Which DSLR

I am considering, and at this stage it is only considering getting a DSLR. Now obviously when the time comes I will want to have a look and hold them.

However I have a couple of questions that YOP members may be able to help me with.

I have been looking at lots of reviews and have highlighted a couple of likely candidates.

Nikon D5100 and Cannon EOS 600D, any views please.

Secondly, should I look at two lenses say 18-55mm and a 55-200mm or 55-250mm, as there are lots of deals about, or pay a little more and get a good 18-200mm lens. I don't like the idea of changing round a lot.

Advice and views from more experienced photographers would be very helpful.

I think this is a hard sort of thing to help you out with, because these choices are so personal! Go and have a feel of some cameras and think about it well before choosing. That's my best advice. Re. lenses there are, again, so many options. Is cost a factor? If so then a good run around extreme zoom like and 18-200 would be a good buy, as it would do a lot of the things you want it to

xx

Can of worms Richard, you will find supporters of both. I would go to flickr, type in the combo your interested in and see what is shown, it will be a rough guide to what can be achieved and may mirror the type of photography your interested in.

As to lenses, well i will leave that up to the more knowledgeable members.

Hi Richard, Looks as though you have done a bit of homework already. Either the Nikon or Canon will serve you well, it really is down to which one you find the controls/layout suite you best. I think you would best be served by two zooms in the range that you mention (18-55mm and a 55-200mm or 55-250mm) rather than a super zoom with all its compromises.

Good luck with your quest

First question to ask yourself is "how much am I prepared to spend". You will always find something a little better above your budget.

Presumably at the moment you are using a compact camera which takes SD memory cards, therefore A DSLR which takes an SD card would be the obvious choice and save having to buy a CF card.

AS for which camera that is a personal choice and those with Nikons will suggest Nikon and Canon owners would recommend Canon.

As for which lens as for starters something that covers anything from around 18-120mm range as a starter would be my choice. My Nikon 24-120mm lens was the one I used most on my trip to Egypt. Later on you could start specialising on lenses to do certain jobs, ie macro/long distance.

Again it really depends on what your choice of photography is, portrait-landscape-buildings-wildlife will dictate the kind of lens to go for.

Bazza

hahaha I know you well and you will take so long to decide the D6100 and the 700d will be out

Maybe Cakey, maybe.

Thanks for all those who have inputted so far.

Both Cameras use SDHC cards which I already have.

I really like taking wildlife shots, especially birds (RSPB member and keen amateur birder)

Ideally I'd like something that would get me closer/or better quality shots that could be cropped than my Panasonic Lumix DMC FZ45 bridge camera. 24X optical zoom, increased to 32X without loss of quality, and further to 54X with 1.7x teleconverter lens and 14.1 mp, but obviously not such a good sensor as the two DSLR's I mentioned.

Reviews I've read don't really put any clear light behind one camera or the other. I have looked at WEX and Big Norman.

WEX
Canon with 18-55mm ISi II and 55-250mm IS II lenes £789
Nikon 18-55mm VR and 55-200mm lenses £705.99

Big Norman
Nikon 18-55 VR and 55-200VR lenses £615
Nikon 18-55 VR and 55-300VR £735

Canon 18-55mm IS Mk II and 55-250 IS Mk II lenses £645

All would be in budget if I take the plunge, £800 would be very top end of budget.

HELP its a mine field.

Just to add to your confusion, have you given any thought to getting a camcorder?

The one I am after is the Panasonic HC-X900M , the M version is the one to go for and comes just within your price range with cashback from Jessops. Just check out the speck -16meg stills- built in 32gig memory +can take SD cards- marvellous zoom (up to 700times with the video and you can lift out any frame off the video via editing suite which comes with it). On my 600 version of the cameras you can see the quality of the photos unedited handheld, ( the deer shots were over 100 yds away and could easily cope with far greater distances) in my other posts. The new one I am after has better optical stablisation. Another advantage is its small enough to fit inside a pocket so no lugging about huge cameras. Comes with remote control as well (youtube version shows woodpecker better)


Just go on youtube and see what it can do.

I have it on back order with Jessops right now

Link

http://www.jessops.com/online.store/...4079/show.html

In their features dropdown says 14. meg pix something stills which is wrong, look at the camera body, def 16 meg pix

Link to my referred to posting

http://www.yophotographer.com/page.php?t=17259

Even captured a woodpecker at the bottom of the tree behind in the video, look at the first couple of frames. Youtube version shows woodpecker better

Ok how does it perform in the dark ? from my existing camcorder

Link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02eXY...9&feature=plcp

Bazza

I don't think you can go wrong with either tbh, so I would go to jessops and have a hold of them both and see which one feels right in your hand - you will probably know instantly

Re lens, I think 18-200 is a really good walk around lens, especially if you don't want to swap and change much.

Good luck - and let us know how you get on!

Thank you all for your ideas and feedback.

Does anyone on YOP use either of the two cameras I have in mind.

Don't hold your breath for feedback Azz, it won't be a rushed decision.