DSLR info and help please.

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D_Aitchison

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I know this has been covered before, but i think i have specific questions.

Enlighten me in laymans terms. I want a really good camera. I have a wee baby on the way and want to capture as much as I can in as best quality as i can and i feel that the standard digi cams aren't going to cut it.

Currently i have a Sony Cybershot DSC-P200 7.2 MegaPixel, which is OK i guess, but i want to play with things a little more and perhaps change lenses and what not.

By now you can see i have no idea what i'm on about.

I'm a photography n00b, so go easy.

So, what i have gathered about DSLR's so far is that the ability to take images in RAW means that i can do more?

Also, i have greater control over shutter speed / aperture etc.?

What about focus? When i had a play in the shops, and moved the lens to zoom, it seemed blurry, do they auto focus?

Delay, with my Sony, there is a short delay before the photo is taken, which is frustrating as i have missed some good photos due to this, like track days with fast moving stuff etc. What about storage, the canons use CF cards, and the rest are usually SD. What size cards are realistic based on the size of a good image?


So there you have it. HELP!

I should also say what i'm looking at i suppose.

I've got my heart set on a Canon EOS 400D. What does the EOS stand for? Is it too much for someone (me) with virtually no idea what i'm doing?

Canon EOS 350D? Same reasons as above.

Nikon something or other, sorry should have paid more attention, but was under £400. This seems to be marketed as the more 'friendly' camera?

I really fancy the 400D, so do you have any pointers to the best deals?
 
Hi, I'd seriously suggest you get the Canon 350D, it's much easier to understand for a beginner than the 400D. I use the 350D like everyday, and have loved it even though I've upgraded with different camera bodies.
It's the best price of all the Canon DSLR's, and a very nice piece, can get extraordinary results with all their DSLR's, that you would with extremely pricey other DSLR's...making it a great choice.
A DSLR allows you to do loads of things...and yes, change shutter speeds, apertures, colour temp's, blah blah blah, but the 350D has settings that correct all those functions automatically to what they should be for the shot you're going to take...then you can learn from it that way, and after a bit of use, go into manual mode which allows you to change every setting. Also the ability to change lenses, etc.
The 350D on eBay is going for about 270-pounds, which is dirt cheap, for something of it's quality and level. I'd highly recommend it to any photographer, new or advanced. If you do go with it, the insturction book that comes with it, is easy to read and understand and will act as a tutorial rather than a dictionary.
I believe the CF card and SD card are the same, SD is the brand (SanDisk).
 
SD stands for Secure Digital, not Sandisk :)

I can't comment on any of the Canon cameras, but I'd say you were being pushed towards the D40 or the D40x from Nikon... The D40x is a great camera for beginners (my mums got one, if she can use it, anyone can ;))

You could use any of the SLR's on auto mode, which will almost make them behave like a compact/ point & shoot, but the point is that you have more creative control over the camera. You will however, pay out more on lenses etc, as SLR's don't have a digital zoom as such, you're almost restrained by the length of the lens. That said, there are cheaper zoom lenses on the market which will provide decent images at decent zoom ranges.

Once you buy a camera body, you start to invest in lenses to use with that system, which will grow over time, then when you've had the body for a few years you can upgrade it to the newest etc.

:)
 
EOS = Electro-Optical System
 
Rebel XT is the US name for the 350d
 
englandshottest2 said:
Hi, I'd seriously suggest you get the Canon 350D, it's much easier to understand for a beginner than the 400D. I use the 350D like everyday, and have loved it even though I've upgraded with different camera bodies.
Click to expand...
Actually I would disagree with that I started with a 400D and moved to a 40D the 40D has a simlar layout to a 350D and I find the 400D much easier to use
Horses for courses and all that.

 
With a DSLR you have complete control over every setting that effects the image, which at a basic level is the combination of shutter speed, aperture and ISO that gives a correct exposure.

The above example is for Manual mode, but all DSLRs have modes from Full Auto, to some that adjust some settings for you (Av/Tv on Canon) through to full Manual mode.

The best way to think of RAW is a like a Digital Negative, no processing is performed by the camera - unless you choose to have it apply various things like sharpening, but you have to remember that shooting in RAW means you'll have to do a little more work in Post Production.

All DSLRs feature AF and MF, but with DSLRs it comes down to the lens. I believe some lenses lose AF when used with cameras like the Nikon D40, although I'm a Canon man so I'll probably be corrected on this. You'll notice some lenses are USM (for Canon) which means that the motor used is able to focus a lot quicker than non-USM lenses. You also have various focus points, in a diamond shape centred in the viewfinder. You can have the camera pick the AF point or you can choose it yourself.

With a DLSR you'll find the shutter delay is un-detectable, you press the button and the shot is taken - no waiting around like digital compacts.

You'll find all DSLRs use Compact Flash cards, there may be a technical reason for this but it's probably due to their physical size. There's various brands and product ranges available. I use Sandisk Extreme III cards, which I believe have a write speed of 20MB/Second which I find is find with my 40D on 6FPS for around 15 shots to be written in around 10 seconds. That's full size RAW files. Interestingly, some DSLRs (Canon 1 Series I think) use SD cards as well to that images can be written to both cards at once, giving an instant in-camera backup solution, I think the Sony DSLRs can use MemoryStick as well as CF.

I had a 400D firstly and it's a great camera, and now they're so much cheaper you can't go wrong. I've used a 300D but never a 350D and I personally prefer the 400D, although there's probably other people

As for deals, speak to Kerso who's a member on here. He's cheaper than any price you'll find elsewhere and I've found his service first rate!

But most of all, welcome and good luck!
 
not all dslr's use compact flash cards ( cf ) some nikons use secure digital ( sd ) cards
 
Thankyou, some great info there.

I've managed to fathom that AF= Auto Focus and MF= Manual Focus, But what does USM stand for?

I will PM Kerso and see what is available.

I'm amazed at how much science is behind all this.

David
sambonebs said:
With a DSLR you have complete control over every setting that effects the image, which at a basic level is the combination of shutter speed, aperture and ISO that gives a correct exposure.

The above example is for Manual mode, but all DSLRs have modes from Full Auto, to some that adjust some settings for you (Av/Tv on Canon) through to full Manual mode.

The best way to think of RAW is a like a Digital Negative, no processing is performed by the camera - unless you choose to have it apply various things like sharpening, but you have to remember that shooting in RAW means you'll have to do a little more work in Post Production.

All DSLRs feature AF and MF, but with DSLRs it comes down to the lens. I believe some lenses lose AF when used with cameras like the Nikon D40, although I'm a Canon man so I'll probably be corrected on this. You'll notice some lenses are USM (for Canon) which means that the motor used is able to focus a lot quicker than non-USM lenses. You also have various focus points, in a diamond shape centred in the viewfinder. You can have the camera pick the AF point or you can choose it yourself.

With a DLSR you'll find the shutter delay is un-detectable, you press the button and the shot is taken - no waiting around like digital compacts.

You'll find all DSLRs use Compact Flash cards, there may be a technical reason for this but it's probably due to their physical size. There's various brands and product ranges available. I use Sandisk Extreme III cards, which I believe have a write speed of 20MB/Second which I find is find with my 40D on 6FPS for around 15 shots to be written in around 10 seconds. That's full size RAW files. Interestingly, some DSLRs (Canon 1 Series I think) use SD cards as well to that images can be written to both cards at once, giving an instant in-camera backup solution, I think the Sony DSLRs can use MemoryStick as well as CF.

I had a 400D firstly and it's a great camera, and now they're so much cheaper you can't go wrong. I've used a 300D but never a 350D and I personally prefer the 400D, although there's probably other people

As for deals, speak to Kerso who's a member on here. He's cheaper than any price you'll find elsewhere and I've found his service first rate!

But most of all, welcome and good luck!
Click to expand...
 
On another note, what about the Nikon D40x? How does this compare?

Am i right in saying that the more megapixels doesn't always mean it's the best camera?
 
D_Aitchison said:
Am i right in saying that the more megapixels doesn't always mean it's the best camera?
Click to expand...

As with any art, its not what you have to determine the quality of your work, but how you use your tools. Photography is no different. You will see a picture and probably find out that its been taken with a 300D (predecessor to the 350D) and looks much better than something taken with a 40D by someone who hasn't mastered how to use it.

There are a few things I'd suggest before you empty your wallet. Firstly, see which particular camera brand works well for you. The two main brands are Nikon and Canon. Once you've chosen that, you will pretty much stick to it for life. The reason I say this is that there really isn't much difference between the two. Price, build, quality is all down to personal preference. The only difference I based my judgement when I made that decision was which I felt most comfortable with in my hands. In the end I chose Canon.

It pays to shop around. Someone has already mentioned Kerso, and in 2007 I made several purchases from him. Each one was completely flawless, his reputation speaks for itself.

The 350D is a very capable camera and the 400D is a worthwhile upgrade. However it really depends on what you intend to shoot, as this hobby can get expensive as you start to invest in a decent lens, flash and other accessories. I'd suggest you work out a budget and stick to it. Prepare to invest in the body (camera), flash and a basic lens to start you off. You'll also need memory cards and depending on what you intend to shoot, perhaps a tripod.

There is a wealth of information on this forum and the net. Good luck!
 
Thanks for that. You've pretty much summed up my day yesterday, going around and man handling cameras much to the disappointment of most of the 'Sales Executives'.

Top tip, while in buying PC accessories in PC World, don't ask them about SLR cameras, unless you are looking for some comedy.

Anyway, i think i've got my heart set on a Canon, probably the 350D, but i've been in touch with Kerso who as expected is the best deal yet.
 
donutagain said:
not all dslr's use compact flash cards ( cf ) some nikons use secure digital ( sd ) cards
Click to expand...

I stand corrected.

I'd always assumed it was from the early days of DSLRs and the only large format cards available were MicroDrive, i.e. CF size hard drives.

I'd also assumed that Nikon DSLRs took CF cards, oh well - silly me...
 
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