DSLR.

Redoko · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Nov 2009 Karma :

Looking at upgrading my old point and shoot soon.

Done a bit of looking around the web after a mate whos keen on his photography (as in his cameras worth half my bike keen Neutral

)
He recommended me the Sony A290 for a starter or 'entry level' DLSR.

Does anyone have this camera?

Opinions etc?

Or even other models, budget £-300
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st3v3 · Super Spammer Joined: 16 Oct 2006 Karma :

Now this, this should be in Geek Zone, yet mine's moved from Random Bantor when it wasn't technical.

Cool eh? Laughing

My dad very recently got a canon one, it's pretty special. Il ask him what model it is, he spent 5 months waiting for a good deal on it.
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Redoko · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Nov 2009 Karma :

It's more about learning about DSLRs as much as it is about reviews, new to this thing but very keen to get involved.
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"Let's face it, this is not the worst thing you've caught me doing."
Sudika Sportsman SK50QT > Gilera DNA50 > Honda CBR125 RW7 > Kawasaki Zephyr750 > Suzuki GSXR600 > Honda Hornet CB600F '51

..... · Quote Me Happy Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Karma :

Having recently dipped my toe into the DSLR world myself, I understand your predicament.

In the end, after reading countless reviews, I just thought "Well, they're all going to be good just pick one". I went for the Canon 1000D in the end and I'm happy enough with it. There camera is better than I am at the moment. I assume cameras are like bikes in the way that the user will rarely use it to 100% of its capability.

For me with hindsight, and it's funnily enough what people told me, it's about the lenses you're going to use and their price etc that's equally important.

Think about what you want to take photos of and how much suitable lenses are.

Again, like bikes, a pro could do things that you couldn't come close to with the same kit.

Anyway, there's lots of people on here who know far, far more than me so wait for their advice Thumbs Up

Codemonkey · Crazy Courier Joined: 18 Oct 2009 Karma :

Personally I'd look at offerings from either Canon or Nikon (you can't go wrong with either) and forget the rest. The way Sony like to screw over their customers, I'd avoid them like the plague!

I've got a Nikon D70 and some lenses that cost far more than the camera, and in the time I've had it (about 5 years I think), its been superb.
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Redoko · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Nov 2009 Karma :

Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

Hi

I would say it depends on how many lenses you will need, and also whether you have / have access to other lenses.

Both Canon and Nikon have a good range of lenses, with plenty available 2nd hand and also a good range of 3rd party lenses. Sony less so. Pentax and Olympus even less so (and while Pentax have a fair range of shorter lenses, they have virtually no longer lenses).

I wouldn't worry about image stabilisation much.
Low noise at high ISO is a nice to have. But to be honest for any normal shooting I rarely use less than ISO 400, so what it is like at ISO 12800 is pretty irrelevant.
Noise reduction is a mixed blessing. You can likely do a good job using Photoshop instead, and the delay between taking a picture and it being saved can be VERY long with the noise reduction turned on Ie, on my Canon cameras it uses a second shot with the shutter closed, and uses the result of that to help sort out the proper shot, hence it takes just as long to save as the original shot too to shoot. Bit of a pain with a 30 second exposure.
Remote shutter release would be something I would expect to have.

You last 3 points are a bit of a wish list. Any consumer body you buy will be outperformed on these by the pro bodies. How much do you want to spend (a Canon 1D Mk4 is £3577). Also, for sports use (bike on track) most of the time I just use the centre a/f point.

All the best

Keith
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G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

st3v3 · Super Spammer Joined: 16 Oct 2006 Karma :

_Troy_ · World Chat Champion Joined: 11 Feb 2011 Karma :

Being a photographer and a writer for a beginner photography magazine, i feel i can give some advice here.

Stick with Canon or Nikon. They have such a huge following compared to Sony, meaning there are more second hand accessories and lenses available, as well as useful forums and info.

Don't neglect second hand, as there are so many bargains to be had. Get a decent D60 or even D3000 for your budget and you may have money left for another lens.

Nikon wins quite easily at high ISO usage, and they also have better build quality in their entry level cameras. But Canon cameras can be good, but just don't seem to be up to the same quality these days.

Sorry i can't be more help - kind of busy. Feel free to PM me with more specific camera questions. It is my job afterall Mr. Green

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Current bike: ZX6R J1
Previous bikes: CLR 125 | GS500 | ZX6R G2 | SV650