Taking the plunge to DSLR

gary996 · 26 Dec 2011 at 15:19

So what should I go for and no don't have any paticular type of photography.

Have looked at so far.

600D
60D
D5100.

Like the look and feel of the 60D to be honest. Its nice it can do video (I know the others do also) Have been looking at DigitalRev and the prices seem very good.
Now what lens to get or 2 lense kits

Canon EOS 60D + Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens
Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 II IS lens

Canon EOS 60D + Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

Canon EOS 60D + Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens

Now I will buy the 50mm 1.8 also

So what do you think?

Thank you

Dangerous · 26 Dec 2011 at 16:43

Isn't the 60D a bit advanced for entry level user?

I only have just bought a 550D and I was coming from video background.

But if you have the money to spend then go for it

theheyes · 26 Dec 2011 at 16:59

I think with a 60D, an 18-200mm and a 50mm 1.8 you'd be fit to take on most things. I'm not a fan of super zooms but you can do a lot worse than the 18-200.

Guitarman0 · 26 Dec 2011 at 18:48

Personally I am in the same situation as you (except I am going from a 550D) and I think I am pretty much decided on the 60D with the 18-55mm kit lens and 50mm f1.8 and then doing some saving for the 70-200 f4L (second hand).

An Exception · 26 Dec 2011 at 19:25

gary996 said:
So what should I go for and no don't have any paticular type of photography.

Have looked at so far.

600D
60D
D5100.

Like the look and feel of the 60D to be honest. Its nice it can do video (I know the others do also) Have been looking at DigitalRev and the prices seem very good.
Now what lens to get or 2 lense kits

Canon EOS 60D + Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens
Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 II IS lens

Canon EOS 60D + Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

Canon EOS 60D + Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens

Now I will buy the 50mm 1.8 also

So what do you think?

Thank you

Sounds like the choice a beginner would make (similar to what I made about 18 months ago).
First of all, how serious are you about video? and you do realise you will need to manual focus right? i.e. it's probably not great for recording your kids running around, if that's what your after then look towards Sony.

If video just happens to be a nice bonus you may or may not use, then look to the D7000 not sure what price they go for now, but I think it's still one of the best crop camera's for photography if Sony hasn't beat it.

If you re-consider and realise that you simply have a passing interest in video, but you will be spending the vast majority of your time shooting still images, then a used 5D classic is the best bang for buck bar none, although unfortunately you probably won't agree due to the fact that it has a smaller LCD etc and less mega pixels than a 60D (I would have said this also when first starting out).

In short, my recommendation would probably be the following.

Used 5Dc, Tamron 28-75mm 2.8 (if on a budget), 50mm 1.8 although it's actually worth spending the extra, as on a full frame camera you will likely be using 50mm allot. Consider the Canon 1.4 or the Sigma 1.4.

ShakenNstirred · 27 Dec 2011 at 06:59

i got my first DSLR yesterday and went for the D5100
still playing with it after moving up from my panasonic bridge cam

iamtheoneneo · 27 Dec 2011 at 08:44

An exception you always say 5d but always seem to miss out the part that its twice the price even used! If you can show me a 5d thats anywhere near 60d cash then I will eat my words

Op: a lot has to be said for how a camera feels and the 60d is a much chunkier camera then the others which is berret to hold for us blokes, it also has the add benefit of being nit that much more expensive then the 600d

An Exception · 27 Dec 2011 at 08:51

iamtheoneneo said:
An exception you always say 5d but always seem to miss out the part that its twice the price even used! If you can show me a 5d thats anywhere near 60d cash then I will eat my words

And I'v already answered this question before, you do realise used 5D's go £500-600 right?

You do also realise that when someone writes 5D classic they are talking about the 5DMkI and not a 5DMkII?

gary996 · 27 Dec 2011 at 09:47

Had a quick look on the bay and can't find no 5D mk1.

I did like the feel of the 60D and you were right the price between this and the 600D is small.

AS said yes the 60D is not a beginners camera but I want one to last a while. I have not used a DSLR granted but back in the day use to have a 35mm Minolta and Mamiya RZ67 done much studio work and some weddings (long long time ago) + all my own processing.

Sig226 · 27 Dec 2011 at 09:51

All the cameras you're considering will give you excellent results, so really its a matter of getting hands on them all and deciding which one has the best feel / ergonomics etc for you, then its a matter of paying your money and making your choice !
Good luck :-)

Regards Simon

theheyes · 27 Dec 2011 at 11:31

I paid £650 for my 5D - awesome camera but does lack a few of the modern conveniences that people come to expect on the newer bodies.

In regards to the 60D not being marketed as a beginner body - it still has all the creative automatic modes so that should tell you something. If anything with the better AF points, top LCD and rear dial it will be easier to use than the 600D over the long term in my opinion.

An Exception · 27 Dec 2011 at 12:53

gary996 said:
Had a quick look on the bay and can't find no 5D mk1.

I did like the feel of the 60D and you were right the price between this and the 600D is small.

AS said yes the 60D is not a beginners camera but I want one to last a while. I have not used a DSLR granted but back in the day use to have a 35mm Minolta and Mamiya RZ67 done much studio work and some weddings (long long time ago) + all my own processing.

There's loads, although it's best to just type 5d, only reason I typed 5D Mki before was to make it clear to the other poster, hopefully he has read my reply this time...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CANON-EOS-5D-13MP-DIGITAL-SLR-CAMERA-BODY-5-D-EOS5D-/300641537000?pt=UK_CamerasPhoto_DigitalCameras_DigitalCameras_JN&hash=item45ffa1cbe8#ht_1442wt_1396

Also, If you have used 35mm, you may prefer to stick to FF.

An Exception · 27 Dec 2011 at 13:00

theheyes said:
I paid £650 for my 5D - awesome camera but does lack a few of the modern conveniences that people come to expect on the newer bodies.

These are pretty minor though, depends if you care more about your images or the size of the LCD on the back.
Maybe I'm the only one here, but I place most priority on things like image quality over minor creature comforts.

Not that I'm a massive fan or anything, but I also remember Zack Arias making a similar recommendation for similar reasons.

The problem with being new to this, is you don't know what really matters in a camera before it's too late, I seriously wish someone had told me the above before I got my first camera, it would have saved me allot of time/money.