Hi fellow CSers,
I was just wondering what kind of body and lens I should be getting. Also I don't have an extreme budget, below 1000 (further the better), and don't really mind second hand either.
I know what kind of pictures I want, but don't know what lens/body to get. I've tried looking through the lists and end up a little confused really.
Body: Seriously I don't understand the different formats, and what differences there are in the body. What is a standard body that accommodates most lens? Not too pricey one too. I assume the sensor affects the ISO? (My current camera ISO noise isnt quite optimal)
Lens: I love the shallow DoF effect, and a lot of times take low light pictures too. (Not that low, but maybe like a warmly lit hotel lounge at night.) Though the common belief is bigger the better, I understand that too shallow DoF is extremely hard to focus. So how much is enough really? F/2? Is F2.8 too little? As for the focal length... (clueless). Say if I set up an ideal, 28-200mm F/2 Lens. Are there any real lens in the market that comes close to this? How much are they?
Really really appreciate all the help you can give me! Thanks
Greetings ombre,
Like yourself I'm also a non-DSLR user looking to upgrade to a DSLR, you should try out a few DSLR models first (I recommend Courts Tampines) and see how you like the feel, grip, handling, controls, etc. Don't blindly follow others opinions, stick with your gut feel about what you want and what you need and remember the following:
1) Most people get fed-up with DSLRs because either they don't like having too many manual controls or they don't use the camera that often, hence they feel forking out a few thousand on an expensive camera and lens is not worth it and some seek to downgrade to a prosumer after a few months. Please don't buy a DSLR unless you really sure you'll be satisfied with it
2) There is a HUGE difference in sensor size between compact cameras/prosumers and DSLRs. In other words, it doesn't matter which DSLR you buy, you'll always have much better low-light photographs as long as you use proper basic techniques like holding the camera still or remembering to open the aperture bigger
3) Remember that though what camera brand you buy will dictate what accessories and lens you buy in the future, note that almost everyone (Canon, Nikon, Sony, Olympus, etc) mimics each other in terms of lens range, camera size, etc, hence their product range is mostly similar. I.e buying one camera brand doesn't NOT mean you'll lose out on anything. The only difference is that each camera brand has its own characteristics, but to a FIRST-TIME DSLR USER these characteristics mean NOTHING because NO MATTER WHICH BRAND YOU BUY, ONCE YOU'VE GOTTEN USED TO YOUR DSLR THE PHOTOS YOU TAKE WILL ALWAYS BE BETTER THAN YOUR COMPACT CAMERA. Frankly those charateristics only really matter to professional photographers whose livehood depends on how their photos turn out compared to all the other professional photographer
(P.S: Pardon my outburst but I've been bombarded by other forumers saying how Canon colours are better, Nikon more pro, Sony best liveview, etc, etc.............and all because I said I was eyeing an Olympus
)
4) Do make sure you're using proper basic techniques like holding the camera from the base, positioning yourself properly in relation to your subject and the light, etc. Why? Because I've seen a lady using a Canon 40D who took blurred photos..........all because she held the heavy DSLR from the sides like you would with a compact camera instead of supporting from the base or the lens. I.e. the photos she took were blurred because she couldn't hold the camera steady due to the way she was holding it. Even an outdated DSLR with basic features (compared to current models) will take sharp, clear photos in the hands of a moderately experienced photographer
5) For lens range, I recommend your first lens to be something like 12-50 or 14-70. You won't get a long zoom range but frankly, who uses such a long zoom unless they're shooting birds or planes all the time? If you really need the long zoom then a single lens like 18-200 should suit you nicely though that range means you'll lose the wide-angle. Most pro photographers will advise you that there is an effect called barrel distortion that affects lens that cover long zooms like the 18-200, but frankly those effects are hardly noticeable if your photos are printed at 4R or 5R. Only if you're shooting 7R and larger will those effects become glaringly obvious (which is why pro photographers are so kiasu about it as their livehood depends on the quality of their photos which are usually printed to A4 sizes or bigger)
For myself I'm upgrading from my Canon G7 because I want better low-light performance, RAW support and an adjustable wide-angle lens. At the same time I don't want the extra-complicated controls from a high-end DSLR and I want my new camera to be as portable as my current G7. In case you're curious my choices for my next camera are:
1) Panasonic LX3
2) Olympus E420 w/ Zuiko 12-60mm lens or Leica R 14-150mm
3) Panasonic DMC-G1
BTW the G1 is based on the new Micro Four Thirds format which promises cameras smaller than current DSLRs. Olympus is also a supporter of this format though they haven't announced a camera using it yet. IMHO this new Micro Four Thirds format seems to be targeted at prosumers and entry-level DSLR owners as the camera apparently offers DSLR image quality but with a compact camera feel. I'm waiting for a review on this camera before I buy my new camera (hopefully by October).
