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Discussion Board -> Photography -> Buying a DSLR

Buying a DSLR

.J_E_F
03/04/09 6:56 PM GMT
I do like the convenience of a pocket point and press digital camera.

However, my sorry little Sony is looking a little beat up after years of ski trips, family holidays and artistic Caedes orientated activities.

I’d like to invest more in this photographic hobby, and move to a more serious piece of kit.

So, if I was looking to buy a DSLR, what make would you recommend for a body and a first lens?

What is a fair price to pay?

Any and all suggestions most welcome,

J_E_F
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::egggray
03/04/09 7:25 PM GMT
The Nikon D40 or Canon Digital Rebel XSI with the 18mm-55mm kit lens are both great cameras, you can add better lenses later on.
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::braces
03/04/09 11:24 PM GMT
I can only go on my own experience with buying my DSLR. I opted for a Nikon D60 which comes with an 18-55mm kit lens. Since then I have bought a 55-200mm zoom lens. I am very, very happy with my camera and lenses and I still learn new things about using them each time I take them out of their bag.
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“The weather is like the government, always in the wrong. ” Jerome K. Jerome. However, you wouldn't be wrong going to see My Gallery.
::casechaser
03/05/09 1:43 AM GMT
John, I have the Canon XTi (forerunner to the XSi) which came with a kit lense, 18-55. I have since added a 17-85 IS. I am very happy with all. A friend of mine here at Caedes recommended this camera and the Nikon to me but adviced me to drop by a camera shop and hold each and see how they feel in my hands. Pick whichever is best for you, they are both great cameras. Then go to Amazon and see what the current price is.
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::rp64
03/05/09 9:17 PM GMT
Both Nikon and Canon will serve you well. I'd suggest comparing the prices of lenses ahead of time to. I've added several Canon lenses from Ebay to my collection at very reasonable prices, a friend of mine went Nikon and is now mad because the lenses are far, far more expensive (though this can vary by model).
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::LynEve
03/06/09 2:27 AM GMT
I went for the Canon EOS 450D/Rebel XSi with the kit lenses.
I have since bought the Cnnon EFS 60mm f/2.8 Macro Lens.

I have to admit I have found the whole DSLR leaning curve pretty steep but lots of fun. I still feel more at home with my Panasonic FZ7. I am not very bright with technology.

I agree with Casechaser - as to the having a hold and seeing which feels right. The shop I bought my Macro lens from even let me take some shots with an identical camera to mine - good salesmanship :)
The 450D is very light and exrtremely fast.
There are heaps of reviews available - this is a good one and gives links to other reviews.

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EOS-Rebel-XSi-450D-Digital-SLR-Camera-Review.aspx

Whatever you choose - enjoy it and share your pics :)
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The question is not what you look at, but what you see ~ Marcel Proust
::nigelmoore
03/06/09 9:34 AM GMT
I'd go with what's been said above. When I bought my DSLR I went with Pentax / Samsung (they produce their DSLR ranges jointly so their cameras are basically the same) and I've been very happy with my GX-10. But this year I'd like to upgrade and for now at least there's nowhere to go with these two companies. There's the GX-20 / K20D but that's essentially a GX-10 / K10D with more megapixels; and there have been some vague noises about a semi-pro spec camera being released in the autumn, but still no firm details. What am I saying? That I think you're best off going with Nikon or Canon. I remember someone on here telling me that when you buy a DSLR you're essentiallly buying into a system of lenses. When you upgrade (and you probably will want to at some point) you'll want to be able to carry on using the lenses you've collected with your first camera (you'll almost certainly have upgraded any 'kit' lenses unless you avoid them and specify a better one with your first body). I'm now thinking of switching to a second hand Canon 5D later this year which will mean I'll have to sell the three Pentax-fit lenses I use and start all over again with Canon. A friend of mine has just bought a Nikon D90 with the 18 - 105mm lens (I think). We took it to the zoo last weekend and I was really impressed with the output straight out of the camera. He knows nothing about DSLRs so was pretty much using it in auto too. The LCD screen is particularly impressive; but the D90 does have some features I wouldn't use (HD video and Live View) which I would be slightly annoyed about having to pay for. That said it's expensive and you might want to start with one of the cameras mentioned above - a Canon 450D Digital Rebel or Nikon D60. One thing I would mention though is Image Stabilisation. There's a big difference between companies on this. Image Stabilisation means that your camera set-up compensates for camera shake, which means you can get shots hand-held in slightly darker conditions, or with a slightly longer zoom, than with a camera that doesn't have it. Nikon and Canon build it into their lenses (Nikon call it Vibration Reduction or VR, Canon Image Stabilisation or IS; which means you only have it when you're using a stabilised lens - and as you would expect they are generally quite a lot more expensive. Samsung / Pentax and Sony build it into their camera bodies, which means you have it with whatever lens you're using. I have certainly noticed when I've been out with other photographers that I've managed to get decent shots in conditions where they really couldnt't. Jan was with me when I photographed my wolf for example, which was taken through glass, in very dark conditions, hand held and at something like 120mm. Jan's shots were completely unuseable. So if you think you might be doing lots of wildlife photography for example it might be worth looking at Sony. They have a decent range, an interesting top-end semi-pro camera so there's somewhere to upgrade, and seem determined to carry on challenging the 'big two'. Finally - as usual I've gone on far too long - sites like dpreview.com are very useful for getting more detailed information.
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"A camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera." Dorothea Lange

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