DSLR newbie, what kit to get?

[JAGS]

Hi,

I know these types of topics have been done to death many times, so I apologise in advance.

I am looking to jump into the (possibly expensive!) world of DSLR cameras. I have a Sony point and shoot at present, and the only exposure I have had to DSLR cameras is via one of my friends and a couple of cousins who have some decent kit.

I have made the decision to invest in a DSLR to enjoy better quality shots. The camera will be used for general stuff really like holidays, pictures of family/friends get togethers etc.

I have a rough budget of £600-700 and can see three possible options:

Canon 550D 18-55 kit
Nikon D90 18-55 kit
Canon 50D (body only and some kind of starter lens)

Any advice on what to get? I have a basic knowledge of this type of kit and am no expert.

I dont expect to become a pro overnight and reslise that it is a steep learning curve, but I want to get the best possible kit given the budget and take my time to learn without having to upgrade quickly within a few years.

Any advice welcomed.

Thanks

Edited by JAGS on Thursday 15th July 16:00

[GetCarter]

Well you have chosen the market leaders (Canon/Nikon), so you won't go far wrong. As always, we say, get into a shop and hold them. Some suit, some don't. Both make great cameras.

[LongQ]

JAGS said:

I have made the decision to invest in a DSLR to enjoy better quality shots. The camera will be used for general stuff really like holidays, pictures of family/friends get togethers etc.

Hmm.

Starting out almost any DLSR will give you results that will satisfy your needs and more. Given your list of likely subject I would suggest setting aside some of the budget for a good flash gun rather than going to far up the price scale for a camera.

Unless you desparately want video as well as stills in a single unit you could comfortably set aside 200 - 300 for a flash (which is usually quite a long life investment in photographic terms) and still get a suitable camera and lens combo as a starter kit.

It gets more expensive later but things move rapidly in this digital technical arena so lower but adequate investment for learning is a good idea IMHO. A year or so down the road you can upgrade the body should you want to and continue with everything else you already have. Should you decide that is the way to go.

Camera, common kit lens and maybe a longer lens up to about 250 or 300mm on the zoom, would work well. Don't be afraid to consider the lower priced cameras - Canon 450D or 500D for example if the lens/flash budget suggest that is the way to go.

Do to a shiop and handle a few - size and weight can be a factor - look at the options for the kit list and price it. Then go away and think for a couple of days about which felt the best in the hand and offers a good price point. Then check on line prices and haggle.

HTH.

[Simpo Two]

He makes a good point. The natural temptation is to get the very best, but Lewis Hamilton didn't start in an F1 car, he started in karts

[JAGS]

I was actually in Jessops at lunchtime today and wanted to 'try on' the cameras I mentioned.

The D90 and 550D felt easier to handle compared to the 50D. I liked the compactness of the 550D and the controls seemed better laid out.

Movie mode is a plus and i think it will be used.

About the advice on the flash... does it really make such a difference? Is this something that I could buy later on down the line or would I be better off getting one right from the off?

Edited by JAGS on Thursday 15th July 16:01

[Simpo Two]

I think you may need to get your 'D's at the right end! The D50 is a discontinued Nikon, the 50D is a fairly beefy Canon.

JAGS said:

About the advice on the flash... does it really make such a difference? Is this something that I could buy later on down the line or would I be better off getting one right from the off?

Much better to buy bits as you find you need them. At present you don't know what you want because it's a new subject; you can only guess. The more flying hours you get, the more you will know, and when it is time to get a flash, you will know

[JAGS]

Thanks for the heads up about the model numbers, have edited previous posts accordingly!

[LongQ]

JAGS said:

I was actually in Jessops at lunchtime today and wanted to 'try on' the cameras I mentioned.

The D90 and 550D felt easier to handle compared to the 50D. I liked the compactness of the 550D and the controls seemed better laid out.

Movie mode is a plus and i think it will be used.

About the advice on the flash... does it really make such a difference? Is this something that I could buy later on down the line or would I be better off getting one right from the off?

Edited by JAGS on Thursday 15th July 16:01

Based on your list of likely subjects (as originally quoted) it certainly could do.

On camera flash is quite limited (though nice to have) and in social situations, which often involve lower levles of light, a good flash, and the flexibility it brings to the party, helps make excellent results that will please you.

Now, if you had said that you mainly shoot general motorsport and landscapes the suggestion of a flash would not have crossed my mind (well, unless you had specified night time rallying ....), but you mention social events that, presumably, for a large part of the year occur indoors and maybe when light levels are low. You may find that the 'good' flash purchase would quite quickly follow the camera purchase .... so all I'm suggesting is that you might consider pre-empting that if you need to stick to the budget. A lower cost camera with a decent, last for years, flash all bought within the budget may be a better investment than a 'better' camera that disappoints in the absence of a useful flash.

Put it like this - I still use (sometimes) the quality flash I bought with my first 'own purchase' SLR, er, a long time ago. I also still have the camera, etc., though rarely use it. But I can use the flash, in manual mode and with some caution due to the electrical specs of the time, with my current DSLR kit. There are shots in the album that I would not have been able to take without it - though to be fair there were no 'in camera' flash options in those days to confuse the decision making.

[JAGS]

I will look into getting a flash for the camera some time soon after the initial purchase. From the advice, it would seem that there are big advantages to be had with one.

One thing I wanted to ask was about the movie mode on the 550D... Is this only for short bursts of a few seconds/minutes, or can the thing keep on recording until the memory card fills up? I assume the former would be correct, as the shutter will have to remain open for the duration of the filming...

Just wandering what the possibilities are with movie mode.

[andrewrob]

I think its until the memory fills up.
Here's a sample
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3f7l-Z4NF70

[JAGS]

That video looks very impressive in HD!!

That is handy then, for recording longer clips. I was under the impression that the limit was for a few seconds only...

[andrewrob]

JAGS said:

That video looks very impressive in HD!!

That is handy then, for recording longer clips. I was under the impression that the limit was for a few seconds only...

Ah just seen someone on AV Forums has mentioned that it does in fact have a 12 minute limit on HD video recording.

[SamHH]

According to Canon: "Movie Length Max duration 29m 59sec, Max file size 4GB".

[andrewrob]

SamHH said:

According to Canon: "Movie Length Max duration 29m 59sec, Max file size 4GB".

I wonder if the 29 minutes is at a lower resolution and 12 minutes is at 1080p?

[markmullen]

Iirc the maximum time is imposed to avoid the sensor overheating, not for storage reasons.

[JAGS]

Hi all,

Firstly thanks everyone for all of your advice. It was very helpful and has helped me make my decision a little easier...

I picked up the following yesterday:

Canon EOS 550D 18-55mm kit (A new lens may be needed!)
Sandisk 8GB Extreme card
LowePro Classified 160AW carry case

Only just unpacked it and got it going. Initial verdict seems positive, although I know a flash is required. Will research that and pick one up in due course.

Very happy with the purchase and will now begin mastering how to take decent shots!

Thanks once again all.