Recommendations for landscape and macro photography

  • Thread starter Thread starter cumbrianlad
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cumbrianlad

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Hello folks,

I have spent the last few days pouring through web pages/review pages/magazine articles, looking for an entry level dslr. My main requirement is to get decent pics of mainly landscapes (Lake District and Pennines in the main), with also some macro pics of my collection of toy soldiers. :embarrassed: I also need a decent tripod and bag to stuff my new gear into, with light weight/ruggedness being important to me - I find it hard enough getting up the fells as it is. ;)

At first I reckoned on narrowing it down to Canon or Nikon, but I have also read good reports of Pentax and even Sony (I thought they made tellies:shrug:). So now I am suffering from that modern day malady - too much choice. I would be interested in any opinion or pointers to good reviews.

Budget - £500 - £800 for the lot to start with, though I would want to build on the lens in the next couple of years.
 
Hi and welcome to the TP cumbrianlad.

One daft question, have you gone into a jessops and tried picking them all up and using them? I think that whilst we can all debate which is better, Canon or Nikon etc. - I think what it comes down to is what best for you - what feels better in your hands etc.

A choice of tripod & Bag is relatively easy - but you need to make sure you're happy with your choice of body and make sure it suits you!

That's not that helpful is it? Sorry - but no amount of reading can make up for trying them out for real :) I will say this tho' - if you can - the Canon 400D/40D or the Nikon D40/D80 might be a good place for you to start based on your budget.

One other peice of advice - whatever system you do end up with, get the best glass you can afford - you can replace bodies relatively cheaply but the glass will out-last most bodies if looked after, hold their value and will help the image quality if your pictures :)

One other thing - we have a supplier here who offers very good value equipment with excellent service - he answers to the name of Kerso and is well worth a look! :D

Hope that helps :)

Matt
 
cumbrianlad said:
Sony (I thought they made tellies:shrug:).
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Exactly! ;)

You've already had good advice. Any entry level DSLR will do what you want, it's important though to pick a brand with a good range of lenses and other equipment in the first instance. If you make a wrong choice it can be very expensive to change later once you're committed to a system, especially if you've bought a few lenses.
 
CT said:
If you make a wrong choice it can be very expensive to change later once you're committed to a system, especially if you've bought a few lenses.
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Ah - that's another very good point CT - didn't think about that!!
 
Sadlybrokeboy said:
Ah - that's another very good point CT - didn't think about that!!
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LOL Neither did I initially. :D

It's a common trap actually - you start off not realising how involved you're going to get, then the awful truth dawns -you've committed to the wrong system and it's horribly expensive!

Some makers pop in and out of the game like fiddlers elbows. You need to pick a brand where you know there's going to be continuity and one offering the kit and the body choices if you want to upgrade. There are really only two. I've nothing against the others but these two will be around and offering the gear. :)
 
do you want new or used ? if you dont mine second hand there are some good cameras and lens for sale in this forum and others for sale section, and from my own experience they are well looked after. you will certainly get a lot more for your money :)
 
rickj said:
do you want new or used ?
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The prospect of getting more for my money is very tempting. But the risk of spending a big lump on something without a warranty is less tempting. :thinking:

I guess I have gone back to my original thinking, going to stick to Canon or Nikon, for the reasons given above. Does either of these lend itself in particular to landscapes?
 
To be honest, they're much of a muchness in that respect. I think you need to get into a shop (bring a memory card that'll work on both with you! ;) ) and try some different bodies out.

If you're not sure or want to see the results - just go home and have a look at the contents of the memory card ;)

Just a thought!

Matt
 
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