Recommend a good Digital SLR camera for a beginner - Page 2

NefariousKoel · 07-01-07, 02:05 PM

I used to recommend Sony Cybershots as an affordable digital camera.

They had Karl Zeiss stabilization and, just as importantly, their autofocus was pretty fast. Translating that... you wanna see how long it takes between pressing the button and the photo actually being taken and saved to memory. That's my biggest hang-up with digital cameras. Press button... 2 seconds later the photo is taken.

The Sony models used to be faster at taking a pic for awhile, however it seems they've slacked off and joined the rest of the masses in slow autofocus & pic capturing. I could be wrong, haven't played around with the latest model they have.

The second important thing to consider is the motion compensation. Most digital cameras profess to be able to take quick shots when your camera is moving. In most cases, no, they can't. Hell, some can't even compensate for the regular palsy-like shaking of your hand and you get those blurred shots. Bad quality ones, you get blurred shots even when you think you're holding it still *cough Samsung cough*.

Skybird · 07-01-07, 03:13 PM

If you want to do printouts, in case you don't have one already you may want to include a good printer in your cost calculation, Konovalov.

Certain Canon models do the job fast, silent, with superior resolution and good colour/contrast, and - if you know how to do it - with 1 Euro per ink cartridge.

Konovalov · 07-19-07, 02:54 PM

In the end I purchased the Nikon D40 with the AF-S DX 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II lense kit for just £260 which includes the £60 cashback from Nikon. I just couldn't pass up on such a low price.

I'm really happy with it so far. I must admit that I have barely scratched the surface with regards to using the camera features. Obviously it lacks compared to more expensive DSLR's such as the D80 but at this stage I just couldn't justify spending another £150-£400 on a better camera given firstly my total noobishness at this caper and secondly that I am not sure how serious I will get with this hobby. What I do know is that the D40 is a huge jump up from my old Olympus point and shoot in terms of both features, flexibility and the quality of the images.

The only other item that I intend to purchase for my camera is another lense. My plan is to invest in a really good zoom lense. From the research that I have undertaken the Nikkor AF-S DX VR 18-200mm 3.5-5.6G IF-ED looks like the one yo get. It looks like a really good allrounder which should mean that I can avoid having to constantly change lenses. That means less chance of dust getting into the camera body. I can always keep the other kit lense as a backup if needed.

All I need now is to learn the art of photography. I guess the hard work and research begins. Come on England? Please give me some sunny weather this weekend so I can get outside?

Skybird · 07-19-07, 04:01 PM

Hehe, this thread almost got me started in getting a digital SLR myself. but being an old EOS addict, the 400D would have been the only option for me - and that one currently is out of reach for me, more important things must go first for now. Maybe next year...

Have fun!

Sir Big Jugs · 07-19-07, 07:26 PM

I suggest you ask here:

Photography-on-the-net-Forums

My nick is BrewsterPilot, it's a really helpful forum with all the knowledge and ideas needed!

fatty · 07-19-07, 11:30 PM

Nice choice, and what a steal!

If you want some help with your photos, may I recommend photoSIG. I crawled the web for months trying to find a good critique site, and this seems to be it. Advertising is a bit heavy, but a paid membership removes it. Unlike other sites I have used, critics cannot leave anonymous numerical grades which end up being wildly varied and simply useless for correcting your technique. Critics must instead rank your photo from +3 to -3 (though the -3 is reserved for photos which are truly offensive and repugnant, I think they say) and must leave a critic of no fewer than 15 words. The amount of photos you can upload is limited by how many critics you make, so you must make critics in order to receive them - it's a good system which keeps the community rolling. Furthermore, the critiques you leave can be graded by other users on whether or not they found them to be helpful.

For a sample, here is a photo I submitted which has been critiqued by two other users. For what it's worth, I had no prior interaction with either of those critics, except that one also critiqued another photo of mine. You can see that their comments are pretty fair and honest, and you can reply and get them to flesh out more ideas for you. The critiques you receive, the critiques you leave, and how valuable other users find them add up to generate your overall photoSIG 'score' which appears in paranthesis next to your username.

My only complaint is that they put a harsh limit on the resolutions of photos you can upload - 800x600 is usually the best you can manage.

EDIT: Another nice thing is that while they have nudes, unlike other sites I have tried you have the option of whether or not you want to see them.

Konovalov · 07-20-07, 03:27 AM

Thanks guys for all the info to photography websites. Much appreciated.

tycho102 · 07-20-07, 01:07 PM

Here's a list of lenses:
http://digital-photography-school.co...r-dslr-lenses/

The Canon list is full of sh*t. Not the lenses -- the lenses are good -- but the actual list is a crock. Maybe for professionals it might be a valid list. The Nikon has a couple lenses rated for amateur use. The Sigma and Tamron list is ok.

Read the replies.

07-01-07, 02:05 PM	#16
NefariousKoel Ace of the Deep Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: No-good Missouri scum Posts: 1,223 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	I used to recommend Sony Cybershots as an affordable digital camera. They had Karl Zeiss stabilization and, just as importantly, their autofocus was pretty fast. Translating that... you wanna see how long it takes between pressing the button and the photo actually being taken and saved to memory. That's my biggest hang-up with digital cameras. Press button... 2 seconds later the photo is taken. The Sony models used to be faster at taking a pic for awhile, however it seems they've slacked off and joined the rest of the masses in slow autofocus & pic capturing. I could be wrong, haven't played around with the latest model they have. The second important thing to consider is the motion compensation. Most digital cameras profess to be able to take quick shots when your camera is moving. In most cases, no, they can't. Hell, some can't even compensate for the regular palsy-like shaking of your hand and you get those blurred shots. Bad quality ones, you get blurred shots even when you think you're holding it still cough Samsung cough. __________________ "When Gary told me he had found Jesus, I thought, Yahoo! We're rich! But it turned out to be something different." - Jack Handey

07-01-07, 03:13 PM	#17
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,620 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	If you want to do printouts, in case you don't have one already you may want to include a good printer in your cost calculation, Konovalov. Certain Canon models do the job fast, silent, with superior resolution and good colour/contrast, and - if you know how to do it - with 1 Euro per ink cartridge. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

07-19-07, 02:54 PM	#18
Konovalov Ocean Warrior Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: High Wycombe, Bucks, UK Posts: 2,811 Downloads: 9 Uploads: 0	Update on what I purchased In the end I purchased the Nikon D40 with the AF-S DX 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II lense kit for just £260 which includes the £60 cashback from Nikon. I just couldn't pass up on such a low price. I'm really happy with it so far. I must admit that I have barely scratched the surface with regards to using the camera features. Obviously it lacks compared to more expensive DSLR's such as the D80 but at this stage I just couldn't justify spending another £150-£400 on a better camera given firstly my total noobishness at this caper and secondly that I am not sure how serious I will get with this hobby. What I do know is that the D40 is a huge jump up from my old Olympus point and shoot in terms of both features, flexibility and the quality of the images. The only other item that I intend to purchase for my camera is another lense. My plan is to invest in a really good zoom lense. From the research that I have undertaken the Nikkor AF-S DX VR 18-200mm 3.5-5.6G IF-ED looks like the one yo get. It looks like a really good allrounder which should mean that I can avoid having to constantly change lenses. That means less chance of dust getting into the camera body. I can always keep the other kit lense as a backup if needed. All I need now is to learn the art of photography. I guess the hard work and research begins. Come on England? Please give me some sunny weather this weekend so I can get outside? __________________ "In a Christian context, sexuality is traditionally seen as a consequence of the Fall, but for Muslims, it is an anticipation of paradise. So I can say, I think, that I was validly converted to Islam by a teenage French Jewish nudist." Sheikh Abdul-Hakim Murad (Timothy Winter)

07-19-07, 04:01 PM	#19
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,620 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	Hehe, this thread almost got me started in getting a digital SLR myself. but being an old EOS addict, the 400D would have been the only option for me - and that one currently is out of reach for me, more important things must go first for now. Maybe next year... Have fun! __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

07-20-07, 03:27 AM	#22
Konovalov Ocean Warrior Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: High Wycombe, Bucks, UK Posts: 2,811 Downloads: 9 Uploads: 0	Thanks guys for all the info to photography websites. Much appreciated. __________________ "In a Christian context, sexuality is traditionally seen as a consequence of the Fall, but for Muslims, it is an anticipation of paradise. So I can say, I think, that I was validly converted to Islam by a teenage French Jewish nudist." Sheikh Abdul-Hakim Murad (Timothy Winter)

07-19-07, 07:26 PM	#20
Sir Big Jugs Grey Wolf Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Helsinki, Finland Posts: 895 Downloads: 59 Uploads: 0	I suggest you ask here: Photography-on-the-net-Forums My nick is BrewsterPilot, it's a really helpful forum with all the knowledge and ideas needed!

07-19-07, 11:30 PM	#21
fatty The Old Man Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 1,448 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	Nice choice, and what a steal! If you want some help with your photos, may I recommend photoSIG. I crawled the web for months trying to find a good critique site, and this seems to be it. Advertising is a bit heavy, but a paid membership removes it. Unlike other sites I have used, critics cannot leave anonymous numerical grades which end up being wildly varied and simply useless for correcting your technique. Critics must instead rank your photo from +3 to -3 (though the -3 is reserved for photos which are truly offensive and repugnant, I think they say) and must leave a critic of no fewer than 15 words. The amount of photos you can upload is limited by how many critics you make, so you must make critics in order to receive them - it's a good system which keeps the community rolling. Furthermore, the critiques you leave can be graded by other users on whether or not they found them to be helpful. For a sample, here is a photo I submitted which has been critiqued by two other users. For what it's worth, I had no prior interaction with either of those critics, except that one also critiqued another photo of mine. You can see that their comments are pretty fair and honest, and you can reply and get them to flesh out more ideas for you. The critiques you receive, the critiques you leave, and how valuable other users find them add up to generate your overall photoSIG 'score' which appears in paranthesis next to your username. My only complaint is that they put a harsh limit on the resolutions of photos you can upload - 800x600 is usually the best you can manage. EDIT: Another nice thing is that while they have nudes, unlike other sites I have tried you have the option of whether or not you want to see them.

07-20-07, 01:07 PM	#23
tycho102 Ace of the Deep Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 1,100 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Here's a list of lenses: http://digital-photography-school.co...r-dslr-lenses/ The Canon list is full of sht. Not the lenses -- the lenses are good -- but the actual list* is a crock. Maybe for professionals it might be a valid list. The Nikon has a couple lenses rated for amateur use. The Sigma and Tamron list is ok. Read the replies. __________________ My little Silent Hunter 4 repository