Beginner First SLR help please.

Jool1975

Jool1975

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Hi im looking to get my first SLR (currently have a Fineix bridge camera) ive narrowed it down to three, i wondered if anybody had any advice or possible alternatives.

1. Nikon D3200, i really like this one and have seen it for £379 with a twin lens pack, ive looked at it and had a play around and i was really happy with the size and feel of it and i thought i had set my heart on it until i saw........

2. Cannon EOS 100D i had a play with this one also and really liked it too!! i didnt spend as much time with this one but i thought it was a really nice camera (seen it for £499 with twin lens kit)

3. Sony A58, must admit i looked at this and found it felt a little cheaper than the other two (sounded clunky) however it is on offer with a triple lens kit for £399 which appeals to me!

Can anyone offer an opion on any of these to help me narrow it down please?

Id prefer a kit but im willing to buy the body and lenses seperate if needed! budget £500 i know its not huge but its all i can justify spending at the moment.

Mostly want it for portait shots of my daughter and wildlife etc...

Thanks in advance.
 
I suggest you spend a little more time handling the different cameras and pay more attention to the controls layouts and menu systems... At least one of them will "make less sense" and be less "friendly" to you.

One of the reasons I've never switched to Canon... and have never got on particularly well with them, is because I don't particularly like the way the controls and menus integrate as "a system." A lot of that is because I've used Nikon's forever... I'm sure I might feel exactly the opposite if I had used mostly Canons. But even without that Nikon's seem more "logical" to me. It's just a personal thing.... but once you choose "a system" you'll likely be stuck with it for a very long time. Things change a lot... at one moment Canon may be on top and the next Nikon is. It's better to just stay with what you like rather than chase "better."

Personally, I wouldn't look at the entry level bodies as they are significantly handicapped compared to mid tier bodies in controls or capabilities. But if that's what the budget allows, then go for it. They are certainly capable of fine images and more than adequate for most things.

As for the kits... the more you get "included" the lower "quality" it usually is... I would look for a kit that includes one lens; something like an 18-55. And I would choose that over "body only" and a single prime lens other's might suggest.

Sony/Olympus/Pentax/et all: Some great stuff there, but generally more limited or more expensive in "upgrades" over time.
 
One camera is as good as another at this price-point, they're all very similar. The most important difference is the ergonomics, how easily it sits in your hands and how naturally your fingers fall onto the buttons and controls. Unfortunately it takes a few weeks toreally understand how well a camera matches your hands - but if you're getting a feel for them in a shop ask the assistant to demonstrate to you how to:
  • Set the camera to P mode
  • Set the camera to Av/A mode, and change the aperture
  • Set the camera to Tv/S mode, and change the shutter speed
  • Set the camera to M mode, and change both the aperture and shutter speed
Beginner DSLRs tend to have one command dial less than is ideal, so trying for yourself in the shop to see how the basic parameters are set will give you an indication of how natural this all feels.

Multi-lens kits look a bargain, but whilst the standard kit lens is usually ok (kit lenses have been getting better) the second and third lenses are usually weaker and less useful.


PS, there are always alternatives - the Fuji A-1 or M-1 are worth a look as lightweight alternatives to a DSLR with high quality sensors, although they won't be as good for focussing on a fast moving child..
 
I use and prefer a Canon. My 1st camera was the Nikon D3100 (Pretty much the same as a D3200), I used it to shoot portraits and landscapes and it was adequate and relatively easy to pick up the controls. I then upgraded to a Canon 7D and although it is considered a big upgrade, I found it so much better. Although not considered much of a turn off I found the noise the shutter makes when it closes was so much smoother and less clunky.

A friend of mine recently bought the D3200 Twin Lens Kit and I took him out for a night time landscape session, the Nikon struggled to get focus whereas the Canon was far better. I know grabbing focus in the dark is tricky, but I was using a torch to light up a subject to grab focus then switch to MF and then shoot my photo.

One thing I will say is not long after buying the Nikon (6 Months.) I upgraded to the 7D as I felt I needed more from my DSLR, so I would suggest stretching your budget, if possible, and going for something a bit more high end. That said portraits and wild life shouldn't test the D3200 too much.

Hope that helps.
 
Thanks for this, might revisit my budget and see if i can afford a bit more, dont want to get one thats too advanced for me though and then not be able to use it.

Id like at least one lens that can be used for most things, dont mind saving to buy extra ones eventually.

Might use my £500 to pay a deposit at Jessops and then get rest on finance if i see a more expensive one that i REALLY want.
 
Ive seen the Nikon D5200 for £485 with the 18-55mm lens but the reviews on this dont seem as good as the D3200. I know the lenses in the kits wont be perfect but im hoping they will put me on until i can afford to buy individual better ones.
 
artographywales said:
p.p.s. The 55-200mm lens in the kit won't really give you too much range and might not suit wildlife photography, unless you are sitting quite close to the wildlife. IMO
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Depends how you define "wildlife" - 55-200mm can be perfect for bird tables, etc. And it's a very useful range of focal lengths for portraits.

@Jool1975 - would you be happy buying either secondhand or manufacturer-refurbished? It can save a lot of cash.. (and if you could better describe the types of photo you want to take - particularly "wildlife" as that can get very expensive the way the enthusiasts on this forum are inclined to define it, as this will make it easier to understand your needs)
 
*IF* you decide on Nikon I would suggest you look at a used/refurbished D7000 w/ an 18-105 kit lens as a great entry point. It's essentially a D5200 but with the more advanced controls (dual dials etc). I'm in the USA so I can't suggest a reputable source for you there...
 
Im not against getting secondhand but would prefer new really!

I really want to take decent photos of my daughter shes a bit of a diva so loves posing! and also my dog! id really love to take great shots of flowers also.

Wildlife i mean birds mainly or animals that we see at the local wildlife park (Yorkshire Wildlife Park) got some decent ones there using my bridge camera so assuming with even an entry level SLR they will be better shots (not sure what the focal length is on my bridge camera but think its pretty good).

I like to take photos of anything that interests me really so i cant say theres anything i specifically want the camera for.
 
Jool1975 said:
Im not against getting secondhand but would prefer new really!
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Your choice, but the "sweet spot" with camera gear (IMHO) is about 1 generation behind bought used/refurbished. You could easily save 40-60% over the long term enabling you to buy gear at least one level above new.

If budget isn't a consideration then that's a different thing. But for "a hobby," budget should probably always be "a consideration."
 
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sk66 said:
Your choice, but the "sweet spot" with camera gear (IMHO) is about 1 generation behind bought used/refurbished. You could easily save 40-60% over the long term enabling you to buy gear at least one level above new.

If budget isn't a consideration then that's a different thing. But for "a hobby," budget should probably always be "a consideration."
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I will into this see if i can find any decent sites that sell secondhand! its definatly an option to look at it (just like the idea of getting a nice shiny spanking new camera but agree this may not get me the 'best' for my money)

Budget is definatly a consideration so i dont want to go crazy
 
Canon 60d or nikon d7000, both great cameras and can be found with lenses for less then your budget used on ebay.

The 2nd command dial on these will be worth it believe me
 
Will look now, worried this might be too advanced for me so think i need to go and have a look at one and have a play with it.

My daughter had some portrait shots done a few weeks ago and im sure thats the camera he used they were great photos as well.
 
Jool1975 said:
Will look now, worried this might be too advanced for me
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Don't worry about that, you can grow into any camera. They all come with an auto mode, which is just point and shoot. Even my other half can manage it.
 
If you can change settings without having to go through menus, ie 2 control dials, you will find it much easier to use
 
Thanks so much for all this, im going to go and have a look this weekend at all my options and maybe look at getting one of the more expensive ones with only one lens, dont want to spend a few hundred then upgrade anyway! even if it means waiting longer.
 
Jool1975 said:
Will look now, worried this might be too advanced for me so think i need to go and have a look at one and have a play with it.

My daughter had some portrait shots done a few weeks ago and im sure thats the camera he used they were great photos as well.
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"More advanced controls" doesn't make it a more advanced camera... it just means you have more direct access to settings.
For the most part, a camera is a camera... they all have the same basic modes/settings/behaviours. "Advanced" means direct control and greater capability when you need it.
 
I recently bought my first dslr, 60d, but I was looking at the 700d or d5300 originally. Was convinced to get a higher spec model, used, for the better use ability , I wouldn't change anything now, it makes life so much easier
 
Just been chatting to my hubby who is paying for most of this for me and he said he would rather me spend more and get something thats going to last me a long time rather than get an entry level camera and then want a new one in a year so going to completly revisit my choices!

Thinking if i get it from Jessops on their interest free scheme i can put £500 down as deposit then put rest on finance for the lenses.

Can anybody recommend a couple of lenses i that i will be versatile enough to last me a good long while?
 
Jool1975 said:
Just been chatting to my hubby who is paying for most of this for me and he said he would rather me spend more and get something thats going to last me a long time rather than get an entry level camera and then want a new one in a year so going to completly revisit my choices!

Thinking if i get it from Jessops on their interest free scheme i can put £500 down as deposit then put rest on finance for the lenses.

Can anybody recommend a couple of lenses i that i will be versatile enough to last me a good long while?
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I use the 28-135mm IS USM which I find is very good on my FF 1Ds MkII and also fits a crop camera.

The pics I take with it are very sharp except for the edges which show on my FF if I start pixel peeping - normally though I don't!

But on a crop camera this would not be a problem.
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Jool1975 said:
Wildlife i mean birds mainly or animals that we see at the local wildlife park (Yorkshire Wildlife Park) got some decent ones there using my bridge camera so assuming with even an entry level SLR they will be better shots (not sure what the focal length is on my bridge camera but think its pretty good).
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Be prepared for your photographs to get worse before they get better! It takes a bit of time to get used to a DSLR. It's one of the reasons there are so many good bargains on secondhand entry-level DSLRs - owners disappinted that the magic wasn't happening as soons as they picked up the camers and selling them off rather than learning to use them.

Jool1975 said:
My daughter had some portrait shots done a few weeks ago and im sure thats the camera he used they were great photos as well.
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It isn't the camera that makes the photos great.. ;)


As Steven has suggested above, model slightly further up the range is usually easier to use and easier to learn to use well. It's a real pain to have to push-and-twist a control or press-this-whilst-pressing-that to change a setting just because the manufacturer made the camera appear less confusing/threatening and "beginner friendly" by reducing the number of dials below the sensible minimum.
 
Jool1975 said:
Can anybody recommend a couple of lenses i that i will be versatile enough to last me a good long while?
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IMHO, no. No-one can tell you what lens(es) will suit you best. General purpose lenses are just that... jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none. The best lenses do one or two things particularly well. IMHO, it's best to pick up a kit lens like the 18-55 or 18-105 for cheap and figure out what you need over time. It's best to target your expenses at specific needs as opposed to blindly trying to hit it all.

With budget considerations, chances are you'll eventually get a 35 or 50mm prime for the portrait stuff, you'll definitely hear plenty of recommendations for them... but you don't necessarily *need* one over the kit lens for portraits.
The *wildlife thing*... that get's expensive fast depending on your needs... "wildlife" or "pond ducks/zoo"? Long distances or up-close? Which camera model you choose, and budget will heavily influence any recommendation.
And the longer you wait, the cheaper the stuff gets... you can either save more money or buy a little better when the time comes.
 
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Jool1975 said:
Thanks everyone for your help it has certainly given me food for thought.

I've seen this bundle and I'm not sure whether it's a good deal or not (seems to be).

I know the accessories won't be top notch but the camera and lenses seem useful.

http://slrhut.co.uk/product/ID1383C...=PPC&utm_campaign=SHOPPING&utm_term=ID1383C5&
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Well if you don't mind importing from the US, heavy upselling and not paying VAT..
(have a search of the forum for "SLRhut" - I've had a lookon their website and can find no mention of the warranty arrangements for the cameras they sell - some interesting discussion at http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=3697029)

Use CPB to find good UK based deals.. http://www.camerapricebuster.com/Home
 
Have you no one local,its a lot better if you can go back and ask questions,we have a local Nikon dealer who matches Wex prices,not the cheapest but a decent price and local back up.
 
We have a Jessops local but that's all I can think of. Will google now see if I can find any others.
 
Nikon D7000 is a good camera which is high spec and a camera you can grow into. The D7000 has a built in motor which enables you to use older Nikon lenses which can be cheaper than newer models. You can buy this kit at HDEW which I have bought from a couple of times and in general they are recomended on here, They are also a UK based company and will supply a VAT reciept.

If you went for the Kit below, I would then recomend a Tamron 70-300mm VC lens which is about a £289.00 from Amazon and a Nikon 50mm 1.8d lens which is usually about £85.00. You would have a setup which wouldn't need changing for a while.

So in summary: You would have the D7000 with 18-105mm kit lens, great lens and usefull for day outs.
The 70-300mm tamron lens for your wildlife.
50mm lens for your portraits.

http://www.hdewcameras.co.uk/nikon-d7000-d-slr-digital-camera-body--18-105mm-vr-lens-811-p.asp

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tamron-70-300-4-5-6-Lens-Canon/dp/B003YUBTIU tab between Canon & Nikon

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nikon-NIKKOR-50mm-1-8D-Lens/dp/B00005LEN4/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1410944631&sr=1-2&keywords=Nikon 50mm
 
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If you can drop a hint as to which part of the country you're in, someone might be able to recommend alernative shops. Just the county would usually be enough.
 
Thanks swanseajack will look now!

I'm in South Yorkshire (nr Sheffield) but can travel anywhere in Yorks,Notts or surrounding areas
 
Hi Jool, I'd back up what others are saying re: buying second hand. The ONLY downside (IMO of course) is there is a small chance of getting a dud, but then can be massively lessened by buying from somewhere reputable rather than fleabay. Having said that, I bought mine on fleabay (and have since bought a couple of 2nd hand lenses from there too - all perfectly ok). But I wouldn't say doing what I've done is failsafe. BUT... if you buy second hand from a decent photography shop (e.g. with an online store - there are loads of them) then you get some extra comfort factor and usually some sort of short warranty/guarantee even if it's just for a month or so.

The big benefit is that if/when you do come to sell it, somebody else will have taken the biggest depreciation hit on your kit for you. A few scenarios:

1. You decide you don't like it. You eventually decide to call it quits and sell up
2. You really like it. No, you love it, and after a while decide you want to upgrade the body to a more advanced / newer model
3. You really like it but you don't get on with your camera and want to switch to a different brand.
4. You like it/love it and you're happy with your camera and decide to stick with it for a good few years.

In scenarios 1, 2 and 3, you're better off having bought a second hand camera. You will lose less money by doing so because your resale value on the kit will be far closer to what you've paid for it (probably). Factor in that you've also almost certainly spent less upfront and the risk for you is so much lower. You simply don't know which of these four categories you'll end up in, and it's only in scenario 4 where having bought a new body will be in any way better than buying second hand. Note that in scenario 2, it's highly unlikely you'll be upgrading to the body you're considering at this stage, so buying new now is not derisking that next step - if/when you were to upgrade, it's likely to be something which is a proper step up, not an entry-level body.

The other benefits people have mentioned include being able to get more kit for your money are true, but that might be offset in your own mind by not having the latest, greatest model. Which might be the latest but honestly it won't be the greatest (even marketing convince us otherwise).

For me it's such a no-brainer, I'd struggle to justify ever buying a brand new body since it's just a hobby for me.

Just to put it into perspective, I bought my Pentax K5 body only for less than £300 second hand (with relatively few shutter actuations). I have so much "headroom" with this camera that I could improve my skill levels exponentially for the next 2-3 years and still not need to upgrade. The same would have applied had I bought Canon, Nikon, Sony or any other brand. Whether I choose to hang on for 2, 3 or 4 years is a different matter, but the point is I'm in no way restricting my photography by buying second hand.
 
Myself I prefer to buy new if I can, been had a few times with Fungus in lenses even when buying from dealers on ebay. Also, for a first time buyer they perhaps wouldn't know what to look for when checking over seconhand gear.

For the prices that I have linked above, in some ways it's a no brainer to buy new just for the warranty and how much they are going for secondhand.. You can have the Nikon D7000 with a three year warranty, and the Tamron 70-300mm VC with a five year warranty.

As an example, a newish Nikon D7000 goes for around the £375.00 mark, (they currently start at £379.00 @ MPB) and the 18-105 for around the £120.00 mark. Total £495.00. To buy new from HDEW it costs £540.00. for £50.00 I think it's worth the extra for the 3 year warranty.
 
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Jool1975 said:
dont want to get one thats too advanced for me though and then not be able to use it.
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You may be surprised how quickly you get to grips with your first DSLR. You would use the extra features as well. Some may be set-and forget, some may be controls or features that you use a lot. It won't be long before you are hankering after couple of extra features. I'd always advocate the 2nd scroll wheel on a body...genuinely makes life so much easier when you are ready to go more manual. There is more to owning a better body than that point alone but it can be a big deal.

The thing is, you really don't need to go too mad either. If you went mid range you are probably less likely to want to upgrade for so much longer than if you bought a base model. You've been given some solid advice on here so good luck hunting! Let us know the outcome please!
 
Thanks everyone, ive taken all you advice on board and rather than get en entry level SLR and end up regretting it im going to probably look at the D7000 as already mentioned (but will look at the equivalant Cannon also) i think it will mean not getting it quite so soon (or at least not getting as many lenses so soon) but i think it will be worth it in the long run, i soon got bored of my bridge camera dont want to do the same again!

Im looking at the deal on HDEW cameras at the moment but reviewing the website first as dont want to get caught out if there are any issues (might email them also)

You have all been really helpful so thank you and i will certainly post back when i have made my purchase.

I was going to sell my bridge camera and put the money towards my new one but they dont seem to go for a massive amount so may as well just keep it for taking abroad etc...(dont want to take an expensive camera on holiday)
 
Whichever one you buy you really need to feel them in your hand to see if they feel RIGHT.

A bit vague I know but you'll understand once you start looking.

Before I bought my first DSLR I went about 8 times to my local Jessops (now closed) just to look and feel the various cameras as well as checking the reviews of them online.

I finally chose the Canon 350D and never regretted it.

And I used it for about 5 years (and about 30,000 pics) before I felt that I had finally outgrown it.
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Hdew are good. Iv spoken to them multiple times about products and advice. They are also UK based and provide vat receipt so no extra bills from hmrc
 
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