DSLR for beginners - recomendations required!

[SiHH]

I am coming from a Fuji F31fd and SGII which i use for pics at the moment.

I am ready to take the plunge and get my first dslr and dedicate some time to learning it and using it daily!

Now there are so many options out there I just dont know where to begin.

Rather than me suggesting models I have heard of I would like the OCUK photo gurus to suggest something for me and then I can balance that against what I have heard elsewhere

Hope you can help?

Budget i would say £500 max.

Type of photos I will be taking could vary but no high speed car shots!

 

[Alpherah]

D3100 is my nomination.
GF moved from a Sony NEX 3 (on Auto all the time) to using her newer D3100 in weeks thanks to the guide mode.

Prices have gone up over £100 since we purchased it though, which is a downer =/ We paid £385 with kit lens, its now £500 with kit lens

 

[SiHH]

D3100 is my nomination.
GF moved from a Sony NEX 3 (on Auto all the time) to using her newer D3100 in weeks thanks to the guide mode.

Prices have gone up over £100 since we purchased it though, which is a downer =/ We paid £385 with kit lens, its now £500 with kit lens

That was the number one I was considering !

 

[Alpherah]

Quick pro's and cons

Pro's
Good image quality

Good high ISO, usable straight out of camera at ISO1600 at 'standard' print sizes

Easy to get to grips with, user-friendly UI/guide mode

Live View AF is actually pretty good (typically Live View AF sucks on DSLR's, especially low end models)

Nikon's kit lens was better then Canon's when i started shooting, not sure now but putting it here just incase

Video quality is pretty good

AF is supposedly the best of the entry-level DSLR models on the market, not used other companies so i can't say myself

Cons
No on body controls really, you might find it limiting when you want to change settings when you get experienced, although this is a problem on all entry level models

White balance IS off sometimes, most images end up looking a bit warm, not a problem really though

No AF Motor on body, won't focus older Nikon lenses

Over-exposure problem in some high-contrast scenes, Exposure compensation fixes.

Using AF with video has a 'clicking' noise recorded unless using external mic

 

[SiHH]

Quick pro's and cons

Pro's
Good image quality

Good high ISO, usable straight out of camera at ISO1600 at 'standard' print sizes

Easy to get to grips with, user-friendly UI/guide mode

Live View AF is actually pretty good (typically Live View AF sucks on DSLR's, especially low end models)

Nikon's kit lens was better then Canon's when i started shooting, not sure now but putting it here just incase

Video quality is pretty good

AF is supposedly the best of the entry-level DSLR models on the market, not used other companies so i can't say myself

Cons
No on body controls really, you might find it limiting when you want to change settings when you get experienced, although this is a problem on all entry level models

White balance IS off sometimes, most images end up looking a bit warm, not a problem really though

No AF Motor on body, won't focus older Nikon lenses

Over-exposure problem in some high-contrast scenes, Exposure compensation fixes.

Using AF with video has a 'clicking' noise recorded unless using external mic

Great thanks!

How would this compare to something like a 600d or 550d?

 

[Alpherah]

Similar, very similar.
Video on the Canon's is much better, but iirc its more expensive? D3100 supposedly AF's faster then the Canon cameras (although this is down to the quality of motor in the lens, as D3100 has no on body focus motor as i said)
Cant really go wrong with either.

-edit-
I don't really use the other half's camera a lot, so don't have much variety to show, but these are two i got with the D3100 and a cheap Sigma 70-300 lens.


Lioness by Alpherah, on Flickr
-

Connection by Alpherah, on Flickr

 

[SiHH]

Similar, very similar.
Video on the Canon's is much better, but iirc its more expensive? D3100 supposedly AF's faster then the Canon cameras (although this is down to the quality of motor in the lens, as D3100 has no on body focus motor as i said)
Cant really go wrong with either.

-edit-
I don't really use the other half's camera a lot, so don't have much variety to show, but these are two i got with the D3100 and a cheap Sigma 70-300 lens.


Lioness by Alpherah, on Flickr
-

Connection by Alpherah, on Flickr

Thanks again for those, they are great pics

I like the sound of the fast AF ..