£250 SLR Camera
Discussion
On the 28th I will have around £250 of it to spend on a good used SLR Camera.
As I am a Amateur I will need help picking one, the reason I want a SLR as my cheap camera takes rubbish photos and I now hopefully have the money to get a used SLR Camera.
I have seen they come with different lenses and but how do I pick which lens I need?
Many Thanks
Michael
As I am a Amateur I will need help picking one, the reason I want a SLR as my cheap camera takes rubbish photos and I now hopefully have the money to get a used SLR Camera.
I have seen they come with different lenses and but how do I pick which lens I need?
Many Thanks
Michael
I think you'll be looking at either a 'kit' lens, typically 18-55mm, and these are commonly sold with the bodies from new. Alternatively you could look at buying body only + 50mm lens. 50mm lenses are popular because they are cheap, good quality and usually f1.8 (for low light/shallow depth of field). However they don't cover anything vaguely wide angle, whereas an 18-55mm will give you more flexibility and IMHO more useful for general purpose use.
Bear in mind that DSLRs tend not to take 'great photos' straight out of the box; some effort is needed to get best results.
Bear in mind that DSLRs tend not to take 'great photos' straight out of the box; some effort is needed to get best results.
When I did this a few years ago I opted for second hand as you get much more kit for your money.
I bought a barely used D70s with kit 18-70 lens which was great for me, got the whole lot for well under £300 and of course things have moved on in the last 5 years. I would try to avoid anything without its own lens motor (D40 etc) as you have a much larger choice of lens you can use.
Of course there's the Canon route as well...
I bought a barely used D70s with kit 18-70 lens which was great for me, got the whole lot for well under £300 and of course things have moved on in the last 5 years. I would try to avoid anything without its own lens motor (D40 etc) as you have a much larger choice of lens you can use.
Of course there's the Canon route as well...
I want the SLR so that I can take better photos when I go car hunting in London, I want the pictures to be more clear and the pictures in Carparks to look better then this.
Porsche Carrera GT by michaelbham243, on Flickr
Rolls Royce Phantom by michaelbham243, on Flickr
Rolls Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe by michaelbham243, on Flickr
McLaren MP4 -12C by michaelbham243, on Flickr
Blue Bentley Continental GT Supersport by michaelbham243, on Flickr
Maserati Gran Turismo Coupe by michaelbham243, on Flickr
Porsche Carrera GT by michaelbham243, on Flickr
Rolls Royce Phantom by michaelbham243, on Flickr
Rolls Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe by michaelbham243, on Flickr
McLaren MP4 -12C by michaelbham243, on Flickr
Blue Bentley Continental GT Supersport by michaelbham243, on Flickr
Maserati Gran Turismo Coupe by michaelbham243, on Flickr
K12beano said:
combination of a) what are you taking photos of, b) from what distance/perspective (ie what angle of view do you need) and c) what's your lens budget (and new or secondhand?)?
I am taking photos of the cars in LondonErrm What kind of angles is there ?
I want to get the camera and the Lens for around £250
Hey, I use a Canon EOS 1000D with a 'kit-lens' 18-55mm(I have more lenses but for the price you are most likely to get the kit lens). The replacement 1100d is on sale for a while now so 1000D should be cheap as chips.
this is a unedited photo I took on a recent trip to London. I personally have the 1000D but I'm sure an older model like 450D or ever 400D will let you take good quality images
this is a unedited photo I took on a recent trip to London. I personally have the 1000D but I'm sure an older model like 450D or ever 400D will let you take good quality images
Xaero said:
Do you really need an SLR? I can see those photos were taken with a phone, but a SLR is a much less compact thing for taking photos of cars. A decent compact might be better for you.
The photo of the CGT was with my Cheap Camera and I want to get much better pictures than that.CezarPhoto said:
Hey, I use a Canon EOS 1000D with a 'kit-lens' 18-55mm(I have more lenses but for the price you are most likely to get the kit lens). The replacement 1100d is on sale for a while now so 1000D should be cheap as chips.
this is a unedited photo I took on a recent trip to London. I personally have the 1000D but I'm sure an older model like 450D or ever 400D will let you take good quality images
That is one nice photo, the quality is quite good and what makes it better is that it is my Favourite car, but I am yet to see one. this is a unedited photo I took on a recent trip to London. I personally have the 1000D but I'm sure an older model like 450D or ever 400D will let you take good quality images
I will either get a 1000D or a 1100D then.
Edited by michael243 on Sunday 23 September 14:41
In a dark car park like that a tripod would be a very useful addition as well as turning the flash off.
Any base model SLR and kit lens (usually about 18-55) will be OK, but IS lenses would help in dark environments, if you aren't planning on using a tripod. I'd advise going Canon/Nikon as their systems are more complete, should you want to upgrade further down the line.
Any base model SLR and kit lens (usually about 18-55) will be OK, but IS lenses would help in dark environments, if you aren't planning on using a tripod. I'd advise going Canon/Nikon as their systems are more complete, should you want to upgrade further down the line.
pherlopolus said:
To be honest it looks like if you had a tripod/mono pod and gave your current camera a proper clean you'd take better pictures...
What is your current camera?
For the most recent shots I have used an Fujiflim Finepix Ax280 What is your current camera?
And for the picture before that I used a HTC HD Desire and a Blackberry Torch 9810
I only just got a Tripod now, I never had it the last time I went which was the 27th of August.
Craikeybaby said:
In a dark car park like that a tripod would be a very useful addition as well as turning the flash off.
Any base model SLR and kit lens (usually about 18-55) will be OK, but IS lenses would help in dark environments, if you aren't planning on using a tripod. I'd advise going Canon/Nikon as their systems are more complete, should you want to upgrade further down the line.
What is a IS Lens?Any base model SLR and kit lens (usually about 18-55) will be OK, but IS lenses would help in dark environments, if you aren't planning on using a tripod. I'd advise going Canon/Nikon as their systems are more complete, should you want to upgrade further down the line.
I have brought a Tripod now but never had it for the last time I went which was the 27th August.
The problem with most of the pictures you posted are that they are blurred due to the camera moving whilst the shutter was open, also known as camera shake. In a dark area such as a car park, a lot of cameras will slow the shutter speed down to allow in enough light to get a correct exposure, which could result in camera shake. This is just as true with an SLR as it is with a compact. The way to avoid the problem is to know why it happens and to take steps to avoid it.
As someone has already said, you could use a tripod. Alternatively, you can use a higher ISO and/or a wider aperture, assuming your camera allows you to change these settings, which will result in a faster shutter speed.
Don't automatically assume that just changing to a SLR camera will solve your problems.
As someone has already said, you could use a tripod. Alternatively, you can use a higher ISO and/or a wider aperture, assuming your camera allows you to change these settings, which will result in a faster shutter speed.
Don't automatically assume that just changing to a SLR camera will solve your problems.
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