beginners DSLR under £3-400

jakejacob0

jakejacob0

jakejacob0

Associate
Joined
6 Feb 2010
Posts
640
Got some disposable income over the summer so thought it may be a good time to pick up photography as a bit of a hobby.

This would be my first 'proper' camera as have only had point and shoot ones before.

Ideally want one with lots of presets but with the ability to adjust various settings as i build up my experience.

Would like to be able to take good pictures with good levels of fine detail as live in the country side and could get some nice close ups.

Thought you guys might know what to look at in terms of camera and lens.

Search on the internet and they seemed to recommend the canon 3100 but as it is nearly 2 years old didn't know if there was anything better for my money?

Thanks all
 
jakejacob0 said:
Search on the internet and they seemed to recommend the canon 3100 but as it is nearly 2 years old didn't know if there was anything better for my money?

Thanks all
Click to expand...

It's still a good camera and since a new model has just landed there will be deals. You could also look at the Canon 1100D, I'll be honest it's not a camera I know much about. Go and try both cameras and see which one you prefer.

You should also consider a used camera, the Canon 30D, 40D and if you're lucky the Nikon D90 would all wall into your price bracket.

You mention you want to do close up, bare in mind the standard 18-55 doesn't have much reach compared to many compacts. You would probably want to consider adding a basic telephoto lens as well (something like an 55-200). You will find the lenses are often harder to understand then the cameras.
 
Yeah, I want versatility but also to be able to do the different shots like close ups for example,

Are the 30D and 40D good for a beginner?

Is there like simple books to help learn or is it mainly trial and error?
 
jakejacob0 said:
Yeah, I want versatility but also to be able to do the different shots like close ups for example,

Are the 30D and 40D good for a beginner?

Is there like simple books to help learn or is it mainly trial and error?
Click to expand...

Most dSLR manuals do give a fair bit of details, there's also Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson which I found very good although some people don't like it. If you have a look at AdoramaTV's you tube channel the digital photography one on one and you keep shooting vids are quite good.

Dig out some of the earlier digital photography one on one vids for the basics.

http://www.youtube.com/user/adoramaTV

I don't think a mid range camera would be a problem for a newby. At the end of the day once you've graduated beyond using auto the basic principals are the same on all dSLRs.
 
Definitely think the Nikon D3100 with 18-55VR lens is your best option. Looks a cracking camera for beginners. You can get it for just under £365.
 
At your budget you've either the option of going new or second hand.

I work in a camera shop and shoot Nikon, so my advice is going to be mostly Nikon based because entry level kit Nikon cameras feel more sturdy than their Canon equivalents (the 1100D feels cheap and plastic-y, the D3100 feels somewhat more substantial). Just remember whichever brand camera you buy, you'll be effectively locked into that brand due to the lens mount (unless you fancy selling everything and starting a fresh).

If you want to go new the D3100 with the kit 18-55vr is the best bet; Nikon's kit lenses are pretty good quality and the D3100 is a pretty powerful camera.

If you don't mind going second hand then look at the Nikon D80 and see if you can grab a Sigma 28-70 f2.8, both of which should come in at under £400 (both are available for a good price if you look on a certain auction site). The 28-70 is basically the most common 'walk around' lens as it covers a common range, it's also going to be better quality than the 18-55.

Going second hand with camera kit is probably a better investment than buying new, prices of bodies deprecate very quickly so a good quality but slightly older generation body will usually be significantly cheaper, lenses don't usually lose value as quick but are almost always cheaper second hand. A very large percent of my kit is second hand and I now look at buying everything used rather than new.
 
Despite prefering Canon's in general, for a starter, the D3100 is just simply a better camera than the 1100D.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom