Hi guys, i love to take photograph every where i go, but my current camera cannot not satisfy me. Im using Sony T-200 now but the image produced is not nice. So i would like to try DSLR cameras. However, i totally have no idea about DLSR cameras. So i want a simple DSLR but yet packed with lots of features. Nvm the lens kit which allows u to zoom farther or whatsoever...coz i juz take photos at normal distance.

Type of camera/lens/accesories: DSLR
Budget: Below RM1000.00 to RM2000.00
Your Location: Kota Kinabalu
Preferable brand : no idea....u suggest
Type of photography u want to do : outdoor, shooting nice scene, potrait
Any specific models in mind? : Lx3
Any specific features u want? : erm..like enables u to focus on 1 object so that the background is blurred. yea i knw...most SLR are able to do this.

hmm...so wht does a DLSR can do, that a high end compact camera cant do? sry..newbie here

so lenses are the main part of DSLRs.... So wht do u recommend for entry-level like me? budget 1k to 2k.... Thx in advance...

thx! i will check them out....thx for the recommendation.

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Added on December 11, 2008, 3:11 pmhow much is 1000d and d60 now?

This post has been edited by AlphaBeta: Dec 11 2008, 03:11 PM

but Canon uses Sony's LCD display..and Sony's sensor..and other components too.

btw..how much is D60? Nt for me..for my friend..i using a300 nw..

Sonylens/minolta/sigma/tamron/tokina (nt sure bout tokina)

Type of camera/lens/accessories : DSLR
Budget : RM5000
Your Location: KK
Preferable brand : Canon and Nikon
Type of photography u want to do : Landscape & Portrait
Any specific models in mind? : d90
Any specific features u want? : better control of noise...good AF speed...

for my dad...

u know i know la... ....yea..basically i will give my dad my alpha..and i use d90..but not because alpha sux or wht.. I just want use Nikon D90 which is an amateur slr. So I am just upgrading to a better camera I definitely know wht im going to lose if i jump from alpha to nikon.. nevertheless i will gain something from Nikon too i believe.

back to topic... 40D...hmm i will check it out. Mind telling why 40D but not d90?
btw 40d abit over budget..3400 for body only...better invest the money saved into Lens....and btw it is year 2007 model. quite old imo...rdy to be substituted.

This post has been edited by AlphaBeta: Mar 4 2009, 10:59 PM

yes go ahead with the 40D..it is a good semi-pro camera but this model has been replaced by a newer model - 50D, nth much improvement so 40D should do fine. If u r new to DSLR..i suggest you to shoot with the kit lens first and then slowly upgrade.

2000 can only get you to Canon 1000d, Sony A300 and Nikon D60... These are all entry-level cameras, they all do fine. Go to the shop, grab them and feel them. After that see which one you felt the best and go for that! From my experience, D60 and 1000d grip are kinda small, thats why i went for A300..for some reasons i still like nikon..so i upgraded to D90 after that. Dont take my experience words too seriously...go feel them~!

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Added on April 7, 2009, 11:43 pmfork out a bit more and get the Panasonic Lx-3. It is very nice, i mean really nice!..price around 1800 i think. Go to its dedicated thread and check.

This post has been edited by AlphaBeta: Apr 7 2009, 11:43 PM

If u like light weight and without having to worry about the focus motor. Then 1000D is for you, it is very light and has built-in motor. 1000d + kitlens = +/-RM1900 and get a flash around RM900 and there, u can shoot people with that flash using bounced flash

get the 450D...second hand d90 with tht price is hard to find. D90 is very hot now u know? Some say skip the xxxD series and go straight for 40D...which u can get 2nd hand for around 3.2K.. But 450D do fine too.

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.

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
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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!
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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.

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.

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

@ TheWandererX
thx for pointing out the number of AF point. Yes live view isnt important, but its good to have it and it is a norm in DSLR nowadays. Canon/Nikon LV is too slow...Sony is much faster... IMO 1000d is plasticy feeling...if u compare 1000d/a300/d60 side by side..then u will feel it. i know u r using 1000d but nvm... I dont use auto area...it sometimes will not focus on the subject..then i need to release the shutter and focus again. Well..this is up to each person.
@eddie
yea..u r right..450D might drop when 500d is out. But this is the world of tech..keep coming out with new technology. U cant always keep urself up to date..*unless u r rich * D90 is a good choice...i think should be no problem with ur old nikkor lens juz like xandman mentioned in nikkor thread. Besides, D90 is better than 450D....it is comparable to 50D in term of ISO and IQ. However, 50D has weather sealing...faster fps magnesium alloy body

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Added on April 19, 2009, 9:40 pmSony's entry lvl cameras are the cheapest...their lenses are not as expensive as u think.. maybe 100-200 difference. But getting second hand lens is a problem here. Sony's external flash is the cheapest! the LCD is for playback when u have snapped a photo, show ur settings. LV is not necessary...

This post has been edited by AlphaBeta: Apr 19 2009, 09:40 PM

@bboyrice
Canon: 450d or 500d if u can wait.
Nikon: D90/D80
Sony: erm...i think A700..

dun take panasonic la...thier market so small..unless u really know wht you wan and wht u r getting.

This post has been edited by AlphaBeta: Apr 19 2009, 09:55 PM

which rest? if u r saying 1000d/d60/a300...then i cant say much. Coz u r comparing entry lvl cameras with semi-pro/mid lvl camera.(call it wht ever u wan)

if against canon 50d nikon d300 sony a700..then i say ISO and image quality r as good as these semi-pro lvl cameras with much cheaper price. But lose in build quality, frame per second and weather sealing . However, i dont need these 3 features..erm maybe the weather sealing im craving for.

wow ur bro using Nikon d300...why don u use nikon too? can share lens mah no matter how strong build..with magnesium allow wht ever...i will still be careful 100% all the time. Juz like laptop with shock resistant..u dare to drop it? same analogy haha.. Yea i did consider 40d...but few things turned me off...the wheel, no built-in wireless commander and 320k pixel screen only. No built in flash commander really made me went for d90.