Recommendation for a first time DSLR buyer.
- Thread starter Ignatius Yen
- Start date
Photocurious
New Member
Sony has some really good DSLR in their current batch.
I used to think Sony DSLR is crap and boy I was wrong. I have a friend using the Sony a55 and a a77. Both are fast, easy to shoot, newbie friendly, and renders the best colors in pictures I seen so far. Many of my friend's are ditching their old brands for Sony. I'm gonna stick to my brand thou... Because I'm used to it and I'm a little more towards sentimental kind.
Give the sony some consideration and try them out
I used to think Sony DSLR is crap and boy I was wrong. I have a friend using the Sony a55 and a a77. Both are fast, easy to shoot, newbie friendly, and renders the best colors in pictures I seen so far. Many of my friend's are ditching their old brands for Sony. I'm gonna stick to my brand thou... Because I'm used to it and I'm a little more towards sentimental kind.
Give the sony some consideration and try them out
pbear1973
New Member
+1
Body also doesn't really matter. Espy if you're new to DSLR. As long as can control aperture, shutter speed and ISO can liao. Developing the skill set is much more important, so can use the saved $$$ to take course. Lenses are the next most important. When you are comfortable with your hobby get a few really great primes like the 35mm f/1.8 (I'm a Nikonian and the f/1.4 is insanely expensive - dunno about Canon).
Unlike what Ken Rockwell says, tripod is also important if you want get night shots. I'm still using a cheapo tripod but if you think you will be shooting in windy conditions, much better to get a $400 CF tripod. If you want to capture those dreamy water shots, an ND filter is also very important. To get nice blue skies and to cut reflections get a good polarizing filter. All these are worth much more than a fancy body where you don't use more than 50% its capability.
And of course a dry-cab as someone else mentioned. If you cannot/will not buy a dry-cab, don't buy cameras. Not compulsory but to make your post-processing easier you can consider getting an excellent workflow tool like Lightroom 3.
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Consider mirrorless camera options like the Sony NEX and Samsung NX. Both use APS-C sensors inside them and so match the quality of the DSLRs you have mentioned. The main advantage is that they are small. Small is beautiful. You will take a lot more photos and have more fun.
Samsung especially have some beautiful lenses out now, including a stunning 85mm macro at a reasonable price.
Alternatively micro 4/3rd mirrorless options produced by Panasonic and Olympus are a great alternatives as well if you don't mind the slightly smaller sensor.
Samsung especially have some beautiful lenses out now, including a stunning 85mm macro at a reasonable price.
Alternatively micro 4/3rd mirrorless options produced by Panasonic and Olympus are a great alternatives as well if you don't mind the slightly smaller sensor.
You forgot to add Pentax K-01 (APS-C) to the list. Wide range of small primes avaliable for the system.
You forgot to add Pentax K-01 (APS-C) to the list. Wide range of small primes avaliable for the system.
Is it available in SG already?
I am suspicious of the pricing. Any camera with this type of fancy retro design is usually priced at a premium to attract those types who like the old fashioned/retro look. Pentax Q was also way overpriced given the tiny sensor inside - maybe targeting those Pentax enthusiasts who are brand smitten.
If you don't have existing lenses, and if you don't mind processing RAW, then Samsung's NX series has been the best value for money mirrorless APS-C for the last two years I think. Very sharp and fast pancake lenses offered at half the price compared to the competition. Only problem is they are not an established brand, and they suck at marketing.
Anyway I will give Pentax a chance when I see the pricing. The pancake kit lens looks very nice! But the other K-mount pancakes tend to be expensive actually! :-/
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Supposedly ~$900 (with the 40mm XS pancake; a 9.2mm thick lens) or under...
should know in a week or two
Its a EP3 on steroids of sorts (ASP-C (k5 sensor);Pentax colors, on-camera SR and drive motor; focus peaking; legacy K-mount support; but bigger)
DA limiteds aren't that expensive ($400+ to 700+). All metal high quality build, sharp and contrasty. Not some cheap plastic barrel lens.
Agree that Samsung is real good for the money and real nice smallish lenses (the 1st to do so for APS-C MILC too), but I gave up on waiting for the NX20 (expecting a better sensor than the NX11); hand itchy and got GF1/G3 instead in the meantime.
They really should buck up on the marketing here in SGP, not as if they don't have the money to do so.
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$900 for the Pentax with all those features would be a steal, if it was actually sold at that price here. Sadly SG everything gets marked up!
I have the NX10. The sensor performance is good if you shoot RAW and post process. Sensor performance is misrepresented in dpreview.com's review - unfocused shots - not corrected by dpreview despite complaints.
NX10 (and NX11) sensor performance (especially dynamic range) should be better than the G3. But maybe only marginally so and hard to notice in real life.
My main concern was the lens. NX10 comes with the 30mm kit lens (45mm effective field of view). I think this is a nice all-round range for street shooting.
The 40mm DA on offer with the Pentax is a little more tighter, but I suppose it is not a bad range to pimp around in.
I have the NX10. The sensor performance is good if you shoot RAW and post process. Sensor performance is misrepresented in dpreview.com's review - unfocused shots - not corrected by dpreview despite complaints.
NX10 (and NX11) sensor performance (especially dynamic range) should be better than the G3. But maybe only marginally so and hard to notice in real life.
My main concern was the lens. NX10 comes with the 30mm kit lens (45mm effective field of view). I think this is a nice all-round range for street shooting.
The 40mm DA on offer with the Pentax is a little more tighter, but I suppose it is not a bad range to pimp around in.
Its a different flange distance and mount. So cannot.
Ignatius Yen
New Member
Not going onto the post in a few days yielded a shitload of posts. Thanks to everyone who commented and giving me their comments and criticism. 
Hahaha. Shall decide on the DSLR once I go and molest the sets 
Hahaha. Shall decide on the DSLR once I go and molest the sets 
shierwin
Senior Member
I fell in love with 3 women. Which one should I pick? Please advise.
1, Chinese girl
2, Indian girl
3, Eurasion girl
4, None of the above
Thanks again for your feedback....................
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