Best entry level DSLR for me?

[Deleted User]

Got shakey hands? Learn to hold the camera in a way that minimises the shake. I have to laugh when i see people taking photos at arms length looking through big LCDs.. how are you meant to hold your camera stable whilst doing that?

This might help - http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-to-hold-your-dslr-camera-204118/

dmg24

Hope you don't mind me asking a question on your thread Wobblydeb, but I'm looking too so thought this might be helpful info for you too.

I have found the Nikon D3000 for around £350 (Jessops and Amazon), it seems to get good reviews (and my Dad agrees about getting a Canon or Nikon!). Would anyone not recommend it?

Thank you!

Wobblydeb

moonrakerz wrote: »

In that case they are not much good ! most DSLRs now come with some sort of Vibration Reduction/Optical Stabilisation in the lenses anyway.

I would doubly support some of the other posts - get a Nikon or a Canon.

Especially if you wish to add to your camera equipment. I have a Nikon. and wanted a "long" lens; the Nikon lens was over £4,000 !!!! I had a choice of two non-Nikon lenses for around £700. Both these lenses were also available in Canon fit - but nothing else !

This raises an important point, that perhaps my shaky hands and the fact I'm interested in portraiture may dictate the lenses, which then decides the camera. Which lenses are the best for shaky hands and taking portraits?

ringo_24601 wrote: »

Got shakey hands? Learn to hold the camera in a way that minimises the shake. I have to laugh when i see people taking photos at arms length looking through big LCDs.. how are you meant to hold your camera stable whilst doing that?

This might help - http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-to-hold-your-dslr-camera-204118/

Thank you for the link. I'm gonna need it - these cameras look seriously heavy!

[Deleted User]

Well, a heavier camera means shake will effect it less.

For portrait photography, you could head down the Canon route and get the f1.8 50mm lens - http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005K47X/
This will cost you 84ish quid, but will be well worth it.

Personally, i'm a skinflint, i bought a Panasonic L10 (300 quid) and i now buy manual focus lenses (e.g. the f1.8 50mm cost me 28 pounds plus 10 quid for an adaptor to my camera)

Don't forget that you'll also get a lot of use from a flashgun (and diffuser/reflectors)..These aren't too cheap.. here's one of the cheaper ones i've found, for 79 pounds - http://www.jessops.com/online.store/products/67557/show.html

I never normally use a flash and my f1.8/50mm together though, but they're really useful to have and they are the 'extras' i've had the most use out of

jimbms

diable wrote: »

I am biased as I shoot with a D300 so I would recommend the Nikon D300 kit with the extra lens from Jessops, my son bought one and is very happy with it.

There is no way a Nikon D300 goes for that price don't you mean the D3000 if so I agree its a very good piece of kit.

Wobblydeb

So..... if the lenses are so important, and i like the sound of the f1.8 50mm lens.....

..... why not do it the MSE way and just buy an older second hand body?

weegie.geek

The shutter mechanism is only good to so many photos, some of them have had a hard life.

Wobblydeb

weegie.geek wrote: »

The shutter mechanism is only good to so many photos, some of them have had a hard life.

Ahhhhhh, I see. Thank you

photodgm

Wobblydeb wrote: »

So..... if the lenses are so important, and i like the sound of the f1.8 50mm lens.....

..... why not do it the MSE way and just buy an older second hand body?

If you are looking at head and shoulders portraits 50mm is a bit wide - you would have to get very close to the person - you may get better advice on a photography forum. One of the main advantages of a DSLR is the ability to change lenses, on the budget you are talking of, you will have difficulty in obtaining a camera body and 2 lenses. Depending on exactly what you want to photograph, a bridge camera may be a better option. If of course this is just the start of building a system of camera, lenses, supports, flash, that is another matter.

jimbms

If you look towards nikon and cannon both these tend to do special offers with 2 lenses and nikon quite often do £50 cashback offers.
Edited to add if you get a nikon you could go for body only and get the nikor 18-200 zoom that will cover you for all ranges and is a very good lens to use if you need variable focal lengths but would not have time to change lenses.