Which SLR camera to buy

I'm thinking of buying a SLR camera (price range 500-700 €) suitable for everyday pictures (aka a nice zoom would be great) but which would also allow me to do nice makro shots. Unfortunately, I have no clue on what camera to buy, the photo magazines and provided technical data is quiet confusing and I'm also not sure how important it is to chose the right brand (Canon,Olympus,...).
So, if someone has any recommendations, suggestions or experience about a great camera to buy or about the camera you bought, please tell me all about it

You'll need two separate lenses, a zoom one (which you can get as part of a kit together with the SLR body) and a separate macro lens. The macro function on a zoom lens is no good for proper macro photography.

Assuming millions can't be wrong, just go for a Canon and be done with it. The 450D came out just a few weeks ago and features some pretty advanced technology for an entry-level camera.

This kit comes with a nice image-stabilising lens: Amazon: Canon 450D

Nikon D60 is a very good start-up SLR! We are huge nikon fans and most pro's I know are too!

I have a very nice Canon which I think is the same one Keydeck has however I can´t find the model number written on it anywhere. Its about one year old and lookign at the internet is also a 450D EOS.

However he (as well as being a great photographer) has a whizz bang Zoom Lens I have been meaning to ask him about as I am getting frustrated with the limitations of mine (which says EFS 18-55mm on it) and is the bog standard one it came with.

So, another vote for Canon!

I STB's suggestion. Canon are excellent and good value-for-money.

Do you have familiarity with other digital cameras? Canons, for example, use the same menu system which will help you pick-up the camera faster if you've already used one of their simple pocket digi-cameras.

I have a Panasonic FZ18, and while its not a DSLR, it does pretty much everything, from wide-angle to up to 28x optical zoom. It has fantastic optics, easily the best in its class. Its light, well made, and about half the price you want to pay.

I think you are right, in the long term I should buy another lens just for makro photography. But my first aim is to get a camera which offers the best base for an entry-level hobby-photographer

Bumpy, so far I only used a normal digicam (Casio) which I like for everyday shots but as it only has a 3x digital zoom, you are not getting far with that and it's frustrating when you want to take pictures of objects further away that 20m and everthing gets blurry.

Another question thoug in general to everyone:
About the RAW format, can I also switch it off on SLRs or do I have to use it all the time? (seeing that those files are huge and I'm not sure how large my SD card need to be in order to fit at least a couple of them on the card...and can I use 'normal' SD cards? (coming from only using digicams so far)

I don't intend to get defensive on behalf of a multi-national corporation, but about 90% of sports and news photographers use Canon...


Probably the 400D, which is the one the 450D is replacing. That's what I have as well. I looked into the 450D but decided it wasn't worth upgrading.


I'm going to replace that kit lens when I'm in America this summer because I'm not overly impressed by it; it's OK but nothing more. But the kit lens I linked to above is better.

You can switch it off and just save the images as JPEGs. But if you use Photoshop or other software to edit your photos, then you'll soon come to love RAW. Memory is now very cheap, so stock up on a couple of 4GB cards and you'll be set. An average RAW image is about 12MB. What type of card you need depends on the camera; one of the big differences of the 450 over the 400 is that it uses SD rather than CF cards.

Yeah, you need to go bigger on this one.


I've got the Nikon D200 and you can change the target format to JPG, TIFF, etc and the density of the photos. So, yes you can switch it...

Thank you very much, guys, for your input and recommendations. I think I am going to buy the Canon 450D as it seems to be a good beginner's cam which possibilities to upgrade lateron (lenses,...). Have fun with your cameras and maybe see you around at a TT photo event some time

Olympus E-510, got it from Saturn for 666 Euro a couple of months ago. It comes with 2 lenses and it takes very nice photos.

The Nikon D-40 is a very good beginner's SLR and they've got a great deal going right now at Conrad for €530 (includes extra 55-200mm lens).

If you want a good DSLR is going to come down to either a Nikon or Canon and which ever you choose is what you you'll stick with for life (due to lens purchases). Its a bit like weather you want a BMW or a Mercedes. Both are great.

Personally, I use a Nikon and have always been happy with it.

I'm currently in the processing of shelling out some money for a SLR, and found a great store in Munich that let's you rent the camera against a fee (starting at 39 Euro per day).
Still better than owning a camera I might dislike after a few days.

Photo Sauter

The staff actually knows what they are talking about, unlike the big electronics chains.

The New olypus E3 is worth a look..

Big Bucks, but well worth it!

I think you might want to discuss your impression of Sauter with Fallen Angel . . .

Yeah, Sauter's great. If you see that little punk sales guy with the embarrassingly bad hair and the attitude to match, punch him square in the face and tell him Fallen Angel sends her regards.

You can't go wrong with Canon or Nikon and has already been said, once you choose one of these you'll probably stay with that manufacturer for life.
So take time to choose and make sure it's the one you're happy with.

When you buy lenses for your camera, try to get the best you can afford and don't compromise on quality.
MT

There's a reason we call the place "Sauteuer". They're fucking overpriced as hell and, as Fallen Angel can confirm, their people suck.

However, rental is a good option which will let you see the quality, try the features and determine if the feel is right (some bodies are awkward or heavy). It's well known around here that I'm a Canon doggie (as are the majority of professionals) but in the consumer SLR class Nikon, Olympus and Sony are putting out excellent equipment. If you have no intention of ever moving up to the higher class cameras then check some of those out. However, if you think you might get more involved then you probably want a Canon; the pro, consumer and "prosumer" cameras all take the EF lenses and only the top two lines (EOS 1 and 5) don't take the EF-S lenses. The differentiation isn't due to price gouging; EF lenses can focus on a full frame sensor, available only in the high-end bodies.

woof.

I have a 35mm automatic Canon Sureshot bought in 1989. It worked well for 8 years or so, but then the automatic focus and distance sensor packed in and now the pictures it takes are no better than those with a disposable camera.

Well that told us. The 90% of professional photographers who use Canon are obviously wrong then.

Complaining about a consumer-level pocket cam ("digi") that worked for EIGHT years? WTF?

woof.

Canon is simply the best. What Nikon is to the antique 35mm, Canon is to digital.