If i win 40 million tomorrow night...I will be buying the absolute best camera money can buy

If i win 40 million tomorrow night...I will be buying the absolute best camera money can buy

Buy me one as well mate!

Buy me one as well mate!

Lol...with 40m I could probably buy enough cameras to go round the whole of NEB and every member of there family lol

What does everyone think of this photo taken with my new camera? Any tips/improvements would be welcome

What does everyone think of this photo taken with my new camera? Any tips/improvements would be welcome

I like it! What camera is it?

I like it! What camera is it?

Sony NEX-6

Sony NEX-6

Is it a DSLR or compact? Looks like a mixture of both from a quick Google search!

Is it a DSLR or compact? Looks like a mixture of both from a quick Google search!

DSLR.

I'm interested in buying a camera (and potentially taking up photography as a hobby) so I'm looking for suggestions as to what to buy.

Ideally, I would like a DSLR and I'm prepared to pay around £300-400. However, because I'm a absolute novice, is it worth buying one? Should I settle for something less?

As well as photos, I'd like to shoot the occasional video too. Most DSLR cameras appear to do both, but is the quality any good?

I would also like to know what the battery life is like on DSLR cameras?

Give me your recommendations.

Cheers.   

Aureolin recommended that I got the Nikon D5100 and I have not regretted it. Although I had the experience of a more complex Point & Shoot beforehand, having a DSLR was a completely new experience to me, too. In my opinion, your photos improve over time with it, as you learn more about the camera.

I've heard that Canons are your best bet for videos, though.

I very rarely have to charge my D5100. In the summer I was going out from sunrise until the very last bus of the night on some occasions and I think I went about three days without charging it - and I'm rather trigger happy and take between 3 and 5 shots of one bus as it approaches (to ensure the destination display comes out).

I'm interested in buying a camera (and potentially taking up photography as a hobby) so I'm looking for suggestions as to what to buy.

Ideally, I would like a DSLR and I'm prepared to pay around £300-400. However, because I'm a absolute novice, is it worth buying one? Should I settle for something less?

As well as photos, I'd like to shoot the occasional video too. Most DSLR cameras appear to do both, but is the quality any good?

I would also like to know what the battery life is like on DSLR cameras?

Give me your recommendations.

Cheers.   

Nikon. I'd swear by them, but the Canon EOS range are also very good. The only thing to be aware of with a DSLR, is obviously you're not going to get the optical super zoom of a point and shoot, well unless you fork out for a range of lenses. If you take a look at Jessops, some of the D3xxx range cameras are well within your budget, and will include the 18-55mm VR lens, which is what me and Dan have on our D5100s. 

Great thing about DSLRs too is that you can just shoot in RAW format. This captures a massive amount of data around each shot, so you can just pull it into Photoshop or Lightroom, and adjust readjust your exposure and levels using CameraRAW. If you tried doing it with a JPEG, it tends to distort the image.

I very rarely have to charge my D5100. In the summer I was going out from sunrise until the very last bus of the night on some occasions and I think I went about three days without charging it - and I'm rather trigger happy and take between 3 and 5 shots of one bus as it approaches (to ensure the destination display comes out).

I'm completely the same. I've been out most days over the two week Christmas break, took well over 2000 individual shots, and I'm still on a 3/3 battery bars according to my camera. I did however invest in a spare battery that I keep charged, which came in handy when I was at the Metrocentre rally back in May.

Thanks for the advice.

Although this is way out of my league (as of yet), I would like to produce shots which could be 'blown-up' like a large print picture. From what I understand, if this is attempted using a 'normal' camera, shots have a tendency to become distorted and pixelated when enlarged. Will taking shots with a DSLR prevent this from happening?

Thanks for the advice.

Although this is way out of my league (as of yet), I would like to produce shots which could be 'blown-up' like a large print picture. From what I understand, if this is attempted using a 'normal' camera, shots have a tendency to become distorted and pixelated when enlarged. Will taking shots with a DSLR prevent this from happening?

The quality of the enlarged photograph depends on the largest image size your chosen camera would permit. The 'large' setting on my Nikon D5100 allows photographs to be 4928x3264 pixels in size, which is quite large and allows for enough scope for the photographs to be cropped whilst maintaining quality. The same applied to my old Panasonic DMC-TZ40 Point & Shoot.

Last year, Go North East approached me to ask if they could use some of my photographs in their Riverside Depot. There was two A1-size frames, with enough space for an A2-size photograph within each frame. The photographs that Go North East selected were of the Wearmouth and Tyne Bridges, containing some of Go North East's fleet in them. As you can imagine, if the quality of these photographs was not good enough, they wouldn't have been put up, due to the large amount of people who go into Riverside. The Fab56 was taken with my Nikon D5100 and the QuayLink was taken with my Panasonic DMC-TZ40, but both retained the quality at such a large size.

You won't be able to make it out very well - but photographs of both frames attached.

gne_riversidepic1.jpg (Size 31.41 KB Downloads 27)

GNE_riversidepic2.jpg (Size 31.29 KB Downloads 27)

At the moment I've got a Samsung WB250F and an Olympus SZ-14. The Olympus, well, is utter shite for trains, buses, planes or for anything that moves over 1mph. The Samsung , although battered, somehow been bitten (I don't know?), been dropped, been in sand, still works brilliantly - bar the zoom feature which is incredibly slow.

Hi, I am currently looking to replace my little Sony DSC-WX200 camera with a DSLR camera, although I am completely clueless on cameras.

I would like to know if images are less likely to come out blurred than they probably would on my compact Sony camera (especially with moving buses). And would the image quality be noticeably better than my photos on my current camera. Downside to a DSLR from what I can see is that you can't zoom in, unless you fork out a fortune for lenses so I would probably just have to crop all my photos before uploading to Flickr.

I'm currently not sure how much I want to spend on a camera right now but I'm probably looking at around the £300 - £400 mark, having a quick look at the Argos catalogue one I'm currently looking at is the Nikon D3200 which costs around £270 in the Argos catalogue and Currys website, this one probably would be a good call for me but I am also having a look at the Nikon D5200 but it costs around £450 although Currys have it for £429 but I'm not sure if I would want to spend this much on a camera and would be worth the extra £150 over the Nikon D3200.

I want to know what you think I should do and which I should go for, or if you have any other camera suggestions.

I plan to keep my Sony DSC-WX200 camera for when a DSLR would be too bulky to carry and it still comes out with some great quality photos especially in the summer - this being one of my favourites.

Hi, I am currently looking to replace my little Sony DSC-WX200 camera with a DSLR camera, although I am completely clueless on cameras.

I would like to know if images are less likely to come out blurred than they probably would on my compact Sony camera (especially with moving buses). And would the image quality be noticeably better than my photos on my current camera. Downside to a DSLR from what I can see is that you can't zoom in, unless you fork out a fortune for lenses so I would probably just have to crop all my photos before uploading to Flickr.

I'm currently not sure how much I want to spend on a camera right now but I'm probably looking at around the £300 - £400 mark, having a quick look at the Argos catalogue one I'm currently looking at is the Nikon D3200 which costs around £270 in the Argos catalogue and Currys website, this one probably would be a good call for me but I am also having a look at the Nikon D5200 but it costs around £450 although Currys have it for £429 but I'm not sure if I would want to spend this much on a camera and would be worth the extra £150 over the Nikon D3200.

I want to know what you think I should do and which I should go for, or if you have any other camera suggestions.

I plan to keep my Sony DSC-WX200 camera for when a DSLR would be too bulky to carry and it still comes out with some great quality photos especially in the summer - this being one of my favourites.

I always find my Olympus SZ-14 a handy little camera... although if I take photos in the shade, it's rubbish. (Arriva 7529 in the shade)

A DSLR is too expensive for me, especially with the amount of cameras that I've been through over the years.

Jimmi I'd recommend going to a shop and getting a feel for different DSLRs first, as compared to what you're used to, it'll feel really bulky. I've got the D5100, which will be broadly similar to the D5200, and although bulky, it feels comfortable. 

I can take fast shutter shots during the day, and I never have issues with blurring. Even if you don't want to piss around with settings, you have the benefit of sport mode, which will allow you to shoot buses in motion. I know with my D5100, the shutter speed can be adjusted to perform a multi-shot rapid fire, so you can just compensate by taking 5-6 pictures for each shot.

You obviously don't get an optical zoom with a DSLR, but I take all my photos with the same 18-55 lens you'd get with the D5100. Dan will have the same lens with his D5100 too. Just take large photos and crop them down, and you'll have no issues. 

Both the D3200 and D5200 are great prices, and I'd be happy with both, but I'd push towards the D5200 if you can afford to. The lens is much more capable when it comes to autofocus (39 point as oppose to 9), and the ISO sensitivity is better.

100mph line speed - no blur at all with the D5100:
East Coast: 43315 by danielgrahamm, on Flickr

What about Bridge Cameras? Are they any good?

Thanks for the advice.

I think I will try and get a feel for a DSLR somewhere, it probably feel pretty bulky at first but I'll probably get used to it.

I am utterly useless at settings so I will probably just have to whack it in sports mode, although at least it seems I should get more shots turn out well instead of blurring.

I now know how to crop photos on Flickr so I have no problems with that, what I'm not going to do though is stand in the middle of the road to take photos like I saw someone do in Darlington the other day.

I still don't know which to go for as I could probably afford the D5200 but I'm not sure if I want to spend that much on a camera so I'd maybe go for the D3200. I'm still undecided at the moment as to which I will get.

I was thinking about getting a camera because currently all I can use is my phone, but unfortunatly I can't really afford one

I have just bought the Nikon D5100 from Jessops

Safe to say my wallet is certainly feeling an awful lot lighter than it did when I woke up this morning (especially as I got product care and accessories Inc. bag).

Looking forward to it arriving soon!

Tomorrows outing's photos will be taken on my Sony DSC-WX200 (providing I go out which I should be, especially after I've planned it out and everything).

I have just bought the Nikon D5100 from Jessops

Safe to say my wallet is certainly feeling an awful lot lighter than it did when I woke up this morning (especially as I got product care and accessories Inc. bag).

Looking forward to it arriving soon!

Tomorrows outing's photos will be taken on my Sony DSC-WX200 (providing I go out which I should be, especially after I've planned it out and everything).

I'm surprised its not empty   

Did some of the money get loaned from the bank of Mum & Dad?   

I might upgrade to a proper camera, next year. My Samsung lasted May - November before getting replaced! 

I'm surprised its not empty   



Did some of the money get loaned from the bank of Mum & Dad?   



I might upgrade to a proper camera, next year. My Samsung lasted May - November before getting replaced! 

No. I haven't really bought anything since I got my iPod Classic at Currys Digital in Sunderland about 5/6 months back and because the shop was closing I got £50 off that - BARGAIN!

Also I never spent most of the money I got for Christmas and birthday recently.

Still cant get my head around paying over £200 for a Camera despite being quite tempted by the Nikon D3200 with 18-55mm VR Lens for £299 at Jessops, so lets do a little comparison, nothing major between my Samsung ST72 and Dans Nikon D5100.


Cost: Samsung ST72 4.5-22.5mm Lens £50 (Asda) - Nikon D5100 + 18-55mm + 55-200mm VR II Lenses £389.97 (Jessops)
Megapixels: Samsung 16.2 - Nikon 16.2

One of my Photos - https://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarkey/16176369700/
One of Dans - https://www.flickr.com/photos/danielgrah...355419972/
Note both Photos were taken in the same spot and same lighting conditions in the interest of fairness.

So is it worth it?

Still cant get my head around paying over £200 for a Camera despite being quite tempted by the Nikon D3200 with 18-55mm VR Lens for £299 at Jessops, so lets do a little comparison, nothing major between my Samsung ST72 and Dans Nikon D5100.

April fools day already?

Try looking at the technical specs of each camera properly.

Still cant get my head around paying over £200 for a Camera despite being quite tempted by the Nikon D3200 with 18-55mm VR Lens for £299 at Jessops, so lets do a little comparison, nothing major between my Samsung ST72 and Dans Nikon D5100.


Cost: Samsung ST72 4.5-22.5mm Lens £50 (Asda) - Nikon D5100 + 18-55mm + 55-200mm VR II Lenses £389.97 (Jessops)
Megapixels: Samsung 16.2 - Nikon 16.2

One of my Photos - https://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarkey/16176369700/
One of Dans - https://www.flickr.com/photos/danielgrah...355419972/
Note both Photos were taken in the same spot and same lighting conditions in the interest of fairness.

So is it worth it?

Dan's camera brings out the colour more than your ST72.

April fools day already?

Try looking at the technical specs of each camera properly.

Just a bit early for that Aureolin, in all seriousness what would I be paying £300-£400 for exactly, as to me there doesnt appear to be that many differences.

Dan's camera brings out the colour more than your ST72.

Anything else?, admittedly Colour quality is alot better on the D5100.

Just a bit early for that Aureolin, in all seriousness what would I be paying £300-£400 for exactly, as to me there doesnt appear to be that many differences.
Anything else?, admittedly Colour quality is alot better on the D5100.

Actually after flicking through my Samsung photographs, it's all Samsung cameras that have colour quality issues.

At least it's better than a phone. 

You get what you pay for with cameras, Adam.

There are quite a few differences between my camera and yours. As aureolin has already said, the technical specifications of both cameras will reveal it all. I paid a fair amount for my Panasonic DMC-TZ40 when it first came out, and that does not even scratch the surface compared to my Nikon D5100 and I'm reluctant to use it in situations when it can be avoided.

The use of my Nikon D5100 is not limited to bus photography - the limits are endless. I am a bit of a fan of trains too, and do like taking the occasional photo of one. If the sun is at the right angle, I can get photos of trains flying down tracks at 100mph. I couldn't achieve that with my Panasonic, so I'm fairly confident that your Samsung wouldn't achieve that. I had a Samsung camera for a few days and I really wasn't impressed with it at all. The colours it was producing was appalling compared to what I had been used to with my Panasonic DMC-TZ30. I realised it was worth forking out the extra to upgrade to the TZ40 instead of using the Samsung.
I also produce more professional photographs if I get requests - obviously for a fee in most cases - and I would want the image to be completely perfect in this situation. Really, I honestly don't think anything other than a DSLR can get a really perfect photo.
I have used my Nikon for photography in school - for special events and for my Media Studies coursework. My TZ40 was good enough for that before, but I'm happier with what I have produced recently with the Nikon.

Obviously one you already know about is night photography. You've commented on one of my photos before saying that your camera doesn't like taking photos at night. It's next to no graft for the Nikon.