DSLR for beginners.


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Zerox Millienium

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Aug 13, 2008
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At this time of writing, what kind of DSLR cameras are suited for beginners?

I'm asking about product to buy for starting out with DSLR and maybe upgrade as I get more adept to using it.

Budget wise say I'm putting a cap up to 2k, I hope it's reasonable for a beginner.

I just want to hear some recommendations thanks.
 

since you intend to upgrade after you adapt to this hobby, why not take a look at the buy/sell section for a entry level used body first to minimise damage in future?
 

since you intend to upgrade after you adapt to this hobby, why not take a look at the buy/sell section for a entry level used body first to minimise damage in future?

The truth is, I've got a distaste for second hand goods. I tend to get overly suspicious about whether the condition is really as good as it was claimed by the seller.
 

At this time of writing, what kind of DSLR cameras are suited for beginners?

I'm asking about product to buy for starting out with DSLR and maybe upgrade as I get more adept to using it.

Budget wise say I'm putting a cap up to 2k, I hope it's reasonable for a beginner.

I just want to hear some recommendations thanks.

Start with a D60 kit. About $900
SB-600. About $350
55-200 AFS VR. About $380

Get a dry cabinet, tripod, accessories and your 2k is about up....
 

Start with a D60 kit. About $900
SB-600. About $350
55-200 AFS VR. About $380

Get a dry cabinet, tripod, accessories and your 2k is about up....

Cool... I'll read up on it more thanks. ^^
 

At this time of writing, what kind of DSLR cameras are suited for beginners?

I'm asking about product to buy for starting out with DSLR and maybe upgrade as I get more adept to using it.

Budget wise say I'm putting a cap up to 2k, I hope it's reasonable for a beginner.

I just want to hear some recommendations thanks.

450D + kit lens + 55-250 + flash.

Add either a 50/1.4 or Sigma 30/1.4 later.

Should cover almost all needs.
 

Get a Sony A200 or A300. Very easy to use.
 

alternatively get a HD dv cam....
 

450D + kit lens + 55-250 + flash.

Add either a 50/1.4 or Sigma 30/1.4 later.

Should cover almost all needs.

Thanks for replying, I appreciate this.
 

alternatively get a HD dv cam....

HD DV Cam? You sure about this? What has photography gotta do with a HD DV cam? Please enlighten me? :bsmilie:
 

For $2k, you can buy Sony A350 plus 1 or 2 lens, e.g. Sony 16-105mm or Tamron/Sigma 17-50mm f2.8 + Minolta 50mm f1.7.
 

Just wanna a share how and what I considered before buying. As I do not own any slr or dslr before, these are the steps that I took before giving away my $$$.

1. Ask yourself.... How deep is my interest in photography? Do I see myself using a DSLR 10 yrs down the rd? Would I be bothered carrying camera of such size/weight? Would I be bothered carrying a tripod/monopod? Would I be bothered by a black color camera? Am I willing to spending hundreds & thousands of dollars on camera/lenses/bags/filters/etc?

Got to no 2. if you have no concern with most of these questions... If not, go buy a Point & Shoot camera.

2. Roughly have an idea of what kinda things that you like/want to shoot; eg. scenery(wide angle lenses), sports(telephoto lenses), insects(macro, tele lenses), plants(macro, wide, tele), events(wide, tele, portrait), birds(telephoto), people(wide, portrait, tele), etc...

From the interest that you have, you can narrow down to the type & range of lenses that would suit your interest. Read up if you need to...

3. Choose your lenses that covers your needs & range. Look thru all the different brands of lenses available in the market. Take 'a looonnngggg time' to look thru. Understand the different type of lenses offered by different makers, compare the image quality produced by the lenses, read up on what ppl say about the lenses, understand why the different in lens prices eventhough they are of the same range. Read up of you need to...

Choose & list down the lens that you WANT from all brands/makers. The lens that you WANT will be 'THE' lenses that you will be satisfied with and will not buy anymore. Do up the chosen lens price list for all the brands/makers.

Now look at the Total Price of the lenses of individual brand/maker. Which price range is the one that you're happy to part you $$$ with? Once done, you would have roughly narrowed down your choice or choices of lenses & brand/makers.

4. Choose your camera from the brand/makers that you have narrowed down. Choose those that fits your requirement/interest(read point 2 just in case you have forgotten). Read up if you need to...

Hold the camera and see which one feels better in your hand. Do not buy a camera that doesn't feel good in your hand because chances are, you'll not enjoy holding it thus you will not be using it, which equals to a waste of money. List down your camera choices together with it's specs/functions.

Look at the camera prices. Which price range is the one that you're happy to part you $$$ with?

Camera Price, Functions & Ergonomics plays a big part in choosing your first DSLR. At this point, you'll have to 'give & take' these 3 points when choosing your camera body.

***Most of the entry level camera comes with kits lenses. If you're happy to work with these lenses before moving on to your 'WANT' lenses, do look into the quality of the kit lenses.***

5. Camera makers will always have newer bodies every year or few years. The makers are always playing catch up with one another. However, lenses of the same range are rarely renewed every year or even few years. If there are newer lenses, it'll be to cover a range that the current lens lineup doesn't have. Investing in lenses is much more important & worthwhile.


So with all this running thru my mind, I ended up buying my first DSLR.
:bigeyes:photography is a very expensive hobby.:bigeyes:

Disclaimer - This process works well for me but may not be the same with you. I will not be accountable for your huge spending on cameras, lens, flash, monopod, tripod, filters, bags, dry-cabinet, strobes, backdrops, diffusers, batteries, printers, photo papers, memory cards & any other accessories.

Hope this helps..... ;)
 

Are Sonys really good? There are plenty of people who are prejudice against Sony products. What do you think?

Do you think Nikon products are good? You do know Sony makes their sensors, right? (Except for the D3 and D700).

Do you think Minolta is a good brand? Huge amount of history in the camera field. Sony bought them, and gained their expertise.

Yes, Sonys are really good.
 

As a beginner, why don't you just pick up a DSLR and play with it for a while? Then you will know what you need. Of course, do not spend too much.
 

As a beginner, why don't you just pick up a DSLR and play with it for a while? Then you will know what you need. Of course, do not spend too much.

Of course, that is my intent, and therefore there were earlier suggestions to get a used DSLR for learning. But I'm fine with buying good, decent entry-level DSLR. Anyway there's plenty of reading to do. You folks are great help narrowing down the choices and offer useful advices. You folks have my thanks. It takes a bit of research before I commit on a purchase of a new DSLR.

Regards.
 

Do you think Nikon products are good? You do know Sony makes their sensors, right? (Except for the D3 and D700).

Do you think Minolta is a good brand? Huge amount of history in the camera field. Sony bought them, and gained their expertise.

Yes, Sonys are really good.

Thanks for reassuring. ^^
 

Thanks for reassuring. ^^

Frankly every big camera brand is good, each has its strengths and weaknesses. Each brand will have a "fanbase" who can quote you the history and heritage of the brand. in the end (for me) it boils down to which brand has a range of lenses which best suit my needs.
 

I would suggest you choose a brand that you think u can trust. After which, continue exploring what the model can offer you. But once you bought it, don't regrett. After all, its about experimenting and learning from your pictures.
 

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