Best SLR for a beginner?

[Konrad9]

I know, SLR's aren't for "beginners" per se, but I have been using cameras for many years now and I am not content with the quality of most digital cameras.
I want to get either a regular old film SLR or a cheap(er) digital SLR, but I have absoutely positively no idea where to start, what to get, etc.

This will be mostly entirely for amateur use, just want to have some fun and learn about this stuff.

Now, chances are, digital SLR's are too expensive for my student and part-time Walmart budget, so I'm willing to settle with this so-called "SLR-like" digital cameras. Apparantly they look like SLR's but aren't SLR by definition?
I don't know... I'm spouting about stuff I really don't know much about.

So, details!

I'd like to keep the budget under $400, $450 at most, really.
Something with a decent optical zoom, say 5x at least. Digital zoom is meaningless to me and I think it is horrid... not important.
For digital, storage space won't be an issue, I can buy a memory card for it.

Please don't accuse me of being lazy, I *could* go to some store/website and enter in some specifications, but a couple of joe-consumer reviews and specs mean nothing against the words of people who actually know stuff about this.

So... any help would be greatly, greatly appreciated.

[mjs1973]

Welcome to the forum. If you're leaning towards a film camera, I would suggest a Canon Rebel. Wal-mart caries them for around $200 I think, and you could check them out at work. There are other entry level film SLR's out there, but the Canons are the only ones I've ever seen at Wal-mart. I'm only mentioning this because you said you work there, so you could use your employee discount and get it even cheaper.

You should also look at something like the Nikon Coolpix. More options than a p&s so you could use it to learn a lot from, and then upgrade from there.

One thing to keep in mind if you go with an SLR, is to check out the lenses you want first, then build your system around those.

If you could give a a little more info about what you want to use the camera for, I'm sure someone here could point you in the right direction. Will you be shooting sports, wildlife, landscapes, portraits, outdoors, indoors, low light... that sort of thing.

[payn817]

I agree with MJS, about the Canon. The only thing I don't care fore about the Canon is the shutter release, it seems to far forward and has that "rest" thing. However, that is a very personal thing, as I have only owned KM SLR cameras. In addition, wal-mart (some locations) also carry lenses for Canon, so again a bonus due to the discount.

Now, If you want to try digital, and SLR-like there are many options in your range. Sony DSC H-1, Kodak P850, and many others. Those two would be my pick personally. I use a Kodak DX7630, and almost always get better results than my KM SLR system. Next time you are on your lunch or 15, goto your electronics dept. and play a little. That 10% can really help in your budget range, not to mention convenience.

P.S. I'm a "mart zombie" too

[another view]

An SLR (single lens reflex) has an optical viewfinder, where you look thru the lens when you're composing and focusing. You're seeing thru the same lens that will take the picture, and there's a series of mirrors and/or prisms that make that happen. When you press the shutter release, the mirror flips up and out of the way and the shutter opens. Probably the biggest advantage of an SLR is that you will have interchangeable lenses. They usually react faster (not having to wait for the camera to focus after you press the shutter release for example).

DSLR's like the Nikon D50 and Canon Digital Rebel are true SLR's, but these are above your budget - although not by too much. The other digital cameras will have an electronic viewfinder which is similar in idea; or have an LCD preview screen.

You can learn photography on any camera, but you'll learn the most from something that has some manual control options. I'm not familiar with that Canon SLR but it probably does this - as well as compact cameras like the Nikon Coolpix 8400.

[mjs1973]

You can learn photography on any camera, but you'll learn the most from something that has some manual control options. I'm not familiar with that Canon SLR but it probably does this - as well as compact cameras like the Nikon Coolpix 8400.

Yup, the Canon film rebel will give you full manual control, along with shutter and apperture priority as well as your full auto modes.

[ken1953]

Hi Konrad and welcome. All of the cameras mentioned are excellent. I use the Coolpix 8400, but at this time, you'd need to find it on sale to meet your price range, but it is an excellent learning camera. It offers quite a bit of manual control, but you mentioned zoom, so this probably would not meet your needs. You'd probably want to step up to the 8700 or the 8800. But again, you're looking at around $900-$1000 for one of these. If you decide to add a few dollars to meet your needs, I'd probably look at the D50. This is an excellent entry level DSLR from everything I've read and it's supposed to be close to your price range. If you can't add a few $$$...look at the Kodaks and Sony's for digital. If you decide to stay with film...Michaels suggestion is excellent and besides, it is usually readily available at most WalMarts....and then you'd have a couple $$$ left over to invest in a nice inexpensive lens or 2...The only thing you haven't figured into a film camera is the cost of development and film. Although, not cheap, digital can save you some money, since you won't be printing out your bad shots...hehe...
Arguably, the digitals are starting to produce as good of prints as the film cameras, so you really need to decide what is in your best long range future...
In closing...as everyone has mentioned...on your breaks or after work...go to your electronics area and "play" with the various cameras...and even go to a camera shop and have some pros show you a few things...most are very willing to help!!!
Good luck,
Ken

[Konrad9]

Well, after a horribly timed accidental page-back, I try this again.
I am leaning unhappily leaning towards a 35mm at my local Best Buy (choiceS, instead of just one... and an actual service plan and warranty).

I really want to get a digital one, however. The price is so outrageously more expensive, but the convenience of digital over film is just overwhelming. After using a digital camera for three years I don't know if I can go back to worrying about how many pictures I have left or waiting for developing to see if they came out. Being able to instantly review and delete and whip out another memory card is extremely weighty.

I'm coming to the conclusion that I may settle for what is called an "SLR-like" digital camera, but I'm not writing anything in stone yet.

Any reccomendations on SLR-like? :/

[JamesV]

hey konrad, here is a link, it's for the Canon S2 IS, http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1110266874825. I have the Canon S1 IS as my frist digital camera and I love it. The S2 has a few upgrades and more megalpixals at 5. Worth taking a look at, good luck.

[Konrad9]

OK, so, no surprise, but SLR has proved to be just plain too expensive.
So, after much consideration and looking of the around, I believe I am going to go with the http://www.dpreview.com/news/0507/05...000zs9500z.asp
High megapixel, great zoom, .01 secod shutter (according to the specs), etc etc.
Best of all, it's on sale at Best Buy for $629. Order online + in store pickup = win
Yeah, $581 at Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...24825?n=502394

Although, I did some more digging on mysimon and found it at $539, the store has a pretty good rating at resellerratings.com, anyone here used it?
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...ist&sku=393347

So... yeah. Once again, any help would be greatly appreciated

[payn817]

In a couple weeks you should get a "myshare" check if your store qualified. That may help you some.

I have heard good thing about the Fuji, and it feels nice in the hand, but haven't used it at all.

[ChrisBrewster]

If you settle on a digital "SLR-like" camera, the overachiever at the price is Fuji s5200. It has a long zoom and is a champ for low-light work. Long zooms entail optical compromises, but the results are good with this-- it's what I have.

[livin4lax09]

if you're not turned away by buying things on ebay, check it for a canon digital rebel (300d) and kit lens. I've been looking at prices, and they're pretty low. They go for less than 500. Then you can get a zoom lens for pretty cheap, I even have a 70-300mm lens for sale right now. As long as you aren't doing sports, the Drebel is a great camera. I just sold mine, but it was great when i was beginning. I really liked it for most types of photography. My sister also has one and is in love.

though it may be a bit late for responses, b&h is a good store. B&h and adorama are the only retailers I feel very comfortable about buying from.

[another view]

B&H is an excellent store to deal with. I've parted with a lot of cash there over the years, as have a lot of other people here.

[praguevolk]

I'm also fairly new to the photography game. I just inherited my dad's '76 Canon TLb about six months ago. As a beginner, I'd recommend going for an older 35mm SLR. My TLb is completely manual, even down to the frame advance, so I'm having to learn how to do everything myself. I don't want to be too dependent on all of the programming features of newer digital SLRs until I know exactly what it is that they're doing, you know? The only downside is that film is so expensive. I just buy standard Kodak film and develop it at K-Mart and it still adds up. Anyway, good luck.

[cyberlord]

I'm also fairly new to the photography game. I just inherited my dad's '76 Canon TLb about six months ago. As a beginner, I'd recommend going for an older 35mm SLR. My TLb is completely manual, even down to the frame advance, so I'm having to learn how to do everything myself. I don't want to be too dependent on all of the programming features of newer digital SLRs until I know exactly what it is that they're doing, you know? The only downside is that film is so expensive. I just buy standard Kodak film and develop it at K-Mart and it still adds up. Anyway, good luck.

The best way for a beginner to learn IS manual mode. I agree there!

But to shorten the learning curve I highly recommend going digital on a camera that supports full manual mode and Ap/Sh priority modes as you can see the results immediately on the LCD screen so as you change camera settings you get to see the results right away. Even if you download to computer right away to get a better view, it's still an almost immediate result.

Using film even if you shoot a whole roll and get 1 hour developing it can be a couple hours before you see the results.

You dont need a SLR digital, just one that has the ability to change Ap and Sh settings.

MHO,
Tim