Advice on a camera for beginner :)

[Justbeginning]

Hi everyone,,, IM new on here so still unsure where to post,, IM looking at getting my first good camera n im so confused,, can I please have your advice on what is good for a newbie??

Thanx :)

[KeeFy]

Hi! Welcome to AP! Well there are lots of possibilities to choose from. What is your budget and what are you looking for in a camera?

[kiwi]

Any nikon

It really ha more to do with how much $ you have to spend, ad what yo want to take photos of

I'd go a nikon d7000 and 18-200....not much you can't do with that combo.

[ricktas]

Yep, what budget, what interests do you have now. Do you like going for drives and looking at the Australian Scenery, or are you more a people person, or your a sport fanatic etc. When we know this sort of stuff, we probably can advise more, especially on lenses as we want you to get a kit that allows you to do what you want to do, with it.

[fess67]

Any Canon

As the others have said, budget and type of photography are key considerations. I would recommend getting as good a camera as your budget will stretch to so that you do not feel you have outgrown it 6 months down the line.

[Justbeginning]

HI :) thanx for the replies,, budget really isnt an issue, as the camera will be passed on to my niece once I upgrade if necessary, I love portraits, family/ children/ outdoor, Still shots, bugs & flowers.. :)

[kiwi]

Nikon D7000 and Nikon 40 micro

[unistudent1962]

Go into a store and hold a few, this will give you an idea of what feels "right" in your hands. The first time you go into a store, DON'T go in to buy, take your time. Regardless of what the sales staff tell you, any deal they can do for you today, they can do for you tomorrow.

Most sales staff will try to steer you in a particular direction, usually based on what they are trying to shift, if they do tell them you'd like to try the different brands. While they all do the same things, the different manufacturers, and even the different models from each manufacturer can go about it in different ways.

Everyone has brand loyalty, whether it be because it's what they use, or because it's what they're trying to sell, don't be blinded by brands.
All the current DSLRs from Canon, Nikon and Pentax (amongst others) are capable of capturing high quality images.
What tends to set the brands apart (apart from technical issues concerning different sensors, AF and metering systems) is the system of lenses and accessories which each brand supports. If you intend to build a large collection of specialised gear, this can have a bearing.

When I went through this process a few years ago, making the transition from Pentax 35mm, and with a limited budget, it was the Canon 400D that felt "best" in my hands. Having bought into the Canon system, I have since upgraded bodies twice (both handed down to my kids) and built on my lens collection.

[fess67]

Canon 5DMk2 if budget really is not an issue. However, what unistudent1962 has said is the most complete answer here. I favour Canon simply because when I was 16 I saw a beautiful one in a shop and I could not afford it. 20 something years later I could afford it so I bought Canon. No other reason than that. :)

[kiwi]

Nikon D7000 and Nikon 40 micro

[Bennymiata]

May I suggest that if you are new to photography, and have never owned a DSLR before, that you go for one of the cheaper models of either a Canon or Nikon, as these lower models are specifically designed for people to learn how to use a good camera.

The screen on the back of the camera will give you hints and tips on what adjustment will do what, and this can ease the confusion of having all those buttons and switches and not being sure what to do with them.
Getting yourself a complex camera like some of the higher end enthusiasts cameras can be very daunting if you don't know what to do with them, and the lower end SLR models will still do a great job for you, but can also teach you along the way with their very good help menus.
Both the Nikon 3100 and Canon 1100D or 600D have these help menus, and all of them can still use the better lenses with excellent results, so you can grow the system you've chosen and even if you don't pass the camera on and get yourself a higher-end camera, you can still use the more basic camera as a back-up body if required.
To start, either get the 2 kit lenses, or just buy the body and something like a Tamron 18-270 lens, or its Sigma equivalent, and you'll be set to get going, as these will do just about everything you need.
As you progress, you can start buying better lenses then upgrade the body as required.

You will probably find that you will also need a speedlight flash and perhaps a tripod, and these sorts of accessories can be bought at any time as required.

Good luck and welcome to the forum.
Check out the Starting in Photography threads also, as these can be of great benefit to you.

[peterb666]

HI :) thanx for the replies,, budget really isnt an issue, as the camera will be passed on to my niece once I upgrade if necessary, I love portraits, family/ children/ outdoor, Still shots, bugs & flowers.. :)

You are probably best starting with a modest outfit until you know exactly how to use your camera and then add to it or change as required.

For what you have stated, I would suggest a fairly modest kit and then add a macro lens.

Something like the Nikon D5100 or Canon 600D would be a good starting point. Either buy it with the standard kit lens or the twin lens kit. These add very little cost compared the body alone.

Your next step would be to add a dedicated macro lens and maybe a 'nifty-fifty' (50mm f/1.8) for portait use. Macro lenses are not particularly cheap but the nifty-fifty certainly is.

[peterb666]

Oh yes, a tripod and external flash should be added to the list fairly early on.

[Redbaron]

Welcome to the board JB, As others have said, go into a few shops (I found specialist camera shops were very helpful, even when I told them I wasn't buying today) and have a look at what they have. I went in recently neutral about brands and they recommended the Nikon 3100 or 5100, and I had a play with the Canon 1000D, 1100D, 550D and 600D - none of them felt "right" in my hands although the Nikons felt better.

Then I did a lot of online research (both here and online review sites, as well as youtube) and realised the Canon 60D could be had for not a lot more..... had a play with it and it felt perfect in my hands. With a bit of bargaining and the old "I'm ready to buy now, and have the cash here" got the 60D for around the same price as the others I was looking at.

Another thing to consider is if there are friends or family of yours who have one particular brand, you may be able to swap/borrow lenses as well.

Happy snapping.

[ving]

nikon, canon, pentax, olympus, etc... the brand doesnt matter too much just get wht you can afford as they all do much the same thing. you will get out of it whatever you put into it. :)

[Mark L]

Welcome to the board JB, As others have said, go into a few shops (I found specialist camera shops were very helpful, even when I told them I wasn't buying today) and have a look at what they have. I went in recently neutral about brands and they recommended the Nikon 3100 or 5100, and I had a play with the Canon 1000D, 1100D, 550D and 600D - none of them felt "right" in my hands although the Nikons felt better.

Then I did a lot of online research (both here and online review sites, as well as youtube) and realised the Canon 60D could be had for not a lot more..... had a play with it and it felt perfect in my hands.

That sounds good.

[Cyza]

when you say budget isn't a problem I don't think your aware how much alot of camera gear costs unless your a millionaire or something.

I would recommend buying a Canon 1000D, its been recently replaced by the new Canon 1100D so the 1000D predecessor is being sold really cheap at a lot of stores, as well as pre owned ( I my self am struggling to sell it for 290 at the moment)

The camera has all the abilities you will want to experiment with when delving in DSLR photography, and still have offers nice 10.1 mega pixel photos so printing them up to an A3 size will be no problem.

after a while when you have learnt alot more you will be able to make a choice about upgrading the body or investing more in more specific lenses.

hope that helps (that's my view on it as I too was completely new to photography of any kind at the start of this year)

[Mark L]

...........
I would recommend buying a Canon 1000D, its been recently replaced by the new Canon 1100D so the 1000D predecessor is being sold really cheap at a lot of stores, as well as pre owned ( I my self am struggling to sell it for 290 at the moment)
.........
......... (that's my view on it as I too was completely new to photography of any kind at the start of this year)

Now that it sounds like you've learnt from and outgrown the 1000D, can I ask what you will progress to?

[Cyza]

I upgraded to the Canon 60D. I don't think i quiet out grew my 1000D still plenty of things I was learning. However starting yer 12 next year and doing media where 50% of your end of yera mark comes from the short film you make, and I really don't want to be using school cam corders, so i got the 60D out of the necessity for video mode, but I'll gladly take the countless upgrades it offers for photography. have had it for 2 weeks, but am loving it thus far :)

[Redbaron]

have had it for 2 weeks, but am loving it thus far

Awesome aren't they? Had mine a week today, 1000 photos - and loving it!

[unistudent1962]

OP- Any closer to making a decision?

[Justbeginning]

when you say budget isn't a problem I don't think your aware how much alot of camera gear costs unless your a millionaire or something.

I would recommend buying a Canon 1000D, its been recently replaced by the new Canon 1100D so the 1000D predecessor is being sold really cheap at a lot of stores, as well as pre owned ( I my self am struggling to sell it for 290 at the moment)

The camera has all the abilities you will want to experiment with when delving in DSLR photography, and still have offers nice 10.1 mega pixel photos so printing them up to an A3 size will be no problem.

after a while when you have learnt alot more you will be able to make a choice about upgrading the body or investing more in more specific lenses.

hope that helps (that's my view on it as I too was completely new to photography of any kind at the start of this year)



Yes I do know thats cameras can get very expensive, I have done a lot of research in my life,, I dont think a camera for just a beginner like me would b over my budget though do u??? :).. Thank you for your advice though much appreciated,, I will advise u that your wording wasnt very encouraging:)

[Justbeginning]

OP- Any closer to making a decision?

Thank you,,, yes I have decided on Nikon d7000 with a 50mm 1.4 to start with a friend of mine who has the same camera to teach me more then I can read... Thank you everyone for your replies :)