New to photography. Opinion on a good camera for me??

[bl42ed0]

Hi I have just recently become interested in photography and would love my own dslr however I don't know which one would be best for me and what lens. I was looking at the 550d, 50d, d90, d7000, and the slt-a55. Don't really shoot much fast action. I mainly want to use it for landscapes, close-ups of people, and macro shots. I don't know what other information I need to provide in order to get good feedback so let me know! Thanks in advance for the help.

Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk

[gstark]

Hi and welcome.

First off, a bit of housekeeping: Please put a meaningful location into your profile. Please refer to the section in pink just above the post on this page for further details. It's a requirement of membership, and it really helps us to help you.

On your choices, what is your budget? Although this may sound counter intuitive, as you buy into DSLRs, you major investment will, in the end, be in the glass, rather than the body. BAsically, you buy the best glass that you can, and upgrade your bodies as your skill level grows.

That said, and as a starter-outerer, any of the bodies (or kits) from Canon or Nikon will let you shoot good images right from the start.

Step one for you would be to wander in to a store, and have play with all of the contenders. What's important - vital, in fact - is how each camera feels in your hands. Forget the sales person, and forget the bullshit. You are the person who will be using the camera, and more comfy it is in your hands, the better off you'll be.

In your list, you mentioned the D90, but not the D3100. The D90 is being replaced by the D7000. If you can secure a great deal on a D90, it's an awesome camera. That said, at the entry level, the new D3100 leaves everything in its category in the dust, and the D7000 will do the same at the next level, provided Nikon Australia don't screw up on the pricing.

[bl42ed0]

Sorry, I didn't know about the location thing. I have been inside a few stores to test some out and I must admit, it is daunting with my limited knowledge of DSLRs. I did not know what to look for when I held it in my hand.

I looked into the D3100 and it looks like something I would be interested in. My budget right now would be approximately 1000USD. I think I may just decide between the D3100 or the 550d. I am assuming Sony's Slt-A55 is out of the question? Thanks for the help.

Also, what are the differences between Canon and Nikon lenses in general?

[DebT]

Hi, welcome to the forum, there is an age old debate in the Nikon vs Canon argument but suggest it's a bit like Ford vs Holden - personal opinion. Both are excellent, and both have different grades of both bodies and lens (glass and build quality) , and you will find parallel models with the same functionality in the same price range.
When I first started out I knew what I wanted to take photos of, researched both brands on internet comparison review forums (eg Fred Miranda but there are hundreds) narrowed it down on tech specs, went in to a couple of shops to feel them (yes they are different in the hand and it's an individual thing). There was just too much info and it was all too confusing so I chose what felt best, then shopped around for best price and deal going at the time.

Without seeming to be rude $1000 isn't going to get a lot (you are entering what can be a very expensive pursuit of perfection) but by buying the best quality you can afford and looking after it well you can trade in and upgrade lens's as you learn more about what you want to achieve, then upgrade bodies as more money becomes available. A good lens may be for ever but bodies change quite dramatically over time. There is nothing wrong with buying the 'last years' model as it may be better value for money (will still have more functionality than you will use most of the time) and remember you may not want HD video, you may also be better with just one good lens to start.

Any camera is going to provide a great 'snapshot' prints (on Auto settings ie sport, poitrait, landscape etc) , but look for 'manual' options (Appeture Priority, Time or Shutter Priority, Program mode etc) as this will provide the tool for a great learning experience and open the creative side of capturing images.
You wont go wrong with either brand, just read the manual, play with all the options and get to know what it can do really well ..most of all have fun
DebT

[Mr Darcy]

Hi and welcome.
The Sony may be a good camera, but most people here do not have any experience with it. It is not a DSLR per se.
By their own terminology, it is a DLT.

As others have said, choosing a camera is a very personal thing. It needs to suit you. If the Sony is that camera, then by all means get it. And let us know how it goes over time. While it may not be a DSLR, it is close & we would welcome a member having one. Hell, I have a Panasonic LX5, which does not even have an interchangeable lens system. It does not stop me from posting pictures from it here.

That all said, there are reasons I would be wary of it:
1. The mirror remains in the light path even when taking pictures. This is an extra piece of glass to introduce distortion, collect dust etc. It also reduces the the amount of light reaching the sensor. This must reduce it's capability in low light. By a massive 30%! even when sparkling clean.

2. Because it is a non standard format, you are limited to Sony lenses. I suspect third parties will not be quick to jump on this bandwagon. With Nikon, I can use Nikon amateur grade, Nikon Pro grade, Sigma, Tokina and Zeiss lenses all on my obsolete D70 body. Any lens I buy for the Nikon system, will work on it. It will also work on the D800 which hasn't even been released yet. If it even in the pipeline. If it is I remain confident it will use any lens made by or for Nikon in the last 50 years. (There are a few exceptions here, but not many). The same claim can be made for Canon and Pentax. Though in their cases, the backwards compatibility is not quite as good.

3. Sony have a long history of innovation. While this can be a good thing, they also have a history of testing their innovations in the market place. Fine if it works, like CD and Blu-Ray. Not so good if you bought into Beta, DAT or Minidisc. Sometimes their innovations are purely to lock you into their brand. MemoryStick, and their proprietary flash hotshoe are examples here. So if the product does NOT take off, even Sony will abandon it , and you will have a working system that you will no longer be able to expand. Try to buy a Beta tape today. Or a Minidisc. I bought into both, and ended up throwing both away. If I had bought VHS in 1980, I would still be able to play the tapes I recorded then now.

4. There is no upgrade path. If you get heavily into photography, and grow beyond what Sony offers, you will have to throw away your investment, and start again with another system, learning its idiosymcracies as you do.

[Mr Darcy]

I did not know what to look for when I held it in my hand.

Does it feel "right". Does the way the controls are laid out make sense to you. Is it comfortable
For me, I love the way Nikons fit my hand. I like where the front and back control wheels are when I go to use them. These, for me are the controls I use most. I also like the way the power switch is right at the shutter button, in a way that can't be bumped accidentally.

I know people, though, who find Nikons confusing, but who find Canon bodies just right.

Also, what are the differences between Canon and Nikon lenses in general?

Different Colour. This can be a real issue in, for example, wildlife photography.
Different Mounting system. You can't put a Canon Lens on a Nikon Body and vice versa (Yes I know there are adapters to fit Nikon Lenses on Canon Bodies, but why would you?)
Apart from that, not much from a user perspective. Sometimes one has the "Best" lens, sometimes the other has it. There is nearly always an equivalent lens in the other camp. If not in the brand, then in a third party offering.

[biggerry]

Please refer to the section in pink just above the post on this page for further details

Sorry, I didn't know about the location thing.

Gary, something to be aware of and this thread has probably highlighted the issue - if you sign up to the forum (or any other forum using the same soft) using tapatalk and start browsing you do not see the 'pink' bits. Whilst you need to complete your registration by activating via the emailed link you are by no means guaranteed to see the 'pink' bits or for that matter ever see the FAQ's.

[33eji]

I am new too, asked many friends, they told me to buy 550d, I bought it, quite good for me;]

[Mr Darcy]

I am new too, asked many friends, they told me to buy 550d, I bought it, quite good for me;]

I thought you had already been advised of this:

Please ensure that you have a meaningful location included in your profile. Please refer to the FAQ for details of what "meaningful" is.