manphibian Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 Looking into getting my first DSLR. Will have about £400 max to spend on it. Ones i'm looking at are: Nikon D3100 http://www.jessops.com/online.store/pro ... /show.html Pentax K-r http://www.jessops.com/online.store/pro ... /show.html Sony a290 http://www.jessops.com/online.store/pro ... /show.html Nikon looks maybe the best quality and has 1080p video Pentax looks awesome because it's white and has good features Sony is dirt cheap! But no video.... Any suggestions, or maybe other cameras.... I can't decide how important video is to me :? Possibly not that important.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neilp Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 Looking into getting my first DSLR. Will have about £400 max to spend on it. Ones i'm looking at are: Nikon D3100 http://www.jessops.com/online.store/pro ... /show.html Pentax K-r http://www.jessops.com/online.store/pro ... /show.html Sony a290 http://www.jessops.com/online.store/pro ... /show.html Nikon looks maybe the best quality and has 1080p video Pentax looks awesome because it's white and has good features Sony is dirt cheap! But no video.... Any suggestions, or maybe other cameras.... I can't decide how important video is to me :? Possibly not that important.... I went for a bridge camera to get used to using different modes etc before going for a dslr, just incase I spent lots on a dslr and didnt use it. I got a fujifilm s4000. Theres much cheaper places than jessops btw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manphibian Posted August 10, 2011 Author Share Posted August 10, 2011 I have a Fuji bridge camera now.. Time to step up ....and Jessops actually have great prices atm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neilp Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 I have a Fuji bridge camera now.. Time to step up ....and Jessops actually have great prices atm I saved over 120quid not buying from jessops on my bridge camera edit:blunder doesnt have lens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 I would go with the Nikon out of that lot, but then I do love my D90 Go and have a play with the cameras first and see which one feels 'right' to you in use. I had a choice between the D90 and the equivalent Canon (god knows which one it was now) and I plumped for the Canon purely because I found the controls far easier to use, and since there was technically nothing between the two bodies it made the choice fairly simple. Don't get hung-up on the video aspect: It's a nice gimmick to have, but if it's video you want to shoot then get a specialised video camera. I can count on the fingers of one hand the amount of times I've videoed anything on my camera. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manphibian Posted August 10, 2011 Author Share Posted August 10, 2011 What about these lads: http://www.jessops.com/online.store/pro ... /show.html ? They look awesome Do they do everything a DSLR does? I really am a bit clueless about this lot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisjones6699 Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 What about these lads: http://www.jessops.com/online.store/pro ... /show.html ? They look awesome Do they do everything a DSLR does? I really am a bit clueless about this lot That Sony is an amazing camera!! It's very highly rated in most magazines! If I wasn't canon mad, I would get one! I have a canon 7D and a G11 Oh and yes, the Sony does everything an SLR does Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisjones6699 Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 http://www.whatdigitalcamera.com/equipm ... eview.html Have a read Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manphibian Posted August 10, 2011 Author Share Posted August 10, 2011 It does look like a gorgeous item.... I think lack of viewfinder is putting me off a bit.... I always use it on my current camera, is it not a bit difficult to compose a good picture with the screen? Or would you get used to it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Husky Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 What about these lads: http://www.jessops.com/online.store/pro ... /show.html ? They look awesome Do they do everything a DSLR does? I really am a bit clueless about this lot That Sony is an amazing camera!! It's very highly rated in most magazines! If I wasn't canon mad, I would get one! I have a canon 7D and a G11 Oh and yes, the Sony does everything an SLR does I have that very Sony and it's awesomeeeeeeeeeeee. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dblock Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 IMO i would get a nikon or canon. Most cameras quality and feature wise are the same but the lens is whats its about IMO. Choice, availabilty and cheapness 2nd hand where things that made me choose a canon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manphibian Posted August 11, 2011 Author Share Posted August 11, 2011 Well after about 5 minutes of careful consideration last night, i ordered a NEX-5 Loved the look of it, and some of the features like the background blur thing look fantastic for a beginner like me Can't wait to get out with it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisjones6699 Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 It took that long to decide!? I'm pretty sure you can get a view finder that slots into the hotshoe.......John? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Husky Posted August 12, 2011 Share Posted August 12, 2011 no idea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisjones6699 Posted August 12, 2011 Share Posted August 12, 2011 In-keeping with its small size the NEX series doesn't provide an electronic viewfinder, instead a fixed-length 16mm optical viewfinder accessory can be purchased separately for around £150. Yes it does a little expensive though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captain Posted August 12, 2011 Share Posted August 12, 2011 All non-SLR cameras are comprimised by their speed. The Sony gets a nice dpreview.com review but if you ever want to shoot fast things (cars/kids/animals) or in low light, you'll wish you bought the Nikon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted August 12, 2011 Share Posted August 12, 2011 All non-SLR cameras are compromised by their speed. ^^^ This. I've had a few digital cameras over the years but was always irritated by their lack of instant shot, as you'd push the button, the camera would auto-focus, then it would stop and have a cup of tea, then a biscuit, then finally it might get round to taking the actual photo eventually. Not a huge issue if you're only ever taking shots of still things, but for anything moving they're utterly useless and you get by on luck alone. My missus has one still and it's fine for her but it does my head in, and for that reason alone my DSLR purchase has more than justified itself over the last few years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparky370z Posted August 12, 2011 Share Posted August 12, 2011 All non-SLR cameras are compromised by their speed. ^^^ This. I've had a few digital cameras over the years but was always irritated by their lack of instant shot, as you'd push the button, the camera would auto-focus, then it would stop and have a cup of tea, then a biscuit, then finally it might get round to taking the actual photo eventually. Not a huge issue if you're only ever taking shots of still things, but for anything moving they're utterly useless and you get by on luck alone. My missus has one still and it's fine for her but it does my head in, and for that reason alone my DSLR purchase has more than justified itself over the last few years. +1 at the same event (goodwood) me and my mum are taking pics. i have the DSLR Canon EOS 500D and my mum a top range Panasonic Lumix. we were taking the roughly the same pics and my mum was struggling to get just one car in view. i have loads of pics on the day and the quality is so much better that her camera. the Canon was about 500 and the Lumix was about 250-300. however was well worth the extra money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manphibian Posted August 12, 2011 Author Share Posted August 12, 2011 All non-SLR cameras are comprimised by their speed. The Sony gets a nice dpreview.com review but if you ever want to shoot fast things (cars/kids/animals) or in low light, you'll wish you bought the Nikon. The Sony does 7 frames per second.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted August 12, 2011 Share Posted August 12, 2011 That's not what were talking about, it's the time from the second you press the button to the time it takes the shutter to open and close. On an SLR it's instant, on a compact/bridge there's a delay which can make you lose the shot. All very well saying that you could just press the button earlier and get multiple shots, but that's not practical for many things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisjones6699 Posted August 12, 2011 Share Posted August 12, 2011 The Sony is a micro system camera. SLR spec in a compact body. 7fps is very good.........not quite the 8 that my 7D gets tho Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manphibian Posted August 12, 2011 Author Share Posted August 12, 2011 The Sony is a micro system camera. SLR spec in a compact body. ^ This. It aint no bridge camera If there was a shutter delay you wouldn't get 7 frames per second would you... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony_NEX-5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted August 12, 2011 Share Posted August 12, 2011 TIt aint no bridge camera If there was a shutter delay you wouldn't get 7 frames per second would you... What? Of course you would, once the shutter is going (and as long as the transfer speed of the memory card is of a sufficient speed) it can carry on all day if it likes, but the initial lag following the autofocus and processor think-time will still be there. If it does do instant-shot just like an SLR then that's great and is a real step forward, but I've never found a single camera that wasn't an SLR that did that. As Sparky said, even the Lumix range (which is superb for a compact) can't do that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisjones6699 Posted August 13, 2011 Share Posted August 13, 2011 TIt aint no bridge camera If there was a shutter delay you wouldn't get 7 frames per second would you... What? Of course you would, once the shutter is going (and as long as the transfer speed of the memory card is of a sufficient speed) it can carry on all day if it likes, but the initial lag following the autofocus and processor think-time will still be there. If it does do instant-shot just like an SLR then that's great and is a real step forward, but I've never found a single camera that wasn't an SLR that did that. As Sparky said, even the Lumix range (which is superb for a compact) can't do that. My G11 has a quickshot feature and it's pretty rapid! It has the same DIGIC 4 processor as the (not 100% sure here) as the 40D (maybe 50D too). I'm not saying that it competes with an SLR but it's not far off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captain Posted August 13, 2011 Share Posted August 13, 2011 All non-SLR cameras are comprimised by their speed. The Sony gets a nice dpreview.com review but if you ever want to shoot fast things (cars/kids/animals) or in low light, you'll wish you bought the Nikon. The Sony does 7 frames per second.... But will those 7 frames track a dog or child running towards you in a diagonal ziz-zag in low light using 39 focus points in a 3-D matrix up to ISO 25,600 and keep all 7 frames in focus? If it does then I'm selling my D7000 and buying one. Not crticising your choice as it looks great but if you want SLR functions and speed, you'll need an SLR. Sony wouldn't produce an SLR-killer when they've spent millions (billions?) acquiring Minolta and producing some fantastic SLRs over the last few years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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