Do I want an SLR or a bridge camera?

Bes

Bes

Bes

Soldato
Joined
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Hi

I am about to start shopping for a new camera...

I have a Konika D600 at the moment which has served me well and taken some lovely photos, but I grow tired of its limitations.

Basically I travel a lot with work, and really want a good camera as I see some amazing things in the places I go. I want to put the time in to learn how to use a camera properly (Santa has already ordered me a couple of books and I have been doing a bit of reading on the Internet), but I don't know if I should be going for a bridge cam first?

I photograph all kinds of things (Landscapes, wildlife, people, buildings) depending on where I am going, but I particularly enjoy trying to capture landscapes well.

Basically, I was originally going to look at acquiring a S/H Canon 30D (or equivalent- I have yet to go back to the UK and actually try anything out) but after reading these forums, I don't know what to do now? What do you think is the best way forward?

I am guessing it is a toss up between spending a massive amount of cash on a body and a lens or 2 (as per the kind of shots I want), or just buying a bridge and using for a while?

Help :(
 
Its best to know what you want to shoot I guess to make a decision, the fact that you've listed many different types of subject means an SLR would be the best choice for the ability to change lenses, for example landscape and building and some portaits of people would be happily done with a nice short lens on a decent body like a 30D as you've already mentioned, there are some decent telephoto zoom lenses 120-300mm etc for under £500 which would be pretty good for wildlife and close up birding.. of course its all vastly more expensive than a bridge camera but the results would be worth it in the long run.
I think if you bought a bridge camera you'd just be dissapointed and still crave a good SLR with an assortment of lenses.. If I was you and was serious enough i'd do the following..

Second hand 30D body = £300-400
New canon 10-22mm F3.5 = £469 from a well known camera online warehouse
New canon 70-300mm F3.5 USM = £349 from the same place...

Would definitley get you up and running and you'd be a lot happier, trouble is its a lot more expensive.
 
Yeah the problem is that as I travel, I see all sorts of different things- i.e I was in Johannesburg for the first half of this year so went to Pillanesburg and wanted to shoot wildlife, then went to Denver, and obviously there is the rockies, etc there. Borneo after that which contained a wide range of subjects, then Singapore- now it is Spain where it is a real mixture- from street acts, to amazing architecture in Barcelona, to fantastic landscapes in the East.

Other problem is I don't really want to spend more than £4-500 to start with... :(
 
Nikon D80 + 18-200mm VR (Or Canon equivalent) could be a good start. That would be a versatile setup to travel with and learn on. Then as you discover what you enjoy the most you can invest in more lenses. :)
 
Messiah Khan said:
Nikon D80 + 18-200mm VR (Or Canon equivalent) could be a good start. That would be a versatile setup to travel with and learn on. Then as you discover what you enjoy the most you can invest in more lenses. :)
Click to expand...

I'd second that advice, would give you the best of both worlds for now and you could look to expand you lenses and bits and bobs as you go. If your travelling the world I'm sure you could pick up a few bargins along the way!
 
What job do you have? Sounds like something I would love.

Another question: would the size of an SLR and all its gear not bother you if you are travelling?
 
Hi

Thanks for the replies:

Ok so why the D80 over a S/H 30D? I have read a review and the D80 sounds superb, but what do you think makes it a better choice than the Canon? I would be looking second hand for a D80 in any case, as the body alone is almost my entire budget!

ffallic: I am an IT Consultant :) The whole lot isn't that big, so can't really see it being a problem... Do airlines ususally let you carry a camera bag in addition to hand luggage?
 
Nikon make the superb (according to the many reviews) 18-200 VR lens which will give you the same range as a bridge camera in one lens, with built in anti-shake to boot! There's not really a Canon equiv. out there. There are 3rd party options but they're probably not a patch on the Nikon lens. Is the D80 better than the 30D? Probably not but there's not a lot in it *ducks for cover*.

Bes said:
Do airlines ususally let you carry a camera bag in addition to hand luggage?
Click to expand...

Almost certainly not.
 
Mohain said:
Nikon make the superb (according to the many reviews) 18-200 VR lens which will give you the same range as a bridge camera in one lens, with built in anti-shake to boot! There's not really a Canon equiv. out there. There are 3rd party options but they're probably not a patch on the Nikon lens. Is the D80 better than the 30D? Probably not but there's not a lot in it *ducks for cover*.



Almost certainly not.
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That last bit (re: airlines) could be a problem:

If I buy an SLR, there is no way in hell that I am checking it in, seeing as KLM and Easyjet have both writtern off a suitcase each this year, and EasyJet lost mine last week! (Quite how they manage this on a direct flight from Bristol to Madrid, I have no idea!!)

Is is then possible to purchase a largeish bag that is suitable for carrying a camera and will also allow me to carry a laptop? (as I am not checking that in either! :D)

I guess the other option is an ultra- compact case I can squeeze into my hand luggage where I can carry the the SLR body and a lens with me... I shall look around for such a bag....
 
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Mohain said:
Crumpler formal lounge.

http://www.cambags.com/nikon/d70/backpacks/Crumpler_formal_lounge_desc.htm
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I have one and last year used it for a work trip Stateside. The bottom section JUST took a 30D with 17-70 and a Canon 70-300. With the laptop and power supply, tix, book and passport there wasn't a whole lot of room for much else. The bottom section is OK, the top section a bit disappointing and can be difficult to get into. (With a smaller laptop, it might be better; I was using a 17" HP widescreen thing). Can't fault it for comfort and carry-ability, though. It also doesn't scream "nick me, I'm a camera/laptop bag!!"

The Crumpler Farmer's Double is a bit bigger but still hand luggage size. I simply went for the one I could get fairly quickly and cheapest on the well known auction site. Alternatives are the LowePro CompuTrekker or the Tamrac Adventure 9. Have a lookie here: http://www.cambags.com/

For cameras; a s/h 30D with kit lens and Sigma APO DG 70-300 should cover a whole host of stuff on a budget. THere isn;t really a lens for Canon which approaches the quality of the Nion 18-200 yet but these two together are nto too bad. A lot of people slate the kit lens, but for it's price, it can and does produce some decent results but it's naturally not L quality. Expect at least another £100 or so for cards/filters/decent neck strap/rocket blower and assorted gumpf.
 
Thanks- Any more suggestions welcome :)

So far I see myself with either a 30D or a D80 (Both S/H)

I am going to see if I can get my hands on both cams to play with, but the consensus is that the 30D is technically the better of the two?

However, the reviews of the D80 sound excellent and it looks like a lovely piece of kit- sounds ideal with the 18-200 vr lens.
 
TBH, I don;t think there's a great deal in it between the two. Both have strengths and weaknesses and both are great cameras. I settled on the 30D predominantly because I can borrow bits of Canon kit on occasion but not Nikon kit and was already familiar with the Canon system. I also got a superb deal on the 30D at the time I was looking. That was really the deciding factor.

Bear in mind the Nikon lens is a whoping £400-odd. You'll need a staggeringly good deal on a S/H body if it doesn't come with the lens.............even 2nd hand with a D80 best price I've seen for the kit is around £700.
 
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i've just bought a d80kit with a 18-135 lense for my better half.

i could never find an 18-200 kit.....do you have to buy th lense seperately?

i got the 18.135 lens as a general use one and will most likely get a telephoto lens later on
 
I had the same dilemma a few months ago and went for a bridge camera, though size is important to me, I like being able to slip a camera into a large pocket or small bag. Something like the Canon G9 could do you good bridge-wise, though I went for the Canon S5 IS for it's flip-out screen and extra zoom. I'm happy with my pictures so far. :)
 
I am going to go down to Bath tomorrow to get a hold of a Canon and a Nikon and see what I make of them both. I doubt I will buy anything unless I happen across some super bargain or something. I will probably scour trade forums.

What sort of money should I be paying for a S/H Canon 30D and Nikon D80 body for instance?

Thanks
 
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