Help me with my foray into DSLR photography....

[BoogasMom]

I am currently a regular digital camera user. I'm thinking I'm ready to get more into a DSLR camera and I'm just beginning to do some research on them. I am a busy mother of 2 boys and my photography would center around photographing them in their various sports activities, etc. Any suggestions as to which brand/model would be right for the beginner but still have enough "options" to satisfy me as I learn new techniques???

 

[sabrinadv1]

Pentax k-x. I just got mine and I love it. It's awesome.

 

[MinnieForMe]

I would also suggest the Pentax K-X too! I've had mine for three weeks and love it. It was the most bang for the buck!

 

[polkadotminnie]

I have a Sony A500 that I bought specifically because it was fast and worked well in low light for indoor sports. It is awesome!

 

[sam_gordon]

I got a Nikon D5000. I also wanted a DSLR for kids sports (Softball, soccer, and basketball-- so far). Here is what I *KNEW* I wanted:

* "Continuous" shooting (ie: hold the button and shots "rattle" off)
* Interchangeable lenses
* Good quality at higher ISO
* Automatic as well as fully manual focus, shutter, and aperture.

I suggest going to cnet.com and looking at their digital camera section. Figure out what kind of qualities (price, lenses, features, etc) are important to YOU. Use their ratings system. Once you get things narrowed down, go to a photography store (not a Best Buy/hh Gregg). Talk to the clerks. Ask to handle the camera. Take some pictures in the store. See what feels right in your hands. Go into the menu's... can you access what you need easily? Is the camera "intuitive"? Ask questions. Tell them thank you and walk out.

Think about it another day (at least) or a week. If you can settle on a camera (or two), see if you can find a forum that has users of that camera. Here's a generic one with LOTS of information: http://forums.steves-digicams.com/. NOW find some place to buy it. I prefer using my local camera store or http://www.bhphotovideo.com/ because of the after sales support. You MIGHT save some money at a big box store, but you won't get the one-on-one support if you have a problem.

My .02

 

[BoogasMom]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone!!!

Thanks, Sam, for the advice on the process of selecting a camera. I am definitely a newbie when it comes to DSLRs and I can't wait to start looking further into them.

 

[Snappy in OK]

In addition to the information from the PPs, I would suggest going to a store where you can physically hold the different cameras. I did this when I first looked for an DSLR, and the differences in the cameras can make a big difference. These days, the differences in each cameras output is comparable. It's like asking someone if they prefer Coke vs. Pepsi.

Before deciding which camera you want, try them out and see what feels comfortable to you. You will want to be comfortable in handling the camera and making the adjustments to get the pictures you want.

Good luck!

 

[zackiedawg]

Yep - handling them is most important, by far. That, and making a list of features or abilities you consider a 'must have', and a maximum budget you don't want to exceed. Your list should come down to cameras that have the most features and abilities you want, within your price range, that are comfortable for you to hold and shoot.

As you can see above, brand is a complete non-issue. Pentax, Sony, Canon, Nikon, Olympus - they're all fine, all of their newest models are pretty close to eachother in ability, most have far more ability than typical users would ever get out of them, all have enough lens availability for 90% of buyers, and only a few small feature differences here and there might narrow down which is best for you. Inevitably, many folks get excited about the camera they have and promote that brand, every rare once in a while someone goes a bit to the dark side and denigrates other brands...but in the end, great photos can be taken with any of them by a great photographer - and a comfortable photographer who is happy carrying and shooting with their camera will usually do much better than someone who bought one they aren't comfortable with because they followed a recommendation or review and not their own needs and comfort!

 

[boBQuincy]

Ya' want options eh?

I have an entry level dSLR (no need to mention which brand, most of them do all these things) and some of the options are:

program shift; auto focus mode, auto focus point selection; aperture / shutter / manual exposure priority; metering mode selection; exposure compensation (ambient and flash); auto exposure bracketing; white balance bracketing; etc.

The point is, even entry level dSLRs have so many options that few photographers use (or even know about) all of them. These are very capable cameras and can do a lot more than most users realize. Once we know more about photography and our personal style there may be many reasons to upgrade from entry level but a lack of options is rarely the reason.

Oh yes, it also works in fully automatic and I use it in Program mode with no shame!

 

[DisneyGirl4188]

I highly recommend Pentax. I have had a k100 for years and just bought the k-x.

One of the main reasons I went with Pentax was the in body antishake. Canon and Nikon did not offer that and the lenses with it were $$$.

The k100 was also cheaper than the comparable cameras. My k-x with 18-55 kit lens was $488 (shipping included). I was going to get just the body, but it was almost $80 more, so I figured I'd get another lens.

I can't believe how lightweight the k-x is and I like how it feels in my hand. It is nice to try each camera out, so that you can see what suits you best.

 

[Mosca]

I agree 100% with sam_gordon and Snappy in OK and zackiedawg. There is no way I could recommend the brand that is right for me, to you. You are not me.

Go to a camera store. Hold the cameras. Take some sample pictures. Use the menus, that is VERY important, that the menus seem intuitive. Take your time, don't feel rushed. If you need to visit a different store to find a different brand, do it. Then visit a second time to be sure. Then get the camera that you feel most comfortable with. And don't look back. Because that is the one you will be happiest with and use the most.

You pick Pentax, Canon, Nikon, Sony, Olympus... regardless, you are getting one high quality piece of gear. There isn't a bad DSLR available, you can't get one. And they ALL have great glass available. Don't be knocked over by the Canon and Nikon premium glass. Sony has Zeiss, Olympus has Zuiko, and Pentax has DA Limited and Premium. You won't go wanting for premium glass, no matter what you choose, if you ever decide to get it. And if you never use anything other than the kit lens that comes with the camera, all the kit lenses are pretty good, too.

Edited to add: Don't buy a camera that you like a little less because it costs a little less. Long after the difference in price is forgotten, the little things that made you think that a particular camera wasn't the one you really wanted will still be there, nagging you. Buck up and get the one you want, first.

 

[photo_chick]

I agree with what some others have said.

Everyone has thier personal preference for brands. All of the entry level DSLR's out there will serve you well. In the end it should come down to the features you need, your budget and which one feels right to you.

Don't forget to factor in your budget for any extras you want.. memory cards, batteries, filters, lenses, bag... it adds up really fast.

 

[DisneyGirl4188]

Edited to add: Don't buy a camera that you like a little less because it costs a little less. Long after the difference in price is forgotten, the little things that made you think that a particular camera wasn't the one you really wanted will still be there, nagging you. Buck up and get the one you want, first.

I agree with that. My camera was less than the others and that was an added bonus. I knew that I wanted antishake and Pentax had it in body; if I went with the other companies I would have to pay a lot for those lenses with it. However, if you are completely on the fence and price is the tipping point, I'd go with the cheaper camera (I did and promptly spent the additional money on a 50mm 1.4 lens )

The initial money is a drop in the bucket when you consider all the gear you will probably end up buying.

 

[Mosca]

I agree with that. My camera was less than the others and that was an added bonus. I knew that I wanted antishake and Pentax had it in body; if I went with the other companies I would have to pay a lot for those lenses with it. However, if you are completely on the fence and price is the tipping point, I'd go with the cheaper camera (I did and promptly spent the additional money on a 50mm 1.4 lens )

The initial money is a drop in the bucket when you consider all the gear you will probably end up buying.

Yep.

For me, I'd settled on Canon, and I was tossed (at that time) between the XSi and the 40D. The specs were about the same, XSi being a year newer model was actually a little better specwise, but the 40D had far better ergonomics and was a lot more money. I took a deep breath, saved a couple more weeks, and got the one I wanted more, the 40D, and I've never regretted it.

 

[DizzyV6P]

Also see what kind your close friends have as well. A lot of my friends have Canon cameras and I chose my first Canon Digital Rebel based on the egronomics and features as well as many of my friends having the same camera. It also helped that we shared lenses and I was able to upgrade my lenses by buying used ones from a Canon pro friend.

In addition to trying the ones in the store, be sure to hit up your friends to try out their DSLR. Most of the ones in the store either have no lens, or are in poor condition, I find them useless as a demo. All they are good for are to see if it fits right in your hand.

As far as the differences between in-body stabilization vs. lense stabilization, you can google for reviews on that. The biggest difference are when you start getting lenses over 200+mm..that's where lense stabilization has a distinct advantage. For shooting outdoor sports, anything in the 70-200 f/4 range is suitable. Indoor sports, you'll need something like a 70-200 f/2.8 (this is where things get pricey). No matter which manufacturer you pick, a 70-200 f/2.8 lens will run you $1200-$1800.

Something new to consider is also HD Video. It's the latest rage among DSLR's so you might want to consider a DSLR that has HD Video as well. Canon's new T2i and Nikon's D5000 both have HD video. (1080p and 720p). Sony, Pentax and Olympus also have DSLR's with video.

The new 4/3rds "Pen" type cameras are also another consideration. Olympus Pen series (E-PL), Sgima DP2, and Sony Alpha Nexx are all new offerings giving you DSLR speed in a smaller package. However, with their limited lens offerings, its not for everyone.

Check out Costco or any other warehouse superstore for pacakge deals as well. YOu can frequently find good Canon and Nikon packages for under $1000 that gives you 2 nice lenses, camera case, and many other useful things for beginners.

Good luck with your search

 

[BoogasMom]

Thanks for all of the great advice so far! I'm sure in the coming months I will be visiting this board frequently with questions.....in the meantime, I have a really stupid one to pose......................

I agree with what some others have said.

Everyone has thier personal preference for brands. All of the entry level DSLR's out there will serve you well. In the end it should come down to the features you need, your budget and which one feels right to you.

Don't forget to factor in your budget for any extras you want.. memory cards, batteries, filters, lenses, bag... it adds up really fast.

What is a filter used for on a camera???? Yes, I asked it.........

 

[zackiedawg]

Filters can be used for many purposes. Some are just extra glass for protection, some cut back on UV light, some darken a bit to allow slower shutter speeds in bright light, some polarize to reduce glare or reflection or deepen skies, some alter colors...and so on. You don't need any, some effects can be replicated in processing, or you may like or want them.

 

[ukcatfan]

As far as the differences between in-body stabilization vs. lense stabilization, you can google for reviews on that. The biggest difference are when you start getting lenses over 200+mm..that's where lense stabilization has a distinct advantage.

Something new to consider is also HD Video. It's the latest rage among DSLR's so you might want to consider a DSLR that has HD Video as well. Canon's new T2i and Nikon's D5000 both have HD video. (1080p and 720p). Sony, Pentax and Olympus also have DSLR's with video.

You left out one really big difference in in-body vs. in lens stabilization. That would be cost. You basically get it free with Pentax, Sony, and Olympus and it works on every lens you put on the camera. With Canon and Nikon you pay for it per lens and it can be over $100 more per lens. Also, there are starting to be 3rd party lenses with in lens stabilization for Pentax, Sony, and Olympus so if you really want it you can get it.

I do not know about the other brands, but the Pentax K-x and K-7 have HD video.