I am a complete novice at DSLRs, and I want to pick up my first camera and need your advice. I have done so much research it makes my head spin, but any real word advice would be great. I made a comparison chart of the pros and cons of each of the 3 cameras I'm deciding among, which I won't bore you with because it is all old information to anyone in this form. Essentially my 3 choices are not direct competitors, but they all sort of fall within my budget (around or below 1000).

1. Sony DSLR a300
2. Nikon D80
3. Canon EOS xSi

My main concern is that the a300 is cheap enough to allow me to invest in another lens besides the kit lens, but I have read in a number of places that using the kit lens for both the D80 and the xSi produces better images/less noise/more faithful color than the Sony. Obviously technique is important, but do you guys think as a novice, I will be able to get more out of the Nikon or Canon than the Sony?

 

Hey,

I am a pretty big camera nut, and I hope I can give you atleast some advice.



Personally, I would steer clear of Sony. Although they make great products, Canon or Nikon are your best choices in the world of digital SLRs.


I personally am a Canon guy. I have a Rebel XT with a 28-135mm lens and 10-22mm super wide angle lens. I really LOVE my Rebel XT, and I would say it was a perfect beginner camera when I purchased it two years ago. I notice you listed the XSi. In order to save some money, perhaps you should look for a used XT? Honestly, the upgrades on the XSi probably are not worth the price tag, and the XT and XTi are decent bodies. The lens is more important anyways. You could probably pick up a decent used XT/XTi body, and still get a nice lens under budget.

The stock XT/XTi/XSi lens is meh...there are much better out there, but for a stock lens, for a beginner, it gets the job done.


As far as the Nikon goes, my friend just picked up a used D80. I played around with it the other night. It is a great camera as well that takes sharp pictures. Hopefully someone with experience with Nikon will chime in here for that one.


Just an FYI, you have been forewarned. dSLR photography, even as a hobby, gets expensive fast . From printing, to software (CS3), to lens ($$), it can burn a hole in your pocket fast. However, it's been WELL worth it for me.

Let me know if you have questions!

 

Thanks so much for your input, I really appreciate it. As far as buying used, I understand your suggestion for looking for a used body but as this is my first camera I wanted to buy the body/lens new (just my personal thing).

How much does a new 28-135 or a 10-22 run you? How about used? Would it be better to pick up more specialized lenses or prime lenses and just the body, or should I start with the kit lens?

I wasn't sold on Sony at first. Let it be said that I have been on a huge anti-Sony podium for a very long, because I have had terrible experiences with their computers (3 Vaios!), their product strategy with the PS3/PSP pisses me off to no end, and their Televisions are highly overrated for the price you are paying. The last sony product that delivered the goods for me was my original Red and Green "My First Walkman" that I got in 1987. That said, I only became interested in Sony DSLRs because: 1) they bought Konica minolta which is a name I trust, 2) have in body image stabilization which the Nikon and Canon don't have at this price range, and 3) are priced so aggressively with their feature set that it is impossible to ignore.

I honestly originally really wanted to go Canon or Nikon, and there are still reasons to go there, but there seem to be just as many reasons to go to sony (esp since I can spend a little more on lens with the cheaper sony body). Perhaps the bottom line (other than price) is what camera will consistently produce the best pictures across the spectrum of skill level (I know I know, impossible to answer).

I understand your point about it being an expensive hobby! My next savings will be going towards CS3 - I assume it is worth it, since I will use it for dig photography, and there are many applications for my comic book art.

 

I got the D60 a month ago and I am very much satisfied with it.

 

Thats awesome. Any more info on it? Any reason not to go for the D80 (right at the tip of my budget)?

Any input on the live view LCDs of the Sony and Canon? I feel like this would be a great feature for setting up really low shots or taking pics in a huge crowd (or any other situation at normal height since I tower at 5'1"). Anyone have good/bad experiences with them?

 

Well I started a thread like yours and members over here mentioned that the newest one is the D60 and its pretty nifty and small, carries many features and can be good for a beginner or an amateur in this field. I got it from amazon which came with the bundle 18-55 Vr Nikkor Lens. Its a pretty reasonable kit for 686 dollars including a 8GB SD card.

 

Konica Minolta is good, and I was unaware that Sony bought them. That certainly adds to the credibility of the Sony dSLR line. However, I have no experience with the line (except an old Minolta) so I should refrain from commenting further.


As far as Canon and Nikon goes, you can definitely get by with only the kit lens. When you feel like you have out grown it in the future, you can always pick up another lens.

As far as pricing on my two lenses:
28-135 MM Canon with Image Stability - $315-$350 Used ($435 New IIRC)
10-22 MM Canon - $600-$700 Used ($700+ New)

That only breaks the ice on lenses...when you get into the L series, you are looking at $1000-$2000 for just a lens.

Other options are off-brand lenses (Sigma) that are compatible with Canon and Nikon bodies. I am a brand whore though, so I have yet to test the waters with that.



If I were in your situation, I'd go for the XSi package. However, I definitely have bias in favor of Canon.