Help with Camera selection

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Pedro B

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Peter
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Hello Forum!
I've not done this before so bear with me.....

I am not a photographer or into photography past being able to appreciate a good picture.
My partner however is and I'm looking for advice on the bewildering array of equipment out there, as Christmas is coming, and I want to get her a decent digital SLR.

Budget £350-400

Looking on-line I've narrowed it down to the following:-
Nikon D3100
Canon EOS 550D (although a bit higher price)
Canon EOS Rebel T3i

Being a numpty WRT to photography, I look at MP rating 1st, but this doesn't explain why the Canon EOS Rebel T3i is an 18MPix at around £360, but the Canon EOS 550D is also rated at 18MPix but costs £550???

I am open to suggestion on a good mid range package which is easy to use for quick snaps, but has enough adjustment for someone who knows the difference between ISO and AF, and has a good lens/s.

Please help me make someone happy this Christmas by buying the best all round camera lens package for my price range.

Thanks for reading.
Pete :)
 
Hi Peter- welcome to TP - my advice it to get down to local camera shop have a chat with them and handle a few camera's

Its all down to personal preference I shoot Sony for example :thumbs::thumbs: the Sony a390 package seems to fullfil all your needs:D dslr 2 lenses within your budget too

Nikon, Canon,Sony, Pentax all produce good dslr's along with a few lesser know brands

we all have preferences - dependant on what we use at this given moment in time mine just happens to be SONY

click on my links below- I get some good results I think?

Les :D
 
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Hi Pete, and welcome to the forum.

The best thing you can do for your partner is to find out what THEY would like from a camera. I know it spoils the surprise but it is very much a personal preference thing and I am sure you would rather get something that will be used a lot!

I don't know where you are based but Park Cameras in Sussex have a huge range in store to handle and knowlegable staff which really helps.

Keep asking questions!


Heather
 
Hi Pete,

I wouldn't worry too much about the number of megapixels, anything from about 10 upwards will be plenty. All of the cameras you mentioned would be fine, best thing to do would be to go to a shop and try some to see whether the controls make sense, buttons are in logical places etc.

The rebel T3i is the version of the 600d sold in Asia (i think?), so is a newer model of the 550d, and I assume it's cheaper because it's a grey import from abroad. Might also be worth looking for a second hand body so you've got more to spend on a decent lens (good lenses make more of a difference than a good body).
 
what i'd prefer to use wouldn't bne the same for yourself, or the guy next door...

far better to get down to a shop and hold a few and se what feels correct!

also bare in mind what you want to use it for etc..... cameras vary in their capabilities hugely, so think about what your likely to use it for etc beforehand

read up on here reviews of the cameras aswell as youtube videos and general reviews of the one you think you might want- i dare say someone on here will have owned one previously and can offer some actual advice to you needs then
 
Don't forget part of the advantage of SLR is being able to choose from a range of lenses.
Does she have any friends with an SLR camera?
If so it would be good to consider one which could share lenses.
 
Wow,

What a great response. Thanks guys for some useful advice. The best of which is to get down to my local camera shop (Huddersfield area if anyone can recommend somewhere) and speak face to face.
So anything 10MPix and up will be sufficient? Very useful, thanks again.
Pete
 
If your partner is into photography she may well have her own ideas what she wants in the way of a DSLR and what brand she wants. Probably never mentions that to you because you are not into photography.

Don't think I would risk making a DSLR a surprise present. I'd try to get her to say what she would like if she was getting a DSLR (then hope it isn't one that requires a lottery win).

BTW, be a good idea if you got her to join TP.
 
you could get her a gift voucher for camera equipment, then go shopping in the new year with her.
 
Pedro B said:
Wow,

What a great response. Thanks guys for some useful advice. The best of which is to get down to my local camera shop (Huddersfield area if anyone can recommend somewhere) and speak face to face.
So anything 10MPix and up will be sufficient? Very useful, thanks again.
Pete
Click to expand...

http://www.dalephotographic.co.uk/

Dale photographic is in Merrion Centre in Leeds on 1st floor. Seems to be the camera shop most people recommend in area
 
Pete, I think a few of the contributors here have missed the most important point of your question, ie that the camera is not for you.

You have been very clear in saying that you know nothing about cameras and that the camera you want is a present for your partner.

Therefore, please DO NOT go to your local camera shop by yourself.

If you are lucky you may come away with something your partner likes, but more likely you will, at best, get a camera that your partner will use but would not have chosen herself. At worst, it could be one that she really does not like at all, eg you could buy her a DSLR when what she wants is a smaller bridge camera or vice versa.

As noted by a few of the replies camera are personal. Whoever, is going to use the camera must feel happy with it and, as already mentioned, may already have an idea of what sort of camera they would like.

Take your partner along with you or, as suggested, go down the voucher route.

Dave
 
Hi Pete
I thought I'd add my two pennys worth as my husband surprised me with a DSLR camera for Christmas. I had an interest in photography but didn't own a DSLR (though had a film SLR many years ago).

He bought me the lowest level Sony as he wasn't sure of my interest. It turned out I loved it, used it loads, and the following year he most generously upgraded me to a Canon 550D.

In both cases I was over the moon, and relieved to be honest, that I hadn't had to go through choosing a camera. I would never have considered upgrading myself at that point. He had made the choices after visiting London Camera Exchange and discussing it with them. I think he did also research cameras on the internet.

At this point, if I were to upgrade I would have an opinion about what I would want, but I wouldn't have had a clue when starting out.

I only mention this because if your wife has had no experience of a DSLR yet and doesn't know anything about them either, she might love the surprise. I did!

I love my 550D. I will one day want to upgrade and get another, but I can't see me ever getting rid of it. It's nice and compact compared to many DSLRs so I'm more likely to carry it with me.

I still regularly thank my husband for giving me such a great present and getting me into such a great hobby.
 
Or she may be someone who can just get on with any camera and is not that bothered as long as it is a DSLR of course.
I don't care what DSLR I use. They all do the same fundamental things but just have different options, button placement etc,. Only takes a few sessions with the camera (or less) and I am use to it as they do try and make them intuitive and user friendly (at least for the main functions)

However, it is a different story if you don't even really know what type of camera as if I was really after a DSLR and you gave me a viewfinderless, button free CSC for example, that really wouldn't fit the bill. So as others have said, could be a risky purchase as a surprise present unless you can get her to drop some hints....
 
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