First Step to photography(: Recommendation?

[dwintersun]

Dear fellow bros/sis,

I will be very free until December where I'll be enlisting for National Service and I will be traveling around the world for the next few months.

I'll be backpacking to Europe for a month (Brussels/Paris/London/Scotland) and most probably be going to Japan or Beijing for a month too :/

Therefore this explains my thread here.

1. What kind of Digital SLR camera do you recommend?

I am contemplating between Nikon J1/V1 / Samsung NX / and Sony NEX series. There are just too many cameras to choose from and I just need a camera that best suit my needs.

I've got a Sony A230 DSLR lying inside my cupboard collecting dusts :/ (Anyone knows where to trade-in or something?)
*Oh yes, I really need a portable camera because I couldn't stand that A230 being bulky *

My budget is to the limit of SGSD$1300. I know nuts about lenses except those numbers that tell how much zoom it offers and stuff (correct me if I'm wrong)



2. While reading some threads here, some suggested going to the airport to buy the camera? Will it be much cheaper there?


3. I am very 'up-to-date' in the sense, I am looking for a camera that will last long (in terms of features) and can last over the years without being obsolete. As in, I can just keep on buying lenses (assuming I got the hang of photography) w/o worrying about the body.

4. Lastly, do you guys recommend me to do photography (over the next few months + for the travel trips itself) because I'll be enlisting for National Service soon :/ And being the only child in the family, no one really take lots of photos (except my chihuahua )


Looking forward to your kind responses!


Cheers,

 

[nedy77]

For buying at the airport, you save the 7% gst, but prices there are RRP( recommended selling price) which is higher than the "street" price sold at the small retailers in town. Even with the 7% savings, it may not be cheaper than street prices

Besides you may not want to bring the box and packaging/contents of your new camera along on your travels. If you don't intend to keep the box, then throwing it alway will solve the problem

 

[nedy77]

4. Lastly, do you guys recommend me to do photography (over the next few months + for the travel trips itself) because I'll be enlisting for National Service soon :/ And being the only child in the family, no one really take lots of photos (except my chihuahua )


Looking forward to your kind responses!


Cheers,

I think this is quite personal and very hard for others to recommend if you should do photography or not. It depends on you own passion

 

[kei1309]

in terms of light-weight, it's either the Sony NEX or Samsung NX. for that size of sensor, it's a pretty good feat. but the Sony is lighter for travel.

also, you might want to budget for a lightweight tripod for the trip.

 

[mds80]

If you are not sure whether or not to go into photography, it might be wise to start with a cheaper compact camera. By investing in an expensive dslr/mirrorless system, you might later regret and want to sell everything because you find that you don't have the time or the passion for this hobby.

 

[TWmilkteaTW]

1) With a budget of $1300..you have quite a plenty of choice..mirror less and entry level cameras. Its up to you..to decide with system and which brand to pick. But since u mention about bulky i guess DSLR are out. You can choose from Oly, Panasonic, Sony..or Nikon..They have good mirrorless cameras. If not..just get a advance compact camera at about $1k less.

2) Might be cheaper..but you need to make sure there is stock.

3) In this case you need a interchangeable camera..so you can change lenses. Cameras update over the years..it will just get better and better..They can last long but whether you can use it long enough by not upgrading is another issue.

4) Nobody can help you. Its really up to you.

Cheers.

 

[giantcanopy]

I am contemplating between Nikon J1/V1 / Samsung NX / and Sony NEX series. There are just too many cameras to choose from and I just need a camera that best suit my needs.

I've got a Sony A230 DSLR lying inside my cupboard collecting dusts :/ (Anyone knows where to trade-in or something?)
*Oh yes, I really need a portable camera because I couldn't stand that A230 being bulky *

After going through the raw data specifications of cameras online, the best is for you to go down the many camera shops and man handle the said camera models.

4. Lastly, do you guys recommend me to do photography (over the next few months + for the travel trips itself) because I'll be enlisting for National Service soon :/ And being the only child in the family, no one really take lots of photos (except my chihuahua )

Cheers,

You might have to ask yourself why you shelved ur A230 all the while when u were not in NS. Is it really too bulky ? Do you forsee yourself using the camera more often after enlistment ?

Anyhow it is still perfectly viable to sustain photography during NS. I was still actively in the hobby, you just have to find time when you book out of camp.

Cheers. Enjoy your holidays btw, envy the long break.

Ryan

 

[rhino123]

Dear fellow bros/sis,

I will be very free until December where I'll be enlisting for National Service and I will be traveling around the world for the next few months.

I'll be backpacking to Europe for a month (Brussels/Paris/London/Scotland) and most probably be going to Japan or Beijing for a month too :/

Therefore this explains my thread here.



Looking forward to your kind responses!


Cheers,

1. What kind of Digital SLR camera do you recommend?

I am contemplating between Nikon J1/V1 / Samsung NX / and Sony NEX series. There are just too many cameras to choose from and I just need a camera that best suit my needs.

I've got a Sony A230 DSLR lying inside my cupboard collecting dusts :/ (Anyone knows where to trade-in or something?)
*Oh yes, I really need a portable camera because I couldn't stand that A230 being bulky *

My budget is to the limit of SGSD$1300. I know nuts about lenses except those numbers that tell how much zoom it offers and stuff (correct me if I'm wrong)

Actually what you have listed are not DSLR, they are mirrorless interchangeable lens camera Anyway, no one can give you an accurate information except yourself, because none of us know what you like and what you don't. Camera can be a very personal thing, and there is no one camera is better than the other, it all depends on the user. The main different between the brands of camera you have listed are their sensor size though. The Nikon J1/V1 mirrorless camera had the smallest sensor size (x2.7 crop factor) while Samsung and Sony have APS-C size sensor (x1.5 crop factor).

Please don't forget to look at other brands of camera such as the micro 4/3 sensor (x2 crop factor) Panasonic and Olympus camera and Pentax K-01 (APS-C sensor size camera).

My point is... go to the shop, pick up these camera, test it out, see which one you feel best with, and which one's menu IQ make sense to you. Then get that one.



3. I am very 'up-to-date' in the sense, I am looking for a camera that will last long (in terms of features) and can last over the years without being obsolete. As in, I can just keep on buying lenses (assuming I got the hang of photography) w/o worrying about the body.

Most, if not all, cameras are built to last pretty long, depending on how you use it. My friend is still using his Canon 20D after all this years, and it is still running very very well. Just take good care of your camera and you should be able to get the most out of it. And since we are seeing lots of mirrorless cameras getting into the market, I believe that mirrorless is a way to go these days... at least for most manufacturers, thus they will continue to introduce more lenses and accessories, so should not be a problem here. And if anyone tell you that NEX had very limited lenses, tell them to go home and read more, because with an adapter, you can put on all the A-mount lenses and still retain the AF capability..

4. Lastly, do you guys recommend me to do photography (over the next few months + for the travel trips itself) because I'll be enlisting for National Service soon :/ And being the only child in the family, no one really take lots of photos (except my chihuahua )

Nobody know the answer to this. I mean, come on, how in the world would we know if it is recommended that you do photography or not, only you yourself know. And btw, there are heaps of different genre of photography in the world... streets, landscape, nature (wildlife, macro, etc), portrait, etc etc... so it is up to you to find something you like. And sometime shooting chihuahua or whatever can be fun too..

 

[Larken]

My recommendation is that you only get into a interchangeable lens system only if you know exactly what you want. For example, I wouldn't get in the NEX or NX series I don't find their lens selection attractive. m43rds are great in that respect, with multiple manufacturers churning out lenses, but the crop sensor bugs me. The nikon J1 and V1 is decent, but the lenses available at this point are rather slow and more suited to day shooting IMO. Ricoh GRD is pretty good most respects, but the lens module idea is a little unconventional. The point is, every system has its own quirks and limitations. To buy into a system would get you stuck into the available lenses for that particular mount, unless you are ready to buy and sell off the cameras if you end up changing your mind.

Get an advanced compact to start off with, since size is an issue. Cameras like the Ricoh GRD IV, Canon S100, Fujifilm x10 come to mind. I'm personally a fan of the x10 - reasonably clean shots up to iso 1600, f2.0 lens, zoom range up to 110mm(?). Not to mention that Fuji's jpeg engine is pretty decent if you choose not to post process your pictures.

If small dslrs aren't an issue, then pentax K-r is pretty decent too, worth checking out.

 

[daredevil123]

I recommend you get yourself a good PnS. Something like a LX5 or X10.

 

[pinholecam]

The important thing imo is to get enough practice and knowledge of the camera and photography before the trip.
Its a wasted trip and money even if you got the best camera in the world but did not apply the skills to take nice photos.

The suggestion of a good PnS is good too. It simplifies the need to worry about interchangeable lenses at this stage and keeps the costs down, while being very small and light for traveling.

Otherwise, MILCs all the various systems should be fine.
You should not be thinking too much about too many lenses at this point. (complicates usage and out of budget)
APS-C systems : Samsung NX, Sony NEX, Pentax K-01
m4/3 : Panasonic and Olympus
Just start off with the kit lens. It will have the focal lengths that you need.

Get a practical tripod suitable for moving around without much encumbrance and you should be good to go.