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Beginner DSLR, talk to me?
- Thread starter jamie.91
- Start date
Sunglasses_Ron
ClioSport Admin
I got one of these for Christmas mate. Great bit of kit and a superb starter camera.
Ay Ay Ron
ClioSport Club Member
Using a 35/50 mm prime will make you a better photographer imo. You will have to learn better composition rather than just zooming.
It's a good walk about lens (the 35mm will be a bit better on crop (like the cameras you are looking at) but both would be a very welcome addition to a camera bag.
I think the 50mm 1.8 was the second lens I bought and now the only original lens I have in my kit. The only way if get rid is if I was upgrading to the 1.4/1.2 version.
It's not just for portrait, you can shoot a lot with it but you have to think more about it that's all.
As for the camera, any would be a good starting one. Best thing to do is go to a shop where you can hold both and have a play with them. I couldn't get on with the setup of Nikon but that doesn't mean you won't.
Main thing, go out and use it. Look at Flickr for the type of images you want to get and then look at the setting used. Helps a lot when getting started. And read the stickies at the top of the photography section here.
It's a good walk about lens (the 35mm will be a bit better on crop (like the cameras you are looking at) but both would be a very welcome addition to a camera bag.
I think the 50mm 1.8 was the second lens I bought and now the only original lens I have in my kit. The only way if get rid is if I was upgrading to the 1.4/1.2 version.
It's not just for portrait, you can shoot a lot with it but you have to think more about it that's all.
As for the camera, any would be a good starting one. Best thing to do is go to a shop where you can hold both and have a play with them. I couldn't get on with the setup of Nikon but that doesn't mean you won't.
Main thing, go out and use it. Look at Flickr for the type of images you want to get and then look at the setting used. Helps a lot when getting started. And read the stickies at the top of the photography section here.
Go into curry's or wherever and play with them. When I got my first SLR I had two in mind (for my budget) and I went and used them both. Ended up with the Canon as it just felt nicer to use.
Chrisgti6
ClioSport Club Member
Too many
The I believe the D3300 uses the same sensor, it certainly the same size and MP count at least.
I bought the D3300 dual zoom kit before xmas, £319 with the cashback (which I received in less than 2 weeks). It's basic in the fact that it's not got WiFi, GPS, touch screen but in terms of picture quality etc it matches the D5300 & D5500.
http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/camera...-5-5-6g-telephoto-zoom-lens-10029673-pdt.html
Youtube has been great to get me up to speed with basic stuff, and I'm looking to learn much more in the coming months.
EDIT: Just realised that for that price I also got a Nikon bag, spare battery and lens cleaner. I can't see that on Currys site anymore though.
Last edited:
Fear not. You'll spend more money ...
Here's my stuff, (almost all of it) since I got my 450d back in about 2007 (!?)..
Here's my stuff, (almost all of it) since I got my 450d back in about 2007 (!?)..
Geddes
ClioSport Club Member
Fiesta Mk8 ST-3
17-40mm or there abouts would be a wide angle lens, if your wanting to do time lapse stuff you'll want a wide angle lens would be best but any lens will do the job. If your buying a body only best spending a few ££ getting a decent quality lens, the stock lens you get with the camera will get you going and the quality isn't that great. If your getting the Canon save up for a 'L' lens top spec they are.
Ay Ay Ron
ClioSport Club Member
No. Unless you are only going to use it for landscapes then get the kit lens that comes with the camera. It will be more than good enough for a walk around lens and for you to start with.
Wide angle. Cheap is a Sigma 10-20 for a crop body. Can get them for under £300. Wide enough with out the distortion of a fish eye lens. If you don't mind that then go for an opteka 8mm fisheye. Can be had for around £150 ish delivered.
Iirc, some of the Nikon cameras have built in intervalometers (for timelapse) but to shoot Northern lights, you just need to keep it on continous shooting on something like exposures of 10/15 seconds, f3.5/4 whatever the lens goes down to, iso 3200 and you'll get it. You can pick up an external intervalometer for £15 on eBay. It'll also cover as a standard remote shutter too.
Wide angle. Cheap is a Sigma 10-20 for a crop body. Can get them for under £300. Wide enough with out the distortion of a fish eye lens. If you don't mind that then go for an opteka 8mm fisheye. Can be had for around £150 ish delivered.
Iirc, some of the Nikon cameras have built in intervalometers (for timelapse) but to shoot Northern lights, you just need to keep it on continous shooting on something like exposures of 10/15 seconds, f3.5/4 whatever the lens goes down to, iso 3200 and you'll get it. You can pick up an external intervalometer for £15 on eBay. It'll also cover as a standard remote shutter too.
Ben
ClioSport Club Member
Have a quick look at this site Jamie, crop is in relation to the sensor within the body.
http://www.slrlounge.com/school/cropped-sensor-vs-full-frame-sensor-tips-in-2/
http://www.slrlounge.com/school/cropped-sensor-vs-full-frame-sensor-tips-in-2/
These are all the questions I had when I first started out! I'm still finding things out 6 months on but it'll all start to make sense, the 1200d is what I started off with and it's great for learning.
Monaco 172 + mk1 RSi
It'll be fine... Lenses are more important than bodies until you're experienced, IMO..
That is about a 10 year old camera now though so it's up to you. IIRC I was looking at a D40 when I got my Canon 450D in about 2007...
massiveCoRbyn
ClioSport Club Member
Several
I think it depends how much you're going to use it. I don't do a huge amount, so wanted something that was ok, but didn't break the bank. I also use it for work on occasion too.
We're going back a couple of years now, but I bought a used Canon 400D on eBay that came with a couple of lenses, batteries and a bag for £250 and it's been really useful for what I need it for. One of the lenses started playing up, so I replaced it with a better one but, if you're not going to be doing loads, and are just getting into it, I certainly wouldn't be throwing huge amounts of money at it, and there are some used bargains out there.
I did a couple of car mag shoots around two years back and the freelance photographer I used was still using a 400D. The pictures were still bloody brilliant, so it just shows that the camera is only a small part of it - it's knowing how to get the best from it.
We're going back a couple of years now, but I bought a used Canon 400D on eBay that came with a couple of lenses, batteries and a bag for £250 and it's been really useful for what I need it for. One of the lenses started playing up, so I replaced it with a better one but, if you're not going to be doing loads, and are just getting into it, I certainly wouldn't be throwing huge amounts of money at it, and there are some used bargains out there.
I did a couple of car mag shoots around two years back and the freelance photographer I used was still using a 400D. The pictures were still bloody brilliant, so it just shows that the camera is only a small part of it - it's knowing how to get the best from it.
Monaco 172 + mk1 RSi
Just seen you night sky pics in another thread, they're awesome!
Will the 18-135mm lens be OK as a first lens or should I get a wide angle one as well?
Thanks in advance
Ay Ay Ron
ClioSport Club Member
It'll be a good walkabout lens and you'll get some good landscape shots with it but it won't be super wide.
Use it for a while. Get used to the camera and then have a look at other lenses. The 10-20 will be a good one for you though when you do decide to get more lenses.
Use it for a while. Get used to the camera and then have a look at other lenses. The 10-20 will be a good one for you though when you do decide to get more lenses.
Monaco 172 + mk1 RSi
Thanks for your input bud, appreciate it.
Can you point me in the direction of some good sites/forums to do some learning other than here.
Right now I'm not even sure what lens would fit the body never mind what lens would suite me best.
Ay Ay Ron
ClioSport Club Member
Talk photography is a very useful site for pretty much anything photography related.
Get on Flickr too and have a search for your camera body. You'll then see the images taken with it and the lenses used, gives you an idea of what it's capable of with what lens.
Other than that, just get out and play with it.
Monaco 172 + mk1 RSi
Thanks dude, never thought of Flickr etc
I don't think the lens on it is the one that it came with.
