Newbie buying DSLR for the first time

[sianzz]

hi hi,

i'm planning to get a DSLR in the next few weeks.
I have not decided which brand to get yet. So i would like to go to a show and test out a few models. But how should i go about testing it to get the feel? Any tips?

Does the shops (e.g. CP/AP) have a XX day no-questions-asked-return/replacement policy?

 

[runes]

hi hi,

i'm planning to get a DSLR in the next few weeks.
I have not decided which brand to get yet. So i would like to go to a show and test out a few models. But how should i go about testing it to get the feel? Any tips?

Does the shops (e.g. CP/AP) have a XX day no-questions-asked-return/replacement policy?

Go Sitex 2006 30th Nov to 3rd Dec I think. Was told that Harvey Norman would be selling the cameras.

So go around the different brands and try until you are satisfied. But be prepared to queue for trying. You can bring your own cards, e.g, CF, SD, xD, MS, so that you can bring home the shots and view slowly.

But to be more objective, read lots of reviews. www.dpreview.com is one of them. Then you can be know what to look out for.

Be sure to know what you want, your current budget, future budget for expansion before you commit to any system. Popular systems are Canon, Nikon, Sony, others, in order of preference to all users, I think.

Lastly, I don't think any shop will offer no-questions-asked return policy. This is Singapore.

Go go go!!!

 

[zcwnfx]

i heard alot of good stuff about the service from john 3:16 @funan. perhaps u can try there? my frens that been there says they are really great pple that are superbly helpful. perhaps u can try going there.

 

[sugary88]

When I first got my DSLR at Cathay Peninsular, the guy who served me gave me a demo using that DSLR. Very good customer service indeed. Good prices too.

John 3:16's customer service is also great! Got the rest of my eq there due to the friendly staff there. That day I bought a SB-600 and also enquired about the 50mm.

The next time I visited the store, I was pleasantly surprised that they still remembered me and better still, they remembered that I was interested in the 50mm. Haha. :thumbsup:

 

[Big Kahuna]

If you are eying Nikon, bring your own CF & SD card and go to Fuji Xerox Tower's Nikon showroom, you can test until you shiok on most of the recent models :thumbsup: :lovegrin:

 

[ortega]

return policy?!!!???

you can rent and try for the whole day

 

[kzone]

If you are eying Nikon, bring your own CF & SD card and go to Fuji Xerox Tower's Nikon showroom, you can test until you shiok on most of the recent models :thumbsup: :lovegrin:

U mean at the service centre, 11th floor or something? They have sets for u to try? didnt notice any when I last went there...

 

[ortega]

U mean at the service centre, 11th floor or something? They have sets for u to try? didnt notice any when I last went there...

Showroom on the 1st floor

 

[Hoky]

hi hi,

i'm planning to get a DSLR in the next few weeks.
I have not decided which brand to get yet. So i would like to go to a show and test out a few models. But how should i go about testing it to get the feel? Any tips?

Does the shops (e.g. CP/AP) have a XX day no-questions-asked-return/replacement policy?

Wait till Ikea sells cameras... They have some form of return policy.

 

[phraeb]

hi, i was newbie like you juz a few weeks back. Well i have gotten a 400D from alan photo. quite satisfied with it other than the kit lens. alan photo has a 7 days exchange policy.

i will be gg to cambodia with my 400D in dec, prob gg to get accessories n new lens. will start another thread abt this.

 

[Galdor]

hi, i was newbie like you juz a few weeks back. Well i have gotten a 400D from alan photo. quite satisfied with it other than the kit lens. alan photo has a 7 days exchange policy.

i will be gg to cambodia with my 400D in dec, prob gg to get accessories n new lens. will start another thread abt this.

I think the 7 days exchange policy is for faulty items only and not becos you find that cam is not suitable for you. Best is to rent a set and try it out. It's not too expensive to rent a cam for a day.

 

[sianzz]

Thks guys. I'll be dropping by some shops this weekend to try out a few models i have in mind. But i'm leaning towards the 400D currently.

Thks again for the advice.

 

[eagletay]

But i'm leaning towards the 400D currently.

Thks again for the advice.

Why? any reason? Are u getting kit len?

 

[eloera]

hi, i was newbie like you juz a few weeks back. Well i have gotten a 400D from alan photo. quite satisfied with it other than the kit lens. alan photo has a 7 days exchange policy.

i will be gg to cambodia with my 400D in dec, prob gg to get accessories n new lens. will start another thread abt this.

what's wrong with the kit lens? :bigeyes:

 

[peapilot]

Is it the kit lens or the user?

It's not fair to slam the kit lens when you're used to pictures taken from a PnS and have heard who and who say the lens is no good.

I feel this is a fallacy spread too eagerly by newbies who don't know how to handle their cameras when they jumpship from an PnS and wonder why they're getting blurred images from their spanking new DSLR which is supposed to instantly produce pro photographs.

This is in no way directed at any particular user, I'm simply frustrated by people who blame the lens for bad pictures, and it is also unfortunate that because the kit lens is one of the first lens newbies to DSLRs encounter, that many go on to perpetuate the myth that the lens isn't any good when they can't even tell what f3.5 means.

 

[Andy Ang]

Aiyo, don't get so worked up lah. You are posting in Newbie Corner la. Explain what is f3.5 benefits more then just rumbling. Come share share.

BTW, CP (At least for me) can return the LENS after a few days if you really don't like it.
But make friend with the ppl first, and request before you buy.

the 'refund' will be made for another item of same or higher value only.

 

[ortega]

i know my D70 kit lens is really useful and good
when i upgrade my camera, i'll be keeping the kit lens

 

[milamber]

i know my D70 kit lens is really useful and good
when i upgrade my camera, i'll be keeping the kit lens

Agreed! I will also keep my D70 kit lens. Even a super duper lens cannot help a poorly composed/exposed shot. The eye is the most critical lens you need.

 

[Lmodel]

Sorry for the OT.

Did u just come back from the States?

 

[itsybitsyspidy]

The thing people are concerned about is the shutter count. If you tried the camera, then you return it, the shutter count can't be reset unless sent back to the service centre or smth. So you also cannot expect the shops to sell these cameras to other customers. Try the camera out at their respective showrooms instead.