Hi, I need your help and recommendations please! I am an amateur photographer and it is something i do only as a hobby. I only really started taking photos and trying new things when i joined 365 about 5 months ago. I got a panasonic Lumix TZ20 when i joined :) I love looking at all your shots and picking up ideas, my own work has improved because of you guys and your comments!! My little camera is great for close up's and Macro shots but i have started to noticed that there are things i would really like to try but i cant seem to do it with my Tz20 :( Like the great bokeh shots i see on here, I can get a little bit but nothing near what i would like to be able to do. Because this is only a hobby i dont want to break the bank buying a new camera.....So can anyone either give me tips about my TZ20 or recommend a good camera for a reasonable price?? I would like it to be a DSLR camera.....My dad has suggested a Lumix G2! I look forward to hearing from you, thank you for taking the time to help me out :) x
Having had a good look round at Christmas last year I actually decided against an SLR and went for a micro 4/3 olympus PEN. It has manual settings and changeable lenses so you can do a lot with it, but it is a lot smaller (and cheaper I think) than an SLR. Might be worth a look at these cameras which are a good intermediate between a small point and shoot and an SLR. Just a thought...
I bought my Canon 400D second hand from Ebay for just under £200. Which is the price you'd pay for a decent P&S.
I love the flexibility that the DSLR gives me, I was starting to get frustrated with my P&S and a DSLR will open up your eyes as to what you can achieve.
The camera body you buy all depends on your future goals with photography. You really have to think about this for a moment. It's not the bodies you need to consider, but rather the lenses.
If this will only ever be a hobby, something you look at on a computer monitor only, with no intention to make prints larger than 8"x10" or shoot weddings and portraits, then you will be fine with just about any DSLR. I would suggest a DSLR over any high-end P&S or bridge camera because even as nice as they are, they have limitations. The DSLR is the bottomless pit of possibilities with photography.
Getting smaller-brand camera bodies like Lumix, Pentax, Sony, Olympus, and others will mean smaller, less sharp lenses in the future. Sure, they are cheaper, but they also produce cheaper results.
The two biggest brands are Nikon and Canon. In short, Nikon have better bodies, but Canon has better lenses. In the end, either works just as good. They are nearly equally priced.
I can't speak about Canon, but Nikon has several very nice options for starters.
The D70 is going for about $150 these days. Not a bad deal. It has a small sensor and very limited low-light capabilities, but it would be a great start to learning manual controls and interchangeable lenses. The D80 is the next upgrade and going for about $500 now. This is my favorite camera for portraits.
The D200 is a professional-level camera, about six years old now, and going for around $500 at the moment. I have had this camera for three years now and it works fantastically. Almost all my photos on this project were shot with this camera. The others were shot with a D300, but that is still around $1000.
When you pick your direction, keep in mind there are many places to get your first DSLR. I got mine on eBay without any problems whatsoever. But also check out Borrow Lenses and Lens Rentals. They are rental companies that sell gear this time of year. Also keep Amazon in mind. A lot of used electronics on that site!
Hope this helps you out. Good luck with your first DSLR!
I am using a canon 550d (which i love). I too have been just doing photography for about 6 mths and truly consider it a hobby with no thoughts on anything higher. I completely agree with jason - I considered a high P&S or bridge camera at the time but decided on my dslr due to the fact that is so versatile and i can choose any lens depending on my interest (which are always changing as i know more!). I figured i would grow out of a bridge camera and would end up buying a dslr in the long run - happy shopping, hope you get a bargain
I personally wouldn't use anything else but a Nikon - their entry-level DSLRs are really intuitive, IMO, and they make it easy to 'grow' into the more professional, expensive models. And there are some great prices on them right now, everyone from Amazon to B&H and Adorama (and Borrow Lenses and Lens Rentals, of course) is clearing them out. Just my $.02 - YMMV. :)
I'm not a pro, just a hobbyist who is enjoying it more and more and wanting to do more as I tackle things in little steps. I wouldn't cut myself short on buying a camera only to regret not bumping up and then having to spend all over again.
if you want to just be a hobbyist who wants a camera that is easy, fits in the purse, and allow some adjustments check out the Olympus Pen. I have had both Olympus and Canon point and shoots and I have an Olympus DSLR and I think my next purchase will be an Olympus Pen.
Also @danae has one and takes great street photos.
If you are interested in taking Bokeh shots or doing more with DOF definitely get a DSLR. Adorama is another site that has sales and deals on refurbished bodies and lenses. If you do decide to go with a P&S, consider Canon G10 or the later models. I have one and it takes beautiful pictures.
Check out adorama.com they have factory refurbished equipment, which they warranty.
For a beginner I would suggest a Canon Rebel body, and a 50mm f/1.8 lens (dreamy bokeh!)
Tweets ahoy!
Join the Group
Pin With Me
I love the flexibility that the DSLR gives me, I was starting to get frustrated with my P&S and a DSLR will open up your eyes as to what you can achieve.
If this will only ever be a hobby, something you look at on a computer monitor only, with no intention to make prints larger than 8"x10" or shoot weddings and portraits, then you will be fine with just about any DSLR. I would suggest a DSLR over any high-end P&S or bridge camera because even as nice as they are, they have limitations. The DSLR is the bottomless pit of possibilities with photography.
Getting smaller-brand camera bodies like Lumix, Pentax, Sony, Olympus, and others will mean smaller, less sharp lenses in the future. Sure, they are cheaper, but they also produce cheaper results.
The two biggest brands are Nikon and Canon. In short, Nikon have better bodies, but Canon has better lenses. In the end, either works just as good. They are nearly equally priced.
I can't speak about Canon, but Nikon has several very nice options for starters.
The D70 is going for about $150 these days. Not a bad deal. It has a small sensor and very limited low-light capabilities, but it would be a great start to learning manual controls and interchangeable lenses. The D80 is the next upgrade and going for about $500 now. This is my favorite camera for portraits.
The D200 is a professional-level camera, about six years old now, and going for around $500 at the moment. I have had this camera for three years now and it works fantastically. Almost all my photos on this project were shot with this camera. The others were shot with a D300, but that is still around $1000.
When you pick your direction, keep in mind there are many places to get your first DSLR. I got mine on eBay without any problems whatsoever. But also check out Borrow Lenses and Lens Rentals. They are rental companies that sell gear this time of year. Also keep Amazon in mind. A lot of used electronics on that site!
Hope this helps you out. Good luck with your first DSLR!
Also @danae has one and takes great street photos.
For a beginner I would suggest a Canon Rebel body, and a 50mm f/1.8 lens (dreamy bokeh!)