If some asks which DSLR should I get - Why suggest your current name of camera body?

Trig's

Trig's

Suspended / Banned
Messages
4,367
Name
Steve
Edit My Images
Yes
This may seem like I'm :dummy: but.... Why is it when some posts the question of "which dslr" should I get - that Canon/Nikon users say get the abc Canon/Nikon as they already have a Canon/Nikon body :shrug:

I know that its prob easier to rattle off a "starter" dslr of what your using but why not suggest another make of camera :shrug: or could it be that the person answering doesn't know anything about any of the other camera makes ie Sony, Olympus, Nikon, Canon, Fuji etc :shrug:

Obvious answer is usually - goto a shop & try before you buy to see what you feel comfy with... :thinking: Even then it usually boils down to the current body that they have... "go an try the Nikon/Canon abc" & see how you get on with it....

Its not really helping that person out is it - all your doing is giving them your preference of maker to them...

I know absolutely sod all about Canon but that still doesn't mean that I wouldn't recommend a Canon to them...

Surely it depends completely on how much of a budget they have to spend.. When I 1st started I went into a shop with a budget in mind & asked to try out all of the cameras on show to get a feel of them & what felt right to me..

Ok my little rant over for the day.. Now to wait for the on-slaught of comments to appear - which will be a good read to the usual topics on TP :bonk:
 
I'm currently still trying to decide which camera to purchase and I've asked a LOT of questions about various cameras so far. Yes the members do seem to be very 'pro' whatever make they have but it does also make sense? As if they have only ever had Nikon then they aren't going to recommend Canon surely? :lol:

To be fair I've had a lot of help and some really useful comments on my threads and I love seeing what each member has to say about the makes they suggest. :thumbs:

I do agree about going into the shop and seeing what you like, but I did my research, went to the shop and found one I liked.. so came home and did some research on that one, then asked on here for advice and now I'm looking around again before going back to the shop. :cuckoo: When looking to spend that sort of money it does take a lot of thought!
 
Trig's said:
This may seem like I'm :dummy: but.... Why is it when some posts the question of "which dslr" should I get - that Canon/Nikon users say get the abc Canon/Nikon as they already have a Canon/Nikon body :shrug:

I know that its prob easier to rattle off a "starter" dslr of what your using but why not suggest another make of camera :shrug: or could it be that the person answering doesn't know anything about any of the other camera makes ie Sony, Olympus, Nikon, Canon, Fuji etc :shrug:

Obvious answer is usually - goto a shop & try before you buy to see what you feel comfy with... :thinking: Even then it usually boils down to the current body that they have... "go an try the Nikon/Canon abc" & see how you get on with it....

Its not really helping that person out is it - all your doing is giving them your preference of maker to them...

I know absolutely sod all about Canon but that still doesn't mean that I wouldn't recommend a Canon to them...

Surely it depends completely on how much of a budget they have to spend.. When I 1st started I went into a shop with a budget in mind & asked to try out all of the cameras on show to get a feel of them & what felt right to me..

Ok my little rant over for the day.. Now to wait for the on-slaught of comments to appear - which will be a good read to the usual topics on TP :bonk:
Click to expand...


A couple of reasons...

1) a lot of people only have experience of one brand of dslr - the one they own

2) they've bought a Canon/Nikon or whatever, so obviously they made the right choice - didn't they?
 
It's because people feel comfortable recommending what they know. If you want a new car, I could recommend you a Kia C'eed. I've not driven one, and never sat in one, but you ge a good warranty.

However, I do drive a Renault Megane, and can tell you that it is a nice car, quite econonical, looks good, but there is not a lot of legroom in the back, which is slightly mroe useful.

At the moment, Pentax are doing a twin lens kit for £449, which is a great starter package, BTW.
 
skinttillpayday said:
I'm currently still trying to decide which camera to purchase and I've asked a LOT of questions about various cameras so far. Yes the members do seem to be very 'pro' whatever make they have but it does also make sense? As if they have only ever had Nikon then they aren't going to recommend Canon surely? :lol:

To be fair I've had a lot of help and some really useful comments on my threads and I love seeing what each member has to say about the makes they suggest. :thumbs:

I do agree about going into the shop and seeing what you like, but I did my research, went to the shop and found one I liked.. so came home and did some research on that one, then asked on here for advice and now I'm looking around again before going back to the shop. :cuckoo: When looking to spend that sort of money it does take a lot of thought!
Click to expand...


As punch would say - "thats the way to do it" :naughty:
 
skinttillpayday said:
I'm currently still trying to decide which camera to purchase and I've asked a LOT of questions about various cameras so far. Yes the members do seem to be very 'pro' whatever make they have but it does also make sense? As if they have only ever had Nikon then they aren't going to recommend Canon surely? :lol:

To be fair I've had a lot of help and some really useful comments on my threads and I love seeing what each member has to say about the makes they suggest. :thumbs:

I do agree about going into the shop and seeing what you like, but I did my research, went to the shop and found one I liked.. so came home and did some research on that one, then asked on here for advice and now I'm looking around again before going back to the shop. :cuckoo: When looking to spend that sort of money it does take a lot of thought!
Click to expand...

Simple really, mst of us can only recommend a specific brand because we only know about 1 brand. Most of us would also suggest the 'shop/play/comfort' thing, because it is horses for courses.

For instance, I would recommend a Nikon to a beginner, if onlt becuase I feel the buttons are more self explainatory than those on a canon [having picked up several canons and being lost] and that 'A' and 'S' are more obvious than Tv and Av. However, to a Canon user they will be obvious and the Nikon way more confusing...am I making sense? No? I guessed as much :sulk: :lol:
 
As said .. what's the point in recommending something you have no experience of? or recommending for a situation you have no experience of? its a pointless exercise in waffle.

I'm disabled, so I'm happy to recommend for disabled people
I've shot canon, nikon, pentax and panasonic so am happy to recommend based on MY experience of those camera's

I shoot a lot of low light/high ISO
I shoot portraits, still life and macro
I've shot a lot of wildlife in the past
I regularly use flash
I've shot landscapes in the past
I've shot film in the past

On those subjects I'm also happy to recommend based on my personal experience.

I try to steer clear of sports though even though I've had some past experience togging a rally and other motorsport.

Lets face it what a person really wants is a broad spectrum of peoples experiences with a camera, lens or other gear, both the good and the bad
 
I recommend Nikon or Canon. They are as good as anything and better than most, have class leading specs and prices, and the range of lenses and accessories is far wider, especially if you want to buy used.

Nikon and Canon have well over 80% market share between them. There is a reason for that.
 
As a Canon user, it would be very difficult for me to recommend a Nikon, not because I don't think they are any good, but because I have never used one and am therefore unable to offer an informed opinion.

On any of these threads asking 'which camera should I get' the chances are that the OP of each thread knows as much about Nikon cameras as I do, if not more, so I don't feel that I am in a position to offer advice on buying a Nikon.

Pretty much echoes what Yv said.
 
If its good enough to own its good enough to suggest to others.

I've only used a canon once, didn't like it, but if someone says "I need a camera for £XXX" I'd suggest the Nikon camera that came in on the budget, however, I'd also advise that they go and try them out.
 
Flash In The Pan said:
A couple of reasons...

1) a lot of people only have experience of one brand of dslr - the one they own

2) they've bought a Canon/Nikon or whatever, so obviously they made the right choice - didn't they?
Click to expand...

No.2 is typical & agree with "they" made the right choice - which is sometimes NOT the right choice for everyone else...

I did say that the best way is to go & try whats within your budget & see what you feel comfy with.. I totally agree with SUPD who seems to have done the correct way by trying what they like then doing the research on it & asking peoples thought's/opinions/advice...

So...

Did anyone else try out another brand 1st before settling on their current one or did you just go straight for it :shrug:
 
Last edited:
As you know, Ive used several Nikon bodies and now two Canon bodies and now back to Nikon. Ive also used my Brother's Pentax.
I base my reccomendations on what I know and have experienced. I wont reccomend Sony or Pannasonic, because I have never used them.
I wouldnt however say dont choose them, Id say I have no experience of them, so its up to you to try them all and see.

If someone says, what should I get, a D90 or 50D. Then I'll give my honest experience of both cameras.
 
I see your point Tom as you have been on both sides of the fence as so to speak... So at least you can give advice on comparison having owned both..

The only thing that gets me as well is that someone new to photography asks which dslr - which in away is that they are no doubt new to everything regarding it... Unless they have come up a step from a P&S camera...

So for a fellow member to recommend a dslr is gonna be more experienced and no doubt rattle off what they should be looking for... They're not going to know the "a55 from the elbow" regarding equipment now are they...

I know what I mean but its trying to explain it...

I still think that people should go and try it all first then decide - which is a contradiction in itself as the sales assistant will prob shove the highest earner for them... Shame really as its half a dozen of 1 & 6 of the other...

I know the sale rep did to me when I went looking - soon as I mentioned budget the £ signs soon disappeared from their eyes as well as their attitude..
 
I never suggest the cameras I own, it's always go try them all from any make.
 
i would say something like.. any camera will do, spend as much money as you can depending on how important photography is to you. it's the pictures that you make with the camera which is the important part!
 
Trig's said:
So...

Did anyone else try out another brand 1st before settling on their current one or did you just go straight for it :shrug:
Click to expand...

Yep, I did. Having done the research on specs etc within my budget I was looking at a Canon 450D, went to try one in Jessops and it just did not feel right in my hand, shutter button placement if I remember correctly, tried a few other makes and the Nikon was the one that just felt right the moment I held it.

I do agree with most here, I could only give advice or opinions on the equipment I have used otherwise I would be just repeating what I (and the person asking) could read on a website.

Paul.
 
Good question.

I couldn't personally recommend a Canon as I've never owned or even used one. How could I recommend something that I've never even used?

That being said I wouldn't go and say Don't get a Canon only look at Nikons as its pretty obvious that they both make great cameras and its down to personal preference which they prefer.
 
I would recommend pro-spec Nikons because that's what I own and have used for the past 35 years.
I wouldn't recommend Canon for certain applications because I have direct experience of them failing to deliver the goods under those conditions. But I always tell people that.
If you're not going to hit your cameras against brick walls in temperatures ranging from -20C to +60C then most modern cameras will do the job well enough...
 
I think that the only time I've recommended to anyone that they bought into the system I use was Dad and that made sense so he could borrow my lenses when he wanted to.

Oh, and a couple of people on another forum, both of who already used Nikons anyway.
Other times, I've suggested the shortlist of bodies that meet a spec from the person who's after a camera, followed by a visit to a well stocked dealer to try the shortlist on for feel and fit.
 
Trig's said:
This may seem like I'm :dummy: but.... Why is it when some posts the question of "which dslr" should I get - that Canon/Nikon users say get the abc Canon/Nikon as they already have a Canon/Nikon body :shrug:
Click to expand...

Because I know the reasons I had for choosing the one I did and reasons I rejected the ones I didn't.

Most of the time this question is coming from people that it wouldn't make a blind bit of difference to which camera they buy. Once you've started to specialise and have developed specific needs (frame rate, low noise high ISO response, fast focus, full frame, etc) then you already know enough about what's available to mean that you're asking a very different question if you do ask it.
 
The only time I recommend either of the cameras I own is when someone is asking specifically about those models. For anyone looking to buy their first dslr I would recommend they try them and see which one feels the best to them.
 
I would recomend a Canon as I own a canon and therefore know more about them, I tried a friends nikon the other day and was completly lost, it was so complicated. However a Nikon user would no doubt say the same about my 500d.
 
hmm.. well i had never owned a DSLR before so after asking all the usual questions and getting the usual answers.. i went and tried the 5 cameras i had shortlisted

i ended up buying the Sony A700.. and with a good reason for someone new to DSLR and photography in general..
At the time the A700 easily stood up to and betterd in alot of cases the similer priced Nikons and canons... picture quality was up there.. and features on the camera as well..

But the 1 thing i found most usefull as a newcomer was how Sony have implemented there system for changing any of the settings.. compared to ANY other camera i tried it was so much more simplistic.. no moret rawling through menu after menu trying to locate that elusive setting u want to experiment with.....
Using the joystic on the back i can just highlight any of the info showing on the rear LCD.. and change it directly from there...

May not sound a deal breaker but if anyone has used a sony and is familier with the system i would find it hard to believe they wouldnt wish it on every camera they bought thereafter :)
 
I think it's a general thing that you can only recommend what you have experience of and as others have said, most people will own one brand or another. If your first camera was a canon and you were happy with it you're probably going to upgrade to another canon as you'd be more familiar with the way it works and may also know a little about other products in the range.

Very similar to mobile phones IMO, people get used to a certain menu set up and stick to the same make phone for years.

A friend of mine saw some of my photos on Facebook and asked what camera I used as they really liked the pictures and were looking to upgrade their own camera (which I believed was a P&S).

I told them what gear I had but know what that cost, what she was probably looking at spending and that I'd heard good things about the Canon 1000D as a starter DSLR I suggested she took a look at that. She then said they had been looking at Canons but the upper end of the P&S/bridge models, I had a quick look at them on 'tinterweb and gave my views purely based on spec and said the best thing to do was to get to Jessops (or somewhere similar) and man-handle a few to see what felt best.
 
I don't think it is a surprise that people will recommend the camera or the camera brand they use. :shrug: Generally people are happy with their purchase, and they may have also have done a lot of research to come to their choice. They may not have though, ;) so it is best to question their recommendations if all the information is not forthcoming. :lol:

Keep in mind that once people have made a decision to buy into a brand, there is a tendency for them to unconsciously want other people to join their 'brand club' to reinforce their choice. ;)

I would never say buy my camera. I would say why I bought my camera and the good and bad things about it if the type of camera someone was after was like my camera, or they asked specifically about a camera I have/owned.

I would also never say buy the entry level Nikon just because I have a Nikon. I may have read a review, but I have no experience of them so there is no need to presume that all Nikon's are good. :shrug: The same applies to other brands too btw. ;)

There may be good reasons for buying Canon or Nikon because of the breadth of their 'systems, but if you're never going to go beyond a couple entry level lenses, then the benefits of the 'system' is a waste of time imho. It is hard to know that you're are going to stay with that amount/level of equipment when you're starting out though. :shrug:

Getting opinions on buying a camera is just one thing to do though, you should always be reading reviews, and as has always been said, you should be trying the cameras out in your hand to try out the ergonomics and the user interface. That can be the deciding factor if there is a difficult choice, I know it was when I got my first DSLR.
 
Alastair said:
B

Most of the time this question is coming from people that it wouldn't make a blind bit of difference to which camera they buy. Once you've started to specialise and have developed specific needs (frame rate, low noise high ISO response, fast focus, full frame, etc) then you already know enough about what's available to mean that you're asking a very different question if you do ask it.
Click to expand...

Exactly, and until then its lens choice thats more important. People tend to have used a wider range of lenses compared to bodies aswell, so there is bigger likelihood that someone could offer advice about which lens to buy, compared to a body.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top