I want a new camera!

[Psymonkee]

Howdy,

Looking for new camera advice and figured since there are a few photographers here it would be a decent place to start.

For ages I've had little compact point and shoots and they've been alright but I really want something in the DSLR line and to learn how to use the manual mode properly. My existing P&S has a full manual mode but changing the settings is very convoluted and basically a PITA. Oh yeah and it eats batteries like a boss. Very irritating.

So yeah basically looking at entry level DSLR stuff - what would you fine folk recommend? Does it still boil down to a choice of Canon vs Nikon? If so which is the way forward and why?

Also I'm not going to buy blind as I'll be off to visit my friend who works in the local Jessops when the time is right (and my day off/his shift at work line up :p)

Any advice would be wonderful though :)

[lostkat]

Howdy,

Looking for new camera advice and figured since there are a few photographers here it would be a decent place to start.

For ages I've had little compact point and shoots and they've been alright but I really want something in the DSLR line and to learn how to use the manual mode properly. My existing P&S has a full manual mode but changing the settings is very convoluted and basically a PITA. Oh yeah and it eats batteries like a boss. Very irritating.

So yeah basically looking at entry level DSLR stuff - what would you fine folk recommend? Does it still boil down to a choice of Canon vs Nikon? If so which is the way forward and why?

Also I'm not going to buy blind as I'll be off to visit my friend who works in the local Jessops when the time is right (and my day off/his shift at work line up :p)

Any advice would be wonderful though :)
Hmmm the Canon vs Nikon debate. Controversial!

All I can advise is that you go into a shop, have a good play with models of a similar level for both brands and see which you like the feel of best. Then start looking for advice on which specific model :)

The Canon/Nikon choice should be made first IMHO.

[Kitten]

Are you sure you wouldn't like to try a bridge camera? Can be got for quite a bit less than a good DSLR and hold their value well enough to sell on if you decide to trade up.

[Toby]

Kate speaks sense - 90% of the Canon vs Nikon thing boils down to which you prefer, both in terms of physically holding it in your hands and how the controls are laid out.

I know little about Nikons but, if you decide to go the Canon route then the entry model 1100D is a very decent bit of kit for the money, or if you want to spend a little more, something like the 500/550/600D, possibly used.

A bridge camera, as Kitten suggest, may be another option but I think a lot of it boils down to how far you want to take it as a hobby/passtime. If you envisage getting multiple lenses and accessories as time goes on, then I'd go the DSLR route rather than a bridge camera and also stick to either Canon or Nikon as their systems are broader than the alternatives like Sony and there are more used lenses and such like around. If you're just after a camera with a single lens for the foreseeable future then a bridge camera may well be all you need :)

[Matblack]

You can pick up a Fuji bridge for around £100, it was my route in to dSLR and I can't recommend it enough, to do everything a bridge will do will cost you £750+ in body and lenses. If you move it on quick you'll lose £50 so it makes commercial sense :)

[Kitten]

You can pick up a Fuji bridge for around £100, it was my route in to dSLR and I can't recommend it enough, ....

Mine too. I got a lot of use out of my bridge and knew what I liked when I went for the more expensive DSLR option.

[Psymonkee]

Some good shouts on the bridge camera idea, I shall check it out when I go and see my friend :)

Cheers for the advice so far :)

[Matblack]

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5621271.htm

Thats a good deal to be honest.

Advantages of a bridge are that you get 90% of the control that you get with an SLR but the lens is sealed and fixed on which means you can get a much wider to longer zoom than you can get with any SLR lens, this makes you kit compact and avoids dust on the sensor which can occur with an SLR.

No they aren't as flexible at the more extreme ends of photography; low light, very fast speed but they can cope in 90% of cases, they only thing is disliked was the lack of mirrror which means you are looking at an LCD even when you look directly through the new finder but LCD have improved a lot and even this difference has the advantage of being able to superimpose image information on the viewfinder.

I've used 90% a lot and I'd stand by a good bridge being 90% of a dSLR for most users, if you price up good lenses and a good body to do the same I think you are probably looking at 10% of the price.

MB

[Psymonkee]

Looks like these plans are on hold since the car decided to fail it's MOT :(

[Fayshun]

Looks like these plans are on hold since the car decided to fail it's MOT :(
:(

Mine did me for £643, the WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS. Fracking French pile of merde!

[Psymonkee]

I've had a new exhaust (middle and back), a new wheel hub (worn bearing) and now the MOT fail (brake lines, drop link) 560 in a month and a half :(

[Fayshun]

Ouch. :(

[LeperousDust]

I feel, I actually scrapped my car (I can live without for the most) when it failed for the second time in 3 years on the same rust problem (a popular old Almera problem). Sometimes it's just best to give it in. Scrapped.

[Joe 90]

On the camera front I would recommend keeping an eye on Talk Photography;
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=15

No matter what kind of gear you're after there is often a great deal to be had when someone on there chooses to upgrade :)

[Psymonkee]

Right back to looking for a camera again because I've stemmed the immediate loss of money to the car (for now :p) and also profit share/bonus this month!

Oh and I'm off to see the Harlem Globetrotters too so need something to capture the memories :D

Can I assume nothing major has changed in the last month or so in regards to camera tech/new models?

Quite seriously considering the bridge option to see how I get on :)

[Stan_Lite]

Another recommendation for a Fuji bridge camera. I cut my teeth on an S7000 and, later, an S6500FD and learned a lot from using them.

I currently have an HS10 I use regularly when I can't or don't want to lug the DSLR gear around with me. As Matblack says, you get 90% of the control of the DSLR. With the HS10, I get a 30x zoom 24-720mm lens with most of the control I get in the 40D (shoots in RAW too) - all this in a relatively compact camera.

Here's a photo of the HS10 next to my 40D with my 70-300mm IS lens attached: http://i.imgur.com/Mt4ml.jpg

The HS10 is big enough to feel substantial in the hands but compact enough to carry around all day in places you may not want to carry the 40D with a bag full of lenses. Don't get me wrong, I love the 40D for the versatility and quality but, sometimes you don't want to be lugging around all the gear.

The bridge will also get you used to carrying a heavier camera around. I've had the scales out and my Panasonic compact weighs 167g, the HS10 weighs 710g and the 40D with that lens weighs 1514g. 167g to 1514g is a hell of a leap.

I'm not trying to put you off a DSLR - I'm sure, like me, after you've used the bridge camera for a year or two, you'll be keen to progress. Bridge cameras are an ideal bridge (oddly enough) between the compact and the DSLR

[Psymonkee]

Cheers, was going to buy today but apparently cooking curry takes precedence :D

Soon! :D

[petemc]

Oh and I'm off to see the Harlem Globetrotters too so need something to capture the memories :D

Any major venue will not let you take a camera in. If that's your major reason for buying a camera I'd think again.

[Kitten]

yeah, nothing with a lens, fixed or not.

Sent from my Galaxy S2

[Psymonkee]

Nah that's not anywhere close to the major reason and I'm already aware of the rubbish camera policies these places operate :(

Not off till Saturday now :(

[Psymonkee]

Off to see my friend at Jessops tomorrow and see what I like in cameras, shall report back :D

[divine]

On a related note, I upgraded from my old D70 to a D7000 two weeks ago and damn it's good :D

[Joe 90]

I've been offered a friend's 40D + grip for £330ish :eek:

I need to upgrade my 300d so was glad to hear he'll only see to some he knows will look aft it ;D
Time to save some pennies!

[Psymonkee]

Haha forgot to update this thread :p

Ended up not liking the Nikons (handling) and the Bridge cameras (viewfinder/offers) so ended up with a 500D Twin Lens Kit (Kit lens + 75 - 300) and bag/extra memory card etc.

:D

[Tysonator]

I have splashed out on a L grade Canon lens.
I have been looking the EF70-300L F4-F5.6 IS USM for well over a year.
SoI abuse the plastic and purchased it !
Just amazing bit of kit

[Mark]

If I had £1.1k to 'spare' I might consider that as an upgrade to my EF70-300 non-L, which is good enough but often shows its limits, but I don't. :)

[lostkat]

Mmmmmm, L glass. I've upgraded a couple of my lenses recently and am very happy with my selection now. I bought a second hand 70-200L F4 a couple of months ago and it's just incredible! Would have loved the F2.8 IS but couldn't afford it and more importantly, it's just too heavy for me for a walk about lens. I'd never use it.

[Toby]

Glad you finally got the 70-200 Kate, you've been lusting after it for long enough! :)

Don't worry about the f/2.8 IS too much - I actually upgraded to that from my f/4 IS and then downgraded back again (managed to buy my original lens back) as it just wasn't as sharp, even at f/4. Unless you absolutely need the extra stop, the f/4 is the better option.

I'm about to buy my third L glass lens, and my first L prime - ordering a 100mm f/2.8L Macro next week :)

[jmc41]

If I had £1.1k to 'spare' I might consider that as an upgrade to my EF70-300 non-L, which is good enough but often shows its limits, but I don't. :)

Its £900 at simply :) I've been looking at it for a few months myself.
The 70-300 IS is noisy, slow and very soft I find.

[Toby]

Read nothing but glowing reviews of the 70-300L, very useful range and very good quality and sharpness.

The only thing that puts me off it is the extending barrel. A small thing really and I have no problem with my 24-70 extending but for some reason I just like the internal zoom of the 70-200.

[Kitten]

Mmmmmm, L glass. I've upgraded a couple of my lenses recently and am very happy with my selection now. I bought a second hand 70-200L F4 a couple of months ago and it's just incredible! Would have loved the F2.8 IS but couldn't afford it and more importantly, it's just too heavy for me for a walk about lens. I'd never use it.

Fabulous lens, isn't it? I <3 mine muchly.

[Kitten]

Haha forgot to update this thread :p

Ended up not liking the Nikons (handling) and the Bridge cameras (viewfinder/offers) so ended up with a 500D Twin Lens Kit (Kit lens + 75 - 300) and bag/extra memory card etc.

:D

Missed this. Looking forward to seeing some first shots soon!

[Toby]

100L ordered, my poor poor bank account :(

Can't wait :D

[Tysonator]

Its £900 at simply :) I've been looking at it for a few months myself.
The 70-300 IS is noisy, slow and very soft I find.

I paid just over £900 and the IQ is just great as it is sharp through out the focual lenght range.
My old 70-300 F4-F5.6 IS USM had soft spots and was not that sharp at 300mm.
So that is why I have it up for sale !

The extending barrel I did have reservations about it and was hoping to get a L lens which focus internally.
However the compact size is good for me to take it on holiday and the weight is not to bad.

The only down side is I ca not use a 1.4 or x 2.0 extendure.
My only option is a Kenco !

[Tysonator]

Another recommendation for a Fuji bridge camera. I cut my teeth on an S7000 and, later, an S6500FD and learned a lot from using them.

I currently have an HS10 I use regularly when I can't or don't want to lug the DSLR gear around with me. As Matblack says, you get 90% of the control of the DSLR. With the HS10, I get a 30x zoom 24-720mm lens with most of the control I get in the 40D (shoots in RAW too) - all this in a relatively compact camera.

Here's a photo of the HS10 next to my 40D with my 70-300mm IS lens attached: http://i.imgur.com/Mt4ml.jpg

The HS10 is big enough to feel substantial in the hands but compact enough to carry around all day in places you may not want to carry the 40D with a bag full of lenses. Don't get me wrong, I love the 40D for the versatility and quality but, sometimes you don't want to be lugging around all the gear.

The bridge will also get you used to carrying a heavier camera around. I've had the scales out and my Panasonic compact weighs 167g, the HS10 weighs 710g and the 40D with that lens weighs 1514g. 167g to 1514g is a hell of a leap.

I'm not trying to put you off a DSLR - I'm sure, like me, after you've used the bridge camera for a year or two, you'll be keen to progress. Bridge cameras are an ideal bridge (oddly enough) between the compact and the DSLR

I agree with the lugging around a big bulky DSLR plus lens it just seems like I am some special Op's solider with all this special kut.
So I have been looking at SONY NEX5N as a DSLR alternative for venues were a DSLR is not practical.

[Kitten]

I'm in the market for a portable option as an alternative to my 40d,too.

[Tysonator]

I'm in the market for a portable option as an alternative to my 40d,too.

SONY NEX 5N ! :)