which should be the beginner DSLR for me?

[gavin01]

This is Gavin. I'm a newbie. Which one should I buy to start with?

 

[Huck344]

Do you have a budget? What are you looking to shoot?

If you just want an entry level, I would probably say the Nikon D3400 or the Canon Rebel T5. Both can be purchased for around $500 with an 18-55 kit lens.

 

[Mark S Abeln]

This is Gavin. I'm a newbie. Which one should I buy to start with?

Hi Gavin,

Do you have any experience with photography? What kinds of photos and what subjects are you planning to photograph?

As a beginner, I'd definitely start with something inexpensive just to see if you'd like photography.

Take a look at this list:

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dpreview.com

 

[kli]

This is Gavin. I'm a newbie. Which one should I buy to start with?

May want to back up and figure out whether or not it's really a dSLR that's going to fit what/how you want to shoot and your budget, or whether a fixed-lens compact, mirrorless interchangeable lens, or dSLR are the best fit.

Any interchangeable lens camera means you're probably going to be buying multiple lenses--some of which can easily cost more than the camera body. If you plan on going interchangeable lens, I'd say make sure you have a total budget of at least $1000-$2000 dollars. The body and the kit lens are just the start of your camera system. Bags, filters, lenses, flash, tripod--it all adds up with surprising ease. Consider the starting kit as 1/2 to 1/3 of your total cost.

Mirrorless is typically smaller and lighter than dSLR gear, and just as capable for most types of shooting (fast action/supertelephot; it depends). My Canon bag weighed about four times what my micro four-thirds bag does.

A fixed-lens camera means you have to compromise on what glass is on the camera, but it's also pretty much buy cards and batteries for it, and you're mostly done spending.

To my mind, there are only three features you need in a camera for "serious" photography:

• M(anual) mode so you can explicitly control exposure with iso, aperture, and shutter speed settings.
• RAW capability, so you have the most data to work with in post-processing.
• A flash hotshoe, so you can go Strobist easily.

What's your budget? What do you want to shoot? How much are you planning on shooting (i.e., are you a full-time photography student or assistant planning to go pro, or a hobbyist?) How convenient/small do you need the camera to be?

 

[stevenj2]

With no other info.from you, Pentax K 70.

If a friend or relative uses any brand, try that out if you may, before you buy any

 

[Bruce McL]

Panasonic GX85 with 12-60 lens

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1280824-REG/panasonic_dmc_gm85mk_lumix_dmc_g85_mirrorless_micro.html

 

[photosen]

Depends. What do you want to shoot? How many opportunities will you have to shoot? How much time and effort do you think you'd want to devote to it? You can do a lot with very basic gear, a DSLR or mirrorless gives you the advantage of giving you more control and getting out of the way.

Chose your subjects, research which focal lengths work best for them, see what lenses you can afford for those focal lengths, then choose the camera for those lenses.

Good luck!

 

[tedolf]

Gavin, think long and hard before you start off with an optical view camera as your first serious camera.

Tedolph

 

[PhotoTeach2]

Your first dSLR ... should NOT, (repeat NOT), be a dSLR .... period

DSLR's were necessary 60+ years ago for wider and longer lenses.

BUT ... new technology has enabled MirrorLess to do the same thing .... and the same thing BETTER.

MirrorLess are easier/faster for "beginners" to learn on and eventually get better images with easy/fast ETTR for more optimum exposures with less noise and better IQ.

But ... what is your budget ???

And do you want "interchangeable" lenses ??? ... or can you accept a single fixed lens with equal or GREATER zoom range ???

Do you want the ability to do video ???

 

[RSSrsvp]

Your first dSLR ... should NOT, (repeat NOT), be a dSLR .... period

DSLR's were necessary 60+ years ago for wider and longer lenses.

BUT ... new technology has enabled MirrorLess to do the same thing .... and the same thing BETTER.

I totally agree!

MirrorLess are easier/faster for "beginners" to learn on and eventually get better images with easy/fast ETTR for more optimum exposures with less noise and better IQ.

But ... what is your budget ???

The question of the day! ;-)

If the budget is limited he can always look at used and refurbished equipment that is sold by a reputable company with a return policy and a warranty. There is also the option of buying older, slightly dated cameras that are brand new where the prices have really dropped on them.

And do you want "interchangeable" lenses ??? ... or can you accept a single fixed lens with equal or GREATER zoom range ???

Gee, with a question like that I wonder where this is headed? :-D

If the OP wants an ILC he should look at the entry level m43 lineup with one or two kit lenses to start with. There are many excellent m43 cameras which will have all of the features that will allow him room to grow once he improves his skills. He should definitely look for one with IBIS.

If he wants to carry an all-in-one solution there are many options from several brands that are excellent but he should always consider the weight of a camera that he will be carrying for a considerable amount of time which IMO is an important factor. Not everyone wants to carry a 2 pound monster around their neck or shoulders when out for a day!

Do you want the ability to do video ???

Virtually every new camera shoots video. Basically it is a question of the needs of the OP, 1080p or 4k.

 

[baloo_buc]

There will be a mob that will tell you that mirrorless are the best thing since the sliced bread. Truth is that they are quite good but for the same endowment and performance you will pay between 25% and 100% more for it (depending on the brand). Also the lens lines are not so well developed (Micro Four Thirds being the most developed). Mirroless will some things better than dSLRs but also they will do some thing worse than dSLR. For the same sensor size the weight is not significantly lower and because some mirroless bodies have small form they will be unbalanced with almost all lenses.

First you should give us a budget and why you have chosen dSLR. What you want to use camera for?

As a beginner I would look at entry level cameras from all manufacturers (both dSLR and mirrorless). I would advise against a fixed lens camera as they are either horrific or expensive.

 

[tedolf]

There will be a mob that will tell you that mirrorless are the best thing since the sliced bread. Truth is that they are quite good but for the same endowment and performance you will pay between 25% and 100% more for it (depending on the brand). Also the lens lines are not so well developed (Micro Four Thirds being the most developed). Mirroless will some things better than dSLRs but also they will do some thing worse than dSLR. For the same sensor size the weight is not significantly lower and because some mirroless bodies have small form they will be unbalanced with almost all lenses.

Unballanced with almost all lenses?

Really?

Some examples from the m4/3 line please?

First you should give us a budget and why you have chosen dSLR. What you want to use camera for?

As a beginner I would look at entry level cameras from all manufacturers (both dSLR and mirrorless). I would advise against a fixed lens camera as they are either horrific or expensive.

Victor, I think for a beginner the real choice between mirrorless and DSLR is Optical View v. Live View. All the other gaps have been pretty much narrowed in the entry level to mid level cameras. We are not talking Nikon D4 v. Fuji T-2.

 

[BrownieVet]

RE: which should be the beginner DSLR for me?

I read EVERY post before I start writing this.

I did not see any post on visiting a camera store nor a Photography club. There are three photography clubs in my neck of the woods and these are inter-club. I am not a member but I am invited from time to time to make presentations as a guest. There were "newbies" in attendance and your question is a common theme. Luckily, regular members bring their gears and help explain their camera, The newbies get to inspect and hands-on try of the gears and see for themselves the advantages and disadvantages of both sides.

If there is no photography club where you live, visit a camera store if you can.

You would have noticed the Optical View Finder (OVF) and the Electronic View Finder (EVF) camps. There are also DSLR and Mirrorless camps. There are also brand loyalties as well as format preferences. I would not take sides. To me, those are highly personal and individual preferences. If you are up to it, do your research on line. there are many reviews on these topics. Wikipedia is a good starting point, while the article are generally neutral and objective, it is possible that you might stumble on a bias presentation.

Good luck

This is Gavin. I'm a newbie. Which one should I buy to start with?