New SLR at entry level?

R

RaiderHammer

Suspended / Banned
Messages
19
Edit My Images
No
Hi completely new to digital SLR cameras here.

Looking for an entry level SLR digital camera.

Any recomendations of what would be good at entry level / budget level and where is the best place to buy (Essex / London based) high street, on line?

What lenes are good to start with?

Are all SLR's auto focus these days?

Would an old lens still fit new bodies? Say 30 years old?

What is the rough price we are looking at?

Thanks.
 
Some many to choose from its hard to know where to start. I am bias and say start looking at the Canon range but then a Nikon or Sony user will suggest something else.

What you need to be doing is going to you local camera shop and getting all there entry level DSLR out and seeing how each feel in your hand. Are they to heavy, does the balance feel right, can you touch the controls easily etc. Once you have found what you think you like, come back here and specific questions about that brand and model.

Hope this has been of some help

Ian

Oh And welcome to TP
 
Set yourself a budget as well. I wanted a camera with an additional lens for no more than £250. I managed to get a Sony A200 for £160 so I have £90 to spend on a lens, just to get me started!!
 
.
 
Last edited:
RaiderHammer said:
Hi completely new to digital SLR cameras here.

Looking for an entry level SLR digital camera.

Any recomendations of what would be good at entry level / budget level and where is the best place to buy (Essex / London based) high street, on line?

So many to choose from. Stock advice is get to camera store and handle them all. Some people hate the feel of certain brands.

What lenes are good to start with?
Kit lenses are designed with the beginner in mind. Something like an 18-50mm or 18-70mm is usually a good start, with a lowlight prime like a 50mm f/1.8

Are all SLR's auto focus these days?

Yes and no. Some lower end Nikon bodies dont have autofocus motors in the bodies, its in the lens instead. Nikon designate this on the lenses as AF-S. All curent DSLRs are capable of autofocus if the the body/lens supports it.

Would an old lens still fit new bodies? Say 30 years old?
Again, depends on the manufacturer. Nikon -yes, canon- dont think so, sony yes.

What is the rough price we are looking at?

How long is a piece of string? Anywhere between £150 to £700

Thanks.
Click to expand...
 
Welcome to TP:wave:

As has been said go to Jessops or wherever and have a hold of them to find out what feels right - it is an expensive mistake if you get it wrong.

Also remember that you are buying into a system. Even if you don't think you will need many lenses or flashes wait until the photography bug really bites (and it can get very expensive belive me). You also need to consider things like memory cards, bag, tripod, whatdoyoucallits and thingmebobs - you will always need somthing else.

Hope that helps :shrug::shrug:

Nick
 
RaiderHammer said:
Would an old lens still fit new bodies? Say 30 years old?
Click to expand...
They may, depends on which mount.

You can get a Sony A290 + 18-55 kit lens for £252 new at Currys in their Blue Cross sale which afaik makes it the cheapest current range entry level going.
 
Well it's my wife's 40th in July and she's been hinting at a new Digital SLR for ages. A lot of people say the Sony a230 is a good entry level SLR, but I've read else where that they're both good and bad?!! Was thinking of the usual clan of Canon and Nikon etc but they seem to be in the pricey bracket, well for my wallet especially. Has anybody any experience of Samsung SLR's or maybe Panasonic? These look quite nice, http://www.panasonic.co.uk/html/en_GB/287246/index.html but my local Jessops in Bromley didn't have any last time I was there. Any advise is greatly appreciated!:thinking:
 
TBH I'd recommend avoiding an entry level D-SLR as you will almost certainly either outgrow it or become so frustrated with the results that you give up. I'd thoroughly recommend getting a mid-amateur range model second hand for the same money from a reputable source (avoid eBay and/or Amazon unless you are very confident in your ability to smell a rat!).

I went from film Pentax to DSLR Nikon and rapidly outgrew the D60 (unacceptable noise at ISO over 400 and slow kit lenses). If I'd gone for a second hand D80 or better I'd probably still have it today (despite lusting over their latest models ATC!).

Re: old lenses, have a chat on the forum for the lens / camera combination as some manufacturers will not be compatible, and some will have limited features, eg you may not be able to autofocus on a newr body.

Have fun :thumbs:
 
Glidergoth said:
TBH I'd recommend avoiding an entry level D-SLR as you will almost certainly either outgrow it or become so frustrated with the results that you give up.
Click to expand...

This all depends on your photography experience (EG Is this an upgrade from a simple compact camera, or have you been using a Film SLR for 20 years and finally want to go digital).

For a large number of people used to a compact, the speed and versatility of even the entry level DSLR will be a revelation. As will the size, weight and hassle of having to change lenses :D
 
Pottyman said:
Well it's my wife's 40th in July and she's been hinting at a new Digital SLR for ages. A lot of people say the Sony a230 is a good entry level SLR, but I've read else where that they're both good and bad?!! Was thinking of the usual clan of Canon and Nikon etc but they seem to be in the pricey bracket, well for my wallet especially. Has anybody any experience of Samsung SLR's or maybe Panasonic? These look quite nice, http://www.panasonic.co.uk/html/en_GB/287246/index.html but my local Jessops in Bromley didn't have any last time I was there. Any advise is greatly appreciated!:thinking:
Click to expand...
The A290 is essentially an ergonomically revised A230 but also with the 14Mp sensor from the A380. For a quick pro/con see http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=3717548&postcount=2
Ergonomics are very personal so ideally you would take her to a shop to see what she is most comfortable with - we have reached the point where there is no bad current production DSLR.
Samsung's sensor technology is currently a bit behind Canon, Nikon & Sony's.
Which Panasonic?
 
@ Faldrax - agree on prior experience, but for a similar cost you can have a low usage mid-range SLR or a brand new entry level SLR. For Nikon, the look and feel of the D60 and D80 are near identical but the D80 is a far more more capable beast.

Nevertheless, some prefer to buy new and if it's a gift, then 'new' may well be far preferable to 'capability'!!
 
Most modern cameras, even a top spec £7k pro camera and lens combo can do pretty well when set on the 'auto' mode.
So it's just a case of getting used to the different.

For the OP; in some case you can get adaptors, for instance for using Olympus lenses on Canons. Wish I'd known that before selling my Olympus bellows and various other 'specialist' stuff for not much some years ago :(.
 
You could go to Cameraworld in Chelmsford and then Jessops is just around the corner
 
As has been said, different people, different systems. Mine is Sony and I am very happy with it. I went that way because I too was very much on a budget and decided that Sony filled two of my critera. The AF motor was in the camera body, therefore allowing me to look at the second hand lens market such as Minolta, and secondly Sony have their SSS (Super Steady Shot) also built into the body so no expensive VR etc lens. Oh and I quite liked the feel of it. :)
 
Hi old camera body is a Canon AE-1 and the lenes are:
Tokina 52-X 80mm - 200 mm
Canon FD 50 mm 1:1.8
Teleplus Mc4 2X CFE

Any good?

Basically I have been using a digital compact (Nikon) which i have enjoyed. The SLR's been moth balled for 20 plus years... Is it worth a fortune yet???
 
RaiderHammer said:
Hi old camera body is a Canon AE-1 and the lenes are:
Tokina 52-X 80mm - 200 mm
Canon FD 50 mm 1:1.8
Teleplus Mc4 2X CFE

Any good?

Basically I have been using a digital compact (Nikon) which i have enjoyed. The SLR's been moth balled for 20 plus years... Is it worth a fortune yet???
Click to expand...

That'll be a big fat no. Not really worth much at all.
The lenses wont fit a modern Canon dslr without an adapter, and I suspect you'd loose AF.
 
A Canon 1000D or 1100D would fit your requirements. Or get in touch with Kerso for one of his price-lists, he had a cheap Nikon D40x last I heard!
 
Glidergoth said:
TBH I'd recommend avoiding an entry level D-SLR as you will almost certainly either outgrow it or become so frustrated with the results that you give up. I'd thoroughly recommend getting a mid-amateur range model second hand for the same money from a reputable source (avoid eBay and/or Amazon unless you are very confident in your ability to smell a rat!).

I went from film Pentax to DSLR Nikon and rapidly outgrew the D60 (unacceptable noise at ISO over 400 and slow kit lenses). If I'd gone for a second hand D80 or better I'd probably still have it today (despite lusting over their latest models ATC!).

Re: old lenses, have a chat on the forum for the lens / camera combination as some manufacturers will not be compatible, and some will have limited features, eg you may not be able to autofocus on a newr body.

Have fun :thumbs:
Click to expand...

This.

i wished i had done the same and gone for a 40d instead of the 400d :(
 
I just started out and bought a canon eos 1000 d you can pick up a factory refurb one off eBay for under 300 if you dont mind watching the last 10 minutes of the auction and it is a good camera too
 
You need to search for canon on there and then look for a seller called canon outlet some really good deals on there
 
jonneymendoza said:
This.

i wished i had done the same and gone for a 40d instead of the 400d :(
Click to expand...
I'm inclined to agree, I went Nikon and started with a D40. Very capable camera and took some great shots but went to a D90 about a year later. It wasn't any more complicated, just more convenient and more powerful.

Sorry that just confuses things, have you thought about a budget? That would help narrow your options down.
 
I think the D40x is a better choice though (and they're usually a similar price to the D40) as they have a built-in motor if I remember rightly so you don't need to worry about manual focusing with some lenses.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top