Bro, forget my previous statement, I just made a closer inspection on the range of digital cameras we have today and I realised that RM 1500 would get me an overly-advanced digital camera for a newbie like me who only needs to take pictures with my beloved girlfriend! ^^

Thus, based on some reviews I read off the net, I have made below a revamped statement on what kind of digital camera I'm looking for:

Type of camera/lens/accesories : Digital camera
Budget: RM 700-800
Your Location: Bandar Sunway, PJ
Preferable brand : Panasonic
Type of photography u want to do : Outdoor and indoor
Any specific models in mind? : Panasonic DMC-FS25, Panasonic DMC-FS15
Any specific features u want? : Can record long video.

Hope you can give some help with this, like before bro ^^

This post has been edited by lookig4room: Apr 19 2009, 09:52 AM

Can someone advise me on DSLR camera. e.g: good SLR camera for starter, what's brand, things to check to buy DSLR, etc.

Just starts a new hobby. I was average, going so-so in photo-editing, now looking forward to do some photo-shoot trick

Kindly advise.

Hi everyone, I'm looking for my very first entry DSLR in my life tongue.gif Since I'm beginner, I decided to buy a second-hand DSLR as my first DSLR...

Up to now, I've found a few (quite a)good deals for these second hand DSLRs. I'm in dilemma now, I don't know which to choose...

Please feel free to give me your opinion/suggestion/advise. I really need that...

Thank you very much...

List:
1) Olympus E520 (14-42mm and 40-150mm) RM2550
2) Sony A350 (18-70mm and 55-200mm) RM2300
3) Canon 450D (kit lenses) RM2000
4) Nikon D60 (kit lenses) +-RM1700

i had already have one Panasonic Lumix LX-3 with me,
but i wanna have another camera that can corp together with the lumix...
can anyone suggest me a camera, preferably a DSLR to work together with my lumix...??

For both of you, if you already have the Panasonic in mind, then go for it, you won't regret it. Unless you're not accustomed to its design, you have many other options, like Canon and Fuji.

1. Stick with the giants. It doesn't pay off to wander off to other brands unless you're an adventurous person.
2. When buying your DSLR, check the body for scratches, take a shot and have a look at the number, should be 0001 or something around that line. Check lens for any dust, scratches, etc, fingerprints which were there before being removed from the box, any signs that may show that the lens/camera has been used before.

How much are you willing to dump into photography anyway?

Forget the first three. 1 and 2 is only if you're daring enough to try out those brands. 3, forget it, 500D is coming out soon and the price will drop like durians from a tree, you'll have literally no resale value for your body then. You can't get 4 at RM1700 unless you buy body and a second-hand kitlens. RRP is RM2k and street price is around RM1.9k.

What are you intending to shoot? Wideangle? Long-range? Bird?

It really depends, but if you want a DSLR for starters, I'd suggest you to wait for the Canon EOS 500D/Nikon D5000 or you can go for the 1000D or the D60.

what type of DSLR that can go all range??
from portraits to subject??
up close to far distance... =)

thanks for the advise,btw why not suggesting me to take DSLR ?

Guys,

I am looking for a budget camera below RM1,000. Which one do you think is the best in this category?? I have short-listed to the following 2 units, but not refrain myself getting other better similar one.....

1) Sony Cybershot DSC-W120 (RM800)
2) Nikon Coolpix S52 (RM800)

Which type is better in terms of pictures & features? I understand Nikon S52 picture can be zoomed in 10 times, normally is 7 times. But I know its pictures can be grainy at times.....

p/s help me to choose.....thanks

Type of camera/lens/accesories : DSLR (1st hand or 2nd hand doesn't matter)
Budget: +/- RM1500
Your Location: PJ
Preferable brand : Nikon / Canon / Sony
Type of photography u want to do : Landscape, portraits, macros
Any specific models in mind? : Nikon D60, Sony A300 (pls suggest)
Any specific features u want? : low noise even when capturing in dark, adjustable WB, sharp colours

i'm a newbie in this so i just need a DSLR fit for a beginner. currently studying in a graphic design course and lecturer suggested us to buy D60. he let us try out the school's DSLR and i totally fell in love with it. i still don't know if i should go with nikon or canon. another friend of mine suggested sony and i'm quite interested in sony myself.

which one should i go for?

Talking about lenses, you should be. DSLRs have interchangeable lenses, which means there is no fixed focal length for a certain DSLR model.

There are a few choices you can get along with a DSLR, namely:

1. Canon EF-S 18-200mm IS/Nikon 18-200mm VR
2. Tamron 18-250
3. Tamron 18-270
4. Sigma 18-200
5. Tamron 18-200

I think there should be more but these are the most popular ones.

Because if you're going to only shoot concerts, and normal uses (family portrait, indoor, etc), there is no need for a DSLR that sophisticated. If you're into photography and plan to use your camera in other ways (taking abstract shots, emotional ones, you name it lah) then the DSLR is for you because of its capability to produce stunning shots no PnS can produce.

Unless you are interested in taking up the money-eating hobby of photography (which indirectly means getting a DSLR) a prosumer camera would be satisfactory. I hope you get what I mean.

1. The Cybershot is a lifestyle camera - meaning it emphasizes on looks more than performance, and it underperforms A LOT compared to other brands.

In the RM1k price range I'd recommend the Panasonic FS15/Canon Ixus 85 IS. Both are performance-oriented cameras with a touch of style to it. Depends on which one you like better though.

I'd suggest you forget Sony. Unless you have a lot of free time to waste trying to learn how to use the camera, how to do this and do that when you can do it easier on a Nikon/Canon.

For Rm1.5k, you can probably get yourself a used D60/1000D, oh and maybe a new D40.. I'd recommend you increase your budget to get a new set as you never know when a used set will 'die' and cause you a headache, as you said you're studying, so what if the camera dies halfway through your final term project? You'd have to wait a while to get it fixed and therefore lose a lot of time not being able to use a camera.

My two cents, whether you wanna follow my guide it's entirely up to you.

with ur budget..u cant get D60/1000D/A300...u need at least RM1800. Yea d60 and a300 are for beginners, u might want to try out canon 1000d too. If you are looking for good low noise..these cameras cant do it, it is usable up to ISO 800... if over it..u will start to see noise(grains) in ur picture. Go ahead and try Canon 1000d/Nikon D60/Sony A300....feel it..see which 1 u like. Some would say Sony sux...i dun think so..thier entry lvl cameras are good. Packed with lots of features..but when u r looking for second hand lens and accessories..it could be hard. Ask your lecturer more..i think he could explain better when face to face conversation.

thanks for you guys advices. but according to my lecturer, i can get a new D60 kit with just RM1550 because he had a fren that sells DSLR and he would give us 'student' price. according to you guy's opinions, i think that it's worthy to get the D60 at Rm1550?

and if, i could increase my budget and get myself either D60 / 1000D / A300, what are the pros and cons of each brand? i heard my friend say that nikon's are better for landscape shooting and canon's are better for portrait shooting (or was it the other way?) is it true? he also said that canon and sony are cheaper than nikons.
what do you guys say?

wow student price..nice deal.. No such condition saying nikon for portrait, canon for scenery vice versa. Both are good in both.

since im free..i can list out some pro and cons..
A300:
Pro:
Live view with tilt-able LCD screen.
live view with real time WB adjusting. <--good for newbie.
with built in wireless flash commander - can play with wireless flash..meaning off body flash.
larger body/grip..good handling.
In-body stabilization - u get stabilizing with every lens attached on..thus save a lot when buying lens.

Con:
hard to get secnd hand lenses..
accessories hard to find...very subjective..in some place..it is very easy to find..but not in Australia
------------------------

D60:
Pro:
not much pro..the pro is it is nikon..easy to find lenses and accessories.
slightly better noise control.
lighter with ok-ok grip - good for girls*if u r girl*

Con:
no in body auto focus motor...u cant use some lens. If u use..u need to manual focus. But dun worry about this...since u r still newbie..kit lens is with motor and u can do auto focus.
no built-in flash commander - u need 1 if u want something creative in ur photo using wireless flash
no LIVEVIEW!
--------------------------

1000D
Pro:
it is canon, easy to find lens and accessories.
very light *again if u r a girl*
all canon lenses are with built-in motor in it...so all canon camera bodies do not have autofocus motor.
Live view

Con:
again no wireless flash commander...u cant play with wireless flash when u have an external flash.
the build of it is kinda plastic-y


but if i were in ur situation right now, i will get 1000D..sooner or later u might and might not jump ship to other brand once u get to use ur friends nikon/sony.

WOW..! this helps ALOT..! thanks..!

and yes, i is a *girl*.

anyways, back to this. based on your opinion, it cames back down to Nikon and Canon. and you definitely recommend Canon.
if it's true based on what you say, i will buy Nikon for it's better noise control because i definitely CAN'T stand noise in my pics and will always always use the lowest ISO possible. but again, i'd choose a Canon because it has Live view and i think that function alone is quite important. or is it not?


and a noob question, is AF that important? i personally like to MF on my own. i know af will give me crisper and sharper images but sometimes the AF won't focus on the subject that i want like in my PnS cam. does it happen on DSLR?

nope it wont happen on dslr if u spot focus ur subject. Unless you r using auto area..then u may end up focusing another subject. I use spot focus all the time and then recompose my picture.

about the noise..u probably cant see much differences between them. I was a A300 user...almost 9.9/10 shots i took without using live view. So now i don care live view...whts the point getting a dslr if u use live view. It may be useful when you are asking your newbie friends/parents to take photo of you. Switch live view on and pass to them...and they snap it by looking at the screen.

u MF? then no need worry lo...but again..go to the shop feel 1000d and d60..see which 1 u like.

thanks for the answer...
anyway...
after reading...
i realized that i need a DSLR that can do fast setting...
have a rotatable LCD.... live view...

true also. if i were to use the Live View, what for i want the DSLR for?
but i am again, a newbie. so i thought, it would be useful for me to check the WB settings, a little bit of this and that.

i've felt the D60 already as my school's camera is D60. might go and check 1000d out.

thanks for all your opinions yah.. really cleared up alot of my questions..

you are welcome...i don think 1000d live view has real time WB adjustment...but anyway go ahead and try.

oh? really?

will go and check it out anyway..
thanks again. you're such a great help..

hye guys..i don't know what types of camera to buy.dslr or compact.but what i wanna do with camera just candid,landscape, portraits, macros and the most i like zooming.if compact,what about tz7 which can zoom 12x,is it ok?or another dslr.prefer the price<rm1500.i need ur suggestion.