1st dslr advice

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Ben Smith

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Hi all,

New to the forum and after some advice, I'm sorry if it's been asked many times before!

Many years ago a studied photography at college, sadly for various reasons I was unable to finish the course. I am now very keen to get involved again. Whilst at college 35mm was the norm and dslr's a luxury. I'd like to get myself a dslr now but would appreciate your advice.

My budget to get started again is £1000, and my interests are in motorsport photography but also enjoy some landscape and wildlife. Now I realise I'm asking a lot for 1 camera to do everything. But what are my options?

Now my budget is to get the basics to get me started again. I'm more than happy to add bit as I go again.

So
nikon?
canon?
I really need your advice on this as I know very little about the dslr's.

Thanks

Ben.
 
hi,
i would have a look on the internet and find the names of cameras and then go into a shop and handle them. i don't know much about Canons as i am a Nikon man but i would look at the D90 or the D7000, there is no point in buying a cheap dslr then realising 2 months later that it doesn't do the job. the D90 and D7000 are high end amateur bodys which will be more than adequate. the cheaper bodys have a lot of disadvantages to the D90 and the D7000 but the D90 does lack when using high ISO. for lenses i would look at a prime lens possibly the Nikon 35mm DX f/1.8G, the kit lens and a telephoto so maybe a Nikon 70-300 VR. but as i said originally, go into a shop and handle them first :)
 
this link may help
http://camerapricebuster.com/

Don't forget to budget for a decent memory card, something like 8 gig class 6 or higher be it CF/SD or SDHC card , with a write speed of 45meg/sec or above should suit. Sandisk have never let me down

Lower spec cards can cause the transfer of picture to card to stall when using continuous shooting mode and if you get a camera that takes videos the higher write speed the better.

On my camcorder I use Sandisk SDHC 32 gig class 10 with a write speed of 95meg/sec but that may be a little too big to start out with

AS for which lens something that has a reach of 300mm as mentioned above 70-300mm VR (vibration reduction). What isn't known or recommended for that Nikon lens but does work is the addition of a Sigma 1.4mm tele converter for that lens and only that lens unless otherwise in a lens spec. This will extend the range to 420mm.
Here I have to stress that adding this converter may mean focusing in manual mode only,depending on which f setting the camera is on.

Why can you get away with this trick? the answer lies in the amount of free space inside that particular lens even when used at its shortest reach. The inner movement doesn't go back far enough to foul the tele converter, I have used this trick many times for extra reach with my Nikon 70-300 mm VR lens

Example using that combo at 420mm.

DSC_6530_edited-1.jpg


Realspeed
 
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Thanks guys, good advice. Nothing worse than buying twice. Would rather pay the extra now for something that does what I want.
 
motorsport photography but also enjoy some landscape and wildlife
Click to expand...
that covers a wide range and will need good focal length wide and telephoto

is a grand the top budget for all the kit

Bag,
Memory cards
spare battery
Camera
Lenses

what type of motorsport ?
what type of wildlife

go to a good shop - that also has 2nd hand equipment - like london camera exchange
and handle the camera see which is more natural Canon / Nikon

what did you use in 35mm and do you still have any of that kit ?
 
Yeah i know what you mean. I'm not worried about having all the lenses i'd need straight away. I'm more concerned in making sure I buy right body as a base to build on. Quite happy to add to it as I go.

Sadly I no longer have any of my 35mm kit. Mostly pentax but doesn't see too popular these days.

Had a quick look at D7000, looks very nice. Reviews seem to dislike kit lens so maybe buy body only and seperate lens?! What would be canon equivilant?

Looking on line there seems to be a fair bit of overlap between different models making the decision even harder!
 
If taking the second hand route do check the number of "clicks" shutter actuations I personally wouldn't touch a camera above 10,000 clicks. Bit like buying a car, looks ok on the outside but the engine is knackered.
Average clicks for Nikon is 150,000 but that varies from camera to camera but gives so kind of idea of camera life span.

Murphy's law states that which ever camera you buy shortly afterwards you will find one just that little bit better.

Realspeed
 
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550D 600D 60D 7D
might want to go to the canon site and compare

650D is out so the others maybe cheaper

i picked up a 2nd hand 60D from LCE with 145 shutter activations on - unfortunetly - the camera also had a fault - but LCE where excellent in service so i ended with a new one

the 15-85mm lens is a cracking lens as well - I wish i could afford at the moment - just keeping an eye on 2nd hand market - maybe even the 50-250 to go with it
 
I've just started a few months ago and was recommended the Nikon D3100. It's an entry level dslr but the results are fantastic, I'm well chuffed! It's light but very sturdy and great for learning in my opinion.certainly worth a look.
 
Ben Smith said:
Had a quick look at D7000, looks very nice. Reviews seem to dislike kit lens so maybe buy body only and seperate lens?! What would be canon equivilant?
Click to expand...

yeah, you don't have to buy the kit lens with the body, i would also look at some second hand website, i personally recommend Grays of Westminster and London Camera Exchange.
 
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