DLSR Camera advice

[CiaranMal1]

Hi folks
its been a while since I have been on the forum. I know there are a few people here who know about cameras/photography. I'm interested in buying my DLSR camera. I have been looking at a canon 100d and 700d and also the Nikon d3300. Any one know which is best to go for or even recommend any model obviously at the reasonable price range the canon 700d is at.

Any help advice welcome.

cheers
Ciaran

:D

[Rich23]

Hi

The best thing to do is go and have a play with each camera you have listed and see how they feel in your hand and which menu system you like. I personally like the Canons but Nikon are equally as good.

Rich

[iceuk]

Buy 2nd hand with low shutter count, i have the Nikon D5100 and it think it's fine for a beginner, screen has a good degree of movement/tilt too, if you can try before you buy.

[matt27]

pretty much reiterating the above but definitely get a feel for the cameras, personally the nikons feel better in my hand but the canons are also great quality

another point to maybe add id looking into the cost vs quality of lens and what you are prepared to pay...can't say i'm much use in this area as i haven't bought a lens for about 6+ years but when i was looking there as very little in it between the nikon fit and canon fir lenses although some were not always made by the companys themselves

[Supa Koopa]

It all depends on what you are trying to achieve and what you are going to be using the camera for. To be honest there are 3 things that determine a good picture the soggy lump behind the camera, the glass bit sticking out the front and the fancy bit in the middle and it's in that order. Kit lenses are at best average and the more you spend on the lens the better it will stand you in the future. I have a rather expensive Nikon lens that is over £1200 that I would not part with if I changed my camera. I also have a £300 tamron lens that was bought as a present and to be honest it's been on the camera half a dozen times as the images are only passable. Now it's the same camera with lovely pictures or passable only the glass has changed. DSLR's can be a mine field and can get expensive. Bear in mind that they can also be a bit of a pain to carry around and you will feel like a tool using one in public. Candid shots are harder as someone sees a great big camera stuck in their face and they try and pose or run for the hills. I have recently bought a Panasonic GX7 and that takes stunning pictures for what it is. I've attached an image that is straight out of camera and only resized for here. Not a perfect example but something I had with me.

Best places to start are;

[URL="http://www.dpreview.com"]www.dpreview.com[/URL] they have in depth reviews and useful forums
[URL="http://www.imaging-resource.com/"]Digital Cameras, Digital Camera Reviews - The Imaging Resource![/URL] have a compare images section [URL="http://www.imaging-resource.com/IMCOMP/COMPS01.HTM"]Imaging Resource "Comparometer" ™ Digital Camera Image Comparison Page[/URL] where you can compare images from the cameras you are ineterested in side by side. I will also reinforce what has already been said that you need to hold each camera in your hands and mess with the menus as this can make a massive difference. I prefer Nikon as I like their menus and images but someone from the Canon camp will say exactly the same.

[adrianMS]

Do some homework via the web. Like others have said good pictures are created behind the lens. The lens comes next BUT you'll have to pay for the privilege, really a hornets nest for the beginner. Brands like Canon & Nikon lenses are usually pretty dam good, aftermarket lenses should be another homework on the web session.
Buy a camera 2nd hand & go for a lower spec (unless you pick up a bargain) with more learner friendly menus.
As your skills improve you'll want to upgrade (bit like heli's really) but with what you will have learnt by then you will be more selective on your next "upgrade"

[Red3]

hi I got a Nikon D3300 this year as an upgrade to a Nikon D40x the 3300 is a great camera.I would say have a look at cannon and Sony. the Nikon lens for me is better image quality than cannon but cannon has a wider choice of lenses. as has been said its a bit of a minefield is the dslr market. good luck with whatever you go for.

some shots taken with my D3300 you gan get some great shots with it

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[trexamanic]

+1+1 on the touchy feely part. i remember some cameras feeling awful in my grip and tricky menus.

[trexamanic]

[QUOTE=Red3;1147426]hi I got a Nikon D3300 this year as an upgrade to a Nikon D40x the 3300 is a great camera.I would say have a look at cannon and Sony. the Nikon lens for me is better image quality than cannon but cannon has a wider choice of lenses. as has been said its a bit of a minefield is the dslr market. good luck with whatever you go for.

some shots taken with my D3300 you gan get some great shots with it

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some awesome shots. well done

[tourerjim]

Have you looked at the micro DSLR's

[cjcj1949]

Do you need an SLR? The image quality from the better small cameras is very good. You can get very big zooms and good resullts at high film speeds. Carrying lots of lenses and paying for them is a pain. Good cameras under £300. I've got a Nikon Coolpix 510. SLRs were introduced to make focussing accurate but that's all automatic now and the electronic viewfinders are pretty good. SLRs are better technically, but a one lens camera isn't out of action changing lenses. When you can't get the shots you want with the smaller cameras you'll know which next camera to get.

[tourerjim]

Ive got the Canon M DLSR auto focus can be little slow at times but overhaul image quality and video out weighs the focus, also you have almost unlitted settings and save fav setups.

[Steve]

I'm a Canon man here...

I've just got rid of a 70-200mm f4 L lens in favour of a new 28-300 f3.5 L lens. New lens only turned up a couple days ago and I'm going to give it a spin tomorrow at my Son's football match. I can't believe how heavy it is!

The one ting that I've learned during my journey through various DSLR upgrades is exactly what Busterboy said on the form many yeas ago - spend your money on the lenses, not the camera body.

A good lens will make a very average body sing.

A poor lens with fancy body will give disappointing results.

I'm using a 60D body which I bought almost unused off a form member here about 18 months ago, as and upgrade from the 1000D which I had before, and like it a lot.

It's funny how the lenses are the most expensive its?

[jimmyhorns]

[QUOTE=Steve;1151099]

It's funny how the lenses are the most expensive its?[/QUOTE]

Not when you think about just how much effort goes into making a good lens....

Here is a minolta 70-210 f4 receiving a bit of TLC - and the glass isnt even out yet.....

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[Peteski]

As above it's all about the lenses. I'm a Canon man personally but Nikon just as good. Kit lenses that come with the "pro-sumer" bodies are average at best and a decent lens (e.g. Canon L series) will make far more difference to your image quality than a more expensive camera body. Once you start investing in lenses (Canon or Nikon fit) you are then kind of locked into the brand of body for life. For example I now own half a dozen high quality Canon lenses (several grands worth of glass) so a swap to a Nikon body would be totally impractical.

If I was starting out again I'd probably go with Canon again, but there really is nothing in it with Canon v Nikon. FWIW a lot of pro sports photographers favour Canon (not all by any means, plenty of Nikon shooters too) as the pro Canon bodies were always a tad quicker on AF and frame rates. But at consumer level there is nothing to choose between them. Buy the one that feels best in your hand and most intuitive to shoot with. Then start saving for decent lenses to go with it!