DSLR Cam

[Seba]

Hi,

I am considering buying a camera for beginners, should be a DSLR and be useful for my various travelling!

Anyone any recommendations? or experience with for example Nikon D40 or D60 or canon EOS 450D?

Is Singapore a good place to buy in terms of pricing in comparison to Europe or eg HK? Where are cams most reasonable priced in SG?

Help and advice really appreciated!

TNX

Seba

[jpatokal]

If you want a travel camera, then don't get a DSLR, because they're big, bulky, heavy and a pain in the butt.

If you're starting photography, then don't get a DSLR, because they're expensive, complicated, and (compared to a point-and-shoot) your pictures will suck until you learn the settings and how to Photoshop the results.

Some travel pictures here:

http://photo.net/photos/jpatokal

Take a look at the first three sets. Can you tell me which of those were taken with a DSLR?

[AngryAngMo]

Always keep in mind, that buying a SLR doesnt automatically mean better quality in your pictures. Maybe from a technical point of view with higher resolution, but in the end the pictures are only as good as the photographer.

I got me the Canon EOS 400D as the starter model for SLR and was very confident with it.

I tried many photo shops in Singapore, but the one with the definately best customer service and prices, was "John 3:16" in Funan, its a small, personal shop, and they got many awards for their customer service already.

[jpatokal]

Always keep in mind, that buying a SLR doesnt automatically mean better quality in your pictures.

Just the opposite, I'd say. A point-and-shoot contains all sorts of fancy logic that second-guesses what you're trying to do and adjusts accordingly. An SLR, on the other hand, does exactly what you tell it to do. When I first got my SLR, I remember being shocked by how dark and dull the pictures were... until I realized that the default settings just take and store the picture with no adjustments at all, while my previous P&S automatically tweaked the dynamic range, brightness etc to make the picture "pop", and with a few mouse strokes in Photoshop/Gimp I could do the same (or something entirely different!) to the SLR pictures.

[smashme1984]

I agree, unless you decide that whatever you use aint enough and want to do some advanced photography, you should not get a DSLR, as you'll need to get serious about photography and invest more with extra kit and lenses in future.
Also agree that DSLR does'nt mean better photos, DSLR's are designed for professional photographers with special requirements, super high quality (megapixels) etc. For us consumers, its sometimes overkill, you'll just end up getting the same photos, not to mention having to lug bulky equipment all over. I've had some experience with using many cameras at one go with my company trip and realised that sometimes the point and shoot cameras producer better photos as their automated detectors / sensors and engines work really well!

My work is media related and I do photography, I have a DSLR, but most of the time i use my fixed lens semi slr. meaning its still slim, light, versatile, able to do most dslr funtions, and takes videos as well!!

[smashme1984]

Ok anyway, instead of debating on DSLR's or not, I did so cos you mentioned beginners, sometimes its alright to buy DSLRs for beginners, when you get really serious you might feel good you got one. For an older Nikon, go for a D70 maybe? Its really going at a good price, if budget aint an issue, at 2500+, you can get the newest spanking D90, with new technology thats really impressive, not to mention it takes High dEf Videos! nobody can fight that.

Nikon's aside, my experience from using various cameras taking similar shots at one go at same locations.. Canon produces the nicest, best colours.

[AngryAngMo]

jpatokal, yeah, actually thats what i mean, with a point and shoot, you swith it on, press your button and thats it, you get nice pictures, but thats its, with a SLR, you have to do all your adjustments on your own (which is much better, precise and will of course result in much better oictures) but as a newbie or beginner, it might be confusing and therefore doesnt mean you get better pictures immediately, only because the camera is of much higher quality!

[smashme1984]

Ah yes, I bump into that occasionally too, therefore I bought myself a semi pro! look for cameras that are in between, they are really great! gives you the option to point and shoot, turn the dial to M (manual) A (aperture), S(shutter) and you can shoot almost like a pro! I got myself a Sony Cybershot H10 for that purpose.

[Bremen]

I highly advise against a DSLR unless you're really in need of one. If you do think you need one, I'd avoid the Nikon D40/D40X/D60 as you need to buy the more expensive lenses to get autofocus.

I'd also advise looking beyond C and N. The best entry-level DSLR cameras for 2008 were released by Sony - the A200 and A350.

[dawgbyte]

Actually, one issue I have with Sony is that it is too "proprietary". The flash bracket and memory card is "unique", and most 3rd party accessories are defaulted to both Nikon and Canon.

I also do not advice D40-D60 because there are some lenses that it cannot use, and the camera body is smaller than most lens which affect the balance. I mean, its more practical to buy semi-pro than these toy-slr. But note that camera body (and those point-n-shoot) has a life of about 2-3 years, so its not an issue in the long run if you want to invest in lenses first.

As most mentioned, SLR does not make you a good photographer, but it is a good way to learn beyond point-n-shoot. DSLR photos also need post-process, unlike P&S. So if you feel you are serious, I do recommend SLR. And be prepared to do a lot of work (or perhaps enjoy the benefits of it).

For the price, if you are still looking, there is a forum for singapore photography which might help with your price. body, kit, lenses, flash, etc etc.. previous buyers post how much they paid from which store and what freebies comes after it, but know that if you are really serious, buying the camera is just a prologue to your overall expenses.

[purplepink]

I agree with smashme, and dawgbyte too.
You're all gonna need a point and shoot anyway, for the point and shoot days when you wanna go to a party and put the camera in your pocket, or pouch.. there are semi pros that are getting smaller and smaller these days.

the bottom line here is, think very hard before you decide on a DSLR, if you've got money to throw, buy both the compact cams and DSLRs, lol, you'll NEED both.

And if you have alot of money to blow, get the new Nikon D90, new engines, new filters, and to top it all, its a High definition video camera!!!!! craazy!

[dawgbyte]

As purplepink said, I use D70 for serious shoot, and a fuji P&S for party shoot.

Not to discourage but hidden cost after the camera are as follows:
flash ($300-$600), camera bag ($100, might need more than 1), UV filters for each lenses ($10), dry cabinet ($100), a few lenses ($$$$), lens cleaner, memory cards, batteries, and maybe some optional stuffs like photo-editing softwares, filters and diffusers. The cost of my camera is now about 15-20% of my total cost of photography equipments.

[pixfirewall]

just get the Panasonic Lumix LX-3...Point and shoot compact camera with DSLR capability and control...of course its SLR quality pics since its using Leica Lens..

Just to go Cathay Photo at Plaza peninsula..sell around 680 sing dollars

[jpatokal]

just get the Panasonic Lumix LX-3...Point and shoot compact camera with DSLR capability and control...of course its SLR quality pics since its using Leica Lens..

Let's just get one thing straight here: a SLR ("single-lens reflex") camera means that both the viewfinder and the film (digital or otherwise) see the same thing through one lens ("single lens"), and that a little mirror flips ("reflex") from the viewfinder to the film when you press the shutter. A camera is either built like this, in which case it's an SLR, or it doesn't, in which case it's not. Period.

[smashme1984]

Lol, agreed, as for the Panasonic Lumix 3, I second that camera, price is the same as one I got for my friend too, I saw really impressed by that camera! Not to mention its slightly slimmer than my Sony h10! the only one down side its the limited 3x zoom.