Good quality camera for casual photography

lemonade

lemonade

lemonade

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Hi

Anyone have recommendations for a well featured and good quality camera for casual use? This will be mostly used for urban photography, but nothing hardcore, so anything fancy or expensive is not needed. Just a camera that can take high quality pics.

Currently thinking of Nikon D3100, seems like a decent quality and cheap DSLR, or a Nikon 1 series, which seems to be inbetween a Point and Shoot and DSLR, but seems expensive for what it is. Which would be the best between those two?

Also what kind of lens would be best for urban photography? As in pictures of everyday things in a city, from pics of buildings to monuments.

Cheers
 
Most compact can take nice and sharp photos.

And as for urban photography, it depends what you want to shoot, do you want to shoot wide? do you want to shoot ultra wide or do you want tilt shift?

Sorry for the confusion but would need a tighter criteria really.

I think you'll probably need a zoom, something like the Nikon 17-55 would be amazing if you can stretch that far, the tamron 17-50 is also very capable.
 
Yeah the AF motor on my Tamron does begin to grate after a while but it's so cheap you can't really complain. Like you say though, nice and sharp.
 
Raymond Lin said:
Most compact can take nice and sharp photos.

And as for urban photography, it depends what you want to shoot, do you want to shoot wide? do you want to shoot ultra wide or do you want tilt shift?

Sorry for the confusion but would need a tighter criteria really.

I think you'll probably need a zoom, something like the Nikon 17-55 would be amazing if you can stretch that far, the tamron 17-50 is also very capable.
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Sorry should have been more specific, but I suspect my answer will be too broad anyhow. Really I want to be taking different kind of shots depending on the subject, so i would like the ability to take wide shots, tilt shift etc. Basically something all round, but nothing really specialist, not sure if I'm asking too much from a camera here.

Some examples of the type of pictures and pic quality I'm aiming for (but not necesarily will achieve):



I like the thought of having a DSLR as they are powerful and I've always wanted one, but feel they might be overkill and I may not end up using them cos of their large size and clunkiness. Whereas some of the Compact Digital's seem better but the good ones creep into DSLR money. One deciding factor might be price, looking at the prices of the lens qouted in the thread, they are quite expensive, if the Compact Digital route is better for my needs then ideally I want to spend around the £250 mark, whats the best cameras around this price?

I've across a few cameras that I like the sound of but not sure how good they are:

Olympus E-PL1 (14-42mm Black Lens Kit) - This seems to have interchangeable lens and is decently priced. But how good is it?
Panasonic Lumix G10
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 14-42mm
 
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I would choose a high end compact over a mirrorless camera personally. Mirrorless aren't really pocketable, despite the small sensors their lenses are as large as full frame slrs. Considering their performance is greatly inferior to the cheapest SLR's I wouldn't touch them with a barge pole. They also have a limited amount of lenses which tend to be very expensive compared to SLR ones. So if you want a camera specifically for interchangeable lenses and aren't a millionaire I would advise against one!

The FUJIFILM X10 is £310 and has a f/2.0-2.8 28-112mm equiv lens, 2/3" sensor. Better dynamic range than the Olympus, noise not so good but with such a large aperture the ISO will be lower anyway.
 
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I guess I may as well go for the d3100 since it's only £360 (possibly cheaper if any cash back deals come along), and comes with a lens kit that seems suitable for what I intend to use. But can't keep thinking it will be too big to lug around and then end up collecting dust.
 
Digitalrev - what's the deal with warranty as its outside UK and consumer rights? Jessops provide 2yr warranty.

Also is it better to buy the body and then a better seperate lens?
 
For DSLR, bodies are local, lens are international.

As for buying bodies separate from the lens, i always have, it's only because i don't like the lenses that come with it. There is nothing wrong with it, but the lenses "kit lens" are never my thing, even if it is the 25-105L.

If however you want that lens then it does work out cheaper.
 
olv said:
Yeah the AF motor on my Tamron does begin to grate after a while but it's so cheap you can't really complain. Like you say though, nice and sharp.
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Given the quality/price ratio of the lens is amazing, by all accounts, I think a bit of noise when focusing is probably bearable.

That said, I'm now a total snob and can't deal with non-USM lenses :D
 
lemonade said:
Digitalrev - what's the deal with warranty as its outside UK and consumer rights? Jessops provide 2yr warranty.

Also is it better to buy the body and then a better seperate lens?
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Peoples experiences are that digitalrev their one year warranty on slrs.
 
I think I might just get it from a UK retailer for the peace of mind and stick with the kit lens. Cheers for all the help.
 
Vertigo1 said:
Given the quality/price ratio of the lens is amazing, by all accounts, I think a bit of noise when focusing is probably bearable.

That said, I'm now a total snob and can't deal with non-USM lenses :D
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Should try the STM lenses :/ I honestly haven't heard or felt them doing anything yet lol
 
Vertigo1 said:
Given the quality/price ratio of the lens is amazing, by all accounts, I think a bit of noise when focusing is probably bearable.

That said, I'm now a total snob and can't deal with non-USM lenses :D
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Yep, it was intended as a cheap stop gap and I bought it reluctantly but it has impressed in the time I've had it. Ready to move on now but will see what the 6D brings before plumping for any more lenses.
 
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