Am I ready?

***F1ZZY***

***F1ZZY***

***F1ZZY***

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Joined
5 Jan 2004
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1,126
Location
Wiltshire
This is my first camera post at OcUK and from what I have seen here, this is quite pro-DSLR stuff and other (lesser) enquiries get brushed aside. However, I won't let that stop me asking some questions from those with a bit more experience. :D

Firstly,
1 I need a new camera (mine is point and shoot and old)
2 I am a noob
3 I rarely do any editing of pics

What I am unsure of is whether I should take the plunge and try DSLR.

What I am looking for in a camera?
Better quality than point and shoot. (very general I know)
Faster - might need up to 2fps for some sporting events (nothing super fast)
Good, clear macro shots ~1-2cm. (need for work sometimes)
Excellent portraits (first son is one year old)
I'm intrigued by depth of field and like its appearance in photos when done correctly.

Above all else, there must still be auto-settings for focus, exposure etc and can function as a point and click. While I am inclined to fiddle, my wife will not approve if she has to "muck around" in the heat of the moment. Can DSLR still function in a simple auto mode?

Budget can be around 400quid. Currently I am considering a good bridge camera from Canon [G7 or G9 or powershot S5 IS?] or Fuji Finepix xxxx (I have done some reading on here ;) )

Any recommendations or probing questions, please fire away.

Thanks
 
To be honest. I used to be of the opinion that you should just buy a bridge camera first and then decide if photography is for you. However, having gone down that route myself I would have to disagree. I upgraded after 7 months from a Fuji bridge camera to a Nikon D40.

Thing to remember is that DSLR's hold their value quite well. If I was you I would go for an entry level Nikon/Canon - then if you change your mind you can always sell it. You would make a loss, but only a small one, worth it for the experience. I would stay clear of a Nikon D60 ... as its high price over the D40/D40x is not even close to being worth it.

My photos can be found below ... the very early ones were taken on the Fuji bridge camera ... the later ones (and majority) were taken on the D40.
www.flickr.com/photos/martinturner
 
***F1ZZY*** said:
Firstly,
1 I need a new camera (mine is point and shoot and old)
2 I am a noob
3 I rarely do any editing of pics

What I am unsure of is whether I should take the plunge and try DSLR.

What I am looking for in a camera?
Better quality than point and shoot. (very general I know)
Faster - might need up to 2fps for some sporting events (nothing super fast)
Good, clear macro shots ~1-2cm. (need for work sometimes)
Excellent portraits (first son is one year old)
I'm intrigued by depth of field and like its appearance in photos when done correctly.
Click to expand...

Having recommended by people on forum (gt_junkie), I found someone in my uni with a Canon 20D and played with his camera for a couple of hours.

It is indeed a good camera for a starter (like you and I). I have a Fuji F30 and have been messing around with Aperture and Shutter speed but nothing like a specialist lens type of things.
Here's what I've tried and recommend;

Canon EOS 20D (I picked one up second hand at £220inc!)
Canon 50mm f/1.8 (Can be had brand new for £58inc)
Spend the rest of the money on another lens, I'm sure someone on the forum will recommend another one for your macro needs:) - I didn't try the 50mm macro function :/

Mind you, I've only played it for a couple of hours and still awaiting for mine, out of the time I've used, the 5fps is seriously useful when I took a few TaeKwonDo training shots - really fills up the memory tho if you hold down the trigger for too long, can only take at 5fps if you hold down.
 
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I'd by a second hand d40/D40x if you like the look of nikon or second hand 350D/400D if you want to side with canon, these can be picked up easily within your budget with a perfectly serviceable kit lens and will let you know id DSLR is the way for you. The both have full auto settings to keep the other half happy my misses used my 30D on full auto and manages better pics then me half the time :( as said above if you decide DSLR is not for you you should be able to sell the kit on for a very small loss.
 
Messiah Khan said:
Would make a very nice starter kit. Maybe even get some extension tubes and use the 50mm for macro as well. :)
Click to expand...

I'd be tempted to skip the fifty given the budget and get something like a Sigma 17-70 which would put the op just about on budget. I had a 50mm as my only lens when I first got my 30D and found it really frustrating when out and about and the 17-70 is very versatile as it covers an excellent focal length on a crop sensor and also has reasonable close focussing ability for Macro work.
 
if you have no intention of doing any post processing then I would struggle to recommend getting an SLR as you really need to get into the processing to really see the benefits.

secondly, you sound like you are after a 'jack of all trades' type of camera which is fine but only really possible with an SLR if you plan to splash out on a range off lenses to keep you covered in all situations.

The only real requirement in your list that could do with in SLR is decent depth of field control which you just won't really get with an compact/bridge as the sensors just aren't big enough. But that aside I think you'd be better off with a bridge camera.
 
If none of your mates have a DSLR for you to try out, go to a camera store, take your own Cf card and ask to test a few bodies there in the shop, take a few pics and see which you like at home.

It really comes down to prefernces, how you like the feel of the camera and who your mates convince you is the best make lol..

It comes down to 2 for you

Canon and Nikon

Canon have a world wide warranty for lenses, meaning if you buy it in the USA, its still ok to claim its warranty in the UK. Nikon dont do this, but the lenses seem to be cheaper than Canon and just as good.

If your doing skin tone shots, weddings, portraits, then to me, the Fuji S5 is the best, its a D200 body [nikon] takes nikon lenses but has Fuji's sensor in it, very nice kit, but over your budget :(

I think your next step is to get into a shop and test the bodys, test the lenses and see which you think is the best. :)

ColiN
 
Nikon dont do this, but the lenses seem to be cheaper than Canon and just as good.
Click to expand...

Well, some Nikon lenses are a little bit cheaper, but some are a lot more expensive. Personally I love the Nikon cameras, but the price of their telephoto primes are so incredibly expensive that I went Canon (I shoot birds and wildlife mostly).

Nikon lenses at 400mm+ are around £1,500 more expensive than the Canon equivalent. Not that I can afford one from either company yet... but thankfully Canon have a 400mm f5.6, while Nikon don't, and I'd be lost without it.
 
martinturner said:
To be honest. I used to be of the opinion that you should just buy a bridge camera first and then decide if photography is for you. However, having gone down that route myself I would have to disagree. I upgraded after 7 months from a Fuji bridge camera to a Nikon D40.

Thing to remember is that DSLR's hold their value quite well. If I was you I would go for an entry level Nikon/Canon - then if you change your mind you can always sell it. You would make a loss, but only a small one, worth it for the experience. I would stay clear of a Nikon D60 ... as its high price over the D40/D40x is not even close to being worth it.

My photos can be found below ... the very early ones were taken on the Fuji bridge camera ... the later ones (and majority) were taken on the D40.
www.flickr.com/photos/martinturner
Click to expand...

I pretty much agree with this. Since you're wanting to learn more about photography, then I think an entry level dSLR would be the best bet. If you later decide it's not for you it's cheaper to go back to a P&S than the other way.

While bridge cameras are useful for learning etc, it doesn't come anywhere near a dSLR in terms of flexibility. You don't need to start off with a complete set of lens, you'll build them up once you decide what it is you photograph the most. However if you want versatility out of the box, and cheap, then a bridge camera it is.

You can set 'picture styles' on Canon cameras, for example, so you change parameters to give you a certain look to your photos without having to touch Photoshop/Lightroom... full auto, no problem. I don't think it's true that a dSLR requires post-processing of photos to see the benefits; sure if you want to take your photography to another level, but not everyone wants that - some just want 'better than P&S quality ;). A straight JPG from a dSLR will do just that.

Main bad points with dSLRs:
- chunky
- money sapping (inevitable!)
- no video mode, if that interests you.
 
WOW! i never knew nikon was that much more than Canon, although doing weddings myself never gone bigger than 85mm :)

I still say you need to get into a shop and have a feel of the bodies and see which you like. 1 other point, dont get caught up in this 'mine has more pixels than you' rubbish. get some images and have a look yourself.

dpreview.com is a good site too for digital stuff.

<ColiN>
 
Thanks all for the help and so many replies.

I wasn't sure if you could use auto on DSLR, that will certainly please the missus. However, I was previously partially sold on a bridge camera as I was looking at out of the box flexibility and yes, a jack of all trades approach.

The temptation for DSLR is certainly strong though. I am an expat based in Malaysia now for the past 3 years or so and thus the global warranty of Canon lenses will be interesting. I have a few buddies here with DSLR and will have a play with their kit. One is reporter for a local national paper so has plenty of experience and kit to hand.

I have no requirement for video (I have a dedicated HDD cam for that).

To be perfectly honest, it is the lenses that scare me the most for the DSLR route. I am not sure of what all the numbers mean plus the price and the bulk (particularly if you need to carry a few) is a bit offputting.

I am still sat on the fence.
 
for general walkabout you can surfice with just one lens - it just means it will either not be very wide or not very long on the telephoto end depending on what lens you wish to use.

You shouldnt really need to take everything with you. I usually go with just one more lens to fit the purpose of where iam taking pictures.
 
Hi mate,

I'm also a begginner here and took the plunge in to DSLR. I bought a second hand Canon 10D and a couple of lenses off the members market (from GT_Junkie) for a sensible price.

My approach to DSLR is that it's something i want to become good at so that for dedicated events i can take my Canon and get awesome pictures. I dont plan to take it out with me any time other than when i'm specifically wanting nice photos. I'm keeping my point and shoot for trips to the theme parks or nights out :P

DSLR is a lot of fun. The important thing to remember is that there is no wrong or right, and if you're enjoying taking the pictures, that's 100% the most important thing. You dont -have- to be the best technical photographer. The Cameras do still take gorgeous photo's on Auto mode as i've been discovering. Then if you feel you want to take this further (like i'd like to!) then you can start messing about with the technical side of things! :D

I'm starting to sound like i think i'm a veteran, i'm really not. Borrow a DSLR or buy one second hand (i paid around the same as you would for a mid-to-high range point and shoot!) and see if you enjoy it. Worst comes to worst you can give it back, or sell it (not reccomended if you've borrowed it). Give it a go, i've had mine 1 weekend and i'm loving it :P

Hope that helps!
 
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