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Recommend me a new camera, please?

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DaveSheffield
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Recommend me a new camera, please?

Post by DaveSheffield » Wed Nov 09, 2011 1:05 pm

Yes, I understand the can of worms this may open up!

However, the budget would be around £600 and ideally I'd like something that can take photos in the evening light seeing as it's winter.

Predominantly for aircraft use, though I may take it to the football once in a while so anything that fits both of those would be ideal.

Lenses and such I'm not too bothered about although I was told the other day you can get an adapter to attach lenses from my old film camera to any new digital one I might buy - so if anyone knows any more about that then please do illuminate me.

Cheers, Dave. :D
The name says Sheffield but I'm actually South Wales based now! Also often seen at Southend, Heathrow, Manchester and Birmingham.

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Paul Zietsman
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Re: Recommend me a new camera, please?

Post by Paul Zietsman » Wed Nov 09, 2011 2:48 pm

Dave,

Before we can give good advice, what make is your old camera? The reason I ask is that in most cases, film camera lenses will fit the digital bodies of the same make. To my mind, the lens is probably the most important part of your photographic gear and will certainly outlast most digital bodies. If you are satisfied with your current lens/lenses, go with that make of camera.

Regards,

Paul

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2e1var
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Re: Recommend me a new camera, please?

Post by 2e1var » Sat Nov 12, 2011 8:29 am

you'd be better in the photo section surely ?
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Mike
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Re: Recommend me a new camera, please?

Post by Mike » Sat Nov 12, 2011 9:20 am

2e1var wrote:you'd be better in the photo section surely ?
Moved to Photo section. :thumb:
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SteveJ
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Re: Recommend me a new camera, please?

Post by SteveJ » Sat Nov 12, 2011 1:22 pm

I've just upgraded from a Nikon D70 to a Nikon D90 and am really pleased with it so far, obviously I stopped with Nikon as I already had lenses that fit.

Cheers

Steve :)

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DaveSheffield
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Re: Recommend me a new camera, please?

Post by DaveSheffield » Wed Nov 16, 2011 1:44 pm

Mike wrote:
2e1var wrote:you'd be better in the photo section surely ?
Moved to Photo section. :thumb:
Thanks for cleaning up after me fellas! :lol:

Annoyingly the old one (film camera) was a Pentax - which I don't hear good things about nowadays. The one I've got now is a little Kodak Z885 compact. Which is fine in the summer, but doesn't quite do the job at this time of year - and more often than not pales in comparison to some of the photos I see on sites like this!

I think I'd be looking at a DSLR or a "compact system" camera - fairly high ISO, good zoom, able to take lots of frames per second and with a very quick autofocus. I'm not at all bothered about video or HD or any of that though. In fact I'd rather it not have a video capability. Battery life would be more important than that!
The name says Sheffield but I'm actually South Wales based now! Also often seen at Southend, Heathrow, Manchester and Birmingham.

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beefsteak
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Re: Recommend me a new camera, please?

Post by beefsteak » Thu Nov 17, 2011 2:38 pm

I've just upgraded to a Canon EOS 550d (Managed to break it straight away too, but that's another story, but not Canons fault) You can get them new for around £490, then get a second hand 70-300mm lens off of ebay for around £80/100 and Robert is your fathers brother.!!! You'll still have change to buy me a pint sometime for giving you this great advice ...LOL

BenNewson
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Re: Recommend me a new camera, please?

Post by BenNewson » Fri Nov 18, 2011 9:31 pm

Likewise I also upgraded to the Canon Eos 550d think its superb 18 megapixels lots of features , also just bought a 75-300mm lens for £105 off ebay (brand new)so very impressed with it all together! :D
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beefsteak
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Re: Recommend me a new camera, please?

Post by beefsteak » Fri Nov 18, 2011 9:39 pm

Don't forget to save the pennies, when you can afford it , get yourself a Canon EF 100-400mm IS USM 1:4.5-5.6 (They're about £1200 though!!)

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2e1var
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Re: Recommend me a new camera, please?

Post by 2e1var » Sun Nov 20, 2011 7:16 am

DaveSheffield wrote:
Lenses and such I'm not too bothered about

Cheers, Dave. :D
You've got that so wrong ! That's where you need to be spending your money or you'll be sorry !
I use Sony Alpha myself, although I've got no comparison, I'm very happy with my set up.

Sony a290 with 18-55mm lens will set you back about £270, this is a great set up for static and the basic kit lens gets some fantastic results

A Tamron 70-300mm f4-5.6 SP USD Lens will set you back about £350 and again gets some great reviews (although I don't use one myself it's on my Xmas list)

That should be all you'll need and it's nearly in budget !
UBC-15X, 800XLT, 3500XLT, VT-225, Pro-2006, Pro-2042, IC-7300, IC-7100, Airspy R2
Sony a58, Sony 70-300G

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DaveSheffield
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Re: Recommend me a new camera, please?

Post by DaveSheffield » Thu Nov 24, 2011 10:52 am

Thanks for the advice so far all, I'm absorbing it all. Like a sponge.

The Canon 550D does look rather good in fairness. I'm also looking at the Nikon D3100, the Canon 1100D and several others.

Decisions decisions!

If anyone has any "No, don't go for that, it's dreadful" (or indeed "that brand is dreadful") sort of suggestions, please send them my way. It's all useful :thumb:
The name says Sheffield but I'm actually South Wales based now! Also often seen at Southend, Heathrow, Manchester and Birmingham.

Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/djwilliams1990/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/djw1990

beefsteak
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Re: Recommend me a new camera, please?

Post by beefsteak » Mon Nov 28, 2011 2:40 am

I'm a big believer in Canon , but then again (other than a Chinon Genesis film camera in the 90s which was OK) I have never had another make !!!

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Re: Recommend me a new camera, please?

Post by Radleigh » Mon Dec 05, 2011 11:39 am

Paul Zietsman wrote:Dave,

Before we can give good advice, what make is your old camera? The reason I ask is that in most cases, film camera lenses will fit the digital bodies of the same make. To my mind, the lens is probably the most important part of your photographic gear and will certainly outlast most digital bodies. If you are satisfied with your current lens/lenses, go with that make of camera.

Regards,

Paul

Canon FD lenses don't fit EF mount, and EF-S mount don't fit pro EF bodies. So thats not that helpful.
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SteveJ
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Re: Recommend me a new camera, please?

Post by SteveJ » Tue Dec 06, 2011 6:18 am

Dave,

Don't know whether or not you've got anything yet but I managed to pick up a second user D90 with 2k actuations on it for £379 recently from MPB Photographic.

No connections with the shop just a happy customer :D

Regards

Steve

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DaveSheffield
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Re: Recommend me a new camera, please?

Post by DaveSheffield » Tue Dec 06, 2011 2:44 pm

Having looked at all the propaganda and had the chance to have a play around with what seems like dozens of cameras, I've settled on two. And they were the two I started with: The Canon EOS 550D and the Nikon D3100.

Now it's just finding the best deal and such - and the Nikon looks like more value with the lenses and bundles I can get it in in this part of the world.
The name says Sheffield but I'm actually South Wales based now! Also often seen at Southend, Heathrow, Manchester and Birmingham.

Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/djwilliams1990/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/djw1990

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