Re: Noob want cheap dslr!
Are you near Watford? SRS who I have no connection with, but have squandered many pounds with have quite a diverse second hand selection.
http://www.srsmicrosystems.co.uk/c/3...R-Cameras.html
For instance the E500, would come nicely under budget, complete with a 17.5-45mm.
Re: Noob want cheap dslr!
Ooh, I'd be willing to take a trip up there if I find something decent, now to compare and do extensive research :)
@ TheAnimus- Thanks btw
Re: Noob want cheap dslr!
I think our favourite moose loving member uses an Olympus, so he might have some advise on it.
They are realy nice at SRS when it comes to trying stuff out, if your a complete noob, the staff will probably give you a quick 5 minuite, this is how you hold it, this end towards what you want to take a photo off ;)
However if you do go over to see them, give them a call first, because with the second hand kit, they might not have a battery charged etc, also if your able to choose your times, they will be able to tell you when it might be quieter.
I put in the whole thing about not been commercially linked, because I know the last thread on here about "what DSLR should I buy" I ended up pointing the guy to them, don't want people to think I've a vested interest.
Re: Noob want cheap dslr!
I'm not a complete noob, I have used cameras before :) just not dslrs. We've had a couple of nikons in the family and even an old nikon slr, but since I moved I left all of that stuff with my dad and brother. Now I'm stuck with my phone camera, which is fine in a pinch but I want to take decent photos as I find myself with nothing to do in the mornings after a run (and before work) so I thought, go out and take some pics.
Anyone have long term photography projects to suggest?
No sunrises, London is quite grey :(
Re: Noob want cheap dslr!
Tell me about the greyness of London :( I just got back here from Northern Thailand, so grey skies and not seeing daylight from work is irritating.
If you look on:
http://www.golden-hour.com/
You can find the times for sunrises/sunsets Archway bridge isn't a bad place to see them from if your in that area.
But the easiest to do in London is just architecture, go out in to the city on a weekend and its a deserted playground of glass and steel! You don't need great light for it either, as if you find a place to rest the camera / get a tripod, you can just do night time work.
Re: Noob want cheap dslr!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
TheAnimus
I think our favourite moose loving member uses an Olympus, so he might have some advise on it.
He's a Sony man. I think I'm (one of) the Oly shooter(s) around here.
The older Olys are excellent value, frequently adding features ahead of their time that other manufacturers started to include some time later. Sensor wise they weren't the best until the newer ones. You could either get very sharp sensors or passable low light performance, but not both (until later). The E500 isn't the best one, as it has quite a noisy image and blurs it slightly. But the build quality and low-ISO (good light) performance is fine.
Review: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/olympuse500
Oly lenses are superb, but they have pretty much discontinued the 4/3rds DSLR line so aren't making new lenses (instead they are concentrating on micro 4/3rds). In some ways that doesn't matter too much, because it means you'll just sell a lens second hand for about the same (or sometimes more) than you bought it for, but it means there are fewer upgrade options for the body in the future.
Re: Noob want cheap dslr!
Really? I swear our Moosie one did too!
Either way OP, what I suppose I'm saying is this.
£150 is nothing really in 'pro' photography epeen competitions. So don't bother thinking about buying Nikon or Canon because they have more lenses or xyz. We need to find you a bargin, that will let you happily do all the kind of photography you want.
Whilst there is a risk on eBay I wouldn't rule it out completely, you might find someone near by has what you want for a good price, you can pick up in person and reduce risk!
If you can spare some time and treck up to Watford the guys at SRS will be able to let you try out the differen't options available.
Is there any particular kind of photography you want to do? Should we be looking for a good 20-50mm range lens which will be OK for landscapes to just about portrait? Or should be finding something thats 40-100mm that is better at portrait/abstract things?
Re: Noob want cheap dslr!
I nearly went Olympus as I rather liked the E1 but ended up not getting it. One or two of the chaps who were at the LCE on The Strand,actually sold their own Canon gear and moved on to Olympus at the time,as the lenses were fantastic. It is not surprising as Olympus does make some fantastic commercial optics for microscopes.
Only reason I am with Sony is down to convenience and cost. Before I had both Nikon and Minolta film gear but the cost of the Nikon lenses put me off,and I could get equivalent quality Minolta lenses far cheaper so I stuck with them and the autofocus on the cheaper bodies was better. I even had a Rollei 3.5F Planar but ditched it as I had no time and space for medium format!! :(
When Sony bought up the Minolta camera division,it meant I could use my midrange Minolta lenses with them which were not bad optically and I have a range of Minolta lenses and Sigma lenses covering 17MM upto 400MM.
At heart I tend to be more of a Pentax and Nikon fan TBF. I still think my little Pentax Optio 450 was the best camera I owned - I got some great pictures with it! I still think it is a better camera in a relative sense than the Canon S60 and S95 which replaced it.
Pentax were idiots for leaving the prosumer compact field after the 750Z,and I hope the MX-1 is successful enough to spawn one with a 24MM lens.
Edit!!
Actually come to thing of it,has the OP considered getting a prosumer compact??
I actually found them,good tools TBF as you can muck around with the exposure,etc and still have something pocketable.
Re: Noob want cheap dslr!
@ TheAnimus
Well, id probably sell it in a year or two and upgrade instead of dropping 200 on a lens kit later on. And its not for epeen or competition, strictly personal - id like to try my hand at photography basically. Mostly urban, seeing what different lighting does to the shots, plus in my area it looks completely deserted at some times of the day, alà 28 Days...
@ CAT-THE-FIFTH
Options are usually a lot more limited, as well as that horrible digital zoom on some models, plus a decent one would be around the same price mark if i'm not mistaken.
I'm not sure what endears me to Nikon tbh, its just that we've had about 3 out of 5 in the family being Nikon i guess, theyre usually built solidly.
Ill have to make some time to go up to SRS, between work and uni :)
Re: Noob want cheap dslr!
Hmm... Make sure you tell the guys at SRS what your wanting to be able to take, they might be able to better advise. I fear we can't really suggest things unless you want us to pick out from eBay (which is risky!).
It might well just come down to the one that is best in your hands tbh, which isn't exactly a bad thing.
The only other question is, do your family members have any good lenses that would make it worthwhile looking at Nikon only?
Re: Noob want cheap dslr!
I don't trust eBay tbh, not for expensive stuff.
Not in this country at least, :) they're all overseas, ill just have to see them and try em before deciding.
Re: Noob want cheap dslr!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
samuraiweasel
I don't trust eBay tbh, not for expensive stuff.
Not in this country at least, :) they're all overseas, ill just have to see them and try em before deciding.
It depends. Some big retailers and companies have shops on there.
Re: Noob want cheap dslr!
Thread closed - it is 5 years old!