Beginners DSLR Camera?

RuggieBear

Forgive me if this is a completely moronic question...but is it possible to pick up dslr, suitable for a beginner, for in and around €300 new or 2nd hand?

I'd love to get something like a Canon 300d - 350D but i simply can not afford more than 300 euro.

Am i asking the impossible?

melekalikimaka

hummm, at that price your not gonna get a dSLR, maybe a hybrid like http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Fujifilm/fuji_finepixs5100z.asp could be the closest you can get

RuggieBear

Thanks. Think i'm being a little ambitious for my level (expertise and monetary...lol)

I suppose what i really want to be able to do is take decent sports action shots. Do hybrids have a quick reaction time?

melekalikimaka

well thats high shutter speed. and yes they do. the main difference is the lack of ability to change lens, if your interested in photography and plan to make it a hobby tho you'll find yourself wanting to upgrade pretty soon, as the hybrids limitations do become apparent once you get into the photography a bit. Saving a bit more and looking for a second hand d50/350D with basic kit lens might be better in the long run

rymus

Some of them will be quick, but I wouldnt think any of them will be as quick as a dslr. Or at least thats what my last experience with them has taught me. You might get a second hand dslr for slightly over your budget if you could scrape together a few more quid.

RuggieBear

That's what i'm thinking but i'm kind of at the stage where I'm not sure i can justify spending a fortune on photography if it's only a passing fad for me. (I can never tell whether it's a real interest or a fad).

I took some great photos of baseball when i was in NY with a little fuji finepix a204 and i can't help but wonder if i had had a decent camera that some of them would have been far far superior.

My uncle has a EOS 300d and i love messing around with it when i get a chance. He takes awesome photos and he doesn't know his arse from his elbow...lol.

melekalikimaka

indeed borrowing a family members camera and playing around should give ya an idea of what ya want, plus drops a few hints for xmas:D

rymus

RuggieBear wrote:

i can't help but wonder if i had had a decent camera that some of them would have been far far superior.

Therein lies the problem You get a good camera and your shots improve remarkably. Then you spot a lens that'll improve them further and you get that. Then you decide you have to upgrade the camera body. Then you realise you've spend €10k It never ends.

As Mele says, drop the hints to all around. Surely if you look pityful for the next 5 or 6 weeks you can solicit enough donations for a 400D

RuggieBear

oh trust me there have been more than enough hints!!!!!:D


Sounds like a slippery slope tbh.:) I'm like that with my pc and over clocking...it's only sheer poverty (and a vigilant girlfriend) that stop me blowing money on "toys".

RuggieBear

been looking at this on ebay. If that stays under 300 euro i might go for it and then try and find a cheap lens in the new year

melekalikimaka

not bad, looks like its been through the wars tho, a lens in the new year??? what ya gonna do with it til then? try a few shops around town, alot do second hand cameras, coming up to xmas and all alot will be spashing out on new ones so the second hand market might be a good call

RuggieBear

that's a good point. I presume there will be a lot of trade-in's over the next 2 months as people get new camera for xmas. Presume there will be a bargain to be had somewhere

RuggieBear

would this be a decent buy?

Not a DSLR but within my price range...

Fionn

thats a pretty good camera has lots of bells & whistles!!
enough to get ya going and see how your going to go if it's gonna wane or become more intense!!
as the lads said if you get into it..you become more picky and want more perfection etc.
a thing i saw someplace " the difference between a typical P&S shot and a dedicated SLR shot
1. initial view - ok - closer inspection -all sorts of res probs degradation of the image clarity, lens abberations , size for prints etc.
2. Initial view - ok - closer - much higer resulotion, vivid colours, more sharpness, less distortions, larger images, clearer etc.

RuggieBear

Well i've managed to talk the other half into expanding the budget.:D

I now have 600 to 800 to spend. I need reccomendations!!!

melekalikimaka

dSLR, d50/350D/d70/[sarcasm}sony alpha[/sarcasm]

Roen

Kablammo.
I buy from this lad all the time and he's good, probably similar in price to Kea Photo on eBay but always has lots more gadgets in stock. Never got hit for tax yet either *touches wood*
That leaves approx €150 for memory card carry on after P+P.

RuggieBear

i'm inclined to go for the Canon eos 400d. Pixmania have it for 743 inc delivery.

Don't wanna buy outside the eu as i really don't fancy rising a duty/tax/ customes charge.

melekalikimaka

don't come crying to me when people start throwiing tomatos at you cos you've a canon round your neck.
but seriously, yeah looks like an excellent deal, tis an excellent camera, you'll be very happy with it, try swing a 50mm 1.8 too

RuggieBear

lol

well it is a toss up between the 400d and a demo nikon d50 for 475...

thebaz

I have a Nikon d 50 a few months , and i'd highly reccomend it , as well as its performance its pretty easy to use and learn for a newcomer (me anyway !) .

abetarrush

Ive seen a good few proper DSLR [not slr type] cams on ebay.com, but didn order them

prob get charged double incl them stupid import duties