Looking for a new dSLR, Canon 1000d?

[LeonOfTheDead]

It's for a friend of mine, which is studying cinema and would like to buy a reflex camera to practice with all the settings and learn something. For the record, buying an equivalent videocamera would be completely out of budget, plus his school has a few of them and it's something you generally rent at the beginning.

Anyway, his top budget would be around 1.000 €, but I'm advicing him to lower it sensibly. First of all, he doesn't have a decent laptop (G4 iBook, about to die) and he will leave for London for the next three months.
He is also a beginner with reflex cameras, so my advice was to buy an entry level or so, and to get a laptop as well.
He doesn't want to buy something he'd eventually need to replace too soon, but on th other hand we both know by the time he will properly know how to use a mroe expensive camera, it would be either depreciated or not useful for him anymore.

There are few Nikon D90s with 18-55 and 55-200 lenses for about 1.000 €, while starting from tomorrow there will be an offer on a local store for a Canon 1000D for 350 €. The Nikon D3000 would be a little more expensive, and kits with a 55-200 lenses would reach the 500/600 € mark.

I'd personally go for the Canon, perhaps with the 55-200 too.

Thoughts, suggestions? :)

[NSXType-R]

I'd say go for the Canons. As much as I love Nikon, they implement video a bit better than Nikon does in their bodies, from what I hear. The T2i is pretty much the cheapest Canon DSLR that has video.

Can't help you much more with Canon- I know nothing about them pretty much.

If he goes Nikon, it's the D5000 he wants, not the D3000. The D3000 has no video function.

And if he really wants to work with video, make sure he updates his laptop. The Canon has 18 megapixels, I don't think he'll be going anywhere quickly, especially when he's working with video.

The D90 is great for stills though.

[LeonOfTheDead]

Not sure how much he would use them for video, but thanks for the advices.

Any experience with Pentax? He was also pointed towards the K7, but I personally don't like Ps, the idea od the motoring in the body doesn't appeal me, even if I could use older or motor-less lenses.

[coolieman1220]

I'd say go for the Canons. As much as I love Nikon, they implement video a bit better than Nikon does in their bodies, from what I hear. The T2i is pretty much the cheapest Canon DSLR that has video.

Can't help you much more with Canon- I know nothing about them pretty much.

If he goes Nikon, it's the D5000 he wants, not the D3000. The D3000 has no video function.

And if he really wants to work with video, make sure he updates his laptop. The Canon has 18 megapixels, I don't think he'll be going anywhere quickly, especially when he's working with video.

The D90 is great for stills though.

yeah Canon has been doin a great job with videos' on their DSLR's but i am a purist so i think DSLRS are for stills only! Nikon all the way! so i'm totally biased! i've used every single nikon made from the D50 up, including high end camera's with video like the D3s and D700 (my 300 is not an s) and i've never ever used the video feature.

[IBrake4Rainbows]

Pentax are great for starters as the bodies and glass are relatively cheap and the photos are actually pretty nifty. My mate is currently touring the US with his K-X and the photos he's producing are great.

I personally have a Canon set up and speak highly of the brand, but again get the best glass he can get for the price rather than the body - a decent body with great glass is better than the other way around.

[NSXType-R]

Not sure how much he would use them for video, but thanks for the advices.

Any experience with Pentax? He was also pointed towards the K7, but I personally don't like Ps, the idea od the motoring in the body doesn't appeal me, even if I could use older or motor-less lenses.

I thought from your first statement that he wanted video. If he doesn't then pretty much any maker except Sony would do fine for him. No one really makes a terrible DSLR, and the only reason why the Sony sucks is because their user interface is absolutely terrible.


yeah Canon has been doin a great job with videos' on their DSLR's but i am a purist so i think DSLRS are for stills only! Nikon all the way! so i'm totally biased! i've used every single nikon made from the D50 up, including high end camera's with video like the D3s and D700 (my 300 is not an s) and i've never ever used the video feature.

I'm biased too, but Nikon is not good at video, not yet at least. And some people really need megapixels but can't afford a D3x.


Pentax are great for starters as the bodies and glass are relatively cheap and the photos are actually pretty nifty. My mate is currently touring the US with his K-X and the photos he's producing are great.

I personally have a Canon set up and speak highly of the brand, but again get the best glass he can get for the price rather than the body - a decent body with great glass is better than the other way around.

Pentax is pretty cool. Along with Nikon, they're pretty much the only other DSLR manufacturer that hasn't changed their mount once. Props to that, but I'm even less familiar with Pentax than Canon.

Glass FTW. I wonder how it would be like, sticking a 70-200 on a D40. :D

[LeonOfTheDead]

thanks chaps. :)
he is actually reconsidering the whole thing due to money being required for something else, but these tips will still be good for a while, no?

[IBrake4Rainbows]

Absolutely.

In a few months the prices of decent cameras will have dropped as consumers insatiable appetite for megapixels eats up sales :)

[henk4]

Absolutely.

In a few months the prices of decent cameras will have dropped as consumers insatiable appetite for megapixels eats up sales :)

indeed the dombos who think that one zillion megapixels decides on the quality of the shot....

[pimento]

Yea.. one day they'll market the size/quality of the sensor as effectively and we'll get proper demand for better cameras...

[IBrake4Rainbows]

Thats why I got the S90.

It's not that many megapixels, but for it's size it has a massive sensor. Even moderately high ISO shots are great, but F2.0 means I can shoot fairly low ISO anyway :)

[pimento]

Sometimes, size does matter.

[henk4]

good lads, you both immediately understood what I was hinting at:D

[pimento]

We is knowing about shits, yo. Werd, fo' shizzley, etcetera.

[IBrake4Rainbows]

*Cue Whiteballz DICK post*

Seriously though, the sensor in the S90 is about the same size as in my DSLR, which is kind of amazing.

[pimento]

Wowzers. I'm a little behind the times in what's best, but I know what I want to be looking for in any possible case of looking for a camera. One day I'll have the disposible income...

[henk4]

*Cue Whiteballz DICK post*

somebody called a dick a sensor?

[pimento]

somebody called a dick a sensor?

Not explicitly... yet... :p

[IBrake4Rainbows]

It was a size issue, henk :)

[henk4]

It was a size issue, henk :)

in private I could tell you my number of megapixels though...

[pimento]

in private I could tell you my number of megapixels though...

If you're not including a picture you can probably just put it in this thread.. :D

[IBrake4Rainbows]

This conversation got awkward VERY fast.

and pedobear approved, as well. :D

[pimento]

Pfft... awkward? Prude.. :p

[IBrake4Rainbows]

Next time a gentleman asks you if you want to see his megapixels, you try not going red with shame. :D

[pimento]

Hey, I be trained in theatre and television. This be tame. :p

[NSXType-R]

indeed the dombos who think that one zillion megapixels decides on the quality of the shot....

Funny you should say that, it's Canon that really started the megapixel war. The T2i now has 18 megapixels! Who in their right mind would need so many?

I'm still happy with 6.

[LeonOfTheDead]

I'm happy with 6 megapixels as well, but I secretly dream of zillions. No, more of them, moar!

Seriously, I just learned to use properly (I think) the D40, give me something with 10 MP and my shots will look crappy once again at full res. :(

[NSXType-R]

I'm happy with 6 megapixels as well, but I secretly dream of zillions. No, more of them, moar!

Seriously, I just learned to use properly (I think) the D40, give me something with 10 MP and my shots will look crappy once again at full res. :(

I'm cheap with memory- I don't have a crapload of hard drives. 6 is enough.

Honestly, lenses are the most important. Get the 35mm 1.8, it'll make you think about your photography in a different way.