Spec me a entry level dslr please folks

philstanbridge

philstanbridge

philstanbridge

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Having just sold my Canon G12 compact I've decided I want a dslr. I'm a bit out of the loop to be honest. My only experience with a dslr was with a 350D some years ago - it took cracking photos although I found the bulk a bit over-whelming. I'm not sure if things have changed in that department. But I'm prepared to accept that if I can get cracking photos once again. Everything else I've owned just doesn't cut it in comparison. So what are your recommendations please? Budget, well, I didn't really want to spend more than £400 and that needs to include everything to get me started.
 
If size is an issue you could go Micro 4/3rds or Compacy Systems Camera (Nex).

£400 isn't a lot for a DSLR but you could get some bargains as a few new ranges come out and older models drop in price.
 
I was thinking about Micro 4/3rds but I don't know much about them - and what's this Sony NEX all about? They've come down in price recently I see.
 
I got a second hand Canon 30D with a 50mm 1.8 lens for £380 last year. You could probably find a 40D for that, or less now. They're a bit bigger than a 350D though, but feel a lot better built.

I'd go with something like that over a new 1000d.
 
benjo said:
I got a second hand Canon 30D with a 50mm 1.8 lens for £380 last year. You could probably find a 40D for that, or less now. They're a bit bigger than a 350D though, but feel a lot better built.

I'd go with something like that over a new 1000d.
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Ah you see ideally I'd like something slightly smaller than the 350D as I found it quite cumbersome when I took it away, especially with the accessories and the bag. And now I've got a 5 month old as well, space is at a premium really. I was rather hoping £400 would be sufficient for a new camera but maybe not :(
 
I have the Nex-5. today was firmware release 4, it solves 99% of UI issues (FM 3 actually did that).

It has very good IQ as it has a DSLR sensor in it. It is small lightweight and very portable.

The negative, it only has 3 lens available. A kit lens 18-55, a 16mm pancake and an 18-200mm with the 18-200mm quite large on the small body. I have all 3 and really enjoy using it.

I also have a 4 year old and a 1 year old so the size is great, I just at the moment can't be lugging along a load of gear as well as all their stuff and a wife.

Take a look at my flickr as all the photos on it are taken with the 3 lens available. It's a great little camera.
 
Thanks for that Reemul - and nice piccies too.

I've been looking around at the NEX 5 - I can get it for £479 with £50 cash back direct from Sony, so that's £429. That's with the 18-55. Does that sound like a good deal?

I also see there is a new model due out shortly, they say by the end of the month apparently, but I bet it will cost a small fortune.
 
Hmm for the same price I can get myself a Nikon 3100 with an 18-55, and I can get 851 club card points to boot :D I remember looking at the 3100 when they were quite a lot more expensive.. I'm guessing the Sony has the much smaller footprint out of the two, but the Nikon is more 'compatible'?
 
The 3100 seems like a nice camera, good price too with good reviews.

the nex -c3 is due soon but most of it's advantages were added to the Nex-3 and 5 with firmware update 4. Only the change to the sensor 16 instead of 14 is different.

If video is not too important the Nex-3 is probaly the way to go if you want to keep the price down.

You can get it for £350 in a few places and with the 16mm for £270.
 
Reemul said:
The negative, it only has 3 lens available. A kit lens 18-55, a 16mm pancake and an 18-200mm with the 18-200mm quite large on the small body. I have all 3 and really enjoy using it.
Click to expand...

4.
There's a 30mm 2.8 macro as well now (not very practical other then still life at that focal range though).
Also a new 'improved' flash with bounce capabilities.

And a 50mm 1.8 and 55-200 incoming either December or early next year.
 
philstanbridge said:
Hmm okay, so I think it's between the Nijkon 3100 18-55 @ £420ish or the Sony NEX-3 18-55 @ £370ish. What do you think?
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If you want to get into 'real' DSLR photography (and by real i mean .. learn the settings, potentially grab a few more lenses down the line ) then go for the D3100.

If you want high (almost..) DSLR quality pics from a camera which works really well in Auto setting (being honest, when my GF uses it with Iauto mode it wipes the floor with my D90 in auto mode.. DSLR's are just bad in auto!) with some 'quirky' functions such as sweep panorama and a really good HD movie mode, then get the NEX (although its hard to find the NEX3 these days, so good luck!).
 
Thanks mate, appreciate the honesty. It's looking more and more like the NEX-3D. I've found the 3 with the 18-55 and the pancake for £490 in stock. Thing is, my wife just had a go at me - she wants to be able to use the camera as well, and she wants to be able to use it in auto mode as much as possible. I didn't realise the auto modes were not dslr 'friendly' as such.

It's slightly over my budget but it seems like good value to me as the 18-55 on its own is £250+ and I like the idea of the pancake for wideangle landscapes. Plus it can grow on me and I can perhaps invest in the telephoto in due course. Decisions!!

Edit: Arrgh, but then I need the memory card for it and they're expensive!!
 
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I probably went overboard a bit with that last post.. but
Its not so much that Auto on a SLR is bad, as much as Sony's put a lot of effort into the NEX series auto mode to make it work so well.
Either way, the difference remains.

As for the pancake lens, me and the other half hardly use it.
It gets a bit more use with the wide(er..) angle adapter for it though.

NEX is improving as a 'system' over the next year and a half as well, which is nice :)
There's a 30mm Macro lens just released, although due to a close focal distance required its not good for insects and stuff, but product and / or flowers it could be ideal.
There's an upgraded flash too which allows bouncing, something the bundled flash does not, and a bigger battery pack.

Around the corner there has been announced a 50mm 1.8 and a 55-200 telephoto, which should be a lot more affordable then the current 18-200.
 
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Interesting points thanks again. So maybe just the NEX-3 with the 18-55 would suffice is what you are saying? To keep initial costs down I suppose its a good idea to see how I get on.

So regards this adapter for the pancake - does that not come with it? I'm a bit confused by that.

I do like the continued support by Sony it proves it's a viable system.
 
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