Chicken bald back

[Mr Rhode Island Red]

hi everybody.

 

I have been thinking about upgrading my camera for a while and I have been looking around for advice for a while regarding which one to get. I currently have a bridge camera (in between a compact and a DSLR), a Fujifilm Finepix S1730, pictured

 

http://img.dooyoo.co.uk/GB_EN/orig/0/8/0/1/2/801256.jpg

 

I've had it the past 5 years and have taken about 6,000 or so photos with it. It has served me well, but I feel like it's time for an upgrade.

 

SO, calling any photographers on here for their DSLR recommendations. I would hope to spend around €500 (approx £450) but I would be willing to pay a bit more if needs be. I have talked to a few people, looked at a few photography websites, and it seems to be between Canon and Nikon. I have been told about their various strengths and weaknesses and to be honest I'm more confused than when I started out.

 

I have seen a few cameras I like but I won't mention them now to avoid bias

 

Your recommendations?

[karlotta]

I shoot with Canon and have done for about 7 years - I started with a Canon 400D and it served me well before I later moved up to a 40D and now a 7D (with a 60D as a backup).

 

I also shoot with Canon at work - I"m one of two photographers for a craft magazine and write their regular photography feature.

 

At your budget I'd heartily recommend a 600D - great processor and would serve you well. You'd need to stretch the budget to go for the newest version (650D).

 

I would recommend visiting a real shop though as they can vary significantly in size. You may find the 60D size a better fit as they are a bit larger, but this would be out of your budget, but you may be able to pick up a second hand 50D.

 

My friend and colleague shoots with Nikon though and quite frankly any modern DSLR will do the job. The layout of the buttons may swing the vote, again go along to a shop and try them out. I can't get on with Nikon, it always feels to me like everything is in the wrong place! But you may feel differently.

[chuckmum6]

I went for a Nikon D3200, either a Nikon or Canon are really good DSLR, I do have a Sony nex which is also v good too.

[Mr Rhode Island Red]

As a matter of fact...the d3200 was one of the cameras that caught my eye. Do you think the kit lens is good?

[kissinuk]

Personally I'm a Canon man, I'd recommend the new EOS 700D, or if that's out of your range the slightly older 650 or 600D. I have a 500D and collection of 4 lenses, I'm very much a beginner to dslr's, but here's some of my favourite photos from this year:

 

HDR photo, anyone know where I took it?

 

50mm prime lens (really recommend one for blurring backgrounds)

 

'Super moon' from few weeks ago

 

50mm lens again

[Angie]

I bought my OH the 3200 for Christmas and he just loves it. Has a good photo shop on the computer and it keeps him occupied for hours.

When he's been home on leave the camera comes with him. ( he always was a keen photographer and when his pentax died he was a bit miserable, he bought a point and shoot digital but was never happy with the final photo , it took me ages to save for the new camera, got to keep him happy.)

[chuckmum6]

The lens kit seems fine to me, but read a few reviews, I went with Nikon because it just had slight edge on canon in the write ups. I would really suggest going into a store to hold the cameras the feel is really important.

[Mr Rhode Island Red]

Thanks for all the advice everybody. I was told that canon change their lens mounts every 10 years or so, is this true? Does this mean that if i were to buy a canon, and aquire a few lenses, and then update to a new canon camera body in, say, 10 years, would my collection of lenses be useless? Would i have to buy new ones?

 

I was told this by a nikon fan so i understand it could be biased, but he said that nikon havent changed their lens mounts in ages, meaning nikon lenses from 25 years ago can be used with the nikon dslr's of today

 

True or false?

[karlotta]

Canon introduced the ef mount in 87. I think it's highly unlikely they'd change again!

[kissinuk]

Canon introduced EF-S in 2003, but they are backwards compatible with EF. EF-S lenses wouldn't work with a full frame Canon camera (the very expensive models), if you have no plans to go full frame I wouldn't worry.

 

I have a mix of EF and EF-S lenses and have had no problems.

[Mr Rhode Island Red]

thanks for settling the compatibility matter

 

Sorry to be asking so many questions, but I was wondering if lenses are costly. Do I have to buy specific lenses for specific types of photographs, or is there such a thing as a all-in-one, suitable for both sunsets and landscape shots, as well as close ups of my chickens and portrait shots?

 

Back to the price of lenses, will I end up paying the price of the camera body (or twice the price) again on lenses? I know this sounds really stupid and vague, but which lens is best?

 

Thanks for all your advice so far

[kissinuk]

Yes, lenses can be very expensive, but depends what you are looking for, you can still get great photos with the kit lens. I have the following (in order of purchase, non of them are pro lenses):

 

18-55 (kit lens)

55-250 - great 2nd lens, cost around £140

50mm 1.8 - great for portraits & blurring backgrounds, £80

12-20 Sigma wide angle - my latest lens, takes some great shots, cost around £250

 

The kit lens is great to start with, but bear in mind that at 55mm looking through the view finder is about 'life size'. Thats why I got my 55-250 shortly afterwards (used in lots of KISS concerts/press conferences etc).

 

I used to be put off by having to carry everything around with me, but doesn't bother me now, I can fit everything in 1 camera bag.

[majorbloodnock]

Resurrecting this thread, @Mr Rhode Island Red, did you end up buying a camera? If so, what did you get?

[Mr Rhode Island Red]

Sorry guys, haven't been on the forum for a while...

 

In the end I went with the Nikon D60 with an 18-55 kit lens. I saw it on Donedeal (classifieds website) as an unwanted present as new still in its box for €220 along with a very good camera bag thrown in for free.

 

It takes great photos compared to the Fuji I had. Only irritation is that I soon developed a yearn for a bit more zoom for the likes of wild bird and nature. So I'm currently researching long lenses, with my eye on the 55-200mm.

 

Here's an example of one I took in November:

https://www.dropbox.com/sc/p057c1p6sl6y1k3/wsHmyCrNhx

[majorbloodnock]

Unfortunately, I got an error from your link, so couldn't see your photo. Never mind.

 

I also got a DSLR around the same time as you, but went for a Nikon. As with yours, it has an 18-55 kit lens, but I also bought a 55-300 zoom at the same time. I'd heartily recommend that extra zoom, since I've found the ability to get close-up vignettes of relatively distant things has made for some really interesting shots (IMHO, of course).

 

If you want an idea of what it's been allowing me to achieve, you can have a shufty at http://www.flickr.com/photos/107589868@N08/. And if you ever get set up with a Flickr or similar account, I'd love to see some of your wildlife shots.

[majorbloodnock]

Hi, Scrambled

 

I was considering the D3200, but ended up going for the D5100, mainly for the adjustable screen. I usually use the viewfinder, but if I'm not as flexible as I once was (too many pies) so if I want to get a weird angle then the ability to use the screen is good. It was a toss-up whether to have more pixels or the screen, and the screen won.