Good CHEAP DSLR?

cleopatra4485

I am currently on the hunt for a DSLR, but do not want to pay the earth. I am not keen on second hand or refurb. Has anyone got any recommendations. I have a film SLR and a normal point and shoot, which I find quite frustrating as I lean towards digital now and a point and shoot doesn't let me be as creative as I would like.

skippy64

First question to ask is what is your current make of film SLR camera & do you have extra lenses for it. If you do then they may still be able to be used on that manufacturers latest Digital SLR. Other things now to consider is if you also want any video recording function as well as stills picture taking on your choice of new DSLR.

[Deleted User]

Pick a system that will let you use your old lenses... then pop here and take a look at prices

http://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/

edit: Make sure your old lenses are properly supported.. e.g. not all Canon lenses will work on all canons. Sames goes with your accessories.

I still find it amusing when you see people with their £400 dSLR taking photos that really need a flash, but they're just that ickly built in flash. I bought a £30 flash from Jessops for my Panasonic L10 and it made the world of difference.

Spendless_Dosh

Hi,

I bought a sony alpha last year and have found it does everything I need it to very well. Might be worth your while test driving one of the current range. Lots of cashback deals available at the moment.

ukcarper

skippy64 wrote: »

First question to ask is what is your current make of film SLR camera & do you have extra lenses for it. If you do then they may still be able to be used on that manufacturers latest Digital SLR. Other things now to consider is if you also want any video recording function as well as stills picture taking on your choice of new DSLR.

That is good advice and it's also worth trying to handle a couple of cameras, as you might not like the feel of them. This happened to me I went out to buy a Canon and ended up buying a Nikon.

Nikon is another make where you old lenses might not work.

When it comes to actually using the cameras I think the differences are minimal. I have used Nikon Canon and Sony and found them all ok. Some felt more comfortable than others but that is a personal thing.

cleopatra4485

I had a Canon EOS 5000 (think was the model), but unfortunately while I was in Tenerife my apartment got burgled :mad: My lovely Grandad left me his Praktica bc 1, but does look extremely 'vintage' lol, so will be starting from scratch.

No I am not overly fussed about it taking movies, my shoot and point does that quite well

ukcarper

I had a Minolta and got feed up waiting for them to bring out a DSLR I sold my SLR and bought a bridge type camera which I the sold to buy the Nikon. If Minolta/Sony had come to the market earlier I would have bought the Sony/Minolta and I don’t think it would have made much difference to my photography other than saving me the cost of new lenses and a flash gun.

GT60

I have just bought a Canon SX120is powershot compact and it does nearly everything my Nikon F80 does.
Also it is very small and lite and the OH can use it..
The results are very good also.

Niall

cyberbob

niall24 wrote: »

I have just bought a Canon SX120is powershot compact and it does nearly everything my Nikon F80 does.
Also it is very small and lite and the OH can use it..
The results are very good also.

Niall

The problem is as good as compacts are the thing that makes a DSLR worth it is the quality of the lenses. Even if the Megapixel rate is higher on a compact if the lense isn't as good (which on compacts they aren't) there will be an obvious quality difference. If you just want to take snaps a good compact is fine but anything more and a DSLR is the way to go

As regards DSLR I think you get what you pay for. Its best looking at ones with a wide range of lenses available. Otherwise your scupperd if you want to add ones and you can't find them.

I've always loved Canons I have 2 at the moment (plus some conventional film ones) and the quality is excellent and they are easy to use. If I didnt have Canons I would also look at Fuji.

GT60

try the G11 £450 and bloody good photographs and blow up to A4 no prob's
The problem with compacts is the sensor and the size of it in relation to the megapixal rate. Just because it is 14 megapixal if the sensor is not big enough it may as well be just be 1 megapixal.
Also the make of lens is mega important. Hence why i have the Canon and not a xyz make i did look at the lumix F15 but the canon had more to offer with manuel override and better lens ,reveiws etc. oh and a friend who is freelance recomend it, he use's the G11 and a DSLR.
Niall

cleopatra4485

cyberbob wrote: »

The problem is as good as compacts are the thing that makes a DSLR worth it is the quality of the lenses. Even if the Megapixel rate is higher on a compact if the lense isn't as good (which on compacts they aren't) there will be an obvious quality difference. If you just want to take snaps a good compact is fine but anything more and a DSLR is the way to go

As regards DSLR I think you get what you pay for. Its best looking at ones with a wide range of lenses available. Otherwise your scupperd if you want to add ones and you can't find them.

I've always loved Canons I have 2 at the moment (plus some conventional film ones) and the quality is excellent and they are easy to use. If I didnt have Canons I would also look at Fuji.

I was looking at that compact before they said it and it does look good (cheaper price) but I know I will only want a DSLR, when I start facing limitations.

My digital is Fuji and I must say the quality of outdoor shots is lovely, but same situations indoors when a photo has been taken by that camera and a friend sony, the quality of the sony photo was far greater (not that I will be using my new DSLR for many party shots lol)