Newbie - DSLR

[steamystream]

Hi, all I am a newbie here....
The only camera I have is a Casio....
I am looking into going for a DSLR.
Not too sure what to buy, may just end up with a USED DSLR first!
Get use to it and buy something better!

Anyone got a good deal let me know, I will be looking out in the B & S topic too!

 

[aryanto]

Is your casio camera let you do apperture priority (A mode) or speed priority (S mode) or -- may be not -- manual (M mode) ?
If can then try those first and ponder over. S mode is very easy to learn, just change the speed and you can mix and match the speed and ISO setting (assuming you can also set this).

You should be able to learn the tricks of S mode in 1 day, 2 days if you are slow. Try morning, daytime (noon - sunny) and evening. Try indoor and outdoor.
Try turning a waterfall into satin look a like.
Try action shots like panning (do it with people on bicycle is easier than car).

After than try the A mode.

If your casio does not have any of these A or S mode, then go buy a prosumer camera first (or borrow from your nice friend - be nice with him/her hor).
A mode (apperture) will take like a week to understand and a month to get used to (assuming you have other things in live like work, study, family).
Take photo and upload to your computer and compare different Apperture setting at same zoom power.

You will notice that using A mode you can achieve what you did with S mode too.

If you find yourself not frustrated and enjoy the learning process, go and check out which DSLR camera suits you.

I have not master M mode even with DSLR cos I am lazy to meter the light. I am stuck at A mode.

 

[aryanto]

I almost forgot, check out Panasonic G1. it is a bridge between DSLR and Point & shoot. It is not DSLR because it does not have mirror, like DSLR (and thus smaller - and available in Red and Blue as well as the traditional black colour of DSLR) but unlike Point & Shoot you can change the lense!

 

[night86mare]

I almost forgot, check out Panasonic G1. it is a bridge between DSLR and Point & shoot. It is not DSLR because it does not have mirror, like DSLR (and thus smaller - and available in Red and Blue as well as the traditional black colour of DSLR) but unlike Point & Shoot you can change the lense!

er, yes, being technical a g1 is not a dslr, based on the very definition of a dslr.

still, i would think that it would not be a bridge camera, unless panasonic doesn't expand the lens collection for this. maybe we can call it a mini-dslr.. :bsmilie:

 

[Oly5050]

Not too sure what to buy, may just end up with a USED DSLR first!
Get use to it and buy something better!

I think this is the right way to go. Get something that is not too expensive and then work your way up. No matter wat you think, DSLR costs are way higher than what people expect them. Most people will be poisoned by buying more and better equipment once they get their first DSLR body. In actual fact, most important is to buy something reasonable and focus on developing your skills before upgrading. I think u are probably looking at a 1000-2000 dollars of initial outlay. If you are moderately poisoned, you could be in the 5-10K range, severely, more than 10K. I consider mild poisoning to be less than 5K.

 

[aryanto]

If you are moderately poisoned, you could be in the 5-10K range, severely, more than 10K. I consider mild poisoning to be less than 5K.

wah, like that then I am moderately poisoned still with my oly e-3 and some of the lenses :bsmilie:

 

[Reportage]

really depends what you want to do...do you take DoF pictures often or prefer snapshots?