Mark (smokey mow) Posted January 28, 2011 Posted January 28, 2011 A question that crops up now and again, but I thought I'd ask for a current opinion. I'm in the market for a new camera and thinking of making the jump up to a DSLR but unsure as to which to go for. Back in my collegge day's I used to borrow my Dad's Pentax 35mm SLR quite a bit and up to recently I had been using a Nikon Coolpix 5400 till it died which I mainly use for landscape photography and the odd bit of motorsport stuff. The Nikon has been a good solid camera for the last 7 years but I've always preferred the menu navigation that my Canon ixus compact offers so I'm torn between canon or Nikon for a DSLR. I picked up a copy of What Digital Camera at lunchtime and have been busy reading but now I'm totally spoilt for choice between models and manufacturers. Initial budget would be around £500ish to get me going and then I fully expect to be adding lens' etc later on. Is there anything particular you'd suggest looking at? reccomendations/experience welcome. Quote
Mark Stanton Posted January 28, 2011 Posted January 28, 2011 ditto ............. loads to choose was undecided between Nikon and Canon ............ ended up with Canon 550 .............. I likkeeeee check out www. warehouseexpress.com some reasonable deals on cameras Quote
carpetstu Posted January 28, 2011 Posted January 28, 2011 I picked up a Canon d30 for the daughter at Xmas. Good bit of kit and will be even better when she finds out how to use all the buttons Quote
Jumpy07 Posted January 28, 2011 Posted January 28, 2011 I am a Canon man as I have lots of Canon lenses.. but brother recently bought a Nikon D3100 £450 and does HD Video.. very nice camera.. http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-nik...._-d3100 Quote
Matt Seabrook Posted January 28, 2011 Posted January 28, 2011 I have been told the Nikon menu on the DSLR's are better than Cannon if you are starting from scratch ie not used either before. Quote
Matt Seabrook Posted January 28, 2011 Posted January 28, 2011 I have had a look for a thread that I contributed a little while ago re cameras but the b****y search function is not working properly Quote
blitz Posted January 28, 2011 Posted January 28, 2011 I am having the same struggle. Canon 550 is what I should buy, BUT it is a bit of a big heavy Turnip of a camera and the Panasonic G2 is tiny and lovely, without being fiddly and is therefore more likely to be with me when I need it. It's too difficult and at this rate there will be some thing else out to make it even harder! Quote
Tigger Posted January 28, 2011 Posted January 28, 2011 I've also got a Canon, EOS 450D and it takes better pics than I can imagine but no video but then you should get a video camera for decent vids surely? Easy to use and I'm a camera numpty Quote
jim_l Posted January 28, 2011 Posted January 28, 2011 I tackled the question for a good while, having owned SLR's and compacts. A number of things persuaded me to go with a superzoom.: Was I going to spend £500 then another £400 or £500 later on lenses, a dedicated flash, etc Was I prepared to learn and do more with it creatively than I would with a superzoom Was I prepared for every outing to be an expedition, with up to 2 Kilos of kit that you really don't want to put down anywhere? If it's going to become your main hobby, go for it, but the answer for me was probably none of the above, trackdays to do, carbon to buy.... I went with the Panasonic FZ100 at about £375 including mem card etc: 24* zoom, HD video, great menus, turn it on shoot, turn it off, you get my drift. Your DSLR gets you much better quality, especially in less than perfect lighting and for enlarged pics, and it could well function faultlessly for a decade or more, which I suspect mine won't. Quote
Matt Seabrook Posted January 28, 2011 Posted January 28, 2011 To get the best from a DSLR you need to want to learn how to use the manual functions ie aperture and speed priority and manual settings. You also have to be prepared to have to spend money on lenses or you you would be better off with a bridge camera. For me stick to one of the main two Nikon or Cannon although there are some very good cameras from other makes. Its just there is so much available second hand for Nikons and Cannons on the likes of ebay. You would not be able to get these sort of shots with a bridge camera though. Quote
Jumpy07 Posted January 28, 2011 Posted January 28, 2011 When I dont want to lug the DLSR around I use a Panasonic TZ10... 12mp and built in GPS.. does HD vid as well..... great camera... auto GeoTags photos http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-Pan....856df5a Best Regards Craig Quote
Mark (smokey mow) Posted January 28, 2011 Author Posted January 28, 2011 Thanks for the advice so far guys, plenty to think about. I'm going to try and get into town this weekend for a closer look at a few and check out the differences in menu functions and the feel of the body's etc. I'm open minded about make at the moment, it's just my past experience lies with Nikon and Canon, hence my reason for starting the search there. It's definately a DSLR I'm after and I'm well prepared for the costs of future upgrades I'd though about a bridge camera but I don't feel that's a great enough step up from where I am at the moment, I've already exhausted everything I can do with shutter and aperture priority on my 5400 so now I'm looking for more. I'm not too fussed about video, it's stills that are improtant to me. My work is predominantly in and around the Dedham Vale and Constable Country so I regularly take lunchtime walks to enjoy the historic buildings and the stunning countryside of the Stour Valley, it's for this that the camera will be used. Matt, that light bulb sequence is simply superb Quote
Mark Stanton Posted January 28, 2011 Posted January 28, 2011 Canon 550D also does HD vid now and as a quick snappy party camera you could always use a small pocket simple thing As others have said you have to spend some time and effort to get the best out of your camera Quote
dombanks Posted January 28, 2011 Posted January 28, 2011 used a nikkon d60 alot and thought it was cracking. im no camera buff tho, however i have a couple of knowledgable friends in that area and their advice is always buy decent lenses as the lenses will always outlast the body. Quote
Matt Seabrook Posted January 29, 2011 Posted January 29, 2011 Glad you like the bulb shot. To be honest I think video on a stills camera is a gimmick and would rather the money I spent on a camera went in to making it a good stills camera. Still have fun today playing with some new gear. By the way I started with a Nikon D60 when I brought my DSLR and did not regret it. Be warned though upgradeitus is as bad with cameras as it is with Westfields. Quote
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