Total Beginner to Digital SLR

Lady Lainy

Hey guys, not sure if there is a thread like this, o

Just wondering whats the best Digital SLR to start off on. I'm looking for something around 6 - 7 MP

Where's the best place to buy? Like which places are genuine and will sell u the best camera and which places just looking to sell the most expensive camera they have?

I've qualified in journalism, and I really need photography to tie in with that. I'm already doing a course in photoshop. Next I'll be doing a night course in digital photography.

Did photoshop before photography cos well...i could afford photoshop, cant quite afford that nice juicy camera just yet.

rymus

You're better talking in terms of price range rather than megapixels. Dont think there's any recently dslrs out there these days with less than 8mp.

Good starter cameras are generally recognised to be either the Canon 400D or Nikon D40. I'm sure there's more than that, that's just all we regularly recommend Best place to buy would probably be ebay. Try before you buy over here, then take your money elsewhere.

thebaz

rymus wrote: »

You're better talking in terms of price range rather than megapixels. Dont think there's any recently dslrs out there these days with less than 8mp.

Good starter cameras are generally recognised to be either the Canon 400D or Nikon D40. I'm sure there's more than that, that's just all we regularly recommend Best place to buy would probably be ebay. Try before you buy over here, then take your money elsewhere.

the d40 x, is alot better than the standard d 40 , if you go Nikon, pity they still don't make the d50 --

Calina

Photoshop licence costs more than my 8MP DSLR did.

Depending on the sort of money you are looking to spend:

entry level Canons 350D and 400D. There are a bundle of 350Ds for sale on adverts at the moment and I think, if you can find one new it is around 500E odd. Finding them is harder. The 400D is somewhere in the 700E range I think.

YOu will probably need a faster lens than the standard kitlens with the Canons though.

Lady Lainy

yeah the canon is the one i tend to drool over every time i pass a camera shop. but just so many options as to what package. body only...then different packages of that camera come with different lenses. whats the standard lense with that camera?

I got Photoshop Elements 6 for 100 euro. does the job nicely.

I really appriciate all the advice

Thirdfox

thebaz wrote: »

the d40 x, is alot better than the standard d 40 , if you go Nikon, pity they still don't make the d50 --

I beg to differ

I would either get the new D60 (better D40x) or just the D40 which is a 6mp camera for Nikon.

Check out my sig for pictures taken with the humble D40

leohoju

The Olympus E410 is quite a popular "beginner's" camera as well. Then there's the Pentax K100D, Sony Alpha A100 and possibly a few more besides. All are in and around the same price mark.

rymus wrote: »

Good starter cameras are generally recognised to be either the Canon 400D or Nikon D40.

thebaz wrote: »

the d40 x, is alot better than the standard d 40 , if you go Nikon, pity they still don't make the d50 --

If you go for the Nikon D40, I wouldn't recommend you go for the D40x model (slower flash sync speed and costs about €200 more). The few extra megapixels really won't make a difference unless you plan on printing off poster size pictures (then by all means go for the D40x ).

Whichever you go for in the end, it'll be down to how it feels in your hands. All of them take excellent pictures, just some have a few extra features that you may or may not utilise.

Mylow

Or you could watch adverts.ie

I spotted this Nikon D200, I bought similar set-up a month ago, very pleased with it. I paid €60 more and didn't include bag or CF card.

leohoju

Thirdfox wrote: »

I beg to differ

I would either get the new D60 (better D40x) or just the D40 which is a 6mp camera for Nikon.

Check out my sig for pictures taken with the humble D40

Forgot about the D60! But it won't be available until March at the earliest.

Lady Lainy wrote: »

yeah the canon is the one i tend to drool over every time i pass a camera shop. but just so many options as to what package. body only...then different packages of that camera come with different lenses. whats the standard lense with that camera?

Most of the cameras mentioned here will come with a 18-55mm "kit lens" (except for the Olympus, that comes with a 14-42mm). They are all good lenses and are perfect for getting to grips with taking photos with your new camera.

leohoju

Mylow wrote: »

Or you could watch adverts.ie

I spotted this Nikon D200, I bought similar set-up a month ago, very pleased with it. I paid €60 more and didn't include bag or CF card.

The Nikon D200 might be just a little too much for someone trying their hand at (D)SLR photography for the first time. Although it is a fine camera of course!

Lady Lainy

yeah thats what Neil o Leary of Naylor Designs told me. He's my tutor in Photoshop.
That i dont need a huge amount of MP unless im going as you said printing posters.

Right now I want to develop some skills, then decided on what area of photography i want to focus my attention on.

I know everyone is busy, but what do ye think of this package?

http://www.dabs4work.ie/productview.aspx?Quicklinx=48JL&SearchType=1&SearchTerms=canon+400d&PageMode=3&SearchKey=All&SearchMode=All&NavigationKey=0

Canon EOS 400D - 18-55mm Kit

rymus

the 400D is a great camera.. couldnt go wrong with it. There has been a 450D announced recently, but I wouldnt let that put you off the 400

Lady Lainy

Well i think ye have covered everything....
gotten more information and practical advice on here in 10 mins than hours of going from shop to shop.

Prob be in the summer i get the camera. having employment issues at the moment...the issue being i cant find a damn job to save my life.....its depressing LOL

Thank again guys

Pigwidgeon

i got the d40 bout 2 months ago, im complete beginner and i think its great, easy to use, just messing around with it i found to be the best way to figure out all the settings id reccommend it anyway

Dades

Lady Lainy wrote: »

I know everyone is busy, but what do ye think of this package?

http://www.dabs4work.ie/productview.aspx?Quicklinx=48JL&SearchType=1&SearchTerms=canon+400d&PageMode=3&SearchKey=All&SearchMode=All&NavigationKey=0

Canon EOS 400D - 18-55mm Kit

Not a bad deal from what I can see. Possibly a small bit cheaper than the same package from Kea depending on the dabs4work postage.

I got one in November and love it. You have to get one of these too (!), which might make the Kea offer a better deal as you could combine postage.

quilmore

Lady Lainy wrote: »

Just wondering whats the best Digital SLR to start off on. I'm looking for something around 6 - 7 MP

you can get a second hand D70 or 350d dirt cheap these days (under 400)
and a new d40 or 400d with a kit lens won't be far off either

I dissagree with Thirdfox, I've seen more natural looking colours of a D40 than of a D40x, and if you print up to 6x9 or 8x12 the extra resolution will mean nothing to you

Thirdfox

quilmore wrote: »

you can get a second hand D70 or 350d dirt cheap these days (under 400)
and a new d40 or 400d with a kit lens won't be far off either

I dissagree with Thirdfox, I've seen more natural looking colours of a D40 than of a D40x, and if you print up to 6x9 or 8x12 the extra resolution will mean nothing to you

You mean you agree with me?

I disagreed with thebaz...

quilmore

Thirdfox wrote: »

You mean you agree with me?

I disagreed with thebaz...

ehhh, I think I've mixed things up