I’ve always used a basic compact camera but I’ve been thinking lately that I’d really like to get more involved and learn about the technical aspects of photography more. My basic idea is to get an “OK” DSLR and play about with it for a bit before taking a course at a local college in January. If I do well with that then I might think about getting a better than OK camera.
Trouble is, I don’t know enough about cameras to choose. I know a few of you are photography geeks so could people discuss/recommend a starter camera for me? Also, do I need to get extra lenses or is the basic one it comes with generally considered sufficient? And what the hell are filters all about? Any further advice would be good too. 🙂
These are some shots I took while on holiday recently.
Severe Delays 
Well, funny you should say all of this – as you’ll have noticed, I’ve just got a Pentax K-m, which is considered to be a very good entry-level DSLR. Having had it for a month and a half now, I have to say I’m very, very impressed with it, and it’s bound to do anything you’d want to throw at it.
I bought it in a kit with 18-55mm and 50-200mm lenses, which is all you’ll need for general photography. Not so good for very specialised things, but the beauty of Pentax DSLRs is their excellent backwards-compatibility with almost every Pentax lens ever made. Pentax lenses are cheap and plentiful.
Filters are generally more use for film photography than they are for digital, as they control things like white balance, which you can do a lot with digitally. Some, like polarisers and ND filters, are still good, though.
If you fancy meeting up (we still need to do this!) you can give my camera the once-over if you like.
Well, funny you should say all of this – as you’ll have noticed, I’ve just got a Pentax K-m, which is considered to be a very good entry-level DSLR. Having had it for a month and a half now, I have to say I’m very, very impressed with it, and it’s bound to do anything you’d want to throw at it.
I bought it in a kit with 18-55mm and 50-200mm lenses, which is all you’ll need for general photography. Not so good for very specialised things, but the beauty of Pentax DSLRs is their excellent backwards-compatibility with almost every Pentax lens ever made. Pentax lenses are cheap and plentiful.
Filters are generally more use for film photography than they are for digital, as they control things like white balance, which you can do a lot with digitally. Some, like polarisers and ND filters, are still good, though.
If you fancy meeting up (we still need to do this!) you can give my camera the once-over if you like.
your shots look lovely. dslr is a slipery slope to spending lots of money… in a similar price range to the pentax k-m, look at the nikon d60, cannon 1000d, one of the lower end sonys.. go to a camera shop and just try them out and see how they feel and which one you get on best with. jacobs on new oxford street is good for that, just ask if you can try them out and they’ll hand you a camera and lens if they have them on display, but dont buy anything, go away and think or come back and try again. jessops should have them on display too, but they sell hard.
Jessops also don’t stock Pentax, which turns me against them, being a Pentax geek. 🙂
they’re incredibly expensive too… and, they’ll sell you a tamron lens and call it ‘excellent value for money’, when it’s the same price as a canon/nikon lens elsewhere.
Jessops is actually in quite a lot of trouble. I got my Pentax K-m in Currys for a great price.
Jessops is actually in quite a lot of trouble. I got my Pentax K-m in Currys for a great price.
they’re incredibly expensive too… and, they’ll sell you a tamron lens and call it ‘excellent value for money’, when it’s the same price as a canon/nikon lens elsewhere.
Jessops also don’t stock Pentax, which turns me against them, being a Pentax geek. 🙂
your shots look lovely. dslr is a slipery slope to spending lots of money… in a similar price range to the pentax k-m, look at the nikon d60, cannon 1000d, one of the lower end sonys.. go to a camera shop and just try them out and see how they feel and which one you get on best with. jacobs on new oxford street is good for that, just ask if you can try them out and they’ll hand you a camera and lens if they have them on display, but dont buy anything, go away and think or come back and try again. jessops should have them on display too, but they sell hard.
My input shall be as follows… forget “OK” cameras. There’s basically no point in them – except to depreciate in value and piss you off. My biggest piece of advice would be to buy a *GOOD* used camera for the same price as you’d pay for a “OK” new camera. A Canon EOS 30D for instance, will set you back ~£300-£400 all in… and this gives you a lifetime of upgradability. I’m not getting into the nikon/canon argument – I prefer canon. You’ll have your own preference eventually, but, those are the two brands you’ll want to look at. Pentax is also good.
London Camera Exchange on strand are awesome, if you want to go and touch/feel something, and they’re happy to haggle with you on their used equipment.
http://www.dpreview.com/ is going to be your biggest resource. They’ve reviewed basically every digital camera on the planet, and offer an *awesome* camera comparison tool, which will compare side-by-side the cameras you’re interested in.
That’s my 2¢
My input shall be as follows… forget “OK” cameras. There’s basically no point in them – except to depreciate in value and piss you off. My biggest piece of advice would be to buy a *GOOD* used camera for the same price as you’d pay for a “OK” new camera. A Canon EOS 30D for instance, will set you back ~£300-£400 all in… and this gives you a lifetime of upgradability. I’m not getting into the nikon/canon argument – I prefer canon. You’ll have your own preference eventually, but, those are the two brands you’ll want to look at. Pentax is also good.
London Camera Exchange on strand are awesome, if you want to go and touch/feel something, and they’re happy to haggle with you on their used equipment.
http://www.dpreview.com/ is going to be your biggest resource. They’ve reviewed basically every digital camera on the planet, and offer an *awesome* camera comparison tool, which will compare side-by-side the cameras you’re interested in.
That’s my 2¢
I’m afraid I don’t know much about cameras, but I do like those pics.
I’m afraid I don’t know much about cameras, but I do like those pics.
I’m offended you don’t trust my advice and ask t’internets for a second opinion 🙂
I’m offended you don’t trust my advice and ask t’internets for a second opinion 🙂
I bought Matt a Canon400D for xmas the one before last, and it really is an awesome camera! It has amazing picture quality, is very durable and is also fairly easy to use. Got to admit, when i finally get round to buying a DSLR, i will be going for Canon!
Awesome shots BTW, particularly love the owl! 🙂
I bought Matt a Canon400D for xmas the one before last, and it really is an awesome camera! It has amazing picture quality, is very durable and is also fairly easy to use. Got to admit, when i finally get round to buying a DSLR, i will be going for Canon!
Awesome shots BTW, particularly love the owl! 🙂
The differences in image-quality between a good compact camera and a basic DSLR is not as great as you might think, in fact some compacts are better. The lens is everything and some compacts have Zeiss lenses, some basic DSLRs come with standard lenses which are, well, milk bottles.
Also, a compact camera can fit in a pocket/handbag/daybag so you always have it with you. A Leica R9 is a fabulous thing, but it can’t take a decent picture if you’ve left it at home because it’s too heavy.
I know that SLRs give a lot of capabilities, but to be honest I rarely use mine in anything but fully automatic mode, and I have one superzoom lens which is more or less permanently attached. YMMV, of course.
The differences in image-quality between a good compact camera and a basic DSLR is not as great as you might think, in fact some compacts are better. The lens is everything and some compacts have Zeiss lenses, some basic DSLRs come with standard lenses which are, well, milk bottles.
Also, a compact camera can fit in a pocket/handbag/daybag so you always have it with you. A Leica R9 is a fabulous thing, but it can’t take a decent picture if you’ve left it at home because it’s too heavy.
I know that SLRs give a lot of capabilities, but to be honest I rarely use mine in anything but fully automatic mode, and I have one superzoom lens which is more or less permanently attached. YMMV, of course.