Question:
New to the whole D-SLR Camera thing, your advice?
Aspiring Author
2010-05-17 13:02:14 UTC
Hey everybody, I'm new to the whole D-SLR camera thing. I love taking pictures with regular digital cameras, but I think it's really time to step it up. I'm taking a digital photography class at my college next semester and I want to go in prepared. I've spoken to a few photographers so far and I've received pretty consistent advice: Canon or Nikon. I just want to know what models I should be interested in. The people that I spoke to recommended the Canon T1I and the Nokia D5000. What are your take on these suggestions? I'm not looking to break the bank on these purchases, so I'll most likely buy a refurbished/floor model to save a hundred or so bucks. Any and all opinions/hints/tips/tricks would be very helpful. If you know where to get the cameras a bit cheaper, please let me know.

Thanks!

Michael
Seven answers:
Polyhistor
2010-05-17 14:39:07 UTC
the brands to choose from are Sony, Olympus, Pentax, Canon and Nikon. There are other brands like Leica and Panasonic (Lumix), but they are generally more expensive.



It means nothing to tell you one is better than the other. The only reason people suggest one or the other is that they know that one and nothing else.
Bruce M
2010-05-17 13:29:46 UTC
IT is all about that feels good to you in your hand AND knowing that the more advanced (costly) body will process the image "better" then the less advanced (cheaper) body will. So, go to a camera store, not the internet this time.. and FEEL them. Does not matter the brand, Pentax, Sony, Nikon, Canon..they all make images. New has the advantage of a year warranty and I for one only buy electronics new. Not like the old film days when they were clock work and fixable by the local repair shop.
tena
2016-06-03 09:44:36 UTC
For the best continous mode and fastest auto focussing, DSLRs are the way to go. Most entry level DSLRs will shoot 3 frames per second. The Canon 20D/30D will do 5fps. That's pretty handy. In 7 seconds you can shoot 35 shots, capture one good expression, then throw away the other 34. (put that in you pipe and smoke it... those who are still recommending film). If you are shooting with a compact digicam- some are much better at others at being responsive. Canon's notoriously, while offering some of the best quality images, are also some of the slowest to autofocus. Sometimes 0.5 to 1 full second (depends on model). The best digicams AF in 0.2 to 0.3 sec. But often, that's still a bit slow. So- to speed things up. Pre-focus by pusshing the shutter button down half way, then when the perfect moment arises, take the picture with almost no delay.
Deathâ„¢
2010-05-17 15:17:52 UTC
First of all, don't worry about the college class just yet. While you may be required to have a DSLR in order to participate in the class, many colleges have a set of cameras available for students in the class to use. Mine did, and only one person in the class chose to purchase their own camera secondly. If there are cameras available, you may wish to wait to purchase one until you have a little more money to spend.



Now, moving on to the cameras themselves.



When it comes to brands, quite frankly, you probably won't notice much of a difference between the brands themselves. They all use the same basic design and principles to create images. Think of it this way: When you see a photograph in a newspaper or magazine, what does the text underneath it say? More often than not, you'll see the photographer's name...but I've rarely seen the camera brand listed. Let that be a lesson: The camera brand itself isn't important; it's who's using it and how they're using it.



But, when you stop considering the brand and start looking more at the camera models themselves, things get a little trickier. Are Canon T1Is and Nikon D5000s (I'm pretty sure you're talking about Nikon, not Nokia) decent beginner-level cameras capable of taking some fantastic photographs? You bet. But will the images themselves be much different? Nope. If you pick up a Nikon and take a shot, then you grab a Canon and take a shot...one image won't be magically better. As your skills improve, your ability to produce great images will get better, but the brand or camera itself doesn't do a thing to improve talent.



When you look at the camera specifications for the camera models you listed, you will probably see some differences. But, that chart is likely to be the ONLY place you notice those differences -- looking at the photos themselves, you won't be able to tell a difference between the 10MP camera and the 12MP camera. You won't be able to identify which one had 40 autofocus points and which had 49.



It's true that there ARE some details you might notice differences with, but they often won't create much of a difference in practical use. These two brands, in addition to others such as Pentax or Olympus, are all pretty equal in the broad spectrum of things, when it comes to the images they're able to produce.



On the other hand, even though the images themselves might not be very different, different user features are important to different photographers. Things like the weight, the grip style and material, etc., can be deciding factors in how much you enjoy your camera. For that reason, I'd recommend you go to actual stores to look at pictures. Every camera within a certain price range, such as $500-$600 for instance, will be fairly equal in specifications but fairly different in how they feel in your hands.







You say that you're considering a used or floor model rather than a new model because of price. In the end it's up to you, but I would strongly urge you to be careful if you buy a used camera. Someone on Craigslist or eBay could be selling a camera that USED to be great...but after use, it's not so great anymore. Part of the problem with that is that sellers will often say they just got a new camera and no longer need this one, or they hardly ever used this so now they're just going to sell it to a good home, etc., when in fact it has serious problems they simply don't want to disclose. If something is wrong with the camera, there's not a very good chance you'll get your money back.



I'd suggest that you save up for a new model, or at least make sure you are buying from a reputable seller. Factory refurbished models can often be good, as they have been checked out (and if necessary, restored) by the manufacturer. They often come with at least some type of warranty in case something goes wrong.



Don't forget about lenses, either. You can purchase a camera body, which means that you have to buy the lens yourself, or you can buy it with a lens. Some cameras are sold with two lenses -- usually one is a standard lens, such as 18-55mm, in addition to a larger telephoto lens that can go as high as 300mm.





Also, one other note -- looking at cameras in a store doesn't necessarily mean you have to buy it at that store. Go to a store that sells DSLRs, pick a few up, look them over, and narrow it down to a few that you really like. Then, go home for a few days and come back again, aware of which choices you liked the best. Look through everything and make sure you haven't missed anything, and then carefully go over each camera. Pick them up, look through the viewfinder, etc. Then, note the prices, go home, and look online. A while back, I was looking at a certain camera model, and figured out the lowest price it was available in town...but online, another major seller had it for a hundred dollars less.
Lepke
2010-05-17 13:06:39 UTC
I agree that Canon and Nikon are very good camera brands. One of things that may be more important than the camera body is the quality of the lens. You may want to consider buying the body and the lens separately. Best wishes.
Forlorn Hope
2010-05-17 13:07:36 UTC
everyone raves about the whole Canon vs Nikon nonsense...



really you need to get to a camera shop and see how the camera feels to you...



and what you get for your money...



i prefer my Sony over a Nikon or Canon, to be honest... but that is cos i like what i got for my money...
?
2010-05-17 13:10:03 UTC
the Nikon vs Canon war has been going on ever since the brands came up, and it will go on forever, a Nikon user will tell you to use Nikon, a Canon user will tell you to use Canon, a Pentax user will tell you to use Pentax, and so on.


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