• Best Entry-level DSLR
    10 replies, posted
So I've been sat here trying to decide what'd be the best entry-level DSLR to get and after reading review after review & using websites such as [url]snapsort.com[/url], I've realised I'm too picky and need a little help from others. This probably won't help at all, as I can see people being bias towards their favourite brand etc., but it's worth a shot. On Snapsort, I've been told my best bet is the D5100, but that's getting pretty old so I'm considering the D3200. But then I've got friends who're telling me a 650D would be my best choice, and other reviews on the internet telling me different. There's no area I specifically want to go straight into, so I'm trying to look for the best overall camera. (I read the sticky and I'm aware there's a megathread for this, but I need help which is straight to the point.) Please try not to choose your favourite brands, I'm looking for Photographers who know what the best choice would be. Allhelp is appreciated.
it's just up to what features you would like or need. there is no "best" camera, just which one you would prefer using. go try them out at a store or something so you can get a feel for them. personally i would recommend the sony a58, because it has a nice swivel screen, an OLED electronic viewfinder which is much bigger and brighter than comparative models from other companies, and i like the ability to use minolta maxxum lenses. that's just me though, for you your preferences might be different.
If you don't care about having an optical viewfinder then snoy really are your best bet, it has a bunch more features and are usually generally smaller and lighter. If you want an optical viewfinder then it doesn't really matter apart from price - the stills camera market is full of very capable machines and you'd be hard pressed to go wrong with a 650d, a 550d or even a 1100d (or their nikon equivalents) [editline]13th June 2013[/editline] save money on the body and spend it on the lenses
You're probably best off with something along the lines of the Leica M9. Great beginner camera, and just in the right price range. As for lenses, you generally want to go with the most affordable or inexpensive option. Really it's the camera body that will determine how quality your shots are, the glass doesn't matter too much. Vivitar and Ricoh make some great quality lenses if you have a regular DSLR. Look for the zoom lenses with non-fixed apertures.
lenses pfft what are you just drill a hole in the body cap [editline]13th June 2013[/editline] the m9 will sort out the diffraction and softness (and the infrared sensitivity)
If you have any interest in videography, I'd recommend going with something from Canon. My friend's T2i records at a higher bitrate than my D3100 and the difference was noticeable. That being said, I guess I can't really speak for the updated models. And the rolling shutter or whatever its called is pretty bad, but I don't know if there's anything you can really do about that. As far as everything else though listen to the other guys here, I have relatively no experience with other cameras.
Budget: What's the most you are willing/can afford to pay? Once you've got that fixed, look at: Local availability: In my opinion, you don't want to buy your first camera based upon the price/looks on the Internet. You said you have friends that know cameras? Bring them along to all the local stores, then come again alone. A helpful friend can point out things you easily miss. When physically feeling it, take note of these details: >Does it feel comfortable in the hand? IF YES, YOU NEED TO BE SURE. Move it around it all differing positions, feel the weight on your wrist. If it hurts your wrist after 5 minutes, you won't have any fun with it. >Look through the viewfinder. Can you see all the details, or do you need to keep moving the camera around to see the whole picture? If yes, does it bother you? Because it'd bother me. >Try all the flaps and pull-out bits. Does it have fiddly bits that don't go in properly, or feel cheap and nasty? (It happens more often than you think!) Importantly - just because a DSLR may SEEM like the best thing ever, it doesn't mean there aren't other options. CSC's (Compact System Cameras) are very good quality these days, like the Panasonic G series, Olympus or the Sony ones. They're smaller, lighter and have similar features. You just tend to pay more with lenses and accessories in a small range, but the portability may be to your liking. Furthermore, look at what you can buy within a local area. You don't want to buy a Pentax body and kit lens and can't try any other lenses because nobody within 100 miles stocks anything (Which is the exact reason I didn't buy one, even though I love the bodies) Eventually you'll find a middle ground. Personally, if I'm guessing your budget right, you should look at the Canon 600/650D, the Nikon D3200/D5100 and the Pentax k7 / k5. Along with any Panasonics, Olympuses and Sony's in that bracket. Personally, I'd avoid Samsung cameras. I've always found them cheap, nasty things and haven't spoken to anyone who really disagrees. Find out for yourself though. [editline]14th June 2013[/editline] Oh, and don't think that because a camera is 'old' means that it's 'not as good'. The 600D is older than the 650D, but aren't all that much different, despite the increased price tag. The D5100 is a fantastic camera, even now. Hell, some people wouldn't part with the 2008 Nikon D90. But in all honesty, you can't go wrong with any of the main brands. They all have their little quirks, but if you pick something you think feels nice to hold, can afford, is something you can build up with (As we all know, collecting stuff for it is the other half of the game!) and importantly, takes pictures at a quality that you think is acceptable, there is very little else to worry about.
Well put!
Hell, I learned the basics (and am still learning) with a second-hand 450D from 2008, which I bought 9 months ago. There are a lot of second-hand cameras on sale that still have a lifetime ahead of them and are paid little attention. They are great to learn with.
No matter what camera body you end up with, I highly recommend getting yourself a 50mm prime lens. They're great to just bring along on a walk. 50's produce almost exactly the same focal length as the human eye, so images come out looking very "genuine" in that sense. I absolutely love my 50, it's what I use the most. Doesn't really matter what I'm shooting, I'll just have to work around the limitations to get the composition right. Usually produces better compositions since you're forced to think more.
[QUOTE=Arcturus;41037559]. 50's produce almost exactly the same focal length as the human eye, so images come out looking very "genuine" in that sense. I absolutely love my 50, it's what I use the most. Doesn't really matter what I'm shooting, I'll just have to work around the limitations to get the composition right. Usually produces better compositions since you're forced to think more.[/QUOTE] (only if you're using a ff/35mm)
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