Buying a new camera - which one do you recommend?

C

Camerafan

Suspended / Banned
Messages
100
Edit My Images
No
I am hoping to buy a digital SLR camera and a digital compact camera.

I would like it to have an 18 - 55 mm lens and also a 70 - 200 mm or a 70 - 300 mm lens. I might get lenses which are a different brand from the camera if they will both work together. I do not know whether to buy all the camera equipment together or separately. Can anyone reading this help me with advice on what to buy?

I also need to get a new digital compact camera and wonder if anyone can make recommendations.

I was thinking of spending up to £1000 for the digital SLR camera and the lenses I need for it so I am not looking to purchase one of the more expensive cameras. I do not have a set limit for the digital compact camera - but perhaps up to £250 although I was thinking of spending less. I know that some are on sale for under £100.

I read that some people now use their i-phone camera to take pictures instead of using digital compact cameras.

My last SLR camera was not digital so, although I have used a digital compact camera, I do not have a great knowledge of digital SLR photography so far.

Thank you for reading this and for any advice and questions and I hope that I will be able to ask questions if there is anyone reading this who can help with suggestions.
 
Difficult one to answer properly.
The best thing to do is to hold a camera to see if it suits you. It's a bit like buying shoes! Get the wrong size and they either fall off or are too tight, though it's more about the ergonomics.
Having said that, I prefer Nikon as they feel 'right' to me. (a friend of mine- going back some forty years- prefers Canon). Both of us now have a collection of Sony Nex cameras and lenses to suit.

I could ramble on, but I've started the ball rolling now... :)
 
Not really a question that anyone can answer 100% as we all have favourite brands, Canon,Sony,Nikon etc etc
There are IMO only two ways you can decide what is for you (1) join a camera club or even just go to a meeting as a trial visit and see if you can see and hold what those members are using or (2) go to a camera shop with staff that no about photography and look and hold the different makes to see what feels right for you. Don't dive in and take your time over your decision as once made unless you are lottery winner you have to stick with it to give it a fair chance.
 
All good advice, there are very few bad cameras out there. There's nothing wrong with Sony, Pentax, Olympus etc but it's worth keeping in mind that Nikon and Canon are better supported with a wider range of accessories and lenses.
 
Why not take a look at the mirrorless compact system camera's as well, the Sony NEX always gets good reviews and is "probably" the leader in this vein atm because of it's dslr sensor and all round performance. Others are also now producing similar cameras, the latest NX offering from Samsung the NX-300 looks particularly interesting, will be nice to see some real world shots from it, there are others also to consider such as the offerings from Olympus, Fuji, Panasonic etc.
I've deliberately avoided the dslr option as so much of this is going to come down to what feels good in your hands and personal choice so decided just to maybe give you another option to think about.
Whatever you do, don't part with your money before visiting a camera retailer in your area to check a few out.
 
kendo1 said:
Difficult one to answer properly.
The best thing to do is to hold a camera to see if it suits you. It's a bit like buying shoes! Get the wrong size and they either fall off or are too tight, though it's more about the ergonomics.
Click to expand...

Thank you for your advice, Kendo1.
 
russellsnr said:
There are IMO only two ways you can decide what is for you (1) join a camera club or even just go to a meeting as a trial visit and see if you can see and hold what those members are using or (2) go to a camera shop with staff that no about photography and look and hold the different makes to see what feels right for you. Don't dive in and take your time over your decision....
Click to expand...

Thank you for your advice, russellsnr.
 
SussexBlue said:
Why not take a look at the mirrorless compact system camera's as well...I've deliberately avoided the dslr option as so much of this is going to come down to what feels good in your hands and personal choice so decided just to maybe give you another option to think about. Whatever you do, don't part with your money before visiting a camera retailer in your area to check a few out.
Click to expand...

Thank you for your advice SussexBlue.
 
Compact wise i would look for a used Fuji x10.

DSLR wise i defo go for used and also use lens as well. You can probably buy a used D7000, standard nikon 18-70 lens and a nikon 80-200 f2.8 AFD for £1000. but price may change so you need to scout around.
 
If you still have any of your old SLR kit, it may be worth sticking with that system with the caveat that manual focus on DSLRs isn't as easy as it used to be with the old type split/microprism focus aids that were common on older MF bodies. I know that many Nikon DSLRs can be used with old MF lenses but Canon changed their mount completely so old MF lenses will need an adaptor. Metering may be an issue on both (and other) systems, depending on the body.

As far as which precise make and model to go for, that's all down to personal choice and how well the camera fits! When I restarted, the Nikon fitted me best and Nikon bodies still do fit me better than the others (and I'm fairly well ensconced in the Nikon system so would be reluctant to change now anyway).

I would advise that you make a list of your requirements as far as specifications go, sit down with a magazine that shows loads of specifications and build up a shortlist of the models that meet specs and budget then visit a well stocked retailer to try the shortlist on for fit and feel.

Happy shopping!
 
badboy1984 said:
DSLR wise i defo go for used and also use lens as well. You can probably buy a used D7000, standard nikon 18-70 lens and a nikon 80-200 f2.8 AFD for £1000. but price may change so you need to scout around.
Click to expand...

Thank you for your advice.
 
Nod said:
I would advise that you make a list of your requirements as far as specifications go, sit down with a magazine that shows loads of specifications and build up a shortlist of the models that meet specs and budget then visit a well stocked retailer to try the shortlist on for fit and feel. Happy shopping!
Click to expand...

Thank you for your advice, Nod.
 
ChrisHeathcote said:
Forgive me for asking a daft question, but why are you after a Dslr and a compact?
Click to expand...

I want a spare camera in case the batteries on the digital SLR run out but I am advised that it would be better to get an extra battery or extra batteries and charge it or them up ready for use in the digital SLR.
 
Camerafan said:
I want a spare camera in case the batteries on the digital SLR run out but I am advised that it would be better to get an extra battery or extra batteries and charge it or them up ready for use in the digital SLR.
Click to expand...

That would make sense. If its to use as a backup, I have kept my old 350d, which I carry so if anything happens I can still use all my lenses. You can get older entry level bodies for under £100 now.
 
Always a good idea to have a spare battery as long as you remember to keep it both fully charged and with the camera! Modern LiIon batteries will hold most of their charge for a long period and don't have the same memory effect that older NiCd/NiMh batteries use to display.

Much easier to carry a spare battery or two than a spare camera!
 
2 batteries makes a lot of sense, or a battery grip which can often take AA batteries which you can easily get locally.

Professionals need spare bodies in case of equipment failure but not necessary for someone buying their first camera.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top