[Reffariiii]

Hi guys,

So my grandparent gave me £500 for my 18th brithday, and instead of letting it be wasted in drips and draps on alcohol when I start uni in September, I thought it would be nice to buy a camera.

My family run the local newspaper, and my grandfather, great grandfather, great great grandfather were photographers, my uncle is currently a photographer and my father is a semi-pro photographer. I also have interest in photography and thought it would be nice to buy a camera.

I am looking to spend around £350 to £450 for the camera, with a bit left over for possibly a lens/flash (althought not absoloutley nessescary as we have plenty!).

I am looking for a digital SLR camera. The type of thing that is not quite proffesional level, but more advanced than your average digital camera. I have been looking at the Canon EOS 1100D, Nikon D3100 and Pentax K-r. I have also looked at the EOS 5D but its a bit over budget.

If it is a Canon, I would like is to be compatible with the EF/EF-S lenses, and be able to facilitate a battery grip, but again not absoloutly nessescary. I have not done as much research into Nikon and Pentax.

I was just wondering if anybody here has these cameras and would be able to give me some pro's and cons? Also, generaly any tips on buying a camera, accesories, stores? (My family has a good relationship with LCE so not really looked at anywhere else, but welcome to suggestions). Any suggestions for any other cameras?

Apologies for the long post!

Thanks.

[Suzanathema]

V

Hah! I was about to post exactly that until I scrolled down.


I would personally advocate going with Nikon because I love them, but I hear that Canon do a lot better deals for "starters" and you can pick up some decent lenses, like a 50mm prime, more cheaply. I think most cheap Canons also auto focus internally which means that older lenses will autofocus, which you can't have with cheaper Nikon DSLRs.

[DanBrwn]

Your whole family are Professional Photographers

and you're asking us what to get?

[img]http://static.fjcdn.com/comments/are+you+****ing+kidding+me+_28ba 00087eef6a849154dae1005887aa.png[/img]

Y U NO WORK IMAGE LINKS ARRRGH

[Reffariiii]

(Original post by DanBrwn)
Your whole family are Professional Photographers

and you're asking us what to get?

[img]http://static.fjcdn.com/comments/are+you+****ing+kidding+me+_28ba 00087eef6a849154dae1005887aa.png[/img]

Y U NO WORK IMAGE LINKS ARRRGH

Please respectfully notice the ''were'' in front of the list of relatives.

Also, my father is like I say a semi-pro, and my uncle lives away.

Besides, its always nice to get the views of different people

[DanBrwn]

(Original post by Reffariiii)
Please respectfully notice the ''were'' in front of the list of relatives.

Also, my father is like I say a semi-pro, and my uncle lives away.

Besides, its always nice to get the views of different people

Only advice is buy a manufacturer refurbished body (Say Canon 500D) and a 50mm f/1.4 or a 35mm f/2.8 and you'll be good to go

[jumpingjesusholycow]

(Original post by DanBrwn)
[img]http://static.fjcdn.com/comments/are+you+****ing+kidding+me+_28ba 00087eef6a849154dae1005887aa.png[/img]

Y U NO WORK IMAGE LINKS ARRRGH

Because the image has been removed from the link provided and a gif saying the image has been removed is in its place, which won't work on here. Actual PNG images would otherwise be fine.

[TheSownRose]

(Original post by Reffariiii)
I am looking to spend around £350 to £450 for the camera, with a bit left over for possibly a lens/flash (althought not absoloutley nessescary as we have plenty!).

I am looking for a digital SLR camera. The type of thing that is not quite proffesional level, but more advanced than your average digital camera. I have been looking at the Canon EOS 1100D, Nikon D3100 and Pentax K-r. I have also looked at the EOS 5D but its a bit over budget.

If it is a Canon, I would like is to be compatible with the EF/EF-S lenses, and be able to facilitate a battery grip, but again not absoloutly nessescary. I have not done as much research into Nikon and Pentax.

What lenses do you already have access to, and is this constant access or will it depend upon what the rest of your family are doing?

The 5D is in an entirely different league from the others. It's old now, but it's a full frame - more of a professional camera than the 1100D, or the D3100 and K-r.

Any Canon DSLR you buy will work with EF lenses. If you want it to be compatible with EF-S lenses, you need to buy in the XXXXD, XXXD, XXD ranges or a 7D. AFAIK, any camera will accept a battery grip (I don't like them myself, hence why I'm not absolutely sure.)

I was just wondering if anybody here has these cameras and would be able to give me some pro's and cons? Also, generaly any tips on buying a camera, accesories, stores? (My family has a good relationship with LCE so not really looked at anywhere else, but welcome to suggestions). Any suggestions for any other cameras?

If you already have lenses for a Canon camera and don't dislike them, it doesn't make much sense for you to get a Nikon or a Pentax so you have to buy duplicates of the lenses for a different mount.

[M4LLY]

I'd save it for uni considering how expensive it is nowadays