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Original poster

Recommendations for a digital SLR camera?? - Hubtodee??

20 replies

BudaBauble · 09/12/2006 12:18

Thinking of getting DH a digital SLR camera for Xmas as he has been muttering about getting himself one. Any recommendations?

Thanks!

OP posts:
SherlockLGJ · 09/12/2006 12:23

Have sent the link to him.

Audiologistmummy · 09/12/2006 12:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
BudaBauble · 09/12/2006 12:38

Thanks LGJ!!! (How's you BTW?)

Audiologistmummy - thanks too - will check it out - my Dad has a Nikon - will ask him which one. I know he is happy with it.

OP posts:
hub2dee · 09/12/2006 13:20

If he's got lots of Nikon lenses and is happy to share / lives close, that might be enough reason to get a Nikon !

Sadly, I know diddly-squat about their range.

The site to go for product reviews and super-knoweldgeable geeks is D P Review .

However, re: Canon you might like the EOS 300 / 350 / 400. The 400 is the latest and greatest.

A step up from there is the 20D / 30D (which I have and am selling for an upgrade )

I am out now, but could offer more advice / comments later if you want to ask anything specific.

hth

Original poster
BudaBauble · 10/12/2006 15:17

Thanks hub. No Nikon here - he has an old Pentax with same lenses - about 15 years old I reckon. Don't live nearby either - am in Budapest and Dad is in Dublin!

Will chcek out that site you mentioned.

OP posts:
hub2dee · 10/12/2006 17:42

No probs. If you're starting from scratch, a Canon EOS 400 is the latest 'consumer' Digital SLR. Massive mega pixels, dust cleaning function so the sensor should always be clean, and fantastic imaging chip (same chip as the 20D and 30D IIRC) - DIGIC II - should give you sweet images. The Family 'up' (my 20D now updated by the 30D with a slightly bigger rear LCD) gives slightly better build, nicer feel in the hands (especially for blokes IMHO) and faster frames per second (can be handy for shots of kids - the 400 has 3fps which is not bad), longer-lasting shutter, more direct manual control over all the bits you might like to twiddle.

However, good photos, especially indoors, often need decent lenses which can open quite far to let in a lot of light, and often, really, the body is secondary to the quality of 'glass' that you've got IYSWIM.

hth

Pixiefish · 10/12/2006 17:46

I have the canon 350 SLR and was the entry level SLR when i got it- there's a better one now. I love it- dead easy to use althought the manual settings will take some mastering- am off on a one day course in Feb to learn a bit about manual settings lol

hub2dee · 10/12/2006 18:05

You will have a fab time, Pixiefish and I'm sure your images will improve after you've mastered control over shutter speed / aperture / film speed etc. Plus you'll probably get to play with a few different lenses, which can make a MASSIVE difference to what photos you are able to take in given light etc.

Pixiefish · 10/12/2006 18:56

it's the lady that bought your lappy- she's holding the course and then there's scrapping afterwards (scrapbooking not fighting )

I am soooo looking forward to it. I love my SLR but I am so underusing him

hub2dee · 10/12/2006 19:31

Aha, I see your SLR is a boy, LOL.

Small world LOL. Say hi to her from me, and I am sure you will have a fab time. She has a great eye and obviously great control over her camera.

If you see my laptop, be sure to give it a kiss.

NotAnOtter · 10/12/2006 19:43

hub! You have email!

Pixiefish · 10/12/2006 19:45

is yours a girlie then hub?

I shall say hi to your lappy- I know that K is in love with him and is having fun playing around and learning how to use him.

Pixiefish · 10/12/2006 19:46

Oh and the gender thing probably comes from being Welsh where everything has a gender so a camera would be masculine in Welsh so it transfers lol

hub2dee · 10/12/2006 20:23

I've never tried to figure out the sex of my camera. It seems to be very androgynous to me LOL.

I didn't realise Welsh nouns have gender, like French. I was / am always hopeless at getting the right one !!!

K has name my laptop ('him') Matilda. poor boy.

Would you mind if I CATed you after your course to see if I can pick your brain on the gist of K's advice ? We can all improve, and we all do things a little differently !

hub2dee · 10/12/2006 20:24

NaO - have replied btw. Kick your daughter off the puter.

Pixiefish · 11/12/2006 08:06

no probs Hub- I think you may have my email from the summer although I have lost yours when I changed computers

Original poster
BudaBauble · 11/12/2006 13:40

Thanks hubtodee - hadn't even thought that DS's old lenses may be compatible but have checked the Pentaz website and it looks like they are - so decision sort of made! Will go for a Pentax.

Thanks again!

OP posts:
hub2dee · 11/12/2006 13:50

Just check whether the old lenses had autofocus, autoaperture control etc. (they may well have, I certainly presume modern Pentax lenses do but I know nothing about anything exept Canon. ).

Good luck ! dpreview.com undoubtedly has a review of whatever Pentax body you are considering.

hth

hub2dee · 11/12/2006 13:51

(Oh, and be aware that lens technology has improved in the last 15 years too !)

The old build quality tended to be higher but the new optical quality of the lens elements tend to be better, have more control over flare etc.

Original poster
BudaBauble · 11/12/2006 13:52

Am quite sure that new lenses will be purchased at some stage but at least he can play about a bit with the old ones for a while!

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