Entry level options

Turbo-G

Turbo-G

Turbo-G

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6 Jan 2009
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Hi all,
I'm off on our honeymoon next month, and wanted to pick up a DSLR before we went, as I've wanted one for a while and now seems like an ideal moment.

Having never owned a DSLR, I'm looking for a decent entry level option. Specifically been looking at the Canon 1100d and Nikon D3100. I was originally swaying towards the Canon, but on paper the Nikon certainly seems the better spec overall for not much more money. Both models are with the standard lense also.

Both models seem quite old though, or is it me just used to other gadgets being released at a faster pace?! Is there any other models worth considering?

It must be new, and preferably less than £450 (ideally closer to £400).

What would you suggest?

Thanks,

Grant
 
I know you have specified new but this is an area where an older camera is a much better purchase than a newer one IMO. You can pick up a 40D for that kind of money, a far superior camera.

Out of the two you have chosen, it is just down to preference really and which lens system you want to eventually buy into. Whichever one you buy, make sure you also buy the 50mm 1.8 from either manufacturer as it is the best value for money lens on the planet.
 
and if your willing to go 2nd hand, you could pick up a nice and tidy Nikon D90 for a smidge under £400, it's a much nicer camera than the 3100 and you'll save money on lenses (3100 has no AF motor where the D90 does so cheaper AF lenses) ;)
 
You said new but as mentioned you'll get much better second hand. The D3100 while a capable camera is missing features that are present on second hand bodies that would cost significantly less. The D70 which would come in around £100 body only is an amazing starting place, autofocus built in so you get support for all lenses which the D3100 is missing and used with good glass you can get prints at 30"x20" or more.

Good glass is worth more than a good camera body, not to mention as camera bodies get older they lose their value significantly, lenses however don't always. Buy yourself a D70, D100 or D200 and spend the remaining money on a good lens. For £450 I'd grab a second hand D100 (~£120), 50mm f1.8 (~£80) and try and grab a second hand Tokina 28-70mm f2.8 ~(£250), I use effectively the same kit day to day (although I use the significantly more expensive D300).
 
^^^^
that is true to a point but cameras do progress in technology and although the sensor in the D0 was very good in its day I would rather use a something like a D5100 or even a D5000.

There is a lot of talk about the lack of AF motor for AF-D lenses in the bottom end Nikon camera but it is really not an issue at all. All of the zoom lenses you would ever want to use are AF-S, and for the money kit lenses like the 18-105 are amazingly sharp. There are very few prime lenses out there that are not AF-S. The 35mm f/1.8 is stunning, as is the 50mm 1.8 and 85mm 1.8. The new AF-S f/1.8 primes are a better buy than the old 1.4 AF-D prime lenses and still cheaper.

Off the top of my head I cannot think of a single non AF-S lens that would be particularly desirable on an entry level crop camera. Some lenses like the 135mm f/2.0 DC, but that is too much reach on a crop camera for its design purpose. Old telephoto primes maybe, but then you wouldn't be putting these on a entry level camera.
 
remember you are not buying a 'camera', you are buying into a system. The body, whilst it is important will not be the largest outlay when you get into DSLR photography.

you need to think about everything else also such as Flashes, Filter System, Lenses, Accesories etc that are compatible with your chosen system

I originally bought into the Sony Alpha mount system, and for a while a regretted it a lot as the 2nd hand market for alpha glass seemed very shy. However over the last few years its licked up a lot and there is always the old minolta range of glass which shares the same A-Mount.
 
Well I bit the bullet, and went for a D3100 with the 18-55 kit lense. I didnt fancy the idea of going 2nd hand, and my budget wouldn't stretch much more. Besides, the D3100 is seemingly a very good camera looking at a spectrum of reviews at this point in the market.

Compared to the Canon, it felt better in the hand, and the 'guide' mode seems really useful for a newbie like me. It also had the better spec.

Haven't been out on a 'shoot' yet, but have played around a bit at home and in the Garden etc, and I'm really impressed with the results.

Can't wait to learn my way round the camera, and some technique etc, but I think it mainly comes down to getting out there and practicing.

Obviously the glass will be a limitation, but it will be fine for my basic needs initially. I'm sure I'll be asking for lense advice later on in the year no doubt when it's time....

Cheers all for the advice.
 
Shot with a D3100 and a cheap Sigma 70-300 (Not even the APO version! heh).
Its a very nice camera, I actually prefer it to my D90 in some aspects. Only thing that bugs me slightly is it tends to over-expose in sunny conditions, but easily fixed :)



Lioness by Alpherah, on Flickr
 
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