Beginner SLR

Fuggan

Fuggan

Fuggan

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Joined
17 Feb 2009
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Leeds
Hello all, complete photography noob here. Have been toying with the idea of getting an SLR for recreational use. I always think to myself that I take a pretty good picture on my phone so want to try my hand at it.

Can anyone spec me up a decent SLR camera which is relatively easy to use? Looking at about £3-400 as a budget. Also any useful beginner tips would be great! Is there anything you know now that you wish you'd have known when you started?

Thanks.
 
i havent really done any photography apart from on a phone.
Ive been using my GFs 400D her Brothers 7D and i will probably be getting myself a 70D or 7D as my first

my point is although i cant recommend anything specific (im too new) once you move into SLR i dont think higher models are more or less easy to start with.

So far im using ISO, F stop, White balance, Shutter speed focus and zoom. No different between the bottom and the top and getting my head around the concepts of DoF, light relationships between stops, iso, etc flash use .. endless list

My route is going to be Body only + decent lenses that do the phhotography i want to do
so ive bought a 100mm macro lens and will be getting a body soon as i really like macro. Probably not what most people would start with. (the 100mm lens was 600£) but get a 'Nifty 50' or whatever Nikons equivalent is, its a 80£ lens

If my GF didnt like canon already i would have got a nikon, they are better priced than canon imo, but it is just as important to look at lenses.. i dont know enough to help with that.

FYI, ive only used her 400D on about 5 sessions so far
Im really enjoying it!
 
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Hey al4x, thanks for the infos.

I don't really know a right lot about different lenses etc, but looking on the bay, can pick up a second hand 400D for a couple of hundred quid which seems reasonable.

Are there any similar beginner Nikon models of cameras you can recommend?
 
^coincidentally my gf is selling her 400D actually for a 60D

Im not sure, i didnt much look at nikon as because my GF uses canon there wasn't really much point, we can share lenses by having the same type

No i dont regarding lenses, i knew i wanted to start with insects and bugs so i got the best macro lens i could, and then the nifty 50 i mentioned as its so cheap but highly recommended

Hopefully someone else will post who is a little more experienced.

If you do a search on flickr for Alex Samuel you can see the few shots ive taken as a complete amateur who hasnt used a compact let a lone a DSLR.. im the one with a 'canon' lens cover as my profile pic
 
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I got a Nikon D40x for just under £200, best thing ive purchased in a long time, im enjoying photography so much its so much fun! I went to a friends gig yesterday to take some shots and it was so much fun to mess around with the camera!

You wont go wrong with this camera although its old! I got an 18-55mm lens with mine, check my flickr to see the kind of shots ive been practicing with.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/99069466@N07/sets/
 
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