DSLR Advice

DigitalJedi

Hi all

I'm after some advice about digital camera's. I currently own a Canon G9 which overall I like. However, I'd love to learn more about taking great shots and have been thinking about getting a DSLR.

I've been looking around and my fave at the moment is either the Sony A200 or A300 (Jessops). I'm erring towards the A300 because it has live view which I know the purists will argue isn't as accurate but coming from a compact camera background, I was thinking it might make life easier. Esp. if someone else is holding the camera.

However, I can't decide if to take the plunge or to perhaps get a few lenses for my G9 and play around with that to learn.

I'm concerned about the portability of carrying a DSLR on holiday and even leaving it on the beach.

Any advice for a beginner? With a G9 should I turn it off Auto and play around with the settings before taking the plunge or just go for broke now?

Tribulation

I got a lot of help from the photography part of avforums

http://www.avforums.com/forums/digital-photography-general-chat/

Or you could try a dedicated photography forum such as http://www.ephotozine.com/forums

Either should be able to give you loads of beginner advice

sickparrot

The G9 is a great camera, by all means turn auto off and take photo's the 'old fashioned' way, but the thing you need to ask yourself is if the zoom range is adequate for your needs.

The 2 main things a DSLR will get you is the ability to fit long telephoto's for close up wildlife, etc, and the bigger sensors give less noise and 'smoother' images (although the Sony cameras are not brilliant in this respect). Everything else you can do with a G9.

hendersonb

I brought the A300 from Jessops last week, It's a great camera and was certainly worth the extra £20 over the A200. It's an ideal DSLR to get started with. I don't find it over bulky or heavy. And the picture quality is certainly much better than the compacts.

I'm still learning to use the manual modes but on auto its just as easy as a compact to use when you need a quick shot.

isofa

The G9 is an excellent camera, and I'd be tempted in buying one (or G10) for travel when my DSLRs get a bit heavy with my L series lenses. Although you can expand the lens range, if you are thinking about investing in new lenses, that really is the time to consider a DSLR.

However I'd recommend you look at the Canon range for DSLRs, the EOS 450 and 500D are good cameras, or for a bargain second hand look for the 350D, still a cracking camera (and for a travel DSLR my pic over the 4xxDs). the 1000D is fine too, but personally I think the xxxDs are better. I'd suggest this range as they are a good step up from a compact bridge, but not too large like the xxDs (40D and 50D are cracking), and not as hideously expensive as the 5D I/II (which is remarkable with a full frame sensor, but heavy and pricey).

I'd suggest Canon as you are used to the controls and structure from the G9 and won't have to re-learn, and in my opinion they are fantastic cameras, I own a raft of pro-SLR canon gear and it's never let me down.

I'd buy a smaller DSLR to start with, then save up for a decent "carry about" lens - the lenses in most "kits" are a bit soft. A good "standard zoom" can cost anything up to £1000 for top notch optics and can revolutionise your photography even on a smaller "consumer" DSLR body.

Head on over to www.dpreview.com and for best prices use www.camerapricebuster.co.uk

There are very good video reviews at www.cameralabs.com