My first DSLR 300D or 20D

Hi all.

I'm after some advice on which level of camera would best suit my current and possible future requirements. Im very interested to take up photography, generally quite quick to pick things up and pretty ambitious.

My quandary is between a Canon 300/350D and a 20D. (budget approx £250-300 for full kit bag to begin with.) Not sure sure whether I should prioritise ease of use and preset modes or flexibility of settings. Should I be starting with an entry level and upgrading later or get hold of a more flexible bit of kit from the off.
I'd appreciate your thoughts.
Cheers

Both of those cameras are pretty old. If I were you I'd spend more, or wait and save more money to buy something newer.

For that price you'll get a used Pentax K-x and 18-55.

Try :

http://www.lcegroup.co.uk/

--
StephenG

I started with the 20D and IQ is very good in good light, but upper ISO has noise.If you can, move up to the 40D or above and you will be happier.

I got a 300d a few years ago, and loved it. Then someone asked me to take some pics at a wedding, and I ran into speed problems (2 or 3 raw pics in a row and the cam would freeze up until the buffer dumped the files to the card). So I bought a used 20d, which I still have. I haven't run into any limitations with it, and I shoot a lot. IQ on both cams is about the same, and really, just as good as the new stuff (my brother has the 50d and there really isn't any difference at normal viewing). I'm one who will hate it when the 20d dies and I have to upgrade. When I do it will be the 40d. The only thing that separates photographers in the last 5 or 6 years is composing skill, lenses, and post processing skills; the cam bodies just give you different features and speed.

Booteranicus said:

Hi all.

I'm after some advice on which level of camera would best suit my current and possible future requirements. Im very interested to take up photography, generally quite quick to pick things up and pretty ambitious.

My quandary is between a Canon 300/350D and a 20D. (budget approx £250-300 for full kit bag to begin with.) Not sure sure whether I should prioritise ease of use and preset modes or flexibility of settings. Should I be starting with an entry level and upgrading later or get hold of a more flexible bit of kit from the off.
I'd appreciate your thoughts.
Cheers

Click to expand...

Both of those models are very old, even if you can find one that works consider a newer model - better sensor, better ISO performance, features, etc.

I agree - things have moved on a long way since those cameras came out.

beagle1 said:

Both of those models are very old, even if you can find one that works consider a newer model - better sensor, better ISO performance, features, etc.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the info.

Over the last few hours my plan has changed a little.
I'm now looking for a set up to allow me to do some HD video recording.

My handycam will hopefully generate another £125 to the pot making my new budget £400 or there abouts.

Still, one key factor I need to cover is the ability to play with the detailed parameters of photography once my knowledge builds. Depth of feild, white balance etc are terms new to me at the moment but from what I pick up is that some entry level equipment has limitaions about how much the user can alter these to exactly suit the shot. Am I wrong here? Is this something which I'm likely to need to be able to do in the first few years of amatuer photography, indeed would I benefit from having preset modes to assist me? This I guess is my main hold up at the moment.

Secondly I'm now faced with trying to combine with HD video recording, which will only reduce my options.

Obviosuly I'm now to start my research again but I'd be gratefull of any pointers to get me going in the right direction.

Cheers

Or should I ditch that plan, keep the handycam and get a camera for photos?

If I were you I'd gather a bit more information about how digital photography works, and the different categories of cameras, and then look for a camera from a more informed position. Preset modes and full auto are fine, and all digital cameras have them. Cameras differ in the amount of manual control they offer. All DSLR's allow full manual control as well as preset modes, and full auto. Enthusiast, or prosumer compacts also allow full manual alongside preset modes and full auto. I usually suggest that people new to photography spend time shooting full auto for a while to just have some fun taking photos, and then try out the various preset scene modes, such as Portrait, Landscape etc, after having gained a bit of confidence. Obviously there other more advanced modes you can move on to as interest and confidence grows.

Have a look at, and handle some enthusiast/prosumer compact cameras in a shop, and then have a look at some entry-level DSLR's and see what you think of the form factor, weight, etc.

There is another category - Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Cameras, but look at the DSLR's and enthusiast/prosumer compacts first.

Once you're familiar with these different categories of cameras, you'll be better able to think about choosing a camera which will meet your needs.

Booteranicus said:

Thanks for the info.

Over the last few hours my plan has changed a little.
I'm now looking for a set up to allow me to do some HD video recording.

My handycam will hopefully generate another £125 to the pot making my new budget £400 or there abouts.

Still, one key factor I need to cover is the ability to play with the detailed parameters of photography once my knowledge builds. Depth of feild, white balance etc are terms new to me at the moment but from what I pick up is that some entry level equipment has limitaions about how much the user can alter these to exactly suit the shot. Am I wrong here? Is this something which I'm likely to need to be able to do in the first few years of amatuer photography, indeed would I benefit from having preset modes to assist me? This I guess is my main hold up at the moment.

Secondly I'm now faced with trying to combine with HD video recording, which will only reduce my options.

Obviosuly I'm now to start my research again but I'd be gratefull of any pointers to get me going in the right direction.

Cheers

Click to expand...

If you are going to record a lot of video look at the sony a33.

Cheers CG,

I get what your saying, I'll be taking your advise on all counts. Particularly investigating the manual settings on my compact, (which to be honest I've been naive too,) sounds like a great place to start. I'll be reading the a33 review too cheers.

Thanks to everyone for your time ANC advise. This site is fantastic. I'll certainly be using it more as I progress.

Thanks again

Boots

Booteranicus said:

Hi all.

I'm after some advice on which level of camera would best suit my current and possible future requirements. Im very interested to take up photography, generally quite quick to pick things up and pretty ambitious.

My quandary is between a Canon 300/350D and a 20D. (budget approx £250-300 for full kit bag to begin with.) Not sure sure whether I should prioritise ease of use and preset modes or flexibility of settings. Should I be starting with an entry level and upgrading later or get hold of a more flexible bit of kit from the off.
I'd appreciate your thoughts.
Cheers

Click to expand...

20d

I baught Canon 550D/T2i. and I like it ver much.

Booteranicus said:

Cheers CG,

I get what your saying, I'll be taking your advise on all counts. Particularly investigating the manual settings on my compact, (which to be honest I've been naive too,) sounds like a great place to start. I'll be reading the a33 review too cheers.

Thanks to everyone for your time ANC advise. This site is fantastic. I'll certainly be using it more as I progress.

Click to expand...

in the meantime you will be saving for a more current model DSLR !