entry level DSLR

Dark88

Dark88

Dark88

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so summer is approaching.. what better way to spend it than taking some photos and hopefully learning something right?

can anyone suggest a good entry level DSLR and also any websites with some good beginner tips etc.. currently have an olympus SP500UZ so I'm not sure what kind of jump up this would be. Any advice appreciated. thanks, DM
 
DoubleCheese said:
As a Nikon user I'd say get a Nikon D40.With the cash back offer they seem fantastic value. Alternatively look about for a used D50 or D80.
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from the bit of research I've been doing some people have been saying the number of lens available for the D40 is a bit limited.. if I decide I need more that is lol.
 
Have a look at the Canon 10D/20D or Canon 350D/400D, these can be had for quite a good price second hand - let you have a good learn before you invest on a "better" body - or better lens...
 
Darkmage88 said:
it's a refurb from the canon outlet.
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If warranty inc, then it's a snap - compare that price to many P&S available, it's a bargain.

Be prepared to spend more for lens tho.

A good starting one I got was 50mm f/1.8, Canon's nifty Fifty. Damn good lens for portraits.
 
Dr Jones said:
If warranty inc, then it's a snap - compare that price to many P&S available, it's a bargain.

Be prepared to spend more for lens tho.

A good starting one I got was 50mm f/1.8, Canon's nifty Fifty. Damn good lens for portraits.
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yeh it has a 1year warranty. what are the main differences between the stock 18-55 and the 50mm lens? The 1st main outing for my camera will probably be the family holiday to Greece in about a months time so will be mainly taking family shots, some landscapes, and maybe some wildlife (macro?) if possible.
 
The kit lens is a wide angle lens, great for general walk about and taking shots around you + abaility to zoom.

The 50mm is a prime lens, with very low f number - i.e. big aperture, allowing more light into the camera "quicker", so to speak. It also produces sharp images + good depth of field (think portraits taken with the focus on the face of the model and everything in background is blurred)

e.g. taken with the 50mm, focused on the girl on the foreground and everything in the background is out of focused
Petite.jpg
 
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Dr Jones said:
The kit lens is a wide angle lens, great for general walk about and taking shots around you + abaility to zoom.

The 50mm is a prime lens, with very low f number - i.e. big aperture, allowing more light into the camera "quicker", so to speak. It also produces sharp images + good depth of field (think portraits taken with the focus on the face of the model and everything in background is blurred)

e.g. taken with the 50mm, focused on the girl on the foreground and everything in the background is out of focused
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thanks Dr. Jones. so the 50mm is mainly just for that kind of portraiture? I guess I wouldn't be able to pull of that kind of shot with the standard kit lens?
 
the best thing you can do prior to any purchase mate is to go down to the shops and have a feel of the prospective cameras.. personally i couldnt get on with the feel of the canon's so went nikon.
 
Darkmage88 said:
thanks Dr. Jones. so the 50mm is mainly just for that kind of portraiture? I guess I wouldn't be able to pull of that kind of shot with the standard kit lens?
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The 50mm can also be use for other kind of shots - but it excel best at these. The kit lens can do such a shot but abit fiddly and not as sharp in terms of image quality.

Also, the 50mm is damn cheap and able to take good pictures in low lights (or so everyone is raving about, I've yet found the opportinuty to use it in low light yet)
 
I got a refurbished 350D from a Canon outlet and it is a great first DSLR, very happy with it. :)
 
alangelluk said:
the best thing you can do prior to any purchase mate is to go down to the shops and have a feel of the prospective cameras.. personally i couldnt get on with the feel of the canon's so went nikon.
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also look at the Olympus, Pentax/Samsung & Sony DSLRs to find what suits you - there isn't a bad current DSLR but they do vary in ergonomics, user interface etc.
 
Darkmage88 said:
thanks JT :) are you still using the kit lens or have you got any others?
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I still use the Kit lens for some things but I also have the Nifty Fifty and a Canon 100-300 which has a good zoom on it but no IS, not an issue though if you use a tripod.

The kit lens is great to get you started though, I would recommend using the kit lens to get used to the camera and its settings (of which there can be many) then think about getting more lenses. :)

I took the below shot with the kit lens (IIRC), please keep in mind I am still a noob at this as well... :)

2543926291_838134b75d_b.jpg
 
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Well looking at the Canon refurb site, there are some 30D bodies going for less than £200. For a fully refurbished camera with warranty, that's an absolute steal. The 30D is a cracking camera and is far better than something like a 350D or a D40.

You'd need a lens with that mind but you can pick the kit lens up dirt cheap on the bay or if you wanted to think about it, I could give you my kit lens (the 18-55) for a few weeks if you promised to look after it :)

// EDIT // The auction will probably take those price up a bit, but it's worth watching.
 
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A.N.Other said:
Well looking at the Canon refurb site, there are some 30D bodies going for less than £200. For a fully refurbished camera with warranty, that's an absolute steal. The 30D is a cracking camera and is far better than something like a 350D or a D40.

You'd need a lens with that mind but you can pick the kit lens up dirt cheap on the bay or if you wanted to think about it, I could give you my kit lens (the 18-55) for a few weeks if you promised to look after it :)

// EDIT // The auction will probably take those price up a bit, but it's worth watching.
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good spot, there's 1 with the lens for £215. I assume they'll all jump up a bit in price though as there's 2 days of bidding left.
 
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