Recommendations for a Semi-Professional SLR Digital Camera?

Question

Can anyone recommend a Semi-Professional SLR Digital Camera? I am new to photography, and so I am looking for something that I can use for action and well as stills. Hopefully it doesn't cost too much : )~

Answer 1

The answer to your question depends on how much you are willing to spend. Canon, Nikon and others make excellent cameras and anyone who says Nikon, or Canon, or whatever is best is just voicing their opinion, not facts.

I suggest you decide on your price point and then go to a local camera shop and handle each of the cameras within your price range.

They ALL take great pictures and unless you are a real "prosumer" user you won't be able to tell the difference between a photo taken with a Nikon, Canon, or whatever.

Consider the cost of the camera with a GOOD lens. Often times the cameras are sold with mediocre lenses as a kit. Canon and Nikon both do this. A good lense is very expensive - $300+ for mid range zoom. The lenses both company's put on their cameras to sell them cheap(er) and in kits are about $100. I think Nikon's "kit" lense is better than Canon's but still not great. Don't forget - the pictures are only as good as the optics.

Unfortunately as soon as you consider an SLR you are looking at between $700 and $1000 for one of the low end SLRs with a good lense.

Answer 2

If you are new to photography, then don't get an entry level digital SLR. A dSLR is a professional camera. And although it takes the absolute top quality pictures, it is difficult to use, especially for a beginner. And I'm not talking about the settings. dSLR cameras use an optical viewfinder instead of the nifty electronic viewscreen on the back of the camera (or the miniture one in place of the optical viewfinder). Because it is electronic, you can see what your shot is going to look like before you take it, as well as a number of other helpful tools. A professional photographer relies on his knowledge and experience, instead, to know how a shot will turn out. This is a slow process for a hobbiest and not in the skillset of most beginners.

Also, there is the issue of expense. Good lenses are expensive and the kit lens that comes with a dSLR is not sufficient to get the quality of photography you buy a dSLR for in the first place. Your looking at another $400 or so tacked on to the body price of your dSLR. You need to be cool with that right up front or you are going to be mega pissed off when the camera doesn't meet your expectations with the kit lens and the guy down at the photo shop recommends a new lens.

Probably, you (as well as most people) would be alot happier with a fixed lens camera. Specifically, what you want is the Sony DSC-R1, 10 megapixel camera. This is the best fixed lens camera that money can buy. It has dSLR grade electronics in it and a high quality lens. It takes professional quality pictures, yet is easy to use. You can, of course, take full control of the settings for your specialty photography. I'd say the DSC-R1 is the equal of most dSLR cameras on the market except when shooting in the dark (where a dSLR is king of taking high ISO shots). But, even in that baliwick, it performs adequately. At about $800 after the $100 Sony rebate, this camera is a steal. If you go to pricegrabber.com, you can even pick up a brand new 2 gig Sony brand memory stick pro for very cheap.

http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/sony/dsc_r1-review/index.shtml

Answer 3

Like Morey said, for a semi-pro dSLR, your options are the Nikon D200 and the Canon 30D.
The Nikon costs $1700. Add another $700 for a good lens.
The Canon costs $1250. Again, add $700 for a good lens.
(It's pointless to get a +$1000 body and slap on a bargain basement lens.)
If those prices are too steep, you can get an entry level model by Nikon or Canon. A starter kit (including one lens) will set you back $800 for the Nikon D50 to $1000 for the Canon Rebel XT.
I must vehemently disagree with the suggestions to consider the Sony R1. This camera has a nice lens but the camera also has some severe limitations. For one thing, it uses an electronic viewfinder with a 1/10th second delay. With action shots, that means you'll ALWAYS press the shutter button 1/10th second too late... in effect, it's useless for action. The same is true for all cameras with electronic viewfinders.
I personally use a Nikon D200 with a Nikon 17-55mm as my main lens. Add a SanDisk 2GB Extreme lll memory card and a B+W MRC UV filter, and that's +$3000 dangling from my neck. And that's not to mention the other lenses and equipment in my bag. So be warned; semi-pro gear can get very expensive, very fast. The Nikon D50 or Canon Rebel XT might be more sensible.

Answer 4

There are no Semi professional Digital P&S cameras, just marketing to make you think there are, the same marketing that make you think that having a high megapixel count, when the sensors on most digital compacts are so small the sensors excede the resolution that any lens could possibly put on it. Expect the 3MP Canon EOS D30 to kick any 10MP compacts *** when it comes to image quality. (I'm sorry so *** is a swear word is it *Rolls eyes*) Most Low end DSLRs will do, I would suggest a Nikon D80, Canon 400D, or maybe a Sony Alpha 100, but you could probably save some money and go for a D70 a 350D or a Dynax 7D. As for compacts if you want professional looking results its best to use a high end film compact.

Answer 5

Hi. I think new model Nikon D200 will do the best job. It is a reliable camera, with many functions and stunning image quality. And You have over 10 mln pix! Also considering lenses, Nikors for Nikon are just great!
Have a good shooting with this camera.I own one and I am delighted, especially after I changed from my old D100, which was really, really bad (as for Nikon it was even worse!).
Try D200 and You will see images, not color pixels and other destructive data forming the image.
Dealing with any kind of image noise was a challenge fro Nikon, and they managed it - just with this Nikon D200
It is really professional - and costs as semi-pro.
Ciao

Answer 6

Panacea gave good advice.
But in the semi-pro range for a DSLR-
look at the Nikon D200 or the Canon 30D.

Sony just came out with their Alpha100. it's somewhere between the semi-pro and consumer level at $900. Has image stabilization built in- but is slower on the continuous shooting mode at 3fps compared to the 5fps of the 30D.

Answer 7

Great advice everyone!

I'd like to add that Nikon is coming out with a new DSLR soon - 10.2 mp too. It will be officially announced tomorrow (8/9) so you might want to see what Nikon has up its sleeves before you make a final decision.

Answer 8

Nikon D70 is the way to go when it comes to SLR digitals.

Answer 9

Sony Cybershot DSC-P200. I've had it for a while now and it's perfect for me.

It's between 250-300 depending on where you get it from.

Answer 10

nikon d70s or nikion d200($$)

They are the best