Thinking of getting a DSLR....

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JDWolf

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I know this is most likely a question asked a thousand times, but anyone recomend a good entry level DSLR?

I have been playing with my bridge camera (a Fujifilm S5700) for 18 months now. Hve really enjoyed taking pics of the moon (though my telescope) and landscape pics (wind turines, bridges, etc) and taking macro pics (i know i would need a lens for this).

I have a bit of saving to do but an looking at a budget of around £300 - 400.

was looking at something like these :

http://www.jessops.com/online.store/products/75886/show.html

http://www.jessops.com/online.store/products/76461/show.html

http://www.jessops.com/online.store/products/76249/show.html

Any advice would be welcome

Ta
 
the most common (and probably best) advice would be to go into the retailer and try them out for yourself..which one feels good in your hands, which layout (button and menu) suits you etc. You will know the right one when you 'feel' it!
 
I would recommend the Olympus E-620 or the E-600. Built in Image Stabilisation, so all lenses are stabilised, the best current dust reduction system - I have never needed to clean my sensor! The kit lenses are excellent too - better than the basic offerings of other manufacturers - you won't feel the immediate need for an upgrade. The articulating screen is helpful for macro work. There is also a very good budget macro lens, the Zuiko 35mm that would not stretch the budget too much. Also, the 2x crop factor gives you more 'reach' for the same focal length of lens for wildlife or your moon shots.

Currys has some good deals within your budget.

Andy
 
As said go and try them and buy the one that feels right for YOU. It is you that will be using it after all.

Welcome to TP:)
 
Thanks for the advice.

Think i'm heading towards the Nikon D3000.......

Think i will have to pop into somewhere and have a hands on feel.

thanks again
 
Hi,

I would love to hear what you decide on. I'm trying to decide what camera is best to get too.

:-)
 
if you use the fuji for A focal on the telescope keep it,i have found it to be better on the moon and planets,but my canon dslr best for deep sky.
for macro you will not beat a dedicated macro lens.
enjoy your new camera whatever make you buy.
 
Again thanks for all the advice, defiantly think I am going for the Nikon one.

Just one question though.....if I read the info correct it says it can do manual focusing as well as auto focus.

How can it do auto focus when the lens is detachable?
 
There will be a motor in the lens and contacts which supply power to that motor.
Have you priced up wide angle and macro lenses too?
You may find you get a wider range of lenses and more for your money with Canon :thumbs:
 
JDWolf said:
Again thanks for all the advice, defiantly think I am going for the Nikon one.

Just one question though.....if I read the info correct it says it can do manual focusing as well as auto focus.

How can it do auto focus when the lens is detachable?
Click to expand...

It is the power of the Dark Side tha does it on a Nikon! With a Canon, it's engineering, electronics and physics that make it all work. You can have a good argument on here as to which one works best. I have a Fuji, which is like the Iconograph from the discworld, because it has little Imps inside that make it go.
 
JDWolf said:
Thanks for the advice.

Think i'm heading towards the Nikon D3000.......

Think i will have to pop into somewhere and have a hands on feel.

thanks again
Click to expand...

Camera world had the D3000 with a 18-55mm lens for £299 at the Focus exhibition.The same kit at Jacobs on the same day was £349.
If they would still do the same deal it would be a bargain.
And welcome to the site.
 
going to save a bit and have a look around and in a few shops.

Haven't bugeted for a wide or a marco lens. Think they will be bought at a later date
 
AndyElliott said:
I would recommend the Olympus E-620 or the E-600. Built in Image Stabilisation, so all lenses are stabilised, the best current dust reduction system - I have never needed to clean my sensor! The kit lenses are excellent too - better than the basic offerings of other manufacturers - you won't feel the immediate need for an upgrade. The articulating screen is helpful for macro work. There is also a very good budget macro lens, the Zuiko 35mm that would not stretch the budget too much. Also, the 2x crop factor gives you more 'reach' for the same focal length of lens for wildlife or your moon shots.

Currys has some good deals within your budget.

Andy
Click to expand...
A friend of mine got a Olympus and now wished she had not there is limited kit you can get for it and all cost more then you can get for other makes...
Also the x2 might give you more reach but makes for hard very wide angle.
 
The Nikon D3000 has the option for Spot Metering, the Canon 1000d does not, that alone would lead me to discard the Canon from your list of choices.
 
Chaz Photos said:
A friend of mine got a Olympus and now wished she had not there is limited kit you can get for it and all cost more then you can get for other makes...
Also the x2 might give you more reach but makes for hard very wide angle.
Click to expand...

Wide angle? There are 5 lenses aside from the 'standard' zoom ranges - 7-14, 9-18, 10-20, 11-22 and an 8mm fish-eye (Olympus and Sigma). Samyang also produce a budget fisheye for fourthirds. Hardly limited and just fine for wide angle. You're talking nonsense...

As far as range goes, the fourthirds lens range is very comprehensive. There is less duplication because of the shorter history. I don't see that as a downside.

The Olympus lenses also have a very high reputation, and rightly so. They are not described as the Japanese Leica for nothing (I don't like this tag as they are nowhere near as expensive and offer budget glass too..). Glass also that doesn't suffer ubiquitous QC issues seen and well discussed in these forums. Glass that is properly weather-sealed and doesn't cost a fortune to get that weather sealing.

So far as accessories go - what is your friend lacking? There are plenty of options from third-party producers.

While it is true you can't get as many lens options for a given length as Nikon and Canon, I don't see choice as being much benefit if you choice is widened with offerings that don't offer anything more or cheaper.

I can point you a several people I know who have changed to Olympus and are more than happy.


Andy
 
i think what chaz is referring to is the 2nd hand market, how often do you see olympus stuff on the classifieds compared to nikon, canon? nikon and canon hold around 90% of the market, hence why the OP would be better off going nikon or canon
 
smalls said:
i think what chaz is referring to is the 2nd hand market, how often do you see olympus stuff on the classifieds compared to nikon, canon? nikon and canon hold around 90% of the market, hence why the OP would be better off going nikon or canon
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That's a crap reason to go for Canon and Nikon and only reinforces their market stranglehold for anti-competitive reasons. To say that you can't get the 2nd hand stuff just isn't true. It may be less common, but very much available. So far as second hand classifieds go, look at dedicated sites, such as fourthirds-user.com and e-group.uk.net - lots of adverts there. Same also true on ebay. All of my lenses I have bought second-hand - but then I'm a cheapskate.

Andy
 
Think Olympus cameras are slightly out of my budget from what I have seen.

I do have another question. Some cameras mention live view mode for the LCD, if I understand correct if a camera doesn’t have this, pictures can only be taken using the viewfinder and not the LCD. Is that correct? I assume you can still view taken pics using the LCD.

I'm used to taking pics with the LCD, but I figure I would just have to get use to using the viewfinder
 
JDWolf said:
Think Olympus cameras are slightly out of my budget from what I have seen.

I do have another question. Some cameras mention live view mode for the LCD, if I understand correct if a camera doesn’t have this, pictures can only be taken using the viewfinder and not the LCD. Is that correct? I assume you can still view taken pics using the LCD.
Click to expand...

Yes. Personally, I hardly ever use my LCD. It only switches on unless I ask it to and when I want to review pictures. You will soon get used to the idea of putting it up to your face.
 
I assume there is no issue with glasses and using viewfinders......dont think i have ever owned a camera that didnt have an LCD on the back that you could use.

I'm sure i will get used to it.

Thanks for th all the advice.
 
you don't need to wear the glasses when using the viewfinder, even if your vision is not perfect. You can adjust the diopter using the diopter wheel next to the VF, which compensates for your vision.
 
Just to let you all know i ended up going for the Nikon D3000.

bought it yesterday, but havent had a chance to play yet.

Thanks for all the advice.

Jon
 
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