Entry Level Digital SLR

PurpleFistMixer

Right, so I've been looking about getting a new camera. I currently have a Sony Cybershot DSC-P52 which I got in November 03 and is now so outdated they don't sell it on amazon any more.

Anyway, the thing is that I want a bit more from my camera than just pointing at stuff and clicking. I want to be able to adjust stuff. Like shutter speed, and manual focus and aperture and ISO and basically everything. My current camera does all of that automatically and while I wouldn't like to say goodbye to the option of automatic, I'd like to be able to tinker with stuff before taking a photo. I have a film camera (some kind of ancient Pentax) with all these lovely dials and such and I've decided I want that. Only I want it in digital, because getting film processed sucks, my scanner isn't great for scanning photos, etcetera.

The question is, do I even need an SLR? I've been looking at some cameras and such and it seems I can get the things I want, to a certain extent, in a compact digital camera. However, I'm not sure I want another compact digital, if in a year or so I'm going to be looking for a better camera again because I've decided I want to start a lens collection or whatever. But is the only advantage of going SLR the fact that you can keep your lenses while getting a new camera body?

And the second question is, if I do want a digital SLR, am I reasonably going to be able to find a decent one for around 500 euro? (which is my budget. I've got more money that I'm willing to spend if I find something I love, but the damn parents don't seem to want me spending all my money on a camera.)

secret_squirrel

I think you will be hard pressed to find a true digital slr for €500. You might be better off getting a good digital zoom camera with all the manual options you want.

I also believe some of the digital slr's dont have a compatable lens system - so your old lens might not be of any use any way.

PurpleFistMixer

Oh, yeah, sorry that was kinda unclear, I'm not expecting to find anything to go with the lenses I have currently. I'm guessing they didn't have Digital SLRs back when that camera was made.

Thanks for the help though!

DotOrg

you may get a second hand canon 300d for around that price if you try ebay?

Shrimp

PurpleFistMixer wrote:

etcetera.

Ok, before I go on about the camera, may I metion, that this is the first time in my whole life that I have ever seen etcetera spelt out, I've only ever seen in like: etc. Just thought I'd say that to get it out there first.

As for what camera you should get. You say for entry level? well, currently I have a pretty lame camera as photography goes, It's a 2MP Click and shoot with 2X Digi Zoom, so it's not good for photography. If you look at my gallery [ http://shrimp123.deviantart.com/gallery ] (had to be done, sorry ) you will see that some of the photos would be alot better with a proper Digital SLR, so I have decided it's about time I got a new one. I was reading practical photographer or something and there was a review for the HP Photsmart 945, it got a great review, and I also read reviews on Pixmania.com and they were almost all good, nothing to bad to say about the camera. The magazine described it as, perfect for a developing photographer wanting to learn more about technique and general photography, etcetera etcetera <<

Here's some spec on the cam:

http://www.pixmania.com/ie/uk/32937/art/hp/photosmart-945.html

any questions ask?

PurpleFistMixer

Shrimp wrote:

Ok, before I go on about the camera, may I metion, that this is the first time in my whole life that I have ever seen etcetera spelt out, I've only ever seen in like: etc. Just thought I'd say that to get it out there first.

Heh. Yeah, I subvocalise most of the stuff I read/write online, and I find it rather difficult to pronounce "etc." in my head so I type it out fully. For some reason I don't have the same difficulty with acronyms. I've never had problems with "tbh".

I shall take a look at that camera. Many thanks for the help.

I took a look at the cameras on ebay. I've never bought with ebay before but they've got a Canon EOS 300d for about 500euro, only the shipping is what, 100 euro! That's... yeah, that's pretty bad.

Metacortex

PurpleFistMixer wrote:

And the second question is, if I do want a digital SLR, am I reasonably going to be able to find a decent one for around 500 euro? (which is my budget. I've got more money that I'm willing to spend if I find something I love, but the damn parents don't seem to want me spending all my money on a camera.)

Honestly, i think you should save money for a while and buy a really good DSLR. It would be better in the long term.

joolsveer

What SLR models would you suggest?

PurpleFistMixer

Metacortex wrote:

Honestly, i think you should save money for a while and buy a really good DSLR. It would be better in the long term.

I actually have a couple grand I got off shares or somesuch, I just wasn't sure if I wanted to spend so much money on a camera all of a sudden. It seems like a bit of a leap from a €250 point and clicky type thing (which would probably go for about a fiver nowadays) to spending what, almost a thousand on a digital SLR.

Zombrex

If you can afford it the Canon 350D is supposed to be good ... i have the 300D and I am quite happy with it, even if the body of the camera is a bit plastic looking and large (the 350D is supposed to be a much better body) For the 300D you are talking about €700 and about €999 for the 350D

Whether that is worth it or not is up to you ... it really depends on how into photography you are and if the shots you take really need the features of an SLR ... did you use your old Pentax SLR much?

DotOrg

i've owned the 300D, the 350D and the 20D

20D is favourite, brilliant layout of buttons and so fast at everything it does

i'd prefer the 300D body design to the 350D, the 350 just seems too small and fiddly,it's too easy to press the wrong buttons if you're shooting really quickly

the 350D has slightly more pixels and is faster but apart from that I'd stick with the 300D

the 20D looks plastic too, not that,that makes one bit of difference to how good a photographer you are.

remember, the body is the last step in the equation, the better lens you bar is far more important to the quality of the final pictures. There are people out there using the really old 30D and stioll getting stunning pictures

daymobrew

How about the Konica Minolta DiMAGE A200 Digital Camera ?

It's not a true SLR - it has a digital viewfinder - but has a lot of controls.
My sister-in-law got one recently (I helped order it from 7dayshop.com - best price I could find in the timeframe I had).

I think you can download the manual from Konica's website.

I have a Canon Powershot S50. It has controls to allow you to change the shutter speed, aperture (sp?) and focus. Of course, it also has the point-n-shoot modes. So, a point-n-shoot camera with manual options might be an alternative for your price range.

kasintahan

www.dpreview.com TBH

have a look at the fora and reviews.

Basically your options are...

Canon 300D or 350XT
Nikon D50/D70
Pentax *istDS (which will almost certainly take your current lenses, but you're probably better off getting some modern glass).
Olympus E300


You're going to have to spend around €900-1200 for a DSLR + lens.
This entry price is half what it was 2 years ago and will fall by half again in the next two years.

peckerhead

kasintahan wrote:

You're going to have to spend around €900-1200 for a DSLR + lens. This entry price is half what it was 2 years ago and will fall by half again in the next two years.

Exactly. I wouldn't agree at all with the "cough up more now, you'll be better off in the long run" theory. The prices are dropping through the floor on entry-level SLRs.

Have you looked at the Fuji Finepix S5500? It's a brilliant compromise, and now under €300, whereas it was closer to the €500 mark a year ago. Best deal on it is probably from Pixmania at €322 + p&p bundled with a 256MB XD Memory Card and a Carryall.

I have the older S5000 model and the 10x optical zoom (37mm-370mm equiv.)is brilliant. With a reasonable macro range, a 3.3fps 'burst' mode and loads of 'creative control' (full auto, aperture/shutter priority, full manual, good bracketing options, loads of other features...), it really does cope with pretty much any situation my old Canon SLR + 35mm + standard +70-210mm +400mm could have handled, and all in one sweetly-designed little package.

[And no, I don't work for Fuji...! ]

SnotNosedGit

I was going to buy a dslr at one stage but having then thought about it.
Did i really need the aggro of changeing lenses etc.
No i didnt, but i did want much more control over my photos.
My next step was the HP945 - excellent camera.

You can change the settings , use it on auto, 5MP, attach lenses and filters (with an adaptor ring), 8X optical zoom.
The only disadvantage with my camera is that you cant change both the aperture and exposure setting independantly of one another.

The big advantage i have over an SLR is that i can take the camera out zoom to 8 times and click away in seconds. One button click and i have macro mode. No need to change lens at all.

With a DSLR its a much longer process before getting started.

No i want more control but still want the general point and click compared to a dslr so i'm thinking of buying the Nikon coolpix 8800.
You can see the review here http://www.steves-digicams.com/2004_reviews/nikon8800.html