mount, so there are tonnes of high quality lenses about for you

While BUFF is right about there being no "bad" dSLR, most of the time now it all comes down to the glass on the front, so it might be an idea to look at some new lenses for your dSLR too - Generally the kit lenses are rubbish

We'll be keen to see the pics you come up with

BUFF · 5 Jun 2009 at 11:35

griffo_001 said:
If you want an alpha I'd wait as there are 3 new consumer SLRs to be added to Sonys range soon

the 3 "new" entry level DSLRs have been dumbed down (to make easier to use for people stepping up from P+S but possibly also to allow a bit more room to slot an "A500" into the range between them & an A700 replacement).
At any rate for the first few months during the initial early adoption they will be dearer. They do get a much improved kit lens though.

While BUFF is right about there being no "bad" dSLR, most of the time now it all comes down to the glass on the front, so it might be an idea to look at some new lenses for your dSLR too - Generally the kit lenses are rubbish

Sure if he needs something a bit specialised like a £7000 600/4 then the options are a bit narrow but again all the major brands have the main market requirements covered & then you have Sigma, Tamron etc..

Minimoke · 6 Jun 2009 at 10:46

Hey guys,
I am very fond of the Lumix cameras, lovely wide angle lenses. I've used a friend's one and I love it.

I have only used one DSLR in the past, that being a friend's A200K. I do love it, but I found that the image became a bit grainy when on higher zoom (she had the 18-70 lens that came with it)

If I'm going to be using it to get the best possible shots, I want to be satisfied with the picture quality across the board. What kind of lenses should I want to buy to be covered for everything? (I want to shoot scenery and action shots as I work for a radio station)

As for budget, I guess under £500 for the DSLR would be nice, and I'll buy the compact after that.

Cheers, Chris.

ajf · 6 Jun 2009 at 15:32

Probably out of budget but I just got a Canon G10 compact.
Blown away by it so far and can genuinely see me using this instead of my slr quite a bit.
Start up time in particular is so fast. Also love the iso wheel - why do slrs not have these?!
For an slr, check out the new Panasonic G1. I know lens support is limited at present but I had a play with one and was really impressed with it. Live view worked really well and the movable lcd is superb quality. It has had great reviews too.

Andrew

Minimoke · 10 Jun 2009 at 13:51

Cheers Andrew; like I said, I'll be buying each camera separately, so I can spend more money on each one. I'll look into your recommendations, read some reviews, that ISO wheel does sound like a good idea. What do you guys think of the Sony compacts? I'm one of those weirdos who likes to keep different device catagories under the same brand (I know I know, but I think it looks nice

)

Cheers, Chris.

griffo_001 · 10 Jun 2009 at 14:50

ajf said:
Start up time in particular is so fast. Also love the iso wheel - why do slrs not have these?!

'Proper SLRs do.... and by proper I mean SLRs that are atleast twice as old as I am

I do rate the G10 too, its in the same market as the LX3, the LX3 is lacking in MP [Not a bad thing really] and the zoom of the G10, but is much more stylish in an old school rangefinder kinda way

Most pros would struggle to pick between the two, for most users the LX3 may be better, but for SLR-like handling and controls, its gotta be the G10

diverse180 · 10 Jun 2009 at 14:59

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ7 is supposed to be a great little compact.

D.P. · 10 Jun 2009 at 15:10

griffo_001 said:
'Proper SLRs do.... and by proper I mean SLRs that are atleast twice as old as I am

I do rate the G10 too, its in the same market as the LX3, the LX3 is lacking in MP [Not a bad thing really] and the zoom of the G10, but is much more stylish in an old school rangefinder kinda way

Most pros would struggle to pick between the two, for most users the LX3 may be better, but for SLR-like handling and controls, its gotta be the G10

amateur SLRs wont have an ISO wheel, the pro bodies usually do.