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entry into the DSLR world

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el_oso
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PostPosted: 23:26 - 13 Sep 2015    Post subject: entry into the DSLR world Reply with quote

so I've decided I want a camera, getting fed up with using my phone.

Something entry level I'd imagine would appeal to me, like the Nikon D3300. The types of things I'd like to start taking pictures of would be fairly mixed. General city shots and landscapes would be the main use. I'd probably do some actions shots at airshows and car meets etc. unlikely to do portraits, night time long exposures I'd like to try my hand at.

Am I asking for too much from an entry level camera? What else shall I be looking at? What kind of lens will I need?

ta
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Islander
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PostPosted: 23:59 - 13 Sep 2015    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'd say you're looking at a crop sensor model with a fast autofocus response. I don't know much about the Nikon ranges, but a secondhand Canon 7D would fit the bill and they can be picked up fairly cheap.

For landscapes and cityscapes, you're looking at a wide angle lens. For motorsport and airshow action shots you're looking at a long lens - typically 300-500mm. This is where the crop sensor helps giving you an effective multiplication factor to add to the lens length. So for a 7D, the crop factor is 1.6 making a 400mm lens appear to be 640mm. This works against you at wide angle short focal lengths though - for example, a 10mm lens appears to be 16mm and will not give as wide a field as you'd probably expect.
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FlightRisk
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PostPosted: 01:26 - 14 Sep 2015    Post subject: Re: entry into the DSLR world Reply with quote

el_oso wrote:

Am I asking for too much from an entry level camera?


No. Entry level DSLRs are very capable.
But having said that, get a MILF.
No wait... get a MILC!

Mirrorless cameras are where it's at, DSLRs are pointlessly big and unwieldy, much better to have a camera you can shove in your pocket.
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arry
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PostPosted: 07:32 - 14 Sep 2015    Post subject: Reply with quote

Camera body is plenty capable of the variety of shots you're wanting. However - the most expensive part of photography is the vast array of lenses available and they're the bit that gets you the most dramatic result IMO

Buy wisely on a couple of choice lenses second hand to keep the cost down until you work out what you're after then expand / upgrade later once you know what you're doing.
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el_oso
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PostPosted: 09:32 - 14 Sep 2015    Post subject: Reply with quote

so the D3300 still seems like a good buy if I was to buy new.

anything other than the 7D to buy used? What do the newer cameras offer than a previous generation albeit higher end older camera would?

for example, the d3300 on paper offers higher ISO sensitivity settings. However, it looks like the 800 setting is the highest sensitivity you can realistically use before noise starts becoming apparent.
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Islander
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PostPosted: 11:05 - 14 Sep 2015    Post subject: Reply with quote

el_oso wrote:
so the D3300 still seems like a good buy if I was to buy new.

anything other than the 7D to buy used? What do the newer cameras offer than a previous generation albeit higher end older camera would?

for example, the d3300 on paper offers higher ISO sensitivity settings. However, it looks like the 800 setting is the highest sensitivity you can realistically use before noise starts becoming apparent.


As you've said, wewer models usually offer better low light performance with lower noise at higher ISOs.

There are heaps of last generation cameras out there, I mentioned the 7D because it has excellent autofocus performance on fast moving subjects - it's been a favourite of bird photographers and sport/aviation photographers for a long time. There will be an equivalent on the Nikon side I'm sure. Do check the shutter count against the average shutter life on a s/h model before you buy though.

The biggest investment of all is lenses - good glass doesn't come cheap although again, there are savings to be made in the secondhand market.
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ninjabob
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PostPosted: 16:05 - 14 Sep 2015    Post subject: Reply with quote

There are also some astonishingly good Superzoom 4k Video Bridge Cameras out there such as:


Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FZ1000

Nikon Coolpix D900

Sony RX10 Sony RX10 II

Saves lugging all that gear around.
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Kickstart
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PostPosted: 19:35 - 14 Sep 2015    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi

Do you know anyone who already has a dSLR and can lend you lenses? The difference between brands is minimal (and whatever is best this week will be overtaken in a short time), so better to go with a system that works for you rather than any particular model.

2nd hand is fine. Anything from a Canon 5D mk1 (or Nikon equivalents in age) onwards is probably fine for what you want now, and leaves money for other bits you will need.

High ISO depends on the camera. You do land up with noisier images, and this is something which has dramatically improved over the years (the Canon D30 I have was pretty awful at high ISO - I would avoid anything over ISO 400). But a lot of the time not that necessary as with technique is more important. How often do you really need high ISO (ie, need to use high shutter speed in poor light without using flash)? Or to put it more simply, not something I worry about too much.

Spend your money on lenses. They cost more but hold their value well (unlike camera bodies).

All the best

K
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almostthere
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PostPosted: 21:35 - 14 Sep 2015    Post subject: dslr Reply with quote

Canon G11 you won't need anything else
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el_oso
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PostPosted: 13:48 - 15 Sep 2015    Post subject: Reply with quote

currently watching a couple of canon 7d on the ebay.
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