Beginner photography: What DSLR camera to buy? Anyone selling?

[imdying]

DSLRs are outdated. I can not understand why anyone would want one, unless it is a pro model with a full frame sensor. The only reason I can see for people buying a new entry level DSLR is that they like bulk and weight.

Investigate the excellent mirror less cameras from Panasonic, Olympus and Fuji.

+1 on that, most definitely worth having a good look at those.

[Big Dave]

The glass is the most important bit of the camera and the big advantage the DSLRs have is you can change it.

For a beginner - changing not so important.

[slofox]

I used to be a total photog nut. But these days I work quite happily with a "bridge" camera - a Fuji S5 something or other. Does everything I need and did not break the bank to buy.

10x optical zoom (more would be nice) 5Meg. Don't really want much more resolution since the file sizes get ginormous real quick. I can print an A4 print with better res on the paper than I got with the film cameras of yore.

[Swoop]

I have been looking at getting a DSLR camera for a while now. What puts me off is the "outdatedness" that happens so quickly in electronics and also the "closeness" of megapixel capacity of the DSLR Vs the "bridge" cameras.
My Canon Powershot 120 has full manual controls for aperture and shutter, fits in a pocket and is extremely good pixel-wise.
I have done many years of dragging around a bag of lenses and can see both sides of the modern fence, however.

The Mrs even gave me a Samsung camera with built-in features which make things "arty" like the option of taking the shot with effects like "pencil sketch", "cartoon", "fisheye", etc. I still end up pocketing the Canon, even for overseas trips.

The other bonus of DSLRs is that most can shoot very good cinema quality HD video.

You might be surprised to know that certain tv programmes are "filmed" using a DSLR camera, right here in NZ!

[NordieBoy]

The kicker with the Nikon, the camera body does not have the auto focus system rather it is in each individual lense. This makes any replacement or upgrade lenses expensive as they contain electrical motors to drive the auto focus. The Cannon has it all built into the camera body meaning any Cannon lenses will auto focus.

The Canon auto focus is built into the lens just the same as for the Nikon.

Sony Alpha's have stabilisation built in to the camera body so all lenses are anti shake.

[NordieBoy]

I have been looking at getting a DSLR camera for a while now. What puts me off is the "outdatedness" that happens so quickly in electronics and also the "closeness" of megapixel capacity of the DSLR Vs the "bridge" cameras.

A good old 8mp Canon 20D with some good glass is still a very good camera.

You might be surprised to know that certain tv programmes are "filmed" using a DSLR camera, right here in NZ!

The 3D effects in the Matrix were too.

[nzbiker86]

Wow, thanks the replies, was really helpful. I managed to pick up a second hand canon 350d in really good condition for $200, just to learn the basics on. If it turns out I don't like it I can resell for that price no problem or I'll just pass it onto the mrs!

I have spoken to quite a few people now and the general view is that decent pictures can be taken on most cameras even older models, and after viewing some pictures and reviews of the 350d I decided to take a chance with a cheeky bid. Although I have it's say, generally I have found 2nd hand items of anykind seem to hold value in nz. In the uk generally anything second hand I would always expect it to half in price as a seller and a buyer. Here a second hand 1100D was fetching $550 only $70 less than new.....crazy! Unfortunately I was thinking about cameras when I was in Singapore last month....I prob could have grabbed a bargain, oh well.

It may be that I turn to one of these hybrid style SLRs in the future, the Sony Nex models look really nice. Infact I had a Sony T99, maybe even the model before that, 5mp, and took brill photos and latest my 8 years until the sensor failed!

[Big Dave]

This is old now - but still OK:

http://www.davidcohen.co/how.html

[Tigadee]

I managed to pick up a second hand canon 350d in really good condition for $200, just to learn the basics on.

Good catch. It is a good camera and will satisfy your needs.

Tip: The 350D has a tendency to underexpose, so setting and leaving your EV Compensation to +0.3 or +0.7 will cure that.

Here's an article on how to set and use EV Compensation.

[nzbiker86]

Cheers dude, I thought I haven't a clue how to do that....then the link

Will definitely give that a browse.

[Asher]

What lens did you get with it? Just the 18-55mm or something a bit better?

[Shortie]

The 350d is a great camera to learn on, not much to confuse you and takes great photos- to get better photos just takes better glass.

[Akzle]

nikon d1x with sigma lenses.

[nzbiker86]

EFS 18-55mm lens, 2 battery packs, 3 memory cards, all manuals etc and it's in really good cond, just collected in, very happy. This will keep me occupied for a long time, not a clue what half the icons mean!

[steve_t]

EFS 18-55mm lens, 2 battery packs, 3 memory cards, all manuals etc and it's in really good cond, just collected in, very happy. This will keep me occupied for a long time, not a clue what half the icons mean!

A beginner's workshop will explain all the settings are and what they do in quick time. Either that or you can just have a play and ask people as you go. But I recommend a workshop. They're pretty cheap