Going to buy my first DSLR!!! Please Help! :D

[Photobeauty]

Hello!

My name is Kandise and I love to take pictures. That's the first step to admitting you want to have a hobby . DPS has helped me a lot with learning some of the basics in photography, however I find the suggestions difficult to comprehend without a camera in hand to put them to use.

BUT, in a simple twist of fate, a radio station in my city (Sacramento) was having a contest to "Pick Your Pampering" and I won!! So they are going to cut me a check for 499.00 and that's where my confusion comes in, here is a list of cameras that fall under that price range:

**Canon EOS Digital Rebel Xs Black 10.1 MP Digital SLR With 18-55-IS lens and 2.5" LCD

**Sony Alpha A330L Black 10MP DSLR Camera with 18-55mm Zoom Lens

**Nikon D3000 Black 10.2MP DSLR Camera Kit with AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR Lens, 3" High Resolution LCD

Which one is better for my first DLSR? I keep trying to find articles that does a compariosn of the diffrent brands, but am coming up empty and decided to go to the pros, semi-pros and self teachers! Any advice will be helpful.

Thank You!!!

[inkista]

What do you like to shoot?

Between camera bodies, there's not a huge amount of choice when you're looking at the same pricepoint: they're all good. What differs slightly more is not the features on the bodies, but the overall systems.

If you want to shoot fast action, Canon might be a better buy at that pricepoint, because the Nikon low-end bodies, like the D3000/D5000/D3100 don't have focus motors in them, and rely on the one in the lens. Which means only AF-S lenses will autofocus on them. This isn't a big issue, though, if you like to shoot portraits or landscapes or architecture (i.e. stuff that doesn't move quickly). Pentax can also autofocus with all the current lenses in the lineup, but they don't have as many fast telephotos as Canon does. If you like street shooting, howevr, Pentax has the only pancake lenses. And if you like shooting with off-camera flash, Nikon's system is probably the most full-featured. And their wide-angle glass rocks.

A lot of which system is going to be your best fit is going to be about what you like to shoot.

[Jonbar18]

I'm a Nikon fan so I'd say the D3000
However you should consider that said above, and also think into the future. If you are planning on expanding your gear, remember that it is expansive to switch brands. you should research the lenses and cameras offered by each company that you would be interested in, because at this stage, all three of those cameras are about equally good.

[Izzy]

Each of the cameras owners here will tout the camera they chose as best so I will be of no exception. I presently shoot the Canon XS. I happen to rather like the camera. This is my third digital camera and my first DSLR. I am a cheap skate so I like that I can buy things for it rather cheap, external flash not withstanding.

Canon lenses tend to be pricier than some of the Nikon lens, for instance in the basic 55-210 zoom range. Canon is $299 while the Nikon is just over $200 at Walmart. If you like the idea of shooting a fast lens the 50mm 1.8 (I think) is about $100.

The bright side of this is that the XS will use just about every EF lens (older auto focus ones) ever made with the exception of a few sigma lenses I have had produce a "error 1" which means either the contacts are dirty or the camera does not like the chipping of the lens. Sigma is the only one that I know of to have this problem. I have moved to a Tamron 28-200, some do not like this lens as it has a plastic construction. Nonetheless I like it and purchased it for about $85. It is a popular lens as it is a great walk around lens that covers just about everything with a focus distance of about 3 ft through the entire zoom range. I use the kit lens for stuff that I must get closer to.

I purchased a remote trigger $2 on ebay and a vertical grip for $35 which holds 2 batteries and has an infrared remote trigger also to boot. So accessories for this camera can be cheap if you know the right place to look.

In closing - Whatever camera you buy, get a UV filter that screws into the front of the lens. I bought my digital HD one for $9. Smash the filter and it is a few dollars to replace rather than the price of a new lens.

Keep Shooting

[m.c.adams]

I shoot Canon, so I am bias to them, but, whats most important is what you are comfortable with. Find a camera store that carries both cameras and try them out. Hold them and try out the different controls. And as said above, look to the future. Once you decide which camera fits you best, then you can start investing in lenses. Try to buy the best you can, then, when its time, upgrade your camera.
Hope that helps and good luck with your hunt.
Mark

[Photobeauty]

Inkista - Thank you for your insight, as it will be beneficial when decided which camera to purchase. For right now I like to shoot photos of my son and the places we go like the zoo or a theme park or him playing in the grass or at the park ( you know, the little things). He is only two years old right now so there really aren't any fast moving shots that I need to take at least until he starts pee-wee football! and even then, I don't think he'll be moving so fast I'd be unable to capture it, however I will keep that in mind .

Jonbar18 - My cousin is a fan of Nikon and said the same thing! Lol

Izzy - I'm with you on the being a cheap skate! Thank you for your advice about how to keep the prices of expanding my equipment in mind, I really appreciate it! And I also have plan of purchasing two filters once I purchase my camera and one of them them definitely is a UV filter! The other a polarized filter? I think that was the correct name for it (I could do a quick search, but I'm too lazy right now, HA!)

Which brings me to my next question with the UV filters, I've seen them being sold on Amazon and see that you went with a digital HD one and I saw two different brands, one was the Tiffon and the other Hoya, they come in different mm so which one should I get with the lens that comes with the camera and does it make a difference?

Thank you again!

[Photobeauty]

Thank you Mark, I will definitely keep that in mind! Walmart has them on display and both of them felt great to hold, however since it was in Demo mode, I couldn't tell which took a clearer picture, but what I am learning is it is the photographer and not the camera So it'll be an ongoing process for me.

[Eastree]

Originally Posted by Izzy

Smash the filter and it is a few dollars to replace rather than the price of a new lens.

Erm ... SMASH the filter, and you're likely to scratch the front element, still possibly ruining the lens.

SCRATCH the filter, and the lens is protected.

Still it's considerably useful.

[Izzy]

Originally Posted by Photobeauty

Inkista -

Which brings me to my next question with the UV filters, I've seen them being sold on Amazon and see that you went with a digital HD one and I saw two different brands, one was the Tiffon and the other Hoya, they come in different mm so which one should I get with the lens that comes with the camera and does it make a difference?

Thank you again!

Your lens will be marked on the front telling you which filter size it is. Some are marked on the front of the lens others are marked on the body.

[Jim Bryant]

whatever you do, don't get the Sony. Their lenses are very expensive and not as good as either the Canon or Nikon lenses. They do, however, make a pretty decent camera, still not as good as the Canon or Nikon line. nAs everyone else mention get filters to protect your lenses. I don't know just how many times I had to replace a scratched filter, it's certainly cheaper than a lens.