The Camera Thread

Mr Yoshi wrote:
Carlos wrote:
Father Yoshimas wrote:Going to invest in a Nikon D60 SLR in the next week or so.

Anyone had any experience with one of these before? I've heard quite good things, and the price is good.

The main difference between Canon and Nikon SLRs (at least at the consumer end of the market) is that Nikon make better kit lenses but Canon do better bodies. If you plan on buying extra lenses at any point id try to find a Canon 1000D (Currently £329 w/£30 cb in most places, £322 at John Lewis Sheffield) or a 450D (£449 w/£50 cb, currently £433 at JLS) but if its the camera on its own out of the box you're after then go for the D60, as the kit lens is better (although only a 3pt autofocus. The 450Ds 9pt does produce better shots).

Ive got some comparison photographs at work taken with all the above cameras on a standard 'auto' ISO setting at 2" shutter. The 450D does look better, with much less bloom issues on lighting (all my test shots are taken of sheffield city centre at night, from our car park roof)

If its the camera on its own your after you might want to try the Sony A200 (currently cheaper than the D60) as thats a damn fine camera)

Thanks for the help - I'm a SLR newbie, but want to try and learn as much as I possibly can. I would like to get more lenses over time, so the Canon's sound great. Is it worth it spending the extra cash and getting the 450D?

Yes. Aside from the Metal Body, greater resolution and larger display it has the same image processor as the 40D, making it a hell of an improvement. Not a fan of the 1000D: for the money the Sony A200 or D60 are better cameras. The 450D pwns the consumer end of the SLR market.

I'm here like I promised Carlos :lol:

Long story short, avoid the Sonys. Please. They are utter gooseberry fool. Actually I lie, they aren't utter gooseberry fool. Again, it's the case of the competition being so much better in the same price range, that Sonys offerings are rendered useless. The Canon and Nikon both outclass the Sony by so much.

Problems with the Sony DSLR and any other Sony camera, crap sensors, lots of noise on the picture compared to Canon and Nikon, and a basic user interface.

I'd say go for the Canon 450D. It's got a really gooseberry fool lens kit, but since you're going to buy more lenses, you can get the red rimmed or the gold rimmed Canon lenses which cost a fortune :lol:

The Nikon kits come with...mmmm, I'd have to say with much better kit lenses. I wish I could afford the Nikon D90 kit, but it's the choice between the D90 and a new gaming PC with a brand new monitor. It's a tough choice.

I would get the 450D but the Nikon has a sturdy body design, and feels right for my much smaller hands. Btw I wouldn't touch the D40, or D60 at all. There shouldn't be such a thing as an entry level SLR. It's a con, if you use a compact digital camera, it has many of the main features just dumbed down for you to learn what ISO, shutter speed and metering does. They even come with a manual. If you buy a DSLR, buy something good, you'll get all the best features that your money can buy and you'll learn how to use it. An 'entry level' DSLR is just way too much of a con.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nikon-D40-Digit ... 581&sr=8-1

Do want.

I've been thinking about getting into DSLR photography, this doesn't seem 'too' hardcore, price wise at least.

I would recommend waiting until the Summer to get into photography. I keep meaning to take my Dad's D80 out but it's just grey skies and damp at the moment, not much photography material there. In the summer you get more animals, better landscapes, sunsets and if you're like me you're more motivated.

Dodems wrote:I would recommend waiting until the Summer to get into photography. I keep meaning to take my Dad's D80 out but it's just grey skies and damp at the moment, not much photography material there. In the summer you get more animals, better landscapes, sunsets and if you're like me you're more motivated.

Duuuuude. Take that D80, check what lenses he has, but definitely start snapping now so you get used to the camera for when the good weather comes out. In the least you'll learn how to fiddle with settings to get the best results over this weather.

Also Fatal, do you want a proper DSLR or are you looking at that DSLR to mess about, get bored, put it away and pine after a real DSLR and then finally spend more money on a better DSLR? Seriously, if you want a DSLR go for a good one from the start. The Nikon D40 is decent, but my god, you really want the D40? 6 Megapixels for a DSLR, or anything that has DSLR on it is just wrong. It just screams "my first DSLR".

It is his first DSLR!

If the weather is bad try doing a bit of still life photography indoors. Try a bit of light painting: Set up a subject (Hot girl/fruit/flowers etc) in a room that is pitch black at night, set your camera up in front of it on a tripod and put it on its longest exposure possible. Then after pressing the shutter button use a torch to 'paint' beams of light over the subject matter. Explore different movements like an interpretive dancer. A large subject is better for this exercise, as well as a narrow beam torch (maglites work well)

$ilva $hadow wrote:
Dodems wrote:I would recommend waiting until the Summer to get into photography. I keep meaning to take my Dad's D80 out but it's just grey skies and damp at the moment, not much photography material there. In the summer you get more animals, better landscapes, sunsets and if you're like me you're more motivated.

Duuuuude. Take that D80, check what lenses he has, but definitely start snapping now so you get used to the camera for when the good weather comes out. In the least you'll learn how to fiddle with settings to get the best results over this weather.

I've tried a few times. The main problem I get is that it wont take pictures in certain conditions, if it's anything near a macro or if there's nothing to focus on (I tried using the moon) nothing happens, I don't know why it does it either. I don't know what lens it is, it's not a stock one, it's got some dials and stuff on it and looks kind of like this

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nikon-50mm-1-4D ... _208_2_img

but longer.

I should try again soon.

Carlos wrote:It is his first DSLR!

If the weather is bad try doing a bit of still life photography indoors. Try a bit of light painting: Set up a subject (Hot girl/fruit/flowers etc) in a room that is pitch black at night, set your camera up in front of it on a tripod and put it on its longest exposure possible. Then after pressing the shutter button use a torch to 'paint' beams of light over the subject matter. Explore different movements like an interpretive dancer. A large subject is better for this exercise, as well as a narrow beam torch (maglites work well)

I'm of the opinion that going for a basic DSLR is just crap, even for a beginner. They're going to upgrade and the only thing a cheap lower range DSLR is limit the results, limit the functions and restrict your learning. You may as well get a good DSLR, and learn all there is about the camera that way.

I have a DSLR Nikon D80 with 4 lens totalling over £2,500!! :fp:

and I lugged every one of those strawberry floaters to Australia and Fiji.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sefi_dakar

TigaSefi will testify to how great the D80 is.

I've been burned in the past buying a camera I thought I'd use to learn stuff. A good camera, but limited in features, it's not hard to learn the features, about the ISO, white balance, exposure and all that. Once you've learn that you want to be more flexible with the lenses and the extra features a proper DSLR offers. If you go for a budget or low end DSLR prepare to be disappointed when you feel limited by what you have.

Again, a purchase of a DSLR is like an investment, there's no point in getting a gooseberry fool one. If you want a DSLR get a good one and work with it. If you want a low end DSLR and have no reason to upgrade later and just want it to learn some minor things just get a compact digital camera like an IXUS.

I feel bad for asking this question now seeing what you guys are talking about but basically looking for a good digitial camera for £100 or under

Any recommendations?

F-Heonix wrote:I feel bad for asking this question now seeing what you guys are talking about but basically looking for a good digitial camera for £100 or under

Any recommendations?

Have a look at the Canon Ixus range. I've seen them going for about £80 online if you shop around. I really want one but can't afford it

.

eclectic wrote:
F-Heonix wrote:I feel bad for asking this question now seeing what you guys are talking about but basically looking for a good digitial camera for £100 or under

Any recommendations?

Have a look at the Canon Ixus range. I've seen them going for about £80 online if you shop around. I really want one but can't afford it .

Anything I should be looking out for? Optical is better than digitial, right? :shifty:

F-Heonix wrote:
eclectic wrote:
F-Heonix wrote:I feel bad for asking this question now seeing what you guys are talking about but basically looking for a good digitial camera for £100 or under

Any recommendations?

Have a look at the Canon Ixus range. I've seen them going for about £80 online if you shop around. I really want one but can't afford it .

Anything I should be looking out for? Optical is better than digitial, right?

Yeah, Digital Zoom just scales the picture, making the quality worse.

Alpha eX wrote:
F-Heonix wrote:
eclectic wrote:
F-Heonix wrote:I feel bad for asking this question now seeing what you guys are talking about but basically looking for a good digitial camera for £100 or under

Any recommendations?

Have a look at the Canon Ixus range. I've seen them going for about £80 online if you shop around. I really want one but can't afford it .

Anything I should be looking out for? Optical is better than digitial, right?

Yeah, Digital Zoom just scales the picture, making the quality worse.

Yes and IIRC you can get an Ixus with optical zoom.

Yeah, go for an Ixus if you can. I have a 75 and it's great, took some photos I didn't think a point and shoot could do with it, probably some in the Photography thread in Creative Corner if you want some examples. And mine's an old model.

Wait until you see the IXUS 100. Teh sex, she is. Wonderfully thin like the exilim models from casio.

I need a really good compact, one that's decent for taking photos at gigs, any suggestions?

Alpha eX wrote:I need a really good compact, one that's decent for taking photos at gigs, any suggestions?

A Fuji finepix FX100 has tremendous low light capabilities.

Carlos wrote:Wait until you see the IXUS 100. Teh sex, she is. Wonderfully thin like the exilim models from casio.

Googles....you're not kidding, she's anorexic!

The Camera Thread

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