27 replies to this topic

[jamesmpi]

Looking to get a DSLR for my birthday (30 today 😄 🎁🎉)

As with most gadgets nowadays there are loads to choose from.

I'm not a camera expert but don't want to buy the most basic. So looking at higher end beginners cameras. Have asked for money for my birthday so don't know exactly what my budget it but for argument sake lets say £500 to £600.

At the moment I'm looking at Cannon and Nikon. The D7200 has caught my eye at the moment

Any other recommendations?

[Richard19]

I would definitely have a look at a Nikon D300. They are a few years old now but are very good value as you can pick one up from a dealer for about £300. The image quality is good & it doesn't have too many features which you will never use. I would then put the money saved to a decent lens or two. it doesn't matter what camera you have the lens is more important. A used Nikon fixed focus 50mm f1.8 will only cost about £90 and are as sharp as anything. I used Nikon for 30yrs and wouldn't swap for anything else.

 

The Canon's eos 5d mark ii is also very good and popular. As for other camera makes I can't really say as I haven't used any, but you won't go wrong if you choose a Nikon or Canon.

 

ps Happy Birthday !

Edited by Richard19, 16 October 2015 - 04:44 PM.

[Carlos W]

I love my D90.

 

A lot of the bundles come with an 18-55 lens. It's not very good in terms of flexibility

 

Depending on what you want, the 18-200 Nikon lens is very good

[jamesmpi]

I love my D90.
 
A lot of the bundles come with an 18-55 lens. It's not very good in terms of flexibility
 
Depending on what you want, the 18-200 Nikon lens is very good

Thanks for the info on the lenses. My limited knowledge on cameras appreciates that buying a good quality lens is key when buying a DSLR. Pointless buying. Ferrari and fitting square wheels... If you know what I mean.

So any more lens recommendation appreciated

[Carlos W]

 

I love my D90.
 
A lot of the bundles come with an 18-55 lens. It's not very good in terms of flexibility
 
Depending on what you want, the 18-200 Nikon lens is very good

Thanks for the info on the lenses. My limited knowledge on cameras appreciates that buying a good quality lens is key when buying a DSLR. Pointless buying. Ferrari and fitting square wheels... If you know what I mean.

So any more lens recommendation appreciated

 

I've also got a sigma 70-300 which is alright. The problem with the 18-55 is it doesn't have enough range for what I want.

 

I'd love a 500mm but I'm poor

[micromontenegro]

Are you set on a DSRL? I ask because mirrorless cameras are nowadays raising the ante quite a bit. I recently got a Sony A7 and couldn't be happier.

[jamesmpi]

Are you set on a DSRL? I ask because mirrorless cameras are nowadays raising the ante quite a bit. I recently got a Sony A7 and couldn't be happier.

Not 100% but yes that is the way I'm leaning.

I'm still very much in the research stage as I don't want to run out and waste my money.

There are various reasons for wanting a DSLR. I have kids and I'm fed up of taking photos of them growing up using my iPhone, often the quality is poor and seems such a waste. Secondly I want to use it for when we go out at the weekends, whether it be a car show, or a race meet (Goodwood is only 15mins up the road) and living by the coast I want to be able capture landscape scenes etc

So I'm guessing a good quality zoom lens??

Edited by jamesmpi, 16 October 2015 - 06:22 PM.

[leadly]

I've got a Canon 650D and I love it. I rarely use the stock 18-55mm lense though. I'll either use my Canon 50mm or my Tamron 18-200mm.

Not got much use out of it recently though but should be going to Edinburgh soonish!

[littlewimp]

I recently bought  a canon 750 d,  I also added a 200 zoom for the motorsport stuff although I've not had chance to use it that much  i am very pleased with it, they do have a good  which review .

[Carlos W]

If you go for a bridge camera, go for a good optical zoom and stay away from digital zoom. That's where the issues with smart phones come from

 

[mattprinn1997]

I have a 600D and it's pretty versatile, it's seemingly brilliant at everything, the flip out screen also comes in very handy! Not just this but it also can stand up to a battering pretty well!

Edited by mattprinn1997, 16 October 2015 - 08:04 PM.

[MrBounce]

One thing to remember is that the Nikon lens mount (despite what the camera shops say - mainly because they want you to buy a new lens) allows you to use any of the older lenses in totally manual mode. My Dad has a D700 and he regularly uses lenses made in the 60s on it. And the glass used in those is often amazing quality.

 

I have a (now getting quite old) D40x and it's a brilliant bit of kit. My friend has just bought himself a D3200 and that's got more features than I would ever need. I'd buy something around the £350 mark and spend the rest on another lens

[Jamiestevens94]

A D7200 would be a great choice of camera but the D7000 or D7100 would be nearly just as good and with the money you saved from buying a previous model you could use to spend more on a good lens. I also recommend a D5100 with the 18-55mm lens (my previous camera) which was pretty sharp. I only moved on from that as I went full frame! But you really can't go wrong with any DSLR's at the moment 

Edited by Jamiestevens94, 16 October 2015 - 10:58 PM.

[jamesmpi]

Cheers all some food for thought there!

I was also looking at D3200. Like you said, pay less for the unit and spend more on the lens

Also a good tip about the Nikon lenses. Didn't know you could use old lenses on it

I was reading an article on Techradar about which zoom lens to get. They made an interesting point that some of the lenses they tested differed greatly in quality from pervious tests even though they were the same make and model. Just goes to show they don't make them like they used to!

Edited by jamesmpi, 17 October 2015 - 06:21 AM.

[jamesmpi]

This is one article i was looking at

http://www.techradar...ginners-1251700

And this one

http://www.techradar...-tested-1044416

Edited by jamesmpi, 17 October 2015 - 06:28 AM.