Which DSLR to buy as beginner?

Safira Mumtaz

Safira Mumtaz

Active Member
I want to purchase a dslr for my professional course, but confused as to which dslr I should be taking. My budget is $600. There are some dslrs suggested to me for buying but I'm still a little puzzled as to which one will be of good for me, although I'm strongly thinking of Nikon D3100 or Canon 550D. PLease provide me help regarding what should I purchase, and please give me suggested models as well if there are any.


Thanks.
 
Hi Safira
Either of those would be ideal!
There is not likely to be a lot between them in picture quality, both will provide excellent shots in most situations!
The only thing to concider is that when you are buying a camera, you are buying into the system and brand ... Nikon or canon are great choices as they are the biggest brands therefore have the most lenses and most 3rd party brands (tamron,sigma etc) make lenses for them
the other option might be to look at a CSC (compact system camera) like a Sony NEX or Panasonic G ... These sort of cameras offer slr quality pictures in a smaller, lighter package ... The downside to them is that you loose the large real viewfinder that looks through the lens. They also have less lenses available for them.

If it was me, I would buy a D3100
 
I too would choose the Nikon as this is the 35mm and DSLR system I have always used and so am familiar with. As Hamish says, there would be no real difference in picture quality between Nikon and Canon but going down the Nikon route would give you access to a lot of legacy lenses which can be a very cost-effective way to expand your system. All will fit and virtually all will function in manual mode.
 
Hi Safira,...Even though I'm not a Nikon man--well, to be honest I suppose I should state that I'm not really even a DSLR man either, even though I have one--I'd have to agree with Pete. With the Canon DSLR you're locked into using the EOS-mount lenses, unless you use some adapter of some kind, whereas with the Nikon, as Pete says, you can use a lot of good old Nikon glass from decades passed. That would be the selling point for me.
 
Thanks a lot Hamish.... that is real great help to me.. but I've read on some website that nikon is just good for snapshots whereas canon is apt for everything.

- - - Updated - - -

I agree that Nikon has a great deal with lenses..

- - - Updated - - -

I didn't know that about Canon... Thanks Brian :)
 
Safira Mumtaz said:
Thanks a lot Hamish.... that is real great help to me.. but I've read on some website that nikon is just good for snapshots whereas canon is apt for everything.
Click to expand...

Ive been a professional photographer for a good few years now and have always shot Nikon
I dont think any of my clients would agree that I take snap shots ...

All good cameras can be used for snap shots ... its the photographer that takes a a good photo and my nikon cameras have certainly never prevented me doing so
 
I guess professional photographers are split pretty equally between Nikon and Canon. Both firms make consumer cameras and both firms make superb professional cameras. I stayed with Nikon because I have a lot of older lenses and also because Nikon have a wider range of technical products and they are compatible with their (and other) microscopes, medical lenses etc. Canon do not really produce anything in that field.
 
If you get the chance, go to a store and handle both cameras - that may help you decide which camera body suits you best.

Nothing to choose on image quality/features - I would't want to push someone to one camp or the other.

Camera/Lens system - make your call on how the camera feels and functions for you - there are all the lenses you'll ever need on both sides of the house.

Budget for extra battery and memory cards from day 1 - so you don't run out of power or storage when you're out shooting.

Budget for some decent post processing software, such as Photoshop or Lightroom - digital photography is 50% image capture and 50% post processing in my view. You may get software as part of your course?

Best of luck - great feeling getting that first camera - shoot every day!
 
Would anyone agree with me if I said go for a fast F1.4 or F1.8 35mm (50mm equivalent on crop frame sensor such as D3100 or 550D) over a kit lens with the first camera? IMO a fast lens capable of shallow DOF will be more creatively flexible.
 
Paul Lange said:
Would anyone agree with me if I said go for a fast F1.4 or F1.8 35mm (50mm equivalent on crop frame sensor such as D3100 or 550D) over a kit lens with the first camera? IMO a fast lens capable of shallow DOF will be more creatively flexible.
Click to expand...

Yes!
Nikons 35mm 1.8 is a great lens ... Much better for concentrating the mind in the task at hand taking away all that temptation to zoom in and out!
 
As a slight aside, I've always been fascinated by brand loyalty in that I have brand loyalty to certain things ..Apple,Adidas, Redwings, Levi's, Lambretta etc but never cameras and i don't know why..... hmmm
 
because camera manufactures dont use "lifestyle" as a selling/marketing technique as mush as the other brands you have mentioned (excluding redwings as i dont know what that is). And where marketing doesnt apply there is an associated lifestyle.... It is almost always "lifestyle" that people buy into!
 
Hamish Gill said:
because camera manufactures dont use "lifestyle" as a selling/marketing technique as mush as the other brands you have mentioned (excluding redwings as i dont know what that is). And where marketing doesnt apply there is an associated lifestyle.... It is almost always "lifestyle" that people buy into!
Click to expand...


hmmm good point, marketing is so annoying because it is so important in everything ...

ps redwings are boots
 
Hamish Gill said:
Yes!
Nikons 35mm 1.8 is a great lens ... Much better for concentrating the mind in the task at hand taking away all that temptation to zoom in and out!
Click to expand...

It is spectacular value for the money. Truly an excellent lens.

Nikkor AF-S DX 35mm f/1.8 G - Review / Test Report

The f/1.4 costs more than eight times as much and only provides a trivial 0.7EV more light gathering power. The difference in depth of field is minimal.
 
I will be planning on getting that lens at some point, will be a good prime lens to have alongside the 18-55 kit lens
 
Davie Hudson said:
hmmm good point, marketing is so annoying because it is so important in everything ...

ps redwings are boots
Click to expand...

I love it ... but then it makes up a ever increasing part of my job
Its a fascinating concept I think, and when done well utilises the oldest trick in the book ... Making people belive they are doing things through thier own free will - effectively making people do things via making them think it is thier decision to do it... It o course is thier decision ... ... ... ... ...
look at this ... Official Apple iPhone 4 Advert - YouTube
they are selling this to everyone ... There is family lifestyle, tech fetures, clean living etc etc all in there... But who are those casually dressed execs talking to? Not you! They are talking to somone off camera, selling it to somone else... You just happen be be overhearing what they are saying! At no point is it suggested that you should buy it... But there is plenty of messages in there... An obvious one is the guy are the end saying about how it feels in "your hand"... Clever **** them apple folk, arguably very maniputative, but do I feel like I'm being tricked? Nope! Did I get up a stupid o'clock just to get a 4s as soon as I could? Yep!

- - - Updated - - -

Larry Bolch said:
It is spectacular value for the money. Truly an excellent lens.

Nikkor AF-S DX 35mm f/1.8 G - Review / Test Report

The f/1.4 costs more than eight times as much and only provides a trivial 0.7EV more light gathering power. The difference in depth of field is minimal.
Click to expand...

I just wish they would replace the f2d ... Mine is showing its age
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Brian Moore
Which Photo Hosting Site?
Replies
15
Views
750
Brian Moore
Brian Moore
Pete Askew
Nikon Optiphot
Replies
6
Views
443
Gary R. Smith
Gary R. Smith
T
F/S Two MR-9 mercury battery adaptors for PX625, nearly new
Replies
1
Views
619
T B
T
Stephane Tougard
[Review] Leica M9
Replies
3
Views
447
Tony Warren
Tony Warren
Len Philpot
My other hobby - Astronomy
Replies
12
Views
463
Len Philpot
Len Philpot
Back
Top