Advice on first DLSR camera
Hi guys,
So I’m looking at buying my first DSLR camera and was hoping to get your opinions and advice on what good options there are. I’ve had an interest in photography for years but never ventured up to more than a little point and shoot. I’ve had a few cameras, mainly Canon’s, and because I like them, I’m thinking I should maybe stick with them for the DSLR. I want one that’s a good all-rounder (portraits, landscape, low-light) and is pretty sturdy, for taking it outdoors etc (snow/beach/camping).
I still don’t have my home internet up and running (it’s been a month since I moved!) so I haven’t had the chance to do research on the range and prices out there. I’ve heard some people have the 7D on here, but yeah, don’t really know much about any of them.
Also, what are good lenses to start with that are pretty versatile?
Thanks for any advice – Cheers!
Mac Book pro!!!!!
Literal LOL @ mizu
Dan, 7D with a lens kit start at a little over $1000. BUT the lenses which the cheaper kits come with are crap (even if they branded as the same lenses that pricier retailers have on their kit, THEY ARE NOT THE SAME. There is good manufacturing and poor). Which is why there’s a huge price variation on the same gear. Some basic 7D kits cost $1800 while others cost $1100 (the pricier ones come from specialist camera retailers who get the good lenses).
For a start up DSLR the best and cheapest way is to buy a second hand housing, Somewhere like ebay a 7D starts at around $500.
Many 2nd hand sellers are -all the gear no idea- types and have hardly used their cameras. But even an ex pro used camera will be good and most likely better priced.
Then spend $1000-$2000 on some serious glass.
Consider buying an even cheaper housing that has the same lens mount as your dream camera. Get the glass and work up to the better housing. That way you will end up paying little more than $100-$200 for a housing.
Remember; I shoot on a 8year old 6MP camera. By attaching good lenses to it, my photos match what most new $2000 off the shelf kits will achieve (even if I shoot with my eyes closed).
Hmmm
Whilst i agree with what Spaz is saying I am guessing you wont want to do what he suggests. Most of us can’t be arsed looking around ebay,
I also don’t see you spending $1000 upwards on a couple of lenses (and you are quite possibly going to want at least 2 lenses).
But (and another canon lover can correct me here) I don’t think you need a 7D. Get a cheaper body - with not as many bells and whistler (that I can guarantee you wont use!!) and spend money on “glass” by getting a non lens kit lens.
A good all rounder to start you off would be a 18 - 200mm lens. Then build on that as your photography skills progress and you start knowing what lenses you want for your specific photographer needs.
For example (and you can shop around for a better price)
But I think this 60D would be fine for you.
http://www.harveynorman.com.au/canon-eos-60d-dslr-camera-premium-kit-with-18-200mm-lens.html
vs
the 7D with the same lens
http://www.harveynorman.com.au/canon-eos-7d-dslr-camera-with-18-200mm-lens.html
I agree with Spaz, find the 7D body cheap in store 2nd hand or off ebay. You can even get a good lens from ebay second hand. I think your better off getting some thing which can do a bit more than the basic because you can shoot some nice movies with the 7D.
Harvey Norman have the poor quality lenses. If you buy just the body new get it the cheapest you can.
If you buy a kit new get it from somewhere like CameraHouse. You get what you pay for.
Pawn shops can be good for just a housing but not for lenses (unless you know what to look for in a second hand lens, like mould! )
Pawn shops can be good for just a housing but not for lenses (unless you know what to look for in a second hand lens, like mould! )
Couldn’t you potentially have the same prob from ebay?
Pawn shops can be good for just a housing but not for lenses (unless you know what to look for in a second hand lens, like mould! )
Couldn’t you potentially have the same prob from ebay?
It’s possible. You can also buy from second hand camera shops and still have the same issues but surely they would give some type of guantee.
If you buy a kit new get it from somewhere like CameraHouse.
Agree!
I just did HN cause it was easy - am at work so don’t have time to “shop around”
Just used HN as a price comparison.
Some places to look at (i don’t rate Camerahouse as much as I used too.
http://www.d-d-photographics.com.au/ - have not purchased from these guys but know people who have. You can pick and mix easier with choice of lens.
also a good website to review/compare camera’s - http://www.dpreview.com/products/compare/cameras
here is the side by side compare with the 60D and the 7D
http://www.dpreview.com/products/compare/side-by-side?products=canon_eos60d&products=canon_eos7d
*looking at the above I still say you should get the 60D -
Have just spent a week doing a conference shoot in QLD, which was fun. I think it depends on what Dan wants from his camera.
Firstly, is having a great lens really important to him at this stage. As I’ve said before our 7D wears the kit lens, 18-200mm which on this camera is a bit longer anyway, pretty much all the time. That way we can treat it pretty much how we like, and it works absolutely fine for pretty much every day to day situation. And I don’t worry about a bit of beach, snow etc, I take it in the boat, it’s our all purpose lens.
Secondly, a 7D has a pretty fast frame rate for hi speed bursts, which may be a bit too fast for some sequence shots. So thinking of snowboarding, that’s a consideration.
Third, the 7D is a pretty easy camera to work with. Compared to our previous models, the buttons make sense, it’s logical and I wouldn’t go back to the other layouts.
Fourth…. If considering a big lens…. They weigh A LOT. Then you really want a battery grip to help balance all that weight out front.
We have 2 7Ds. I’d happily swap one for a 6D, but I want to keep one of them for sure. The 6D is full frame, but cranks on the ISO. Useful for us where we have to shoot indoors, low light and no flash, yet the photos need to look like daylight.
To simplify, walk into a shop, get them in your hands. You’ll know what feels right, what feels too fiddly and wrong. Good luck! 
Dan,
Since your stepping up from P&S don’t believe you have to stick with canon. They are a different design and menu function system (assumption). Canon P&S doesn’t cross over to Canon DSLR. (btw I prefer panasonic for P&S)
If I was in your position I would 95% buy Sony (much cheaper for comparable quality prosumer and pro gear) the only deciding factor between Nikon/Canon is what gear most of your friends have (so you can borrow lenses/accessories).
Sony are trying to break into the Canon/Nikon arena, and are doing a dam fine job of it! The stock lenses are amazing, the housing they offer are better than Canon or Nikon and the aftermarket lens manufacturers are struggling to match them.
Even though I have a tonn of Nikon and Canon gear (yep, I have a good amount of lenses and bodies from both brands -including the best lenses canon ever built): if I put my dollars in a brand new camera I would buy Sony. By far better than what Nikon and Canon are offering in the prosumer market.
get a 7D!! i just got one lol
haha Spaz.
I have been meaning to write - do I get brownie points for not trying to push Nikon down his neck!
Sometimes, you absolutely cannot tell what works for you until you try it. So put cameras in your hands and see how they fit.
^ THIS 