starter DSLR?

[benvh]

We celebrated Christmas with the in-laws this year. My father-in-law brought his DSLR, a Canon EOS 5D Mark III. It was amazing the pictures he could take (no wonder, I looked up the price later). We have a 6 month old and he is super active. Our Canon Power Shot 300HS does an ok job, but lots of blurry pictures as he never sits still. I'm no professional photographer but I'm interested in getting better. Is there anything out there that would give me better pictures, be decent to learn on and still work well when I'm a bit better? Love to hear some suggestions.

Thanks guys.

 

[Lesmore]

I use Pentax DSLR equipment. I have a K10D, K-m and a K-5. The upper end Pentax cameras are very rugged (magnesium alloy bodies) and weather sealed and the lenses particularly the star and Limited are very highly rated. I also have Canon equipment.

What I would suggest for you is to investigate the basic Canon DSLR. Right now with Boxing week sales you'll probably get a good deal, maybe with a couple of kit lenses.

I'm suggesting Canon DSLR, as your FIL with his 5D3 is obviously an experienced photographer and I'm assuming could be an excellent coach for you. By sticking with Canon ...the same make as you have...he will be more familiar with this brand.

I would also go to a camera store....not a big box place...as my experience is that the workers at the camera shops know more about cameras. I know camera shops in Canada will match best prices and if you have questions...they will provide answers...if they're like the clerks in Canada....which I'm sure they are.

Also mention the type of photos you want to take....ie; of your very active child and that you wan to avoid blurry photo's....taken by the sounds of it indoors. Ask about the best Canon flash (I have a Canon 430 EX 11) for your purposes and what camera could take pix of your fast moving child using available light.

Ask the staff....what DSLR would work best for your photo purposes and needs.

Also don't forget lenses. DSLR camera are built to interchange lenses. A good starter lens are the kit lenses. They are cheaper, often come with a camera package. Usually makes like Canon, Pentax, Nikon come with an 18-55...which is a moderate wide angle (18) to normal (55) zoom and that should cover a lot of your needs.

 

[legrandfromage]

I am partial to Pentax gear; I think that they give the most "bang for the buck" and much prefer the ergonomics/handling to Canon equipment. Go into B&H or Adorama and handle the cameras that you are interested in. Any of the major brands will give you good results once you get up to speed. If you get a camera that is uncomfortable to handle and use, then you won't get the most out of it.

 

[Lesmore]

I am partial to Pentax gear; I think that they give the most "bang for the buck" and much prefer the ergonomics/handling to Canon equipment. Go into B&H or Adorama and handle the cameras that you are interested in. Any of the major brands will give you good results once you get up to speed. If you get a camera that is uncomfortable to handle and use, then you won't get the most out of it.

I agree. I prefer Pentax to the other brands.

 

[benvh]

Thanks for the info, gents. My first order of business is to see if my father-in-law still has his Canon EOS 50D. If so, it'll probably be a freebie. I just realized he must have recently gotten his new camera and he had his old one for a few years prior. If not, I live in NYC so a trip to B&H is easy.

Ben

 

[blary54]

Id go with Canon or Nikon. They, imo make some of the best glass. Pentax, Olympus and Sony good too...but Nikon and Canon have the largest selection of glass, accessories.

 

[lister]

I'd personally go with Canon as well, but probably like everyone else I'm partial to the brand I know and love. I reckon you can't go far wrong with Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Olympus or any of the major brands, it's often more about what feels comfortable but agree with Blary that with Canon and Nikon you're spoiled for choice lens and accessory-wise.

Just out of interest have you considered any of the 4/3 options? Have had a bit of fun with an Olympus and they are very compact with all the bells and whistles you'd expect from a regular DSLR.

Also worth remembering that if budget is a concern you are comparing a full frame DSLR in the 5D with what will likely be a cropped body in the cheaper models. It's not a bad thing but it will make a difference to the images you take/see.

 

[peteyj10]

Throw me in with the Pentax guys. I have a K20D. You can get one used for real cheap these days, and despite being a few years old, they still take great pictures by today's standards.

 

[jtb]

Keep in mind that once you get a brand you will most likely stick with it once you start getting lenses.

 

[nole1]

Keep in mind that once you get a brand you will most likely stick with it once you start getting lenses.

Very true and my current predicament. I have a Sony a35 thats about a year old that I got due to a combination of having the feature I was looking for and being able to get a great deal. It takes great pictures but I seem to enjoy my brothers Canon T3i much more. I think I will eventually switch to Canon so I'm reluctant to spend money on lenses I can't use with the different mount.

 

[Vickers]

Very true and my current predicament. I have a Sony a35 thats about a year old that I got due to a combination of having the feature I was looking for and being able to get a great deal. It takes great pictures but I seem to enjoy my brothers Canon T3i much more. I think I will eventually switch to Canon so I'm reluctant to spend money on lenses I can't use with the different mount.

You can use Minolta Maxxum lenses. They use the same mount.

I have picked up a few Minolta lenses to go with my Sony A230. There are a lot of bargains out there...I got a 50mm 1.7 off eBay for 40 bucks delivered. Made in Japan, sharp as a tack, looks like it was never used. As recently as yesterday I got a 28-80 zoom for 34 bucks.

Auto focus and everything. And since Sony has image stabilization in the body, you don't lose that functionality with the older lenses.

 

[Antares600]

I'd recommend a Nikon. It's all I've ever used.

 

[Bumgardner]

Any of the entry level DSLRs will be fine. I prefer Canon or Nikon, but Pentax, Olympus, and Sony all make fine cameras and lenses.

The best advice is to go to a camera store and handle a few different cameras and see what you like and what fits your budget. I have found that the entry level DSLR cameras have image quality when used with proper technique that is good enough for most users.

There are a lot of excellent resources about photography on the internet. Depending on what you want to shoot check out http://www.sportsshooter.com/, http://strobist.blogspot.com/ I could go on with more... I would also suggest that you buy "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson it is an excellent introduction to photography.

 

[Blooze]

Any of the entry level DSLRs will be fine. I prefer Canon or Nikon, but Pentax, Olympus, and Sony all make fine cameras and lenses.

The best advice is to go to a camera store and handle a few different cameras and see what you like and what fits your budget. I have found that the entry level DSLR cameras have image quality when used with proper technique that is good enough for most users.

+100. Handle them. Some will most likely "feel" better than others balance and size wise, not to mention layout of the buttons.

 

[Village Idiot]

The M43 cameras are nice, but they don't handle as well as a DSLR. I had an E-P3 I gave away and I have an 5D MKII that's my working camera. When I do paid events and shoots it's the 5D MKII that I take with me.

My other suggestion would be to skip the entry level cameras. Used prices have made DSLRs very affordable and you can pick up great deals on used mid level gear for an excellent price. Canon 7D's are being sold for as little as $700 on the used section of POTN, IIRC. Tell me that's not a steal for what that camera can do. 5D MKII's are going for about $1200 I think. I just bought a Canon XT for a girl I started dating a few months ago for Christmas. I paid $150 for it.

 

[ChiefWahoo]

If your F-i-L's "old" camera is a 50D, I think your decision is made. While each brand has their pluses (Sony gets you all the Minolta glass cheap as mentioned above, Pentax gets you great value for a weather sealed body and Nikon, right now, seems to be beating Canon in the low-end FF game IMO), the most important thing to me was access to lenses. My friends all had Canon already, so when someone offered me their 300D a couple years ago, I was happy to buy it. If your F-i-L has a MkIII, he's probably got beautiful glass you can borrow to learn what you need/don't need as well.

Fast (large) aperture can sometimes be better than a flash. If you wind up with a Canon, the 50mm f/1.8 is super glass for a hundred bucks. Grant, you'll lose some focus speed, so that may negate some of the aperture speed. But it might be easier on the wallet than a $400 flash. Or the built-in flash may be enough. (I have never used mine on either camera as I don't shoot indoors yet.)

Most important is to feel the camera. I have big hands and the current Canon Rebel series are too small for me to use without cramping. I bought a 40D for $300. (Now wishing I had seen a 7D for $700 as Village Idiot mentions above!) Some people find the larger bodies too big. So hold the camera. That's what you'll be doing the rest of the time you own it. Make sure it feels right.

 

[thebikingengineer]

Just make sure you get something with shutter speed priority. That will make a bigger difference with catching a mobile child than any fancy equipment. Any commercially available DSLR will work, but I get decent dog park shots (similar random action) with my S100 and a fast shutter. With that said, I like my Nikon equipment, but that's just me.

 

[desmoface]

+1. They are all good, canon, nikon, pentax, etc. Of those, the free one is the best, LOL.

If your F-i-L's "old" camera is a 50D, I think your decision is made.

I have an ole eos 10d that is a workhorse..still creates fantastic images. I think you could pound nails with that thing and not kill it. I recently made the move to micro 4/3 as the size/image quality ratio works in my favor. I'd jump on that 50d if I were you.

Steve

 

[Gary H]

I suggest a Canon T3 cheap and easy to learn with.

 

[Alacrity59]

You are making an investment so do some research so you don't feel disappointed when you find out the camera does not do "the neat thing" that you read about a month after you buy it. For instance my Nikon D5100 has a 1/200 flash sync whereas other cameras have a high speed sync or other features that emulate a high speed sync. Have I ever needed a high speed sync in my life . . . no . . . not until I started reading up on creative flash photography. I'm certain that 98% of photos I take even going forward will not be using more than a basic flash setup but I did feel a little let down. It was something I never thought of at all. Try to get a handle on FX (full frame) vs. DX (2/3 frame) for Nikons if you are going this direction. I'm happy with the trade off I made but any DX lenses I invest in will not move to a FX body. And there are good things with DX as well as bad so I should say I'm happy with my choice rather than compromise.

As far as output . . . It is all about getting to know your equipment buy using it and seeing results and trying again. I've read that the best of photographers save about 2 out of 10 photos and that is just the first cull.

I hope that helps a little. Oh . . . read reviews too.

Mike