Spec me a DSLR

Diddums

Diddums

Diddums

Caporegime
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Some of you lovely folks seem keen on photography, and my wife is looking to get into is as well. We're off to South Africa very soon and I would like to take a camera so she can get some nice photos whilst we're there.

Thing is, I don't really know where to start. I know we want a DSLR so we can swap lenses around and play around a bit. The only requirement I have apart from the obvious "what's the most we can get from our money" thing is that it's a cheapish model, in case it doesn't catch on. Last thing I want is to spend half a grand on something that just ends up gathering dust.

So GD massive, what say you?

Cheers!
 
Cheers RJC, wasn't even aware there is a photography section!

Budget.... I'm thinking £400 tops. Anything under that is a bonus.
 
I think your budget is a little tight for a DSLR. For South Africa at a minimum you would want a moderately wide angle zoom lens and a telephoto zoom to at least 300mm.

Here is a fairly minimal kit with new prices.
Nikon D5100 £300
Nikon 55-300mm £250
Nikon 18-105mm £170

Ideally I would want a lens that goes wider than 18mm but this kit will do.

But this excludes essentials like memory card, spare batteries, circular polarizer, camera bag, tripod. Plus you typically want software like Lightroom to process the images.

Given your. Us get you are looking second hand.

TBH. I think a DSLR is just not affordable at your price point. Sure you could get dorm very old model second hand with some very basic lenses but then the quality won't be much different to a decent compact.


Have a look at some if the mirrorless offers. Sometimes the old models go dirt Cheap.
 
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Diddums said:
£400 is only a guide, I can go higher but I as said I don't want it to go to waste. If this sticks I can always sell the camera later on and upgrade it.

What about this?

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5598263.htm#pdpFullProductInformation
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Cheaper Nikon bodies lack an Autofocus motor, and relies on the lens having one built in. This would mean lenses cost significantly more (£50 + difference in price minimum).

In my opinion, you would be better trying to find a second hand Nikon body with the AF motor built in (d90 for example) and then you would be able to use any lens without fear that it won't autofocus. Or alternatively, go canon, as they all have AF motors in the bodies.
 
You might find this website useful
http://www.camerapricebuster.com/Home

You can get that bundle cheaper than Argos.


Withe that combo you will still want to add a telephoto zoom for the wildlife in south Africa, which goes back to so ething like the 55-300mm for £250 as I suggested. You would still find the 18-55mm lens restrictive but it will do.


If you buy second hand then you could sell the gear later at little if any loss if you think the gear is not for you.
 
montymint said:
Cheaper Nikon bodies lack an Autofocus motor, and relies on the lens having one built in. This would mean lenses cost significantly more (£50 + difference in price minimum).

In my opinion, you would be better trying to find a second hand Nikon body with the AF motor built in (d90 for example) and then you would be able to use any lens without fear that it won't autofocus. Or alternatively, go canon, as they all have AF motors in the bodies.
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This is pretty irrelevant, what non AF-S lens is the OP ever likely to buy?
 
Pentax K-50 + kit lens

100% viewfinder, weather sealed body and lens (africa is dusty and sandy) and in body stabilization so any old lens you buy will effectively have stabilization.

£399
 
Bennie-Mac said:
Pentax K-50 + kit lens

100% viewfinder, weather sealed body and lens (africa is dusty and sandy) and in body stabilization so any old lens you buy will effectively have stabilization.

£399
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A nice camera but the OP would still need to add something like the Pentax 55-300mm f4-5.8 HD for £310 for a south Africa trip.
 
D.P. said:
A nice camera but the OP would still need to add something like the Pentax 55-300mm f4-5.8 HD for £310 for a south Africa trip.
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There is always the cheap Tamron 70-300mm F4-5.6 or 18-200mm f3.5-6.3 in Pentax fit, though the 18-200 makes the kit lens a bit redundant.
 
Bennie-Mac said:
There is always the cheap Tamron 70-300mm F4-5.6 or 18-200mm f3.5-6.3 in Pentax fit, though the 18-200 makes the kit lens a bit redundant.
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The Tamron 70-300mm VC is quite nice for the money but it is still £290.

The Is also stuff like the Nikon 55-200mm VR for £150, or Pentax 50-200mm for £160. These kind of lens are quite good but 200mm wouldn't really be enough for a Safari, 70-300mm type lens on a crop body work really well for the money.

The Pentax K-50 + kit lens + Pentax 50-200mm is going to be like £570 and about the cheapest new setup you can do but there is still at least £100 of basic necessities to add, 2-3 batteries/CPL/cards/bag.

Second hand could get you more camera for a bit less money.
 
Just checked, Amazon have a Nikon 1 J1 for £154 with kit lens. The 30-110mm lens is only £160. That is exceedingly good bang for buck.
 
D.P. said:
The Tamron 70-300mm VC is quite nice for the money but it is still £290.

The Is also stuff like the Nikon 55-200mm VR for £150, or Pentax 50-200mm for £160. These kind of lens are quite good but 200mm wouldn't really be enough for a Safari, 70-300mm type lens on a crop body work really well for the money.

The Pentax K-50 + kit lens + Pentax 50-200mm is going to be like £570 and about the cheapest new setup you can do but there is still at least £100 of basic necessities to add, 2-3 batteries/CPL/cards/bag.

Second hand could get you more camera for a bit less money.
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I was referring to the cheapo £99 Tamron 70-300 by the way. Also the k50 can take regular AA batteries so saving a bit there. Can't argue with the price of that Nikon though
 
Cheers for all the advice guys. I think we're getting ahead here, this is someone who currently takes photos on a phone, so anything would be an improvement.

That said, I've been told that a CSC will outperform a lower end DSLR (see? I'm even learning the terminology now :p). I've been looking at this as well, seems fairly well specced for the money and also has a 50-200mm lens as an aftermarket option.

Any thoughts?
 
For the money that is a good setup. The Samsung systems have very good image quality

you are right in the fact that a good CSC can be as good as a low end DSLR, although is mostly in terms of image quality and not auto focus performance and responsiveness.
Their biggest benefit is they are much smaller and lighter in general.


Earlier I linked to a Nikon CSC:
Just checked, Amazon have a Nikon 1 J1 for £154 with kit lens. The 30-110mm lens is only £160. That is exceedingly good bang for buck.
Click to expand...


The nikon J1 will be more beginner orientated and the images wont be quite as good as the Samsung ,but the system is smaller and the auto focus performance is as good as most DSLRs.




anyway, it is always worth going into a camera shop and trying out a few models.
So far no one has mentioned a Canon setup but you can get a similar kind of DSLR and 2 lens kit as the Nikon and Pentax bundles listed so far. In general the Nikons and Pentax DSLR have much better image quality at the entry level, the canons support more features and better video.
 
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Thanks for all the advice folks. I ended up getting an NX1100 for her. She's a bit tentative but I think given some time she'll enjoy it. My first impressions of it are excellent, I honestly wasn't expecting this kind of build quality and finish at this budget. It's very well thought out too, the UI is so easy to use even a spacker like me could use it.

Great purchase so far, I'll post some pics from South Africa when I get back :)


Thanks for all the advice guys, much appreciated.
 
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