Best DSLR Camera for GCSE Photography

[Deleted User]

Geodark wrote: »

Are you sure those are DSLRs?

Certainly looks like it.

Geodark

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

Certainly looks like it.

Why? because it is a body camera and takes lenses? that doesnt make it a DSLR - its a bridge.

Thats a sensor in the middle there, so it isnt a DSLR

[Deleted User]

Geodark wrote: »

Nice camera, but it isnt DSLR and the school has specified a DSLR

I was responding to Johnmcl7's comments about Bridge Cameras.

Also, I think the OP should ask the school, why they are adamant that it must be a SLR.

Geodark

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

I was responding to Johnmcl7's comments about Bridge Cameras.

Also, I think the OP should ask the school, why they are adamant that it must be a SLR.

I agree - some of the bridge cameras are cracking.

Johnmcl7

Geodark wrote: »

Why? because it is a body camera and takes lenses? that doesnt make it a DSLR - its a bridge.

Thats a sensor in the middle there, so it isnt a DSLR

It's not a bridge camera - the general definition of a bridge camera is a fixed lens camera with a long zoom lens. The Panasonic GH4 and GH5 are 'mirrorless', 'interchangeable lens compact' or 'compact system camera' depending on what you prefer, they have the same sensors as DSLRs (the slightly smaller 4/3 sensor for Olympus/Panasonic, APS-C for Sony) but ditch the titular reflex mirror allowing them to be smaller and generally offer more user friendly video features.

For some uses the mirrorless cameras are well worth considering although as they use new lens systems (they're usually backwards compatible with SLR lenses but it's a clumsy solution), the lens range is smaller and there's less on the second hand market.

John

Johnmcl7

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

I've got the Fujifilm FinePix SL1000, and I think it's fantastic.

That's all well and good that it suits your use but it's still completely unsuitable for a photography course - the SL1000's sensor is the same size as those used in top end phone cameras and that means it's severely limited for certain uses such as depth of field control, dynamic range, raw latitude and high iso noise control.

Even the 1in sensors that are used in the very best of the current bridge cameras (the Sony RX10 series and the Panasonic FZ1000) which are many, many times bigger than a 1/2.3in sensor are a couple of stops behind the APS-C sensor size of the cheaper Canon and Nikon DSLRs. Those who keep recommending a bridge camera in place of a DSLR clearly do not understand the difference in performance between small and large sensors (the school does and that's why they're recommending a DSLR), even if there was a current APS-C bridge camera (they existed in the past, not any now) it would still lack the flexibility to be able to use wide aperture primes which are a useful tool for learning photography - hence the Pentax K-1000 (its film is the equivalent of a full frame sensor and another stop larger than an APS-C camera) and a 50mm lens were such a favourite for photography students.

Unfortunately there is no one size all solution for cameras, there's always compromises to be made somewhere - just because a bridge camera isn't suitable for learning photography doesn't mean it's any less suitable for your uses.

John