I am completely clueless about DSLR. The only thing I know is that it's freaking expensive. Can anyone recommend the cheapest DSLR but still can take picture from far with good quality? I googled a bit and Nikon D3100 is good for beginner?

This post has been edited by Rezkt: Jan 1 2013, 07:09 PM

Cheapest dslr is 1100d for canon and D3200 for nikon. If you want to take far picture, you need a telephoto lens above 100mm.

Telephoto lens either zoom or prime aren't cheap at all so I say you get a good compact camera with good zoom range for such purpose like Canon G15

But Canon G15 is 12MP, 720p compare to Nikon D3100 which is 14MP, 1080p, also D3100 is cheaper. And on Nikon website Nikon D3100 is 1k++ while D3200 is 2k-3k Or am I looking at the wrong information...

That price you are getting is without the zoom lens if you want to shoot photo from far. One thing is 2mp difference is nothing groundbreaking and are you a serious videographer? If you do, then I dunno which to intro then cause I'm not a videographer myself and I dun look for features for taking videos on camera much

This post has been edited by heinlein: Jan 2 2013, 12:05 AM

how bout Sony DSLT A37
bout 1.7k full set
nice one for beginner. many interesting feature
video Autofocus is one of my favourite

d3200 body alone is ard 1.7k while with kit lens 18-55 is ard 2k ~ compared to d3100 14mp and d3200 is 24mp

Nikon D3100KIT(18-55MM) Rm1.5k
Nikon D3100KIT BODY Rm1.2k

aint that expensive compare 6 years ago

Things to consider when doing video seriously on dslr
1. audio level adjustment on camera
2. microphone jack for external audio recording
3. HDMI port for full uncompressed video download
4. Good SDHC class 10 card
5. Tilty flippy screen for awkward and special angles
6. a VR/IS lens is a must
7. A stabilizer (dunno if this is the right terms) or you have a pair of steady hands like Lok from drtv

A DSLR for that feature and lens won't be cheap either. If you are shooting video for fun, my advice is don't bother because the audio will be so crap that you will not want to watch it back. 12MP, 14MP & 24MP won't justify any difference if you are planning to
1. upload photos to facebook
2. print 4R~6R size photos


This post has been edited by heinlein: Jan 2 2013, 10:25 AM

A DLSR system will not be cheap! Your first investment will be a body plus a kit lens most probably. That will cost you around RM 1.7k TS.

A typical kit lens for an entry level DSLR/DSLT will be 18mm - 55mm which is hardly telephoto.

A lot of beginners will want to be able to zoom far far away (though this is not really a necessity but most beginners will want it). Thus if you want to zoom far far away, you will probably need to get the twin lens kit with an additional 55mm-200mm kit lens. That will cost an additional about RM 400.

Thus a minimum of RM 2k will be needed for the camera and lenses alone.

If you think this is the end, you're wrong! There will be others like memory cards, UV filters, camera bag and tripod which the shop will try their best to persuade you to get. You're better off getting these at a later time. You can get a memory card first if you must.

Forget about megapixels for now. Unless you print your photos in poster sizes all the time, megapixels are not really that important.

Also once you settle for one brand, it will be an expensive affair to change to another brand later on. Do your research and decide on a brand and stick to it as far as possible.

Don't bother about people's comments about resell value. YOU WILL LOSE MONEY when you resell. That's all you need to know.

This post has been edited by shootkk: Jan 2 2013, 10:59 AM

ur criteria is not even for beginner

I guess so...I dun usually do video with camera/dslr but I always heard of those things so I thought that is the basic for videography if TS wants to do video with a dslr since he mention 1080p as one of the criteria for his dslr selection.

Nah I'm not a serious videographer..I just want to take pics from far and take pics without the pic look horribly blur because of shaking. I'm sick of getting shaky pictures..


Thanks, I'll take a look at it Prefer Nikon though since it seems to be the most popular brand.


I don't understand any of that lol
Well I only want to take pics actually, not too picky about video, I mentioned it to compare. 12MP 14MP not much difference than 24MP??? O_O Thanks for the info, will keep that in mind.

So this 1.5k Nikon D3100KIT(18-55MM) is enough or do I need to buy other stuffs??

Ok guys I don't understand. If I buy body only can't use dslr then? You need to buy body + lens at the very least right? Memory cards is not included when buying? Why is it expensive to change to another brand?

Thanks for all the replies

This post has been edited by Rezkt: Jan 2 2013, 03:47 PM

Steady photo from far tips:
1. A good tripod or VR lens if handhold
2. Telephoto lens around 200~300mm
3. Remote control (optional)

The megapixels only shine when you print it big or pixel-peeping. When you upload a 12 or 24MP photo to facebook, it will be auto-resized and compressed. That is what I meant.

This post has been edited by heinlein: Jan 2 2013, 03:52 PM

the D3100 with kit u mention is quite sufficient, but the zoom range max is only 55mm, which is not too far. Camera body, is the camera itself without any lens. so u will need lens, like the kitlens 18-55MM for example. memory card normally included, 8GB, which u can negotiate from shop. Changing brand is expensive because the LENS mount is exclusive for 1 brand.. if u buy many many nikon lenses and later u change ur body to canon, ur nikon lense is useless already, so u will need to buy new cannon lenses.. that's why they said it's expensive. anyway.. bear in mind that DSLR is not magic maker.. it still a camera, and it take good skills to tk good sharp photo.

Ohhh now I get it, thanks!


8GB is enough right? Or is it too little? How many pics can you take with 8gb using the highest quality mode possible? Ohhh so lens can be use for different cameras as long as it's the same brand? That's pretty cool!

I have come across this while looking for the cheapest price possible, but it's only with body :/
http://www.lazada.com.my/Nikon-D3100-Body-...-Bag-68021.html

But purchasing lens separately should still be under 1.7k right? Is this lazada website reliable or better just go to shop instead of buying online?

I wanna know the price so I can start saving money and make the camera my goal

I hear many complaint about Lazada but if you want to be safe, you could always pay on delivery. It has cash handling charge for that; better safe than sorry since you are buying something expensive online.

Lens is normally more expensive than the body itself. If you buy on shop, at least you could get some free items like screen protector, bag and SD card.

One other suggestion would be, to consider a used DSLR. That would help you in terms of budget and get you started.

TS, it seems that you have zero knowledge when it comes to DSLR. You need to do a lot of research and learning in order to use a DSLR effectively.

Here's a little breakdown for you to get you on your way:

1. DSLR cameras are called system cameras because to use it, you need at least a couple of components. The very least is one camera body and one lens. Also even under the same brand not all lenses are fully compatible with all bodies. E.g. being if you buy an older Nikon lens with a screw driven focus gears and your camera body does not have a screw drive then you lose autofocus capabilities with that lens.

2. Different lenses give you different views. So you change lenses to suit your needs when taking pictures. Compact digital cameras have a fixed lens thus you cannot change the lens and most people never consider the part played by the lens when using a digital compact.

3. If you think that by just using a DSLR you will be able to get better pictures then you are dead wrong. If you are not willing to learn, chances are your pictures will be about the same as when using a compact digital camera. There's a chance that your pictures might even turn out for the worse when using a DSLR when you fiddle about the various settings.

4. Taking pictures is a whole lot more than having a good camera and good lenses. Sharper pictures does not mean better pictures. Greater details afforded by higher megapixels does not mean better pictures. If you do not know how to effectively use a DSLR, a person who knows photography well will be able to take better pictures using a normal digital compact camera.

There's a lot to learn. Owning a DSLR does not automatically means you can take better pictures.

You just want Zoom pics only? Why not try Super Zoom cameras like a Canon PowerShot SX50 HS.

Buy a Nikon D3100 with sigma 18-200 mm..