DSLR - which price bracket?

jackieblack

papoosue wrote: »

Firstly, many thanks to everyone for all the advice you've given me (and the links too, very useful).

I hadn't really thought of buying a camera 'system' as someone said - and that the lenses were just as important (or more so) as the camera body. That has helped me think about what dslr I want in a different way. One thing I really worry about is that it seems that cameras take quite a varying quality of pics, I've had cameras that were supposed to be great and came highly recommended (not dslr, but compact digitals) and took really awful photos. some of my best digital photos came from an old Kodak easyshare that was my first digital camera - they were fantastic. I suppose I worry about spending hundreds of pounds (that has taken me a few years to save!) on a dslr and then finding that the basic photos I take are poor and I've wasted all that money. I know that the photo depends on the photographer, but I'm talking about those everyday shots...

Anyway, I think I need to go and have a look in a Jessops or John Lewis maybe (not really any independent camera shops near me at all) and see how the cameras look/feel and ask the assistants' advice. Sadly, I have found J. Lewis more helpful and informative than Jessops lately - the Jessops staff seem uninterested and I always get the feeling they just want to tell you what you want to hear sort of thing, then sell you what's popular (usually Canon) and get rid of you asap. Might be worth a trip further afield to find somewhere more helpful.

Really, what I want is a camera that will take me from beginner through to serious, an extra lens (zoom) and a bag to keep it all in - all for about £500-600 maximum, preferably less lol. I don't hold out much hope. What happened to all the second hand cameras there used to be...?

Oh, just one more question. Does anyone take out the extended warranties on their cameras?

Thanks again for all the advice, I feel a little more confident to go into the shops and have a look now.:):):)

I agree you really need to go in and try a few out.
When I was researching which camera to buy I read loads of reviews, but at the end of the day I found neither the Canon nor Nikon comfortable to hold, I found the Sony felt most natural, although I read lots of reviews from people who found the Sony uncomfortable to hold.
As you say, you are spending alot of money and need to be confident that you're spending it on the camera which suits you best, even if others may not agree!

papoosue wrote: »

I know I said only one more question but...

Do you need live view?

Do you need video? - surely if you have a camcorder already then it's not necessary.

And then there's the question of how many megapixels.....oh dear, need to do some more research.

I knew this wasn't going to be easy.:eek:

Do you need live view? I would say it's handy, but not essential

Do you need video? Depends if you want to carry your camcorder around with you as well as your camera.

And then there's the question of how many megapixels..... Don't get too hung up on megapixels, all DSLRs will have an adequate amount.

Eric_Pisch

jackieblack wrote: »

And then there's the question of how many megapixels..... Don't get too hung up on megapixels, all DSLRs will have an adequate amount.

megapixles are meaningless, only used by people "peeing" higher than each other up the internet wall

what counts is the quality of the sensor (DLSRs have the best in the world) and the quality of the lens (again)

I have a friend who a few years back had a canon 1D which is only 4mp, yet the pictures he took where blown up to make high rise building sized adverts!

ukcarper

jackieblack wrote: »

I agree you really need to go in and try a few out.
When I was researching which camera to buy I read loads of reviews, but at the end of the day I found neither the Canon nor Nikon comfortable to hold, I found the Sony felt most natural, although I read lots of reviews from people who found the Sony uncomfortable to hold.
As you say, you are spending alot of money and need to be confident that you're spending it on the camera which suits you best, even if others may not agree!
.

I totally agree after reading all the reviews I went out with the intention of buying a Canon but ended up buying a Nikon because I found it much more comfortable to hold. I think the differences between the major brands are so small that in use they don’t make much difference but if you find a camera awkward to hold it can make a big difference.

kettricken

I am about to embark down this route, I decided that after doing a recent wedding and am about to pay £50+ for the developing (+ CD's for touching up photos) that I could save heavily by buying a DSLR, however I adore my Minolta Dynax 7 SLR and have 3 good lenses and extra flash gun Minolta 5400, so I am very tempted to go for a Sony. But would switch if Nikon and Canon had a good enough deal. I have found this thread most useful, thank you every one. I am a mid-range user and don't really want an entry level camera, I know that I will do loads of research and try to make my informed decision only to find that not far down the line a new one will be released that I wished I had hung on for.
NB My lens which gets used mostly is a Sigma 70-300 although the supplied 24-105 is a cracking lens, I like to take shots zooming in on people as they are not quite as aware and more natural. I also have a 50mm 1.8 which I brought from ebay for pennies. In my kit I have also an extensive range of filters but they would beinter changeable by way of an adapter.