Getting a DSLR, best options?

BFCTom

BFCTom

BFCTom

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Hi guys, I've done a bit of searching and found a few cameras in my range but I'd like to ask what people would recommend for me in my situation.

I'm a web and graphic design graduate and I would like to take up photography to help add to my designs.

It's also my birthday coming up so I'm going to get a DSLR that would be within the £300 bracket and would be suitable for a relative beginner.

I've seen people recommending the Sony a200 and a300, but I've always fancied a Nikon myself.

I just want a decent camera that's easy to use with a decent kit lens that I can just charge up and start shooting with straight away out of the box.

Any ideas or advice would be great :)
 
first up, have you been into any camera shops to get your grubby mits on the cameras you've been looking at? You should do that to make sure the camera you get handles well, isn't too heavy, awkward to hold etc.

no doubt someone will post a link to dpreview? i think thats the site anyway which does in depth reviewing of the hardware.

From the cameras you've mentioned though I'll agree although i dont have one, I've been a fan of photoshop's images that hes posted using the sony a200. Cant remember if its the D40 or D60 or both that fall into your price bracket for the nikons. Think the canon 100D should be there or there abouts also.
 
Thanks for that, I've seen photoshop's images and they did indeed look great just wondered whether the a300 was worth the bit extra.

I've held my mates Nikon D60 and it felt good and I've also had my hands on an A200 at Jessops, which felt a little smaller but still fine.

I'm leaning towards the A300 with kit lens for £299 at the mo as I can't find a D60 within my price range.

Thanks :)
 
I've posted this same response in a few threads like this recently.

I got a Nikon D60 for my first DSLR and it's brilliant. It's nice to hold, feels quality, easy to use and produces great shots.


Also if you do fancy a Nikon just save the extra £50 ish pounds, it's not hard! You wont regret it.
 
BFCTom said:
I'm leaning towards the A300 with kit lens for £299 at the mo as I can't find a D60 within my price range.
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the A300 gives you a higher spec. for less ££s.
Do you need/want LiveView though? If you do that kind of rules out the D60 anyway & if you don't an A200 is cheaper still (from ~£260 with kit 18-70 lens) & has a better optical viewfinder than the A300.
 
Do they still make D40's or D40x's, if not consider a used one, it'd be a bargin and you might be able to get some other lenses within that budget too [Just] - I'd recomend a 50mm Nikkor f1.8, you can get them new for less than £100 and they're SO sharp it hurts :p

Theres a new D5000 Nikon out soon [I'm a Canon guy myself so I didnt really care about the date :p] It shoots HD video, but may be far too expensive for some time to come.....

Derek W has a point - go and try anything and everything, but its a 1000D not 100D, I'm guessing that was typo tho
 
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i have the dslr 400d cannon best buy i ever made there should be a pretty good price drop on them now as the 450d is out,well worth there money and are pretty damn good camera's
 
Decided to go for the A300 and I'm more than pleased. Took delivery of it a couple of hours ago and had a little play :)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/39121840@N02/3597715949/
3597715949_26440c90fc.jpg


http://www.flickr.com/photos/39121840@N02/3598520730
3598520730_180aea3161.jpg


http://www.flickr.com/photos/39121840@N02/3598519268
3598519268_8fa15b2760.jpg


Forgot to add, if anyone has any tips to help me improve my shots I'd be grateful for the help! :D
 
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Thank you guys for liking my pictures.

The A200 is indeed a great DSLR! The kit lense is a good lens which I use as a general walkabout lens and still shoot using it. Some think its not the best quality lens but for general and everyday stuff i find its a cracking lens although there are better alternatives but for a beginner is fab. But i've increased my collection now with a Sigma 10/20mm and a Minolta 50mm f1.4. Both lenses are mind blowingly good!

So you bought the A300. Its not too different from the A300 engineering wise so you'll have some fun with it. Pictures look Sharpe and colours look very vivid and life like so well done :)

One thing to note is that your pictures lack composition. The subjects are always in the middle. Try having them off centre as this creates a better shot. Use the 2/3 rule which gives better results. See here: http://www.aaronoutpost.com/Photos/TwoThirdsRule.asp
 
As a start out DSLR, the Nikon D40X is a great camera, and within your price range.

If you search for reviews most will say the D60 is not worth the extra over the D40X, which was the reason i bought the D40X in the first place, the D40X has enough to warrent the purchase over a D40, and the D60 aint worth the extra over the D40X.

This is what i found when i was in this position last year. Some of the D60 inards are in the D40X ;)

Check my flickr below for some shots.
 
Wedge said:
As a start out DSLR, the Nikon D40X is a great camera, and within your price range.

If you search for reviews most will say the D60 is not worth the extra over the D40X, which was the reason i bought the D40X in the first place, the D40X has enough to warrent the purchase over a D40, and the D60 aint worth the extra over the D40X.

This is what i found when i was in this position last year.

Check my flickr below for some shots.
Click to expand...

psssssst, hes bought an A300. :D
 
I ended up with the A300 and a 4GB card for £299 so was quite happy with that.

I couldn't decide between the Sony and the Nikon tbh but my best mate has a D60 so I wanted to be a bit different :p
 
I bet if you took pics with the A200, D40, D40X and D60 and then looked at them all there would be very little difference. More and more people are opting for either the A200 or A300 rather than automatically jumping on the Nikon or Canon band wagon.
 
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