Hi, I'm just wondering any kind souls out there willing to give me advices on what model and brand of camera to buy?
I just need a simple(not that professional of cause), good(duhh) and not that expensive one.
I've got a budget of let's say below 1k?
Anyone?
Since this year, I had finally decided to pick up some hobbies I left behind before I grow old and senile. And I zoomed in on photography, since that was my first interest since 35mm film era. I need a catalystic camera to carry on the spark, and was surfing and trawling across the Internet for months before narrowing it down to S3IS and FZ8. In between surfing, I came across dSLRs which I consider them the deep pool (for the real enthusiaists and pros) and wondering the crossover is worth the effort and moolah.
Just been to Courts Tampines this afternoon, and as some bros suggested, brought along my memory cards for some snap trial. I tried on some dSLRs and later compact superzooms. I was blown away by the stark difference in clarity from the viewfinders to the end-products. I couldn't force myself to look into an EVF after I tried on the dSLRs'. Now, I don't have 6/6 vision, but the difference is like day and night; I could count the grains on a S3IS! Everything was fast, clear and with better ergonomics overall, making compacts feel like toys. Of course I'm not deriding the compacts - I am still using them!
It dawned to me that somehow, being a dSLR justifies its costs (and future hassles, from lenses to other accessories), and to have an all-in-one no longer interests me that much. Of the dSLRs I tried, the D40 strikes me as an easy-to-use, almost idiot-proof camera. After reading some reviews and tech-specs from the Internet, I could actually
take photographs! I find that amazing considering I was a film- and later a PNS- kinda person. In short, I was sold (like an instant slave!) :lovegrin:
If you are an amateur considering a $1K camera that would not be an overkill, that would not stifle your interests along the way, but still gives you room to move into photography nirvana, I guess you should go the entry-level dSLR way (the D40 was going at $1088, of course, you can get it cheaper at other places). Canon was a little steeper though. Once I uploaded the pics to my computer back home, it just further cements the notion that dSLR is the way to go.
In short, I think PNS gives you the versatility to go anywhere, but these little behemoths gives you the compass to where your interest lies.
I've found my calling. Hope you find yours too! Happy hunting, cheers!