Beginner 1st Camera

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trebor1892

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Rob
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Hello there,

I'm looking for some advice with regards to a first purchase.

Im looking to move from a normal digital cam to an SLR.

I'm planning to start a few evening and weekend classes and want to have something to use when needed.

I'm curently looking at getting either the Samsung NX10 or the Canon 1000D.
Can you give any ideas which of these would be best and/or give some tips on anything else that may be handy - I'm keen to get into sports photog but want to learn the basics around exposure and editing etc first so just want something thats going to be easy to use.

Any other tips on books, courses or any websites that would be handy for beginners would also be good.

Thanks
Rob
 
Technically an NX10 isnt a DSLR because it doesn't have a mirror box or pentaprism meaning their's no reflex action. It does have interchangeable lenses and an APS-C sensor which the Canon shares. If you can, push to the EOS 550D because it's simply built better.

Canon also have more lenses available as opposed to the Samsung which is a relatively new system.

The Samsung does take awesome pictures and is small and light, both are geared to the novice or consumer moving up like yourselfso have all the fully automated features as well as manual controls.

Personally, I'd go with Canon but try for a slightly better camera than the EOS 1000D. The 550D or even the 450D are still very easy to use.
 
Rob, the NX10 may give good results, but it's not technically an SLR.

If you want to learn then I'd suspect that an SLR will give you the best platform to learn on.
 
Rob, if you can stretch to a 450d (we just got a "reconditioned" one with 18-55 IS lens from digigood on ebay for £370 and it appears brand new) you would be buying a camera which offers more for the money than any other DSLR in my opinion.

Compare the reviews at www.dpreview.com
 
Do you have any specific budget? There's no real reason for you to simply just buy the cheapest one available, you may very well find yourself growing out of it within months if you do intend on seriously getting into it. I mean, at the end of the day the canon line all function very similarly.

I'd go as far as even saying that the 1D MKIV doesn't make things anymore complicated to a newcomer than using the 1000D would. But then again I wouldn't exactly recommend a 1D MKIV to a beginner, so I'm not entirely sure why I said that! (I'm sure there's some sense in this theory of mine somewhere)
 
Another + for the 450D. Although not the latest model it is still a cracking first DSLR to hone your skills as a new tog and it is versitile enough to stretch you once you get past the auto settings.
 
In the same boat I went for a second hand 20D, I know its older but feels much more like a proper camera than the 450D never mind 1000D did in my shovel like hands. £250 for camera, lens, bag and CF cards etc.
 
I recently bought a 500D, I managed to knock Comet down on the price from £580ish to £547 with the 18 - 55 kit lens.

i just couldnt afford the next step up to a 550D but after reading a few reviews i considered the extra to be worthwhile over the 450 where i had read the odd one or two less good review, particularly about its performance at night (though they all did say it was a great camera overall).
 
mac2474 said:
Another + for the 450D. Although not the latest model it is still a cracking first DSLR to hone your skills as a new tog and it is versitile enough to stretch you once you get past the auto settings.
Click to expand...

:agree: The 450d is a great 1st DSLR
 
Do a google search for entry level SLR reviews and do some research. Then when you've put together a small shortlist of 2 or 3 cameras find some unbiased reviews. Then go to the local shop and try em out.
No good setting your heart on a Canon if when you try it you hate the user interface. That goes for any camera.
Final choice has got to be one you can get along with and can use easily.

Dont rule out buying a slightly older 2nd hand model, the money you'll save against a new model will allow you to get maybe another lens, tripod and bag etc
 
The 450D is a superb first camera... Its my first DSLR and its so easy and light to use! If you wanted a video recording option too, go for the 550D! Both great cameras, but I'd say the 450D is slightly better - having played with both!
 
As others have said. It comes down to budget. Get the best camera you can afford as buying the cheapest is a false economy, you WILL upgrade sooner rather than later. I started out with a Canon 350 and it served me very well for years. You can pick one up with a kit lens for sub £200 these days.
How much pocket money do you have to spend?
 
Canonite said:
Do a google search for entry level SLR reviews and do some research. Then when you've put together a small shortlist of 2 or 3 cameras find some unbiased reviews. Then go to the local shop and try em out.
No good setting your heart on a Canon if when you try it you hate the user interface. That goes for any camera.
Final choice has got to be one you can get along with and can use easily.

Dont rule out buying a slightly older 2nd hand model, the money you'll save against a new model will allow you to get maybe another lens, tripod and bag etc
Click to expand...

Best advice!

Nowt wrong with the 1000D though. It has served me good for the last year and has plenty functionality.
 
trebor1892 said:
I'm curently looking at getting either the Samsung NX10 or the Canon 1000D.
Can you give any ideas which of these would be best and/or give some tips on anything else that may be handy - I'm keen to get into sports photog but want to learn the basics around exposure and editing etc first so just want something thats going to be easy to use.
Click to expand...

if you are "keen to get into sports photog" then I'd suggest a camera with an optical viewfinder system, ie. a proper DSLR with an old fashioned optical mirror/pentaprism type light feed to the viewfinder rather than a miniature LCD screen viewfinder (which the samsung uses). The LCD systems can have a little lag, so anything moving fast and you run the risk of missing the shot. They are always improving the technology but anything that puts electronics between the action and your eye is going to add delays.
 
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