Camera recommendations

[CGM]

Hi All,

Looking into purchasing my first DSLR shortly but being a complete novice, I'm not sure what to get. Budget is roughly £500 possibly a little bit more.

I have seen a Canon 4000D for £430 with an 18-55mm lens and a 75-300 mm lens? Would this be ok for a novice to get half decent shots of aircraft and get a bit of practice in?

Any thoughts appreciated.

Scott

[NickC]

I'd say that is an excellent way into DSLR aircraft photography. Although an entry level camera, it has all the capabilities you need to start photographing aircraft. The two lenses cover most of the focal lengths required too. The 18-55mm lens is perfect for static aircraft, and the 75-300 will work for most flying. It is nice to have a little more reach (400mm or so), but that's only really achievable by spending quite a lot more (and requires more practice to avoid camera shake for sharp shots).

[John flightpath]

I would agree with Nick. Very good starting point. 18 MP is plenty for what you need. The Lens possibilities going forward are pretty substantial to say the least. Just seen one on ebay from one of the photography shops, new for £339.00 including an 18-55 IS STM Lens. On top of that you can source a Sigma 70-300 AF lens , new, for about £80-£100 and you've got a reasonable set up.

All the best
John 'flightpath'.

[Yunglee]

I totally agree with the comment so far, 70-300mm is a great focal length for learning to follow fast aircraft.

Just to give another opinion, how about used? With a few exceptions most of my gear is used and I've not been let down. I use mpb.com and it'll give you more camera for your cash.

I picked out Nikon gear because that's what I use but you could go Canon it's a stretch of your £500 budget but gives you some other ideas.

Nikon D5300
£309
https://www.mpb.com/en-uk/used-equipmen ... ku-718643/

Nikon 55-300mm
£169
https://www.mpb.com/en-uk/used-equipmen ... ku-737579/

Nikon AF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G DX VR
£69
https://www.mpb.com/en-uk/used-equipmen ... ku-737230/

Total £547

One other thought what ever you go for I'd get a spare battery especially if your off to an airshow and shooting all day, you'll need it.

Lee.

[robstopper]

I was in the same boat as you about two years ago. I went for a Nikon D3200, like this - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nikon-D3200-Di ... B007VBGTX8

It's probably an entry-level DSLR, not the all-singing, all-dancing kind......but that's what you want as a learner! I love it, am still learning, but am starting to get some half decent shots.

I've got a Tamron 70-300mm zoom, which does get a little stretched at times, but with such large image sizes, with a bit of judicious zooming and cropping, you can still produce good pictures. Don't make the mistake I made at first of buying a cheaper, non-image stabilized zoom lens, as I was massively disappointed with the quality. I got huge improvements once I sold that and bought the IS-version instead. I don't use the 18-55mm kit lens much these days, but did invest in an 18-200mm zoom, as it's a good "walk around" lens, covering most circumstances.

Get a nice big memory card, as with continuous shooting you can rattle off a couple of hundred shots in no time at all! And absolutely get a spare battery plus USB travel charger.

Lastly, once you get your chosen kit, get out with it as much as you can, and take as many pics as you can - practice makes perfect. My early attempts were rubbish, but got better and better the more I took. you only need that one great picture to make the day a success!

[James1971]

My first DSLR was a Canon 1100D with the 18-55mm and a Tamron 70-300 (both non IS) lens. Jessops had this combo for £349 - not much more than a fairly good Bridge Camera.

So glad that i took the plunge. A £200 body will work the same as a £2000 one - albeit with less bells and whistles.

[Thunder]

. A £200 body will work the same as a £2000 one - albeit with less bells and whistles.

Ermm, hardly. If that was the case everyone would just buy the £200 body and the likes of Canon and Nikon would be out of business.

The problem with going for the entry level basic cameras is that you could very well outgrow it very quickly. They're ok for people that just want to take everyday shots with a bit of quality and in my opinion you would be just as well going for bridge camera.
I would agree with Yunglee, go second hand to start with from a reputable source like MPB or Parks. I'm a Canon user and would highly recommend the EOS750d coupled with either the Sigma 18-250 or Tamron 18-270 both of which are very capable lenses, ok you're not going to get image quality on a par with say the Canon 100-400 ii, but you will get usable images, and if after a while you decide to upgrade you will still have a very capable second body

You can get both 750d and one of the above lenses for £500 or about.

Is the 4000d package you saw the one that Currys is currently selling, if so the 75-300 lens is extremely poor in today's terms and would be better off in the bin.

[CGM]

Thanks for all the input guys! Plenty of food for thought. Hadn't really thought about second hand but I'll look into it now.

The package was that one from Currys so I'll rule that out and look elsewhere.

Scott

[B58Hustler]

Agree with James for the most part.So long as the AF system is up to it and the sensor is of contemporary technology then all the body does is let light in.
Glass is way more important.

[slogen51]

Many expensive camera bodies are made out of magnesium alloy which is light , corosion and heat resistant.

Unless you are taking pics on a Volcano in the rainy season you won't require these properties!

I think the Autofocus system is more important and of course fast glass

[CGM]

In the end I went for the Nikon D3400 with the 18-55mm VR lens. Now I need to look for a bigger lens and get some practice in before the long trip down to my first RIAT.

[John flightpath]

Have a look at the Sigma 70-300mm lenses. Hope you are happy with your new camera buddy.

Cheers
John 'flightpath'.

[maximus]

Just a word of advice with the Nikon. Make sure you get the lens with the built in motor that is compatible with your camera. D3000 range and a few others need specific lenses that support the Auto Focus feature. Lenses should have DX in the name (thats for Nikon own ones) and check compatibility with other brands like Tamron and Sigma. It is a great camera and plenty capable so I hope you have a great time with it

[daggerfan]

DX in Nikon lens description means that those lenses are designed to be used in bodies with APS-C sized sensors, ie not full-frame bodies.

For autofocus compatibility with D3000 and D5000 series bodies look for the letters AFS on Nikon lenses. I believe Sigma's equivalent is HSM and Tamron's USD.

As ever, check compatibility before you buy.

[slogen51]

I use a Nikon D3300 and use a Nikkor 70-200 F2.8 ED VR II lens

The above lens is DX compatible but designed for a full frame sensor - the good thing is that it behaves like a 100-300 lens on a crop sensor camera such as the D3300 and D3400

In my opinion you should avoid a specific DX lens if you can afford it. DX lens are cheaper and light and compact therefore great for traveling but in my experience the F 2.8 lens gives noticeable better pictures especially in lower light

Downside is that non DX lens are ridiculously expensive and heavy - mine is second hand and cost £700

So make sure your lens says AF-S but DX is optional

[John flightpath]

If the Nikon AF-S lenses are the equivalent to the Canon EF-S lenses. ( the name suggests they are) then they produce some great quality shots and highlight details, like water droplets and water splash etc.
Combined with your 24.2 mp they will make a fantastic pairing.

Cheers
John 'flightpath'.

[#MTPhoto]

I would recommend the Nikon 70-300mm VR used from MPB. I had that lens for a long time while starting out and it was fantastic, I wish I still had it but it got trading in for longer reach in the end. It also works with full frame cameras.
https://www.mpb.com/en-uk/used-equipmen ... ku-738405/

For a little less you can also look at the Tamron 70-300mm VC which holds its own pretty well against the Nikon version.
https://www.mpb.com/en-uk/used-equipmen ... ku-739227/

[Andy_99]

To add my thoughts, If you think you may end up eventually going Full frame, by Full frame compatible lenses now.
I presume with Nikon that the Full frame lenses work with the Crop sensor cameras, but not vice versa (like canon's)

I have a crop frame body (Canon 70d) but all of my lenses are EF rather than the crop frame EF-S.

[CGM]

I have narrowed my lens choices down to 3 Nikon Variants and 1 Sigma but I'm really not sure what is best. I ruled Tamron out due to what I read elsewhere about slow autofocus.

https://www.mpb.com/en-uk/used-equipmen ... ku-728147/

https://www.mpb.com/en-uk/used-equipmen ... ku-742410/

https://www.mpb.com/en-uk/used-equipmen ... ku-742576/

https://www.mpb.com/en-uk/used-equipmen ... ku-742618/

Any advice appreciated,

Scott

[slogen51]

I would get the Nikkor 70-300 assuming it is in very good condition.

Being non DX it is also compatible with a full frame body and will give you 450mm on a Nikon D3400!

It is a plastic consumer lens , light and ideal for a TIGHT BUDGET.


https://photographylife.com/reviews/nikon-70-300mm-vr

Cheers
Mike