A Good beginner DSLR/Mirrorless Camera.

Shanpats27

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Jan 21, 2016
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Hi, I am a 17 year old teenager and I love Photography. Its my Hobby. I am currently using my Galaxy S7 for clicking images but I want to step up the game and Get a good Camera ( not a point and shoot). I understand basic terms of photography​ like exposure. Can anyone suggest me a good Dslr for a beginner. My main concerns are great image quality and compact body size. I had selected the Sony a6000 as an option but I am thinking whether that would be overkill since I am purchasing my first DSLR. Please guide me

Thank you.
 
Solution
Personally i'd go Nikon or Canon, mostly because with a DSLR you are also buying into a set of lenses, and they have much much wider sets of lenses (and more opportunities to buy second hand lenses). From a canon point of view look for 500/550D's second hand with the kit lens, awesome pieces of kit, better than the 1000 range (canon numbering scheme goes 4 digits, 3 digits, 2 digits and 1 digit getting better and better). Not sure about Nikon's base range but look for theirs from 2-3 years ago, and get that. Look to DPreview for good in depth reviews, and go for the one up from the bottom range (3 digits).

Get a magic lantern book or similar and you'll get to know your camera much much better.

13thmonkey

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Jan 10, 2006
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Personally i'd go Nikon or Canon, mostly because with a DSLR you are also buying into a set of lenses, and they have much much wider sets of lenses (and more opportunities to buy second hand lenses). From a canon point of view look for 500/550D's second hand with the kit lens, awesome pieces of kit, better than the 1000 range (canon numbering scheme goes 4 digits, 3 digits, 2 digits and 1 digit getting better and better). Not sure about Nikon's base range but look for theirs from 2-3 years ago, and get that. Look to DPreview for good in depth reviews, and go for the one up from the bottom range (3 digits).

Get a magic lantern book or similar and you'll get to know your camera much much better.
 
Solution

Palewing

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May 9, 2015
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Used Nikon or Canon will be the cheapest option, and the one with the best selection. If you want to save on weight, M43 might an idea, as their lens-selection is quite big now. But the cost to picture-quality will increase. The newest M43 I have is the G80/G85, and it's great. But it's not cheap, especially not if paired with a good lens.*

It also depends on what kind of photographs you want. Do you need wide-angle? Normal-angle? Tele? Do you prefer the versatility of zoom, or are you willing to sacrifice that for better pictures in low light? And so on.

*There are, of course, much more expensive options, but those are definitely not relevant here.
 

Shanpats27

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Jan 21, 2016
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Thank you for your answer. I will look forward towards selecting from Canon or Nikon. Any other reason for not suggesting Sony apart from the lens selection. Also canon has recently launched the 77d, is it any good or should I stick with what you suggested.

 

Wulffz

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I bought a Canon EOS 100D that included an 18-55mm standard lens and later on bought a Macro lens for my nature photography. That was 3 years ago though, I'm currently not following the new releases on DSLR camera's. But in my opinion a basic DSLR from canon or nikon will do the job. If you know how to use such a camera then you're all set to go. Just don't get lenses from other brands than Canon or Nikon themselves, their quality isn't as good as the original.
 

Shanpats27

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Jan 21, 2016
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I won't go with a second hand camera because I want a brand new one
 

Wulffz

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Jan 6, 2017
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A Canon 77D will certainly do. It's already a tier higher than my camera. Basic lenses or later on a different portrait lens will suit your needs?
 

Shanpats27

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Jan 21, 2016
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Will see which camera to get in the range of 500-600$. In the beginning the kit lens will be fine. Later a 50mm f/1.8 lens should do fine for portraits and landscape. It also provides nice shallow depth of field.
 

Wulffz

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Jan 6, 2017
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True I've got a friend who has that 50mm lens. I studied photography so I learned a lot about camera's. But the most important thing is technique. The right use of light is the key for awesome portraits! Don't let it get you down when pictures aren't as 'perfect' at the start.
 

Shanpats27

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Jan 21, 2016
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Certainly! , anyways thank you very much for your support and guidance. Completely changed my decision and moved towards a Canon or Nikon although deep inside I had a feeling that these two brands have better image quality than sony because the kit lens they offer is far superior than what you find on a Sony Mirrorless camera.

 
"Any other reason for not suggesting Sony apart from the lens selection"

Canon, Nikon & Olympus have been producing top-quality bodies & lenses for decades, starting with film then switching to digital for obvious reasons. Sony have no such history behind them, they only entered the camera market when digital took off. Stick with a traditional, well-established camera manufacturer, they have far more experience to draw from.
 

Shanpats27

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Jan 21, 2016
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Agreed!