Photography

Access_Denied

Access_Denied

CAGiversary!
Feedback
89 (100%)
Well, I'm really getting into photography lately. I don't know much about cameras, so I want some advice. I'm getting a new DLSR camera for Christmas. But, I don't know which one to get. I've been using a borrowed Sony a100 (alpha 100), and I REALLY like it. But I'm wondering, should I get a Canon or Nikon? I would like to have a similar lens to the a100, but I'm open to suggestions. (18-70mm?) And I'm not looking to spend 2 fortunes. The a200 is $600 retail, which means $450 on eBay, and about $350 after the cash back program. So, this is currently a good option for me. But if any experienced photographers want to guide me, I'm open to advice.
 
I've got a Nikon D60 and love it. I bought the kit, but also have an additional 55-200mm VR lens which is pretty versatile. The kit will include an 18-55mm which is good for general everyday use. I have absolutely no complaints about it at all.

I've also got a Canon IS1100 that I use as my standard point and shoot. It does it's job quite well.

Personally, I didn't care for the viewfinder on the Canon DSLR's, so I went with the Nikon. Prior to that, every other camera I have owned had been a Canon.

You'll want to get something that can use a wide variety of lenses from various manufacturers. I highly recommend www.dpreview.com for various reviews.

Also, it may be very important that you get a camera that supports non-auto focus lenses. There are quite a few lower end DSLR's that don't have a mechanical focus drive pin on the lens mount. This means you'll have to buy a lens that has the AF motors inside of it, which can get pricey.

Edit: One more thing. You don't see too many "pros" carrying around Sony cameras. Nearly everyone uses a Canon or Nikon. There's a reason why, aside from the fact that Sony is fairly new to the DSLR market.

You may want to strongly consider the Nikon D40 or D40X. Great "entry" level DSLR's that support a ton of lenses. When you get more in to this in the long run, you'll be replacing the body anyway and buying lenses that cost more than most bodies do. It's very easy to find lenses that top several grand.
 
I would go with canon because I prefer the body styling and button layout. They also feel sturdier to me but I may be biased as I own a canon. I dont know a lot about Nikon's lenses but Canon has a pretty decent lineup and am recommending them to you as your first lens should be the Tamron 17-50 f2.8. Extremely fast and sharp for the price and the nikon version is now borked. If you dont mind the small, plastic body of a rebel then you can go with those but I MUCH prefer the D series' sturdy bodies. Try and pick up a used 20d or 30d off ebay. And to contradict the above post I would avoid the d40 at ALL costs. I could go on for hours but a quick google search will reveal why.
 
[quote name='s00pNAZi'] And to contradict the above post I would avoid the d40 at ALL costs. I could go on for hours but a quick google search will reveal why.[/quote]

Can you please give reasons why? It's one of the best entry level DSLR's out there and is one of the most popular selling models available. I ask because I owned a D40 before my current setup and I never once had an issue with it. For an entry level DSLR, it is very solid.

Doing a "quick google search" results in several reviews for the D40, all stating that it is a very solid entry point into the DSLR market. All give the camera high to "very high" marks considering it's price point and what it's supposed to do.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I would definitely say avoid Sony. If you plan to get serious with photography, you might end up having a heck of a time finding lenses accessories for the Sony system. Plus I don't think they are near as good of a camera as Canon or Nikon. Personally I shoot Nikon (D200) mainly because of the ergonomics, customization, and a lot of other factors.

In terms of the entry level DSLRs, the D40/D60 gets you a small, user friendly body but you are a little limited as far as future lenses because the lens has to have a motor in it (designated as AF-S Nikkor, not AF Nikkor). The Canon Rebels on the other hand are a good middle of the road camera giving you more features at the price point and a fair amount of growth room, but the "kit" lens (18-55mm) is garbage compared to the Nikon equivalent. s00p's recommendation of the Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 is right on, and it's definitely a much better alternative to the kit lenses but can be a bit more money.

Be very careful of eBay though. The reason a lot of those cameras are cheaper is they might come with non-OEM accessories, are non-USA products (meaning if they break, Nikon or Canon won't touch them), or are refurbs.

Like mtxbass1 said, check out dpreview to compare the cameras. They are a very good source for info. Also, go check them out and see which one is most comfortable for you.
 
Good topic- OP, mind if I steal some of your thunder?

I'm looking for a mid-grade digital camera, nothing fancy. I'm generally pretty inept with these things. I saw a Canon Powershot A2000 and it looked to fit my needs, as I'm basically looking for something
 
I realize that Canon and Nikon are much better, but it seems the Sony is so much cheaper. I'm not looking for the best camera in the world just yet. (I want one eventually, but I'm on a budget now.) I want a camera that will give me decent features for a DLSR camera, and will give me high-quality photos. I'm still considering the Sony. I realize professionals don't use them, but the price is just really good. However, I'm going to keep researching. And thanks for all the advice so far. I really am taking all this in an learning.
 
[quote name='Tybalt Flux']Good topic- OP, mind if I steal some of your thunder?

I'm looking for a mid-grade digital camera, nothing fancy. I'm generally pretty inept with these things. I saw a Canon Powershot A2000 and it looked to fit my needs, as I'm basically looking for something
 
[quote name='Access_Denied']I realize that Canon and Nikon are much better, but it seems the Sony is so much cheaper. I'm not looking for the best camera in the world just yet. (I want one eventually, but I'm on a budget now.) I want a camera that will give me decent features for a DLSR camera, and will give me high-quality photos. I'm still considering the Sony. I realize professionals don't use them, but the price is just really good. However, I'm going to keep researching. And thanks for all the advice so far. I really am taking all this in an learning.[/quote]

You really should be wary of price. That's the very first thing that a large number of reviews state about the entry level Sony DSLR's. They are attractive for the price but leave many things to be desired.

Price should not be your only consideration here. You'll regret it the minute you want to change lenses and can't, etc.
 
[quote name='mtxbass1']You really should be wary of price. That's the very first thing that a large number of reviews state about the entry level Sony DSLR's. They are attractive for the price but leave many things to be desired.

Price should not be your only consideration here. You'll regret it the minute you want to change lenses and can't, etc.[/QUOTE]

I think I'm going to end up going with a Nikon. (Did some more research.) However, I'll probably buy used on eBay. Price is a concern for me. I only have so much money, and I only work during Christmas, Spring Break and then next summer. So I have to sort of make my money last. However, I think that I can get a decent deal on eBay using the cashback program.

Any particular model Nikon you like? I'm open to any model, but I want it to have about 10 megapixels, and a decent lens. I'd prefer a lens that would give me the ability for really close close-ups, but it doesn't have to.
 
[quote name='Access_Denied']I think I'm going to end up going with a Nikon. (Did some more research.) However, I'll probably buy used on eBay. Price is a concern for me. I only have so much money, and I only work during Christmas, Spring Break and then next summer. So I have to sort of make my money last. However, I think that I can get a decent deal on eBay using the cashback program.

Any particular model Nikon you like? I'm open to any model, but I want it to have about 10 megapixels, and a decent lens. I'd prefer a lens that would give me the ability for really close close-ups, but it doesn't have to.[/quote]

As others have noted, please be very careful when buying from eBay. Canon and Nikons are commonly sold on there with scratched out or swapped serial numbers, thus voiding the warranty.

One thing you'll learn about DSLR's is that megapixels don't matter so much. You can take an excellent shot with a 6mp camera. The sensors are going to be larger on a DSLR which is going to translate into a much better photo. I'd take a 6mp DSLR over a 10mp point and shoot any day.

It honestly sounds like you would do completely fine with a D40 or D40X kit. I've seen those floating around amazon, bhpoto, and abesofmaine for $359-450 if not cheaper. Slickdeals had a few posts back for the D60 with kit for ~450ish, which is a fantastic deal. I'd browse FW or SD especially since we are close to BF and Christmas.

Can you define "really close up?" Are you looking for something like a macro lense (say you want to take a super zoom shot of a quarter for example), or are you looking for something where you can stand a few feet back and still pick out an object in the distance?

Honestly I'd go with the kit lens and when you get used to using a DSLR worry about other lens types. You can always rent a lens from your local photography store...
 
go for a canon xsi kit or xti kit. It does very good and is a great camera to start off with. I still use the xti and I am going to upgrade to a 50d soon.

305dade.com
 
By close up, I mean be able to get close to a drop of water, and photograph it in detail. Also, what's your opinion of Canon camera? Worse than Nikon? About the same? I looked at their website, and they don't have a very good selection, but maybe I'm just looking in the wrong place or something.

Also, any objections to buying new items on eBay? They may be the MSRP on eBay, but I can still use the cashback program for 25% off.
 
[quote name='Access_Denied']By close up, I mean be able to get close to a drop of water, and photograph it in detail. Also, what's your opinion of Canon camera? Worse than Nikon? About the same? I looked at their website, and they don't have a very good selection, but maybe I'm just looking in the wrong place or something.

Also, any objections to buying new items on eBay? They may be the MSRP on eBay, but I can still use the cashback program for 25% off.[/quote]

Personally I didn't care for the viewfinder on the Canon. I also kept hitting the f stop with my nose since I'm left eyed, which was annoying. The Nikon felt better in my hand.

Honestly, go to a local camera shop and see which one feels better in your hand and make the decision. The Nikon D40/X/60 felt so much more compact to me and the grip was nice, so I went with that.

Depending on the seller, eBay can be hit or miss. Keep in mind that Canon and Nikon are both very peculiar about warranty's from non dealers.

Amazon had a few deals on the Canon kits, as well as the Nikon kits here lately. Go to the store and see which one feels best, then go online and shop around.
 
Hey OP,
I was in a similar situation to you just recently.

I did some research and decided to get the Nikon D40 kit that came with the 18-55mm lens. I got one of those package deals that also came with the 55-200mm VR lens. It's been an amazing combo so far, I am super happy with the D40 and the quality of the pictures I can take. I got tons of recommendations for the D40 from friends who do photography, which reassured me. I feel like I have a lot of room to grow with this camera, and I didn't have to spend $1k.

I used an authorized Nikon dealer through ebay and ended up paying like $425 total for the package after live cashback.

I can't recommend it enough, though I am most certainly not an expert. Good luck whatever you decide.
 
[quote name='Synergy']Hey OP,
I got one of those package deals that also came with the 55-200mm VR lens. [/quote]

I have that exact lens. It's very versatile.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
bread's done
Back
Top