Which DSLR as a beginner?

Question

i am looking for opinions on what make of DSLR to get as a beginner? ive heard Nikon is good and also Canon, but ive no idea which is best!

Thanks

Answer 1

I personally prefer and would say get a Nikon. Excellent cameras and lenses are available and they are easy to use. I started with a Nikon 35mm SLR though so might be a bit bias.

     As I understand it though for pure lens quality Canon EOS series are the ones to go for. I didn't like using one but that might be because I was used to Nikon.

  If you know people that own one ask if you can try taking some snaps with them, see which you like. Otherwise try some forums see what people are saying and go into a shop and actually get your hands on a few, see what takes your fancy.

Answer 2

The most bang for the buck is the Nikon D40 with AF-S 18-55 mm ED lens @ $470 on Amazon ...

You have already picked the best ... Nikon and Canon are the leaders in both entry level cameras and the only makers of professional level DSLR's  The D3 and 1Ds Mark III.

Once J D Power has their site up and running, you can take a look and see what others thought of the DSLR's last year.

Here is some of what you need to know before you spend your money

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/notcamer...

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/howto.ht...

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/mpmyth.h...

With all this information, you can choose the camera that best suits your needs as a photographer and fits your style of shooting

Answer 3

wow, you all go for the badge engineering straight away, dont you?

if we were talkiing motorbikes you'd all be baging on about harleys!

read the question? this is a beginner, who probaly wont ever take it off auto... (A because auto works, and B coz everytihng else is more than a bit complicated for a beginner)

ive been taking photographs for 30years, the last 10 ive been teaching. bells and whistles do not a photgrapher make. skills experience and observation do that.

oh mum, you baked a lovely cake, wow, the oven is fantastic... (you aint getting any cake) unless you want to do pro quality work, you dont need a pro camera, and the D40 is a toy. its plastic, and limited in options, its entry level, and thats it.

and for all you sychophants, has no one heard of the olympus E3, or the E1... yeah, OK, i'm an Olympus fan... but i know my meter is better than the competition... it does 3FPS, and produces lovely A3 sized shots.

the controls are just like a 35mm camera, A (auto) P programme, Aperture and Speed priority... F1.4 to F22, plus and minus 5stops, on the aperture and flash... 50asa to 1600asa... and a meter that'll stay open for 10 minutes ... and thats on auto!

for some reason Olympus gets forgotten about, but these guys make optics for hospitals and surgeons, and their technology is second to none. and thier flagship E3 is 1500 quid, or the E510 is £400, a second hand E500 is about £200.

there is no BEST camera, its how it feels in your hand, blah blah blah... dont be a spec freak, try em out first... and DSLRs only take photos. they dont do video, or sound, they are not toys, but tools.

look for steves digicams reviews... and make up your own mind.

good luck.

Answer 4

Canon is my preference as well, I use the XTi because I fell in love with the gorgeous EF-S lens the 10-22 and some others. Remember this has a 1.6 crop so think about your lens selection carefully.

The XTi is very simple to use for a beginner, with plenty of manual settings to keep the prosumer happy. Your biggest expenses will be lenses, so choose them wisely! Don't go buying lenses until you've used the camera for at least a month or two to see what your needs will be.

P.O.T.N. is my favorite Canon forum for great comparison information: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/

Answer 5

Before you decide what camera you want to purchase, ask yourself this question. How long will I keep this camera, and what if I want to update it ?

I have 2 Pentax DSLR's, and any pentax lens made in the last 40 years will fit it, and probably the next 40 years also. So if I buy a new lens for my Pentax, I know that when I update it, I wont have to spend more money on different lenses.

Also, ask about camera bodys, and the mount on the body where the lens fits on.

On a Pentax, it is metal, and on a lot of others, they are plastic that looks like metal.

Forget about the D40. It is so outdated, and if you bought one, you will find out how outdated it within minutes.

If you want to see some images, message me.

Answer 6

I am a SLR beginner and I love my Canon Digital Rebel XT / EOS 350D Digital Camera with EF-S 18-55mm Lens. My photographer friend recommend it to me.

I like Canon brand a lot. Previously, I had Canon Powershot SD870 IS. It is also great! After I bought Rebel XT, I donated Powershot to my brother... :)  lol  and he is so happy!

First day, I spent three hours playing with the brand-new Canon Digital Rebel XT, I was really impressed.

This camera is extremely tiny. The camera fits just right in my hands.

1) Autofocus - Very Fast

2) Menu - Easy to understand/use

3) Battery Life - Excellent

4) Image Quality - Excellent

5) Canon Engineering - Excellent

6) Speed - Excellent, this camera is FAST. Ready to go.

7) Ergonomics - perfect.

8) Viewfinder - very good

9) Battery Charging - Very good, under 90 minutes to take a drained battery back to full charge.

10) Changing Lenses - Very good

I bought this camera here: http://www.urlfunz.com/ouT90

And accessories: http://www.urlfunz.com/7zW4Q

Good luck!

Answer 7

I am a beginner. Bought Nikon D60 even though Nikon D40 was less costly than D60. Well most of every one suggest Nikon D40 for its light body, easy to use kit, cost and other features.

Now when I am using Nikon D60, i found lots of advantages for its over cost with Nkon D40.

While using canon once for comparing my pictures, I could find NO difference between the image clarity as they were taken of same settings.

Nikon is light weight, good body, user friendly menu etc etc that i felt. So i suggest Nikon.