Advice for first DSLR buyer

Joined: 11 Aug 2005 Posts: 70 Location: Kent, UK

Morning all (or other time of day appropriate to time zone!)

I am looking to replace my frankly knackered point & shoot compact with my first DSLR.
I am looking for any advice you may have for a first time buyer!

I do have unfortunate budget constraints at present so second hand is likely, so it could be an older model

Cheers in advance
P

Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 3:18 am

I'm not going to suggest to get this or get that but rather I will tell you to go to a camera shop and hold different brand in your hand (it could be any brand no particular one) and play with it since you are going to start from scratch I think the feel and comfy of the next camera is the important thing to you... (all camera's are the same just different advertisment LOL)

Some will prefer a bulky one (people with bigger hand)
Some will prefer a smaller one (people with a small hand)

think of this....
the feel must be really nice and good cause if you are just relying on eveyone else opinion you will end up forcing yourself to take a picture if you don't really enjoy holding it...

Bottom line!!! It will be your Camera not anyone else but you...

So go and play with all the brand you can get a hold off and see which one is going to feel right to your hand

Joined: 07 Mar 2006 Posts: 134 Location: Perth, Australia

exactly what adorski said but I am 200cm tall and have big hands and im happy with my 350d with battery grip :) all I can advise is either get a Canon or Nikon (I know ive just insulted alot of people on here saying that) :P

thanks
will.

Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 8:37 am

Best to find out what suits you. I agree about Canon/Nikon.

I bought my D50 after months of deliberation and am damn happy about it. But it comes down to what will work well with you.

Premium Member Joined: 02 Apr 2005 Posts: 2020

From the FAQ.

http://www.phototakers.com/forum/ftopic39066.html

Should I buy a dSLR?

http://www.phototakers.com/forum/ftopic36754.html (Do any pros use P&S Cameras?)
http://www.phototakers.com/forum/ftopic37877.html (DSLR and lenses)
http://www.phototakers.com/forum/ftopic34932.html (Canon v. Nikon)
http://www.phototakers.com/forum/ftopic32590.html (Canon v. Nikon)

Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 2:33 pm

will85 wrote:

all I can advise is either get a Canon or Nikon

Sorry but I have to strongly disagree there. To limit yourself to only two brands without looking at the competition is foolish in the extreme. The Canon and Nikon models are fine cameras and there is a fare chance you will decide you like them best, but not to at least consider the equally fine models from the likes of Pentax, Olympus, and Sony is just not sensible.

Personally I would save until you can buy new though, the current models have some pretty significant advances over the older ones.

Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Posts: 4 Location: Sydney

I found choosing a DSLR for the first time challenging at exciting. There is lots of info and you do need to do your own research!!!

However, I summarized my findings on my personal blog. Feel free to have a look and it will give you some direction:

http://tr-photo-blog.blogspot.com/

I am also with "Canon or Nikon". It's true that other manufacturers make good gear too. However they simply do not have a similar support when it comes to accessories, lenses, rental equipment, experience, software support etc.

T

Posted: Tue Dec 19, 2006 5:47 am

Mongoose wrote:

will85 wrote:

all I can advise is either get a Canon or Nikon

Sorry but I have to strongly disagree there. To limit yourself to only two brands without looking at the competition is foolish in the extreme. The Canon and Nikon models are fine cameras and there is a fare chance you will decide you like them best, but not to at least consider the equally fine models from the likes of Pentax, Olympus, and Sony is just not sensible.

Personally I would save until you can buy new though, the current models have some pretty significant advances over the older ones.

Sorry I also disagree with the Canon or Nikon mentality. Not saying that Canon or Nikon are not the way to go. I am saying not to at consider other brands would not be wise. I know that some of the best DSLR deals out there for the money are from other brands. This is good equipment too. Sony, Pentex and Oly to name a few all have things that for some are desirable. I know folks that have switched from these brands to Canon or Nikon and then switched back.

It will be your camera so take your time and try some out. Go and shop to look and feel (but not to buy). Remember that many camera salesmen are not trying to selll you the camera that may be best for you, they are trying to sell you their cameras.

Best of luck to you.

Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 251 Location: Metro Detroit

Oh boy, someone opened up a can of worms with the Nikon/Canon/other brands debate here =)

I was of a very open mind when I first looked into getting a DSLR. What eventually hit me is that pretty much all digital bodies can do essentially the same thing. So where does that leave you? LENSES

Nikon, Pentax, Sony, Olympus, Sigma.. they all have different lenses available, but Canon was spot on with what I wanted for shooting. Even then, Nikon was a close second, and the others were also pretty close when you considered adding off-brand lenses (Sigma, Tokina, Tamron) to the mix.

There's a lot of stuff to consider. But first and foremost it should be how the camera feels in your hands. For as much as people are going to argue about the brand not mattering, it certainly does. Not many lenses can compete with Canon's L series, such as the 70-200 f/2.8 IS. Nikon also has it's fair share of 'blow your mind with the results' lenses.

Where people will argue about brands all the time, you still have to take notice that professionals use Nikon and Canon. You'll rarely see any other brand. Does that mean you can't get professional results from a Pentax? Or a Sony? Or any other brand? Of course not. The results depend more on the photographer than on the camera. Nikon and Canon just seem to have a greater foot hold in terms of overall body/lens/accessory choices, and seem to be leading the charge in development of new toys.