Where to Start??

[wisnieea]

I am looking into buying my first DSLR camera. I have been doing some research on random websites but I dont really know where to look for basic and reliable information.

Any suggestions on where to start would be excellent. I prefer websites to books! (I think its University syndrome.. I have way to many books lying around that I should be reading already.)

Thanks

P.S. I have REALLY enjoyed everyones pictures on this board!!!

 

[NateNLogansDad]

Go to some camera shops and see what feels good in your hands.

 

[RBennett]

You can go here for a list of almost every camera and it will give you reviews, information on each one, and even sample shots of a lot of them! It is a pretty reliable website that we use on here. And the tip of handling each one is a good suggestion too; make sure that it feels comfortable for you. Just so we can maybe help you more, what exactly are you wanting to do with it? Indoor sports shots? Outdoor night photography? Etc?

 

[wisnieea]

I travel a lot so that would be the primary use. I am also the picture taker of my group of friends and family so I will be taking lots of indoor/outdoor shots of people as well.

I really enjoy photography and want a camera that I can learn and improve with. And something I wont need to upgrade for a while.

 

[sdshutterbug]

If you're thinking of going with Canon http://www.the-digital-picture.com/reviews is a great place to learn about lenses and bodies. I find the author's reviews to be very honest, unbiased, and informative. He also reviews third party lenses. There's really no rhyme or reason to choosing a brand; they all have their pros and cons. Canon and Nikon have the largest selection of lenses and accessories as well as resources so this is why I switched from Sony to Canon.

 

[Daisy14]

If you're thinking of going with Canon http://www.the-digital-picture.com/reviews is a great place to learn about lenses and bodies. I find the author's reviews to be very honest, unbiased, and informative. He also reviews third party lenses. There's really no rhyme or reason to choosing a brand; they all have their pros and cons. Canon and Nikon have the largest selection of lenses and accessories as well as resources so this is why I switched from Sony to Canon.

I agree. I am a beginner as well. I just purchased our firs DSLR a few weeks ago and can tell you that i am more than happy ith the Pentax Kx I bought. Its really easy to se so far, and old Pentax lenses still work with it.

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

I travel a lot so that would be the primary use. I am also the picture taker of my group of friends and family so I will be taking lots of indoor/outdoor shots of people as well.

I really enjoy photography and want a camera that I can learn and improve with. And something I wont need to upgrade for a while.

With a DSLR you will almost certainly find yourself needing faster glass. I thought the same when I first bought my D80. Now I have a D90 and a whole slew of lenses I needed to get to get the type of shots I wanted, and a whole list of another slew of lenses that I want and can't afford or justify the expense for yet! Good luck!

 

[zackiedawg]

Just to show how the brand doesn't matter (you've had some chime in from Canon, Pentax, Nikon so far), I went with Sony DSLRs as they were comfortable to me, I liked the larger, slightly heavier builds that felt solid to me, and I liked the ability to use lots of inexpensive legacy lenses in the Minolta A-mount (most all DSLRs allow you to use older lenses...though some entry-level models may not have full compatibility).

For me, Pentax & Sony had a slight advantage over Canon & Nikon for cheap lenses, as both have their stabilization in-body, allowing you to buy any older lens and still get the benefits of stabilization...and even including stabilized primes that aren't even made in Canon or Nikon mount.

When it comes down to the basics though - great image quality, flexibility, low light and action capability, lens availability - it really doesn't matter what brand name is on the front, at least with the 'big 5' manufacturers of DSLRs. Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Olympus, or Sony...they're all just fine, all pretty close to eachother, all have entry level and more advanced models, and in the end, you may just like the way one of them feels in your hand, or one could have an unbeatable sale price. Check out the features, ergonomics, lenses you want to use, and price...let brand name be one of the last reasons you choose a camera for, as it is one of the least important.

 

[james786]

I thinks a shopkeeper can guide you right in this matter. Or you can ask a nearest photographer about this.

 

[saturndb]

I would go to a store (bestbuy or whatever) and play with the cameras you are considering. You might find that some are to big or small for your liking, or you do not like the control layout on one compared to a different one. Nothing can help more then using the camera before you invest your hard earned money. After you narrow it down to 2 go online a google for some reviews.

Have fun with your new camera!