Help Me Buy a DSLR!
Hey, you..again! Yes, you…again! I want your help…again. (I’ll stop with this now) I’m in dire need of a new hobby! I want to start taking pictures. I even added Photography to the category list. However, I know I’ll never be a great photographer, or even a good one – that’s besides the point. Like this blog, I want to take pictures for my own sake. I just want a decent camera I can toy with, a gadget to spend time with, a hobby. A potentially very expensive one, but a hobby nonetheless.
The last time I asked for help through this blog I got a lot of feedback. It was very helpful, so please, dear reader; If you have any experience and knowledge, whether as a total newbie like me, or a pro – please do share. I’ll be forever grateful.
Continue reading further for some of the options I’m considering, and some of my thoughts on the subject.
I’ve spent a lot of time lately reading reviews and tips about buying/using DSLRs and I know that the perhaps most sensible, and cheap, thing to do would be to go for a digital camera. But I don’t want that. I won’t budge. I want something I’ll love to use, inspiring me to take more pictures. Spending hours on the computer doing post production work sounds like fun to me. I am determined this is what I want – but there’s a pretty big DSLR market out there. What should I get?
First some thoughts. As it stands I’m not interested in buying used – even if there is a lot of money to be saved. I want something relatively newbie-friendly. I want it to be cheap(as far as DSLRs go, anyway). But I don’t want it to feel cheap. As far as lenses go I’ll be sticking to the kit lens for now, but I fear, for the sake of my wallet, that this might change…
The candidates so far. I’ve been reading reviews. Comparing cameras. Comparing prices. I haven’t really found a plethora of candidates, but it gives you an idea of the price range. Canon EOS 1000D. Very interested in this as it’s pretty much getting awesome feedback from most places, and it is cheap. “Not the best, but perfect for newcomers.” is a frequent tag line. Canon EOS 450D. Another good one from Canon. Gets a lot of praise, but is the price difference vs the EOS1000D warranted? Nikon D60. Falls in the same category as the EOS 1000D from Canon in reviews; “Perfect for newcomers.” Pentax K-m. As the other alternatives it too gets a lot of praise as a ‘great camera for beginners’.
These are in the same price range, and the price range I want to target. I’ve been reading so many reviews recommending these I am now unable to decide on one. This is where I hope I can get any help. Are these old products? Are there better choices out there? Any first-hand experience with any of them? All feedback is appreciated. Thanks. : )
Tags: 1000d, 450d, canon, d60, dslr, help, K-m, nikon, pentax, Photography
This entry was posted on Saturday, August 8th, 2009 at 5:39 am and is filed under Photography. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
August 8th, 2009 at 3:16 pm
I’m afraid I can’t help you.
kthxbai
Seriously though, a while ago I too was seriously considering getting a DSLR. My choice would have been the EOS400D (which has been replaced with the 450D) if I had not suddenly decided to go for a non-reflex digital camera instead, for a fraction of the price.
What I can tell you is that this is a decision I regret. Even though the Canon I got has all the “advanced” features like manual aperture time and stuff, it feels unbelievably sluggish and inaccurate when compared to my old non-digital reflex camera. So you’re totally right in saying that a regular digital camera won’t inspire you to take pictures, on the contrary.
Another point is that when you get started on any hobby, usually it’s not worth the extra 100€ to get the slightly better model if you start out from a model that has good reviews. Case in point, the Canons. I’d say go for the 1000D. There seem to be some differences with the 450D, but they’re so slight that you’ll never notice. Judging by the reviews of the 1000D you won’t be disappointed, so why pay more? The only thing that I found out about the 1000D is that it’s not as good for continuous shots, but will you really be using that intensively?
So yeah, since I have no experience with any of these products, this was pretty much all nonsense that probably won’t help you one bit. But just in case it does help, there you have it.
August 8th, 2009 at 5:51 pm
I’m also looking to buy a new DSLR (but it’s not my first).
450D is a great choice! I’m currently considering the buying 500D right now which is quite similar to 450D.
The downside with those DSLR’s is the camera body that is made of plastic, they are small (bad grip) and very light.
That’s why I was thinking about a Nikon D90 or Canon EOS 50D instead, because they are more professional, has a large body and are made of metal. Again, that will cost you 3-4000 NOK for that upgrade.
So I am almost sure I’ll just go for 450D/500D with a 18-55mm IS lens, and probably buy a macro lens or zoom lens with IS for the money I’ll save.
So in your case, I’d go to a store and try a Canon EOS 450D. If it feels ok, then buy it. And consider buying another lens than 18-55mm for other uses than standard scene/portrait photography later.
Macro-lenses are really cool, because you’ll get very nice nice close-ups of flowers etc.
If you want a zoom lens, remember to get one with a built-in image stabilizer (IS), unless you want blurry pictures or carry a tripod with you all the time.
So my point is… there are very little differences between DSLR’s if they both cost the same. The difference often lays in the lens.
Conclusion: Between Nikon and Canon… try both and pick the one that feels best for your hands. Then buy a new lens for zoom or macro when you got some experience with the standard 18-55mm lens.
August 10th, 2009 at 11:27 pm
(Orker ikke skrive på engelsk fordi jeg ikke vil!)
Selv er jeg en stolt eier av et Nikon D40 (forgjengeren til D60 kan man si), og må si at jeg er veldig fornøyd. Tror nok ikke du finner et stort mer brukervennlig speilrefleks enn det. Jeg vil nok påstå at kanskje Canon er litt sterkere – rent kvalitetsmessig. Likevel mener jeg at Nikon er en god del mer brukervennlig og “oversiktlig” enn det f. eks Canon er. Skal ikke være helt fanboy heller, men ettersom jeg har vært Nikon-bruker i snart to år, vil jeg anbefale deg å kjøpe et Nikon kamera.
Du kunne jo eventuelt stikke innom en fotobutikk og prøve de ulike modellene da. Er jo i bunn og grunn en smak og behag-sak – Kjøp det kameraet du føler passer deg best.
Good luck! \o\
August 10th, 2009 at 11:29 pm
BTW: Skal kjøpe meg en 55-200 mm til Nikon-kameraet mitt nå snart. Etter å ha vært stuck med 18-55 relativt lenge, føler jeg at jeg trenger et zoomobjektiv.
August 16th, 2009 at 4:09 pm
Hey man not to diss you but this is an english speaking site. No comprende with your Norwegian.