Entry level DSLR help please

~T~ · #1 (**permalink**) 17-02-2011, 10:16 PM

Hi there im looking to get my first DSLR and at the moment the funds are a bit low so I'm really looking into getting something around £200-300 (second hand).

I have narrowed it down to the following which are all in my price range (second hand on amazon)

Sony DSLR-A200K 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera + Zoom Lens Kit (18-70 mm F3.5-5.6)

Canon EOS 400D Digital SLR Camera (incl. EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens Kit)

Nikon D60 Digital SLR Camera - Black (AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR)

My mate says I should stay away from the Sony as lenses/software are expensive and the Nikon is just a little more than I wanted to pay.

What do you guys think?

glsammy · #2 (**permalink**) 17-02-2011, 10:32 PM

Sorry I had to laugh a bit at this one. To suggest Sony lenses are expensive and the others aren't?

Fancy a new Canon 300mm lens? Retails around £7,400..

Or how about a nice new 500mm? Got a spare £9,000 to throw away? Admittedly these are their top of the range lenses and there's plenty of more affordable ones around.
The only problem is that once your into the DSLR system, you always know there's a better lens than the one your using and that nags and nags at you until you've sold the kids, put the Mrs. out on the game, re-mortgaged the house and then finally got the lens you've lusted after for years, only to find the darn things too heavy so you never use it.

Now back to reality!
The main advantage of the Canon and Nikon is the huge range of lenses available. There's not many bad camera bodies around these days. Read up on the basic specs that may interest you and I'll bet they'll all offer them.

~T~ · #3 (**permalink**) 17-02-2011, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glsammy

Sorry I had to laugh a bit at this one. To suggest Sony lenses are expensive and the others aren't?

Fancy a new Canon 300mm lens? Retails around £7,400..

Or how about a nice new 500mm? Got a spare £9,000 to throw away? Admittedly these are their top of the range lenses and there's plenty of more affordable ones around.
The only problem is that once your into the DSLR system, you always know there's a better lens than the one your using and that nags and nags at you until you've sold the kids, put the Mrs. out on the game, re-mortgaged the house and then finally got the lens you've lusted after for years, only to find the darn things too heavy so you never use it.

Now back to reality!
The main advantage of the Canon and Nikon is the huge range of lenses available. There's not many bad camera bodies around these days. Read up on the basic specs that may interest you and I'll bet they'll all offer them.

Thanks as you can tell im a complete novice so im only going on what I've been told as I don't know any better. My mate has a little more experience but it makes sense most bodies are about the same per price range. I probably should have said for now I'm happy using it for just general use as my old compact digi is on it's last legs so I'm not interested in long range/super macro lenses just yet.

marvin · #4 (**permalink**) 18-02-2011, 07:32 AM

hi

i doubt there's much in it really so if you can get your hands on one of each to test how they 'feel' that may be the best way of deciding.

the d60 is a very popular and well respected entry level camera. the fact that you want it with the newer 18-55mm with vr, which gets pretty good reviews for a 'kit lens', makes a difference too. it might be worth waiting for an opinion from a canon user about their 18-55mm as some of the earlier kit lenses of most brands were a bit dodgy. if you can get a d40x cheaper than the d60 you probably won't notice any difference despite it being an earlier model, and that might save you enough for the lens.

good luck
tim

nightshade · #5 (**permalink**) 18-02-2011, 08:00 AM

I reckon buy a body only Canon or Nikon then buy a really good lense that will cover all you want to do. My ideal would be an impossible 18-200 2.8

.
In the real world, an nikon 18-70 with a 70-200 sigma or the sigma 70-300apo. I also fancy an 18-70 nikon and a Sigma 150 macro or even the 180 macro. Having probably confused you even more just remember you do not have to buy everything at once. Most entry level camera bodies are very good nowadays read reviews, the important bit really is the lense

~T~ · #6 (**permalink**) 18-02-2011, 08:14 AM

Thanks guys I think that's what I'll probably do and buy the nikon or canon body and once I've got to grips with it get a lens. Actually the canon will probably sway it as I can borrow my mates lenses.

Cheers

Endrick · #7 (**permalink**) 18-02-2011, 08:23 AM

The Nikon D40 is a really great camera - very small and lightweight and takes pictures that will match any. It was out before the D60 and was still in production after it's successors - the d40X and D60 - came and went. That says something!

It is one of the 3 Nikon camera bodies that I have and the oldest and cheapest. It is also probably the most used. If I am going hillwalking or a ramble off up some river it's the D40 and the 18-200 that gets grabbed. For whatever reason I always seem to get consistently better pictures with this camera than I do with the D90 in poor light. I don't know why.

nightshade · #8 (**permalink**) 18-02-2011, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ~T~

Thanks guys I think that's what I'll probably do and buy the nikon or canon body and once I've got to grips with it get a lens. Actually the canon will probably sway it as I can borrow my mates lenses.

Cheers

Now that is using your head, pinch your mates lenses! by the way what wildlife are you interested in? you never said.

Stevio125 · #9 (**permalink**) 18-02-2011, 11:31 AM

I know its kinda already been said but you are buying into a system when you buy a DSLR so once your in its very expensice to change, I own a nikon and my first was the D60 its a great camera, trouble is I need a long lens for what I shoot so the canons are probably a better bet as they have a bigger crop factor and (I think) more affordable quality lenses.
Great thing with nikon is the compatability of the lenses I've picked up some really cheap glass from ebay, I'd stay away from the sony as the ISO noise looks a bit of a shocker from what I've seen.
Free lenses from a friend seems like a great option!!!!!!!!!

Geoff F · #10 (**permalink**) 18-02-2011, 07:19 PM

Buying for the body then adding some better wildlife type lenses when you can afford them certainly makes sense. But the chances are that any secondhand camera will also come with some sort of basic lens which may work perfectly well as a general purpose starter lens.

And as part of a secondhand deal you probably won't be paying much extra for that lens compared with purchasing just a body.