Hey forum!
I'm getting a new camera for Christmas and still need to decide which brand and model to go with.
As I do plan on vlogging my worldly adventures over the next few years it must be able to take HD video.
I am looking for an entry level DSLR (full body camera) that is 10 megapixels and up. Other than those requirements, it just needs to be affordable.
I have been looking at the Sony Alpha series and the Canon Rebel series, but any other suggestions would be appreciated too!
Now I know there are some talented photographers here and also some people who are just generally tech savvy, so please help a spacefoxy out!
Lots of love,
Dionne
:-3
I have a Sony Alpha and have been shooting with it for a couple years. It is great quality and value for the average consumer. The big criticism with sony is a "lack of lenses" I think this is a non issue personally, because there are plenty for the amateur, Canon and Nikon just dominate the high end market.
Also virtually all old Minolta lenses are compatible with the Sony Alpha, and you can get some for a steal. I've had luck with kijiji
I've got an Alpha as well, a few years old, but it's done me rather well. I went with the Sony because I could use my Minolta lenses. It's a good camera, but I'll admit to the autofocus system on mine being a bit tetchy at times when I'm trying to get moving objects or pictures with lots of depth. You can see the quality of shots in my Flickr account (in my sig). I can pull a shot from the camera and print it at 8x10 with great quality.
I'd go with one of the newer, upper-end models if you were to choose. Sony's doing some work on expanding its lens line, too. This one (http://wearehq.com/2010/05/sony-to-release-500mm-f4-super-telephoto-lens/) has a lot of the rich birders hyperventilating, for example. There are other manufacturers building for the Sony mount as well, so there's options out there.
I like my Olympus E-1, though I've never used their entry-level stuff. I've heard good things.
In terms of attendant systems Canon and Nikon have the best selection of lenses and such. Canon a bit moreso, but Nikon's interfaces are better, I think.
I've been seriously considering getting a Nikon D3100. It's gotten strong reviews and from the times I've gotten to look at one in the store, it seems quite comfortable and easy to manage and use.
I'd have to say anything with Nikon in its name is likely a good bet for a long lasting, high-quality camera. Their SLRs are top-notch, and if that is out of your price range they have a whole line of 'SLR like' models that are on-par with anything I have used at the same price range by other manufacturers. Only downside I can say to their cameras is that they tend to be bulky, if your looking for something to hobby photography, its a great choice, but if your looking for a point and shoot to keep in your purse/pocket and take pictures with your friends, they can be a little bulky and awkward looking. Great cameras.
As Ravenwood said, the D3100 is a beautiful camera, easy enough to use and powerful enough for darn near any need. :)
: Kell January 17, 2011, 05:11:48 -07:00Only downside I can say to their cameras is that they tend to be bulky, if your looking for something to hobby photography, its a great choice, but if your looking for a point and shoot to keep in your purse/pocket and take pictures with your friends, they can be a little bulky and awkward looking. Great cameras.
I think the Olympus and Panasonic Micro 4/3 cameras are well worth looking into if you want a readily-portable interchangeable-lens camera. I'm told the Panasonic 20/1.7 normal lens is nothing short of brilliant, and it's just a wee li'l thing.
I've considered getting into Micro 4/3 myself but I don't use my regular DSLR as often as I should.
Wow thanks for all the helpful information guys. (:
So I should definitely return this Samsung WB5500 'dslr-like' camera that I'm 'trying out' from Costco. Gotta love their 3 month return policy. (:
What about used DLSRs? Do they come with a lot of problems? What's the best camera hands down that I can get for under 800 bucks?
Costco has a Canon Rebel T1I that comes with two lenses.. I can't remember which ones... For 800 right now.
having given up on my dreams (mostly because cameras are too pricy, school even more so, and food costs money) of doing photography for a living a year or so ago... I'm not really up to date and fresh in cameras in general anymore...
However, as well as my history of love with Nikon, I must say that the Canon Rebel has always done me, and my friends, well.
I happen to like the canon DSLR (digital SLR) has good features and software, mine is the old D10 classed as a pro-sumer camera, I understand the canon digital rebel is a very good consumer model. I haven't really checked it out that much, I will be buying the newer pro-sumer model from canon in the near future, buy hey I'm bias towards canon ever since I bought my canon elan 7 35mm film camera years ago. I still have it and still use it and yay the lenses are interchangeable with my digital.
: Master Coal February 01, 2011, 10:58:03 -07:00
I happen to like the canon DSLR (digital SLR) has good features and software, mine is the old D10 classed as a pro-sumer camera, I understand the canon digital rebel is a very good consumer model. I haven't really checked it out that much, I will be buying the newer pro-sumer model from canon in the near future, buy hey I'm bias towards canon ever since I bought my canon elan 7 35mm film camera years ago. I still have it and still use it and yay the lenses are interchangeable with my digital.
I almost bought an Elan 7 back in the day. :) Ended up going Minolta with a Maxxum 5 and a Maxxum 9xi, though.
ahhh, the minolta, they had some nice cameras as did maranda. I think I still have my dad's old kodak bellows camera, 120 film if I recall. The old days when you didn't have all the bells and whistles, I miss them sometimes, well come to think about it, not really, film ripping, light leaks having your film jam, eh
My aunt's a professional photographer, I think her home use camera is an Olympus. I'll check with her and get back to you, :3 I know she swears by them for point-and-shoot, because their stylus line is pretty damage resistant.
: Master Coal February 01, 2011, 03:23:12 -07:00
ahhh, the minolta, they had some nice cameras as did maranda. I think I still have my dad's old kodak bellows camera, 120 film if I recall. The old days when you didn't have all the bells and whistles, I miss them sometimes, well come to think about it, not really, film ripping, light leaks having your film jam, eh
Yeah, I have a Mamiya Standard 23 (6x7 rangefinder) press camera that takes 120 film; I've gotten some nifty pictures with it, but I had to redo the seals on the back and I think I put a little too much foam in because I've had it pop open. Might be a little better now that it's sat closed for a while and had a chance to pack them down, though; I should drag it out again one of these days.
Probably the main reason I don't use it is because scanning 120 film at any kind of quality level would be stupidly expensive. I do have a certain interest in MF, though, and I've considered something like a Mamiya 645 or RZ67, but I have several other higher priorities at the moment.