Digital SLR camera... Any recommendations?

[perplexed]

Hello all...

I'd like a DSLR camera. Years ago, I had a Canon EOS 300, film, which was great until it gave up the ghost. Since then, I've had a Panasonic Lumix, excellent in its own way, but...

Anyhow, now I'm a bit bewildered by the choice. So I wondered if anyone could suggest something for someone who enjoys taking a nice shot, and will go to some effort to get 'special' pics. Mainly scenery, architecture, street scenes, night shots. I'd like something which can:

accommodate auto-focus lenses
has straightforward modes for quick shots, macro etc
reasonably easy to work out how to use shutter/time priority
has black & white effects etc
good battery life
I'm not bothered about 'cine' capability at all

In short, a decent amateur's camera, with fairly standard features, but something I can explore manipulating shots with.

For a reference point, I was wondering about something like this:

http://www.jessops.com/online.store...black-with-18-55mm-vr-ii-lens-88090/show.html

Thanks in advance y'all...

 

[jefmcg]

I think any entry level SLR will do the trick. I have a 450D which is quite old now, but does not need replacing. Sadly it was the last model without a movie mode, but i can live without that. It's current replacement is the 750D.

These cameras a very similar to the smaller of the last generation of film cameras. Be aware you can now by digital SLR with much smaller bodies than this (and larger ones, if you go towards the expensive pro or semi pro models).

dpreview used to be a great site. It was bought by amazon, but still looks pretty good. I'd browse through models here http://www.dpreview.com/buying-guid...tm_medium=homepage-block&ref=features-default Note it's an american site, so you will have to do your own research for prices, and some of the model names are different. (eg the canon EOS are called Rebel in the US for some reason)

 

[pplpilot]

ANY consumer entry level SLR will do what you need and more, just depends on personal choice, Me I prefer Nikon as that is what I have used for years and I also like the ergonomics of them, others say the same about Canon et al. No such thing as a bad camera they all perform well at their level. as you move up in the range access to modes / controls etc tend to be on the body rather than in a menu, I like all my controls on the body simply for speed of access.

The pixel peepers will be along shortly to bamboozle you about noise/Chromatic aberration/vignetting/ etc.

 

[swee'pea99]

Is cost an issue? If so, I'd strongly recommend using fleabay to get yourself a Nikon D40 - a fantastic bit of kit which you can pick up for a song because everyone wants 27gigapixels these days. Everything you specify, and a great lens. What's not to like?

PS:

 

[MichaelW2]

Just pick one based on how much you like the controls, viewfinder, size, general ergonomic stuff. They all have more than sufficient picture quality.
Personally I can't abide touch screens, prefer dials to buttons and I like an articulated LCD for selfies, highies and lowies.

 

[Old jon]

Have to agree with previous posts, all cameras at this price point will do all you need. With all those dots ( megapixels ) your only limit on image quality is the lens.

 

[Nibor]

The entry level panasonic ones are excellent as your antishake is built into the body instead of the lenses giving much cheaper lenses

 

[Milkfloat]

My top tip, get one compatible with one that a friend or family has, that way you can borrow their lenses.

 

[perplexed]

Thanks all thus far, good info!

 

[F70100]

I recommend buying second hand:

Canon 400D paired with Canon EF-S 17-85. £188 for the pair

If you would prefer a full size sensor (but the camera is quite bulky and heavy to accommodate it), a Canon 5D Mk1 takes some beating, especially if you pair it with an L spec Canon lens. I bought a used 5D and a couple of L lenses from mpb about a year ago and wish I'd gone down the second hand route much earlier.

This from a Canon 400D and Tamron lens:

 

[Crackle]

If you want an SLR fine but you don't have to go that way to get the quality of an SLR. Mirrorless cameras such as the Sony Nex series are highly thought of. Newer kids on the block such as the Fujifilm x series are highly rated and well made and 4/3rds cameras such as the Olympus OM-D M10 are also superb cameras, all in a smaller package than traditional SLR's.

As mentioned, the 2nd hand route is also a way to go, probably needs a little more research but yesterdays 16Mp cameras will shock you with the quality achievable over film. Buying a body with a separate lens is also a good idea and a lot of manufacturers do good basic primes which will knock spots off kit zooms.

Do not also forget you'll need some software. You may choose free stuff like Picasa to get you started but if you keep it up you'll probably want to upgrade that and I'd highly recommend something like Lightroom. The more you use it the more you'll appreciate it. That also leads you into things like storage as each shot will be 10Mb or so in size, so make sure you have that covered.

 

[KneesUp]

I have a Pentax DSLR (a K-7 currently, although I did have a K10d previously) and a few years ago I'd have said that s DSLR was definitely the way to go. Like you I'd had a Lumix (FZ10?) and was annoyed by the viewfinder lag and the low light performance

However, I found that with being a parent, a relatively large camera was a bit of a burden in a bag already containing wipes, food for the ducks, a snack, a drink, a spare pair of leggings and socks, a cuddly toy, an interesting stone and so on.

I now also have an Olympus OMD EM10 which has SLR styling, and SLR controls, but an electronic viewfinder - but one which is far, far superior to that Lumix of 10 years ago. As it has no mirror (as it's not an SLR) it's much quieter as well as being smaller. And as a bonus you can fit almost any lens ever made to it with the right adaptor, and although they will be manual focus and manual aperture, they will be stabilised.

I'd recommend trying one. I got a £75 rebate on mine making it (I think) £225 for the body (I don't like 'standard zooms' so bought a fixed 20mm f1.7 lens separately)

 

[KneesUp]

Oh, and on the subject of software, if you run Linux or OSX, I'd very highly recommend Darktable for processing pictures instead of Lightroom - it has every feature you could wish for, at the very attractive price of nothing at all.

 

[accountantpete]

Happy Canon 400D and Darktable user.

The big decisions are full frame or APS-C and Lens v Camera.

Personally I got a second hand 400D with the Auto Focus bust as I use old film era M42 fit lenses and cheapo modern ones (with the auto focus bust) - you can get kitted out for £100 that way and manual focus is a lot better that the sometimes dodgy autofocus on entry level cameras.

Mind you the 50mp cameras like the Leaf Credo are very nice - you can download the RAW file of this pic and zoom in on a boat at the far end of the river

 

[Stevec047]

I have used both nikon and cannon entry level models over the years. Some of the new kit from both companies is very good but be aware they can take some time to get used too especially if you steer into the manuel modes which give some amazing results.

Lense wise nikon tend to have slightly better kit lenses compared to Canon but if your serious upgrading to a better quality 17-85 and or a good quality 50mm prime and telephoto options will be fine for all types of photography.

I personally tend to stick with my 50mm on my Canon as the depth of field is lovely and crisp beautiful shots.

If you tend to stick with auto modes best advise I can give is look at some of the Panasonic lumix cameras they also have a range of manuel options but have been designed as a more point and shoot camera. What they lack in lens options they gain in ease of use.