New Camera

[suzie bump]

Hi

Let me introduce myself, i'm Suzie from Surrey. Currenly waiting for the arrival of my first baby. Basically i want to get a new camera because i want every picture to be perfect and the best quality i can get.

I currently have a little Canon ixus i5, it was great when i got a few years ago but i don't i don't think its as good as it was or all the other cameras are now sooooo good - plus i've dropped it about 100 times.

I want to upgrade to proper camera as such. Budget is about £300 probably a little more for th right camera. I've been looking around and as everyone always does looked out of my budget a bit i really like the look of a Nikon D50.

Basically i've never used a camera like this so can someone explain to me whats a good lense and whats a not so good lense. I don't really want to have a massive lense, are there camera's like his which will take just as good a picture without. If i went for something like the Nikon (body) could i use it until i had the money for a proper lense? Also please could give a few tips on what i should be looking for pixels etc also the whole SLR thing is that a must if i'm going for a better camera. What makes shall i avoid?

I'm sorry to throw so many questions at you, your help and knowledge is much appreciated.

Suzie xx

[baldrick]

Hi Suzie. This is by no means a final, comprehensive answer, but my thoughts.

A Digital SLR will give you the most flexibility. I bought a Pentax 35mm SLR in Feb 2000 and it is still going strong today although I have just upgraded to a Pentax Digital SLR.

I've never really played with the manual controls on my 35mm camera but in full auto mode and to a complete novice photographer it always took great pictures.

Now I've got a Digital SLR I fully intend to learn how to use it. The fact that you can see the results instantly and see how changing the aperture changes the picture is so good and you no longer have to worry about the costs of film and processing (especially if your experimental shots are crap).

Given your current situation with a new baby on the way I would really consider a D-SLR. The current batch are very light weight and as you learn to use it and get more money you can invest in the bits you need/want.

I have 2 lenses for my D-SLR, a $70 Pentax 18mm-55mm and a $130 Tamron 75mm-300mm. For a novice these are fine and when funds allow and my skills have improved I will probably consider investing in more expensive lenses.

At the moment you can get the new Pentax *ist DL2 with an 18-55 and a 50-200 lense for £530 from Jessops. You will need to add on the cost of a memory card etc... but if you can stretch your budget (credit cards are the weak persons friend ) then you won't regret it. I would definately go for a D-SLR over the fixed lense D-SLRalikes from Sony, Samsung, Fuji etc...

You could also consider one of the new camera phones when they come out soon as a back-up/take anywhere camera. Sony Ericsson are about to release a 3.2mega pixel phone which has been developed alongside their Cyber Shot compact cameras.

This is my view and others might recommend otherwise, but as a tool to catch those special moments over the next few years a D-SLR will serve you very well.

[baldrick]

Originally Posted by suzie bump

If i went for something like the Nikon (body) could i use it until i had the money for a proper lense?

Just remembered your questions.... You have to have a lense to take photos. The body is just that, all the electrics etc... but without a lens it's useless. The reason they sell the bodies on their own is because people may have lenses already.

I wouldn't like to comment on the pixel front but my camera is 6.2 mega pixels and takes great pictures...

There is a different between point and shoot camera and DSLR. The point and shoot camera is design for easy used, with automatic setting you will get very easy and nise to make a good picture. Not all menu is available at point and shoot. So, DSLR is complete digital camera setting, and this camera is not fit for only just auto shoot.

We have to know much more than just what we are know at P&S. Some of my friends have the same problem when use the new digital SLR, they usually told that why the picture too dark, why this or why that.... well, the answer just because they thought using DSLR will more easier with autoshoot.

Consider for DSLR is very nice, but we also have to learn much to make a good picture, how to treat the shutter speed, the ISO, the f and etc. Also, the price between P&S and DSLR is different, and using DSLR also have to consider buy good lens to make perfect picture, but the good lens usually also much more expensive.

Hope this give some point of view.

[md644]

A couple of things to consider:

As Baldrick said, the price advertised for a DSLR might not include a lens, and it probably won't include a memory card either (though many retailers supply "bundle offers" which include these) - not that a memory card is expensive, just something to bear in mind, so make sure you know what you are getting for the price. The "kit lens" (usually 18-55mm with a D50) is not the best in photography terms, but certainly good enough to start out with and certainly acceptable for most uses unless you plan on making massive prints.

Later on, when the baby grows up a bit and starts moving (rapidly) around, a DSLR is very useful as there's almost no delay between pressing the shutter release and getting the shot, a problem that affects all point and shoot cameras to some extent (though getting better all the time). My son is 4 now, so I speak from experience - photographing toddlers with a P&S can be very frustrating.

Bear in mind though (as Baldrick implies), that buying a DSLR and kit lens can be the START of your expenditure, i.e you may need/want a flashgun, extra lenses, and other "accessories" later on as your requirements change.

Hope this helps....

[Bristol Pete]

Nikon D50 just £398.00 at Dixons now with kit lens, an ideal solution and a great start.

Pete.

[bibamus]

Suzie, I think the D50 camera with kit lens will suit you just fine. You can use full auto mode while you learn how to use it to its full potential, and it will give you stunning shots.

After you get used to the camera, you may want to purchase new lenses, possibly a longish zoom 200mm or more, or a shorter prime lens for closer work.

The D50 kit lens ( 18-55) is very good, if you can get the D50 with a 17-55 lens, that would be better, but more expensive. I use a Sigma 28-200 most of the time as a "walkaround" lens, just right for days to the park /zoo / big city etc, and just as useful indoors.

Good luck with the camera, and, of course, the new Baby. You`ll have plenty of time at night to read the cameras manual!!

Allan

[rigs]

Hi, i've just bought a D50 and it takes really clear sharp pictures on fully auto mode,just press the button!,much better than my 5 megapixal compact,plus you've got the option to learn a bit more later,Rigs

[Magslad]

Hi Suzie

Just a few points to add to what others have said:

- The D50 also has a 'child portrait' mode (it's an automatic mode so all you need to do is point the camera and shoot, but has settings designed to bring out children's skin tones). I've got a D50 and have used this setting for a number of photos of my kids, and I have always liked the results.
- If you have never held a D50 (or other DSLR) you should definitely go and do so before making your choice. Make sure that the particular lens you are thinking of getting is on the camera when you do this (I would suggest the standard kit lens given your budget). The reason I say this is that, even though weights have come down, DSLR's are still a lot heavier than point-and-shoots, so you need to make sure the camera feels comfortable in your hands as ultimately this will determine the quality of shots you get far more than any features on the camera. If you go into any camera shop they should let you hold one and try out taking some shots etc
- A D50 with 18-55 kit lens, a case (important if you carry on your 'drop rate' ) and a couple of memory cards (they don't come included in the price) will set you back £450-500. This is higher than your original budget, but will give you a great platform to build on. If you find yourself really getting into it, you can then add better lenses, flash guns etc in the future. If you want to stick closer to your budget, then I would look at the prosumer market (but I don't know much about prosumers so can't really give any advice here)
- Don't worry about pixels. Once you get to 6MP and higher (which pretty much all DSLR's and prosumers are) you are unlikely to notice any difference at all. Standard shots, even if you are printing on A4, will show no difference at all whether it is a 6MP camera or an 8MP (or higher) camera.

One final point on p4n4msa's post:

DSLR is complete digital camera setting, and this camera is not fit for only just auto shoot

Not true. The beauty of most DSLR's (although I only have direct experience of using the D50) is that they have a whole range of 'auto' and 'semi-auto' settings. So you can absolutely use it as a 'point and shoot only' camera whilst you get used to it, and then play about with settings as you get more confident/experienced.

[baldrick]

Suzie,

I think the general consensus is that if you can stretch your budget to a D-SLR you will be glad you did as you will have more flexibility as you learn how to use the camera, but still be able to select 'auto' mode and know that you will get a good photo!

Now you are going to have to trudge through everybodies view of which camera is better, although using price as the determining factor the D50 is a pretty tempting option at the moment....