YA Need some DSLR Advice Thread

[Paratus]

My wife thinks she want's a DSLR for Christmas. We're both tired of the crappy low light pictures from our point and shoot. So I'm looking for some advice on entry level dSLRs.

I'd like to spend around $1000, preferably less, including a camera bag, lens, a tri/mono pod, and possibly an extra battery.

I've seen good reviews of the Sony a55 and Canon EOS T2i from dpreview. Although maybe the a33 or T1i would be a better price, the sony NEX5 & 3 also looked interesting.

Basically I'd like something that will take good pictures out of the box for a novice, but allows her to grow into the camera. Coming from a point and shoot, we'd like to see something that can take pictures with minimal shutter lag. I'd also like HD video capability

We'll mostly be taking pictures of our kids.

Our current cameras are a Cannon digital Elph and a Cannon G6.

Thanks!

 

[996GT2]

Canon T2i + Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 is a good starter camera/lens setup.

Expect to pay another $150 for a decent tripod leg/ballhead combo. Manfrotto 190 and 496RC2 make a good combo.

 

[Dunkman04]

I know my wife hated the way Canons felt when she held them (too big, controls were uncomfortable to reach for her hands.) I'd have her try the T2i and a Nikon D3100 and see which she likes better.

 

[996GT2]

I know my wife hated the way Canons felt when she held them (too big, controls were uncomfortable to reach for her hands.) I'd have her try the T2i and a Nikon D3100 and see which she likes better.

Too big? That's the first time I've heard that, haha.

The T2i is on the small side for DSLRs. As you go up the ladder, each higher-end model becomes successively larger and heavier going from the T2i-->60D-->7D-->5D-->1D Mark 4.

If your wife has really small hands, it might be a good idea to have her try some micro 4/3 cameras like the Panasonic GH1.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

I just had this discussion! Budget of $600. Ended up spending about $732. Small things like extra batteries, a case and memory sticks quickly grow to $100 in addition to what you think you are going to spend. So lenses and a body (the camera) should be budgetted at $900 max.

The following link is the discussion I had on the matter. I recommend reading the whole thing. I updated the first post with what I bought. I could not be happier. It's our first DSLR and until I know enough to realize how to get better results from a better body and better lenses, I really think it is a good way to go:
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2117445

For your budget, add in the canon 50mm f/1.8 prime lense. I'm getting that for my wife for x-mas. It is about $100. Bringing the to $832.

This is the hot deal that I got:
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2118042

You basically get the Canon camera body w/ zoom lense (18mm-75mm) that is typically $500 in addtion to a longer zoom lense (75mm-250mm) that is typically $210 or so. So you get $710 worth of stuff for $570.

 

[Paratus]

Thanks guys.

I'll check out the threads.

My local FRYs had the a33 in stock and I liked the size of the camera body. I'm going to run out at lunch to a local camera shop and check out the canons.

 

[Kaido]

Too big? That's the first time I've heard that, haha.

Yeah when I got my T2i, I posted how it was too SMALL for my hands - I had to learn the "Canon" grip after coming from Nikon's wonderful ergonomics :biggrin:

OP, I really like my T2i. Wonderful HD video, plus Canon's EOS mount lets you adapt just about anything - I have Nikon lenses, Pentax screw-mount lenses, and a variety of M42 lenses (Zeiss etc.), so there's definitely lots of room to grow with this platform. Plus, 18 megapixels doesn't hurt :awe:

 

[Anubis]

the nikon D3100 is fucking TINY and the kit is within your budget

 

[Paratus]

the nikon D3100 is fucking TINY and the kit is within your budget

I'll checkout the D3100 too.

I held the T2I and A33 today. The canon is a bit bigger. Coming from the point-shoot world the Sony was easier to get a handle on it with it's live view and evf.

I like the larger sensor on the canon.

I take it optical IS is better than in body digital IS but the optical IS lenses cost abit more?

 

[gar655]

I'll checkout the D3100 too.


A. I like the larger sensor on the canon.

B. I take it optical IS is better than in body digital IS but the optical IS lenses cost abit more?

A. The sensor on the Sony is larger (physically) by a small amount. Perhaps you mean the Canon had more megapixels? Which is true and the amount of difference is meaningless.

B. Perhaps. But with inbody you have it with any lens, even the small primes (non zooms).

The Sony A33/55 are interesting but you lose some true DSLR abilities. The biggest is having an optical viewfinder for tracking moving subjects, such as your kids. The EVF in the Sony As always have some lag, get really grainy in low light and are pretty useless in burst mode.

Gene

 

[Paratus]

A. The sensor on the Sony is larger (physically) by a small amount. Perhaps you mean the Canon had more megapixels? Which is true and the amount of difference is meaningless.

B. Perhaps. But with inbody you have it with any lens, even the small primes (non zooms).

The Sony A33/55 are interesting but you lose some true DSLR abilities. The biggest is having an optical viewfinder for tracking moving subjects, such as your kids. The EVF in the Sony As always have some lag, get really grainy in low light and are pretty useless in burst mode.

Gene

I looked through the EVF on the a33 and the optical viewfinder on the T2i and I liked the EVF better. However you bring up an intersting point about low light usability.

 

[Subbaculcha]

You might take a look at the 4/3 cameras, the bodies are pretty small.