If you're a beginner or less experienced photographer who's keen to develop your skills, it's a great time to be buying an SLR – there's a wide choice of keenly priced cameras competing for your custom. Makers are eager to attract beginners in the hope of building loyalty, particularly as SLR users tend to upgrade their lenses eventually, or buy flashguns and other extras.
Ideally, you want an SLR that is easy to use, but one that you won't quickly outgrow as your skills and confidence develop. You also want a camera that gives you access to a wide range of lenses and accessories, but one that isn't so heavy and bulky that it becomes a chore to carry.
The good news is that there are plenty of cameras that fulfill these criteria. Just remember, while entry-level SLRs are well priced, you are going to need to get more lenses at some point. The 'kit' lenses supplied with most starter SLRs are workmanlike and enable you to experiment with different effects, but they are usually built down to a price.
Investing in some better quality lenses to go with your new camera will have a massive impact on the quality of your photographs.
With this in mind, here are our favourite SLRs for beginners.
Nikon D3300
Price (with 18-55mm VR II lens): £429/$596/A$727
- Sensor size: APS-C
- Pixel count: 24.2Mp
- Screen type: 3-inch LCD, 921,000 dots
- Maximum continuous shooting rate: 5fps
- Maximum video resolution: 1080p
The D3300 is one of the best SLRs for beginners out there and you get a lot for your money.
The 24 million pixel sensor provides bags of detail resolution, and being able to crop into the image for extra reach (or to improve composition) is a big help. A higher pixel count can mean a greater risk of noise, but happily, the D3300 keeps it well under control. Noise only really becomes apparent at ISO3200 or higher and even then, it's at acceptable levels.
Another big advantage of the D3300 is its ease of use. The Guide Mode is a great learning tool for less experienced photographers, giving real time explanations of important functions and features. As with several other SLRs in Nikon's range, the D3300 does without an anti-aliasing filter, the idea being you get sharper, more detailed shots straight from the camera. Moreover, the 18-55mm lens collapses down to make it more convenient to carry, which will further widen this camera's appeal.
There are downsides, but they are minor disappointments rather than major issues. First, it's a shame the screen isn't articulated, and it isn't touchscreen either. The D3300 lacks built-in Wi-Fi too, a tad irritating considering this is not the cheapest starter SLR out there. Otherwise, though, the D3300 is a winner.
Read our full Nikon D3300 review
Canon EOS 100D (or Rebel SL1)
Price (with 18-55mm IS STM lens): £479/$599/A$749
- Sensor size: APS-C
- Pixel count: 18Mp
- Screen type: 3 inch LCD, 1,040,000 dots
- Maximum continuous shooting rate: 4fps
- Maximum video resolution: 1080p
Put off by the comparative bulk and weight of SLRs? This wonderfully light and compact starter SLR will change your mind.
Small really is wonderful with the 100D, as its diminutive frame houses a high-resolution 18 megapixel APS-C sensor and a sophisticated Digic 5 image processor. Both contrast detection and phase-detection autofocus are possible thanks to the hybrid COMS sensor, handy when shooting movies or accessing Live View.
The 100D is a very practical SLR, too. Continuous shooting is possible at up to 4 frames per second (that's JPEG and raw), while the ISO range now stretches to ISO 12,800 (up to 25,600 in expanded mode). The 100D is also easy to use, with a Scene Intelligent Auto System which analyses the scene you're shooting in real time, and a wide range of scene modes. A SCN setting on the main mode dial gives fast access to more sophisticated scene modes, and this works well with the touchscreen LCD – another benefit of this camera.
The only drawbacks with the EOS 100D are the rather sluggish Live View focusing and the fact that you can only use digital filters in Live View. Stick a big lens on the EOS 100D, too, and its size and weight advantages soon become a bit irrelevant.
Read our full Canon 100D review
Canon EOS 1200D (or Rebel T5)
Price (with 18-55mm IS II lens): £390/$499/A$568
- Sensor size: APS-C
- Pixel count: 18Mp
- Screen type: 3 inch, 460,000 dots
- Maximum continuous shooting rate: 3fps
- Maximum video resolution: 1080p
The 1100D was a decent entry level SLR that had got pretty long in the tooth, and its successor is a solid if unspectacular upgrade. It's more of an update than a rethink, and the specifications, while worthy, won't make any headlines. These include an 18Mp sensor and the older Digic 4 processor.
Its continuous shooting frame rate of three frames per second seems a bit leisurely compared to the Nikon D3300's 5fps rates and as with the Nikon, the 1200 lacks built-in Wi-Fi or NFC connectivity (though the camera's support for Eye-Fi cards widens the options). There is no touschscreen either, and you have to download beginners guides through a separate smartphone app, which again makes the Nikon D3300 seem a better integrated option. Image performance is decent for the money, although again the D3300 aces it on detail resolution (the D3300 lacks an anti-aliasing filter, remember).
Image quality isn't a massive leap forward from the EOS 1100D, but they are significantly larger. Also, the 1200D is very keenly priced, and once you have downloaded the tutorial app (iOS and Android) you will have plenty of opportunities to get to grips with this SLR and take some good images.
Read our full Canon 1200D review
Pentax K-50
Price (with 18-55mm WR DAL lens): £449/$596/A$659
- Sensor size: APS-C
- Pixel count: 16Mp
- Screen type: 3-inch LCD, 921,000 dots
- Maximum continuous shooting rate: 6fps
- Maximum video resolution: 1080p
Just because you are a less experienced photographer doesn't mean you aren't an adventurous one. The weatherproofed K-50 will encourage you to get out shooting in all weathers, which is obviously a good thing – the kicker being that you'll have to partner it with the more expensive WR (weather resistant) lens for the full benefit.
Another great practical touch is the vibration reduction system (called Shake Reduction in Pentax-speak); as well as reducing judder, this enables the sensor to automatically move by one degree to help correct sloping horizons. Fast continuous shooting of up to six frames per second is also possible, while the ISO range goes as far as 51200.
The K-50 automatically saves raw files in the DNG format, too, which means Photoshop or Lightroom can open them instantly. Sadly, you can't add digital filters to raw files. The other drawbacks are the noisy kit lens, the lack of Wi-Fi or a touchscreen and the lack of a guide mode for beginners. To sum up, the K-50 is a good example of a entry level SLR that goes the extra mile. Well worth considering if you're not wedded to Canon or Nikon.
Read our full Pentax K-50 review
Sony A-58
Price (with DT 18-55mm SAM II lens): £359/$448/A$607
- Sensor size: APS-C
- Pixel count: 20.1Mp
- Screen type: 2.7-inch LCD, 460,800 dots
- Maximum continuous shooting rate: 8fps
- Maximum video resolution: 1080p
The Sony is not strictly an SLR, being an SLT (single lens translucent) device instead. This won't make a massive difference to beginners, though you do have to use an electronic viewfinder (EVF) rather than a more conventional optical device.
For less experienced photographers, the advantages are that you can see the effect of changing camera settings in real time (via the viewfinder), so there's less 'chimping' – constantly checking whether an image has worked or not on the rear screen. The EVF on the A-58 is bright and clear, so it's all good so far.
Another advantage of the SLT design is accurate autofocus during fast burst speeds, and the A-58 can deliver up to 8fps, which makes the rest of the SLRs here look a bit pedestrian. Other benefits of this innovative camera include impressive low-light performance, and a wide range of Picture Effects. Sweep Panorama is particularly useful if you shoot landscapes.
The drawbacks are relatively slow focusing in more challenging lighting conditions, the lack of a touchscreen or fully articulated screen and the inability to use Picture Effects when shooting in raw format. Otherwise, this a well-specced camera at a competitive price.
As with the Pentax, this is well worth considering if you're not sold on Canon or Nikon.
Read our full Sony Alpha 58 review
from Techradar - All the latest technology news http://ift.tt/1vdULJV
沒有留言:
張貼留言