Choosing a DSLR

[Jemima]

I am looking to buy a DSLR camera to take to University for my photography degree. This will be my first DSLR, I currently have a Kodak ZD710 (I think) however I am used to using a Canon 350/400 where I work at a photography studio although I do not have much experience with it.

My top budget is around £500 and I don't want a camera that I will outgrow quickly as I hope to learn quickly at Uni, on the same note the uni does lend out lenses and cameras which will be better than I can afford and will probably use those often, so the camera I buy will probably be for more personal use.

I prefer portrait phorography but will probably use the camera for a range of different subjects.

Finally, being a student it is unlikely that I will be able to find the money for future lenses and accessories after paying out for the camera itself.

[ap4a]

Have a look here: http://camerapricebuster.co.uk/

You can get a Canon 1000D body only for just on £300 from either Warehouse Express or Amazon, or get a 1000D + kit lens for a little over £350. That would leave enough for a 55-200mm to round of the kit as a starter.

Alternatively you can get a Nikon D3000 for around the same price - either body only or body + kit lens.

Depending on your style and preferences, the requirements of the course and so on, a low cost option would be either a 1000D + 50mm f/1.8ii - total cost approx. £370. Or, a 1000D + 35mm f/2 - total cost approx. £512. Having a single prime to work with can make you more involved in composing a shot, get you thinking more about composition and moving more in order to achieve that. For a 35mm lens on a 1000D the cropped field of view is close to that of a 50mm (standard) lens on a 35mm body; while the 50mm FOV is equal to 80mm. The 50mm is also a good, and cheap, starter portrait lens. You could then just borrow zooms, or other primes, from the college as needed.

[matt wilson]

I wonder whether it may be worth waiting until you are on the course.If you have access to equipment you will get a feel for things .The thing that attracted me to Canon for example was how the camera felt in the hand .The menu and whether it was intuitive .And software .

Image quality amongst the main players at any price bracket is going to be pretty similar .

Don't know whether it's still the case but a student union card can get you discounts.

Takes me back to the days of my first slr a Pentax K 100 film camera with 50 mm lens .(All manual I got it for Geography field trips)

[Jemima]

Thanks for your help have been looking att the Canon 1000D and 450D and Nikon D3000

Think I prefer Canons as first time I picked up a Nikon it felt alien to me! I would like to get the camera before I statr Uni so I can get to grips with it and get some experience.

I think my problem is Im not sure what Im supposed to be looking for, the tech specs go over my head a bit!

[matt wilson]

hard one both are well rated.


450 d has the following better than 1000 d as far as I can see .

1 .It's quicker burst rate art 3.5 shots a second .

2 Highlight tone priority .(prevents bright areas being burned out and over exposed )

3 Larger sensor .Meaning more detail is captured allowing you to crop an image more heavily.


you are looking at roughly £100 difference.I think as a first camera I would go for the 1000 d .and the £100 could then go on extra bits and bobs .Things like protective filters ,tripods ,and a case soon add up.


find a good store and pick them up and see what's right .Neither is a wrong choice by any means,

[matt wilson]

have a look here as it 's a pretty full review of the two cameras side by side

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneos1000d/