I am thinking of getting a second hand DSLR for a start. Can anyone who's kind enough to give me advice on which camera is good enough as a beginner? I do not have much knowledge on the functions & features of each camera models.
canon, nikon, sony. cant go wrong with each of them.I am thinking of getting a second hand DSLR for a start. Can anyone who's kind enough to give me advice on which camera is good enough as a beginner? I do not have much knowledge on the functions & features of each camera models.
I am thinking of getting a second hand DSLR for a start. Can anyone who's kind enough to give me advice on which camera is good enough as a beginner? I do not have much knowledge on the functions & features of each camera models.
I am thinking of getting a second hand DSLR for a start. Can anyone who's kind enough to give me advice on which camera is good enough as a beginner? I do not have much knowledge on the functions & features of each camera models.
Visit your nearest Courts to have a hands-on. If you can, go to their Mega Store, they have almost all models on display for customers to play around. There are no annoying salesmen watching over you so you can play to your heart's content. Other electronics stores do not have DSLRs on display that you can fiddle with,
roque said:Hi gerigoh,
I suppose you have already made up your mind you want a DSLR. For me, this decision wasn't an easy one to make. Please allow me to share.
With the price of DSLRs so low, it's very easy to rush into one and get overwhelmed by the complexity. I personally feel learning the basics first is better. Cameras come and go, the technology never stays stagnant but what makes a good photograph will always remain, such as composition. And you do want to build up these basic skills first. That's why I personally found it beneficial to learn the ropes using a simple but good point and shoot first. Using something so simple, I learnt the techniques rather than relied on the technology. I believed that if I can't take good pictures with a point-and-shoot, I don't think I will in a DSLR.
I shot exclusively on a point-and-shoot for 3 years, and I finally got frustrated with it. During this time, the fear of missing out a good shot pushed me to push the camera to its limits. I was pleasantly surprised how far it can bring you if you pushed yourself and you pushed the camera. I eventually felt inhibited but that meant I'm ready to graduate to something more advanced and the limitations of the point-and-shoot also allowed me to know what I wanted in a DSLR. That really made selecting a DSLR with all those fancy features a lot easier.
But that's another story. All I'm saying is, do think about whether a DSLR is necessarily your best option at this point.
If it is, then do note that unlike buying a point and shoot, buying a DSLR is an investment. You are not only buying a camera, you are buying an entire system.
Therefore cost is a very important consideration. DSLRs are already expensive but you'll be surprised how much its supporting crew will cost. In the long run, the body of the DSLR is actually just the tip of your money spent.
You must also consider hidden costs. Do not just look at the price of a DSLR kit. You will also need high speed memory cards, cleaning kit, bag and dry cabinet. All these can add significant cost to your investment, perhaps S$200 or more. While some of these are usually given as freebies, from my own observation, what vendors dish out as freebies differ significantly. If you are picky about brands and quality, then you are likely to go out and purchase these items above what was given as freebies.
You might quickly venture out into getting additional things like tripod, lens hood, filters and even better lenses. If you are starting photography from scratch, then this is not an issue, you are likely to only invest in these items a while later. However if you have some experience with point and shoots, you are likely to progress quite quickly. By experience, I do not mean taking pictures at family gatherings. I mean trying to take some artistic shots etc.
I don't believe in rushing into buy digital products. The more you acquaint yourself with market information, the more you are likely to identify a good buy. The market price of a DSLR is rather standard. You can find an extensive list in the price guide. Many people belittle the freebies, but perhaps that's cos they are seasoned photographers who have no need for these freebies. But for a beginner like yourself, they will make a huge difference in the start-up cost.
You are entering the market at a good time. Sitex is coming up, the holiday sales period is starting. If I were you, I'll spend a good amount of time this next few days doing the following:
Peruse the wealth of information on this portal (including equipment discussion) to find out which camera excites you more,
Speak to your friends who have DSLRs,
Visit your nearest Courts to have a hands-on. If you can, go to their Mega Store, they have almost all models on display for customers to play around. There are no annoying salesmen watching over you so you can play to your heart's content. Other electronics stores do not have DSLRs on display that you can fiddle with,
Read the Straits Times Saturday edition. There are a lot of advertisements, especially for DSLRs.
The purpose of doing your homework is to:
Find out what are the features you are looking for, and what fancy feature you can live without.
- Find out which brand you are more interested in. At the beginner level, not all brands are equal. Experienced users here have testified that they do not switch camps once they have decided on one, and if they do, it's a painful and expensive affair.
- Find out which DSLR actually suits your budget.
- Find out what is its market price, and hence what is a good deal.
The more you read, the more you are able to have a good gauge of what the market price is and what freebies you can expect. It may be excessive but I hate the feeling of finding a better deal the day after I buy my digital products.
Finally, do also consider buying from a reputable vendor and building a good long term relationship with them. Not only will they give long term customers the best price, you can also tap into their experience and advice.
I liken a DSLR camera system to an F1 Racing Team. It's more than just the driver and the car, it's a serious investment into the whole set up.
Good luck!