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I will be going to Dubai the end of this month and was thinking of picking up a DSLR from there.My requirements are basic photography,no wildlife photography.Only casual snaps of family functions,pets,cars etc.I would like to have good performance in low lighting conditions,wide lens and not many shaky images.I dont mind buying the low end models as I fell that suffice my needs.I have a budget of around 25-30kINR.Could you advise me with as what camera and lens?And if possible the prevailing prices in India and Dubai.


Thanks.

D.V.R

Nikon D40x - The best you can get if your looking for a semi professional DSLR in prioce bracket of under 500US$.(700US$ in India though if im not mistaken).

I would have suggested very good P&S cameras like the FZ-28 and Canon S10 IS, but since you wont be taking telephoto shots that superzoom cameras provide, its best to go for a quality DSLR like D40x.It will outshine P&S in indoor night photography with flash and low light even.

If you want more megapixels - then the Sony Alpha A350(14 MP) is my choice . I think it falls in the same price bracket as your budget.

Thanks for the reply absynthguzzler,what lens should I buy?I have got a few recommendations for the Canon EOS 400D with EFS 18-55 mm 3.5 - 5.6 IS lens or Canon EOS 1000 with similar lens.What say?

Thanks.

D.V.R

You will get a 18-55mm lens bundled with most DSLR's "Kits" and this should suffice with day to Day photography.If you read through this thread , you'll also get a feel of what future upgrades are suggested.

if your inclined towards Canon , you should be able to grab the EOS 420/450D even in Dubai within your budget. I find the Rebel (EOS 1000) too small to get a good grip and aesthically doesn't give you that sense of "Ah! Ive got a big bad mean camera" lol .

So its between the Canon EOS 420/450D and the Nikon D40x with the standard kit having a 18-55mm lens.Which of the two is good?What prices to expect.absynthguzzler even I like the "Ah! Ive got a big bad mean camera" feel.

Thanks.

D.V.R

The dials and knobs would be more standardised on a Nikon. Subconsciously, your hand would move to a particular position to make some adjustment. I guess these are more standardised on a Nikon. Canon seems to vary these over the years.
But this would matter only if you are serious about photography.

Maybe you should decide this first. Could save you a lot of money:D

Leica anyone? Haven't been lucky enough to click a single shot with one:D
Carl Zeiss makes more than spectacles.
Caveat- if you are not focusing on one particular area of photography (say macro, or bird photography, sports etc), it doesn't really make much of a difference what you buy.

My suggestion is not to bother with the D40x. The only difference between D40 & D40x is that D40x is 10MP. Its not worth the extra money. Either pick the D40 or if you have money start with D80. Avoid D40x & D60.

Completely wrong here, Its got a bigger sensor , revised processing , faster shooting speeds as well . and the best noise control in the consumer DSLR's (as per sample shots i took at the store before settling on a Panasonic FZ18 that fits my requirements :-( .

In fact its the same CCD sensor in the D40x that's in the D80 . so the benefits on a D80 would not be clear cut. But if you buy the D40 instead , you'll be loosing out for sure.ive also read somewhere that there's no major difference in the JPEG quality and Raw quality with these new Nikons (thats if u don't edit anything and just convert the RAW files to a jpeg)

You haven’t missed much. Gone are the days when one could really boast about their legendary qualities. Butt..

Leica S2 is yet to announce its price. With a new format of 30/45, it sits in between 24/36 and medium size standard of 6/6cm. Hopping 37 mega pixels. Price as everybody is anticipating would be somewhere between 20,000 to 25,000$.
Yes, they’re now making lenses to fit Sony/Canon/Nikon/Fuji/Samsung/Pentax etc. But what’s the idea of paying such high price? For example, a 50 mm f1.4 lens would be around 600 euros.
Sounds very generic. Let’s make it more open and easy to understand.

1. A DSLR is a long-term proposition. Decide on a body, which will give you long service. It doesn’t have to be expensive. I know people still using their four years old body and getting perfect results.

2. Have a clear thought as what all you like to shoot. Work out your lens purchase based on those. It’s a natural tendency to buy a lens because somebody else is also having it.

3. If you like to shoot birds and want to have decent portfolio, go for a block (telephoto) lens and matching 2X converter. A high speed telephoto is worth spending money for bird photography.

4. For proper macro photography, go for a block macro lens. A matching extension tube with this will take you a long way.

5. A good sturdy tripod is a must for bird and macro. Do not cut cost here.

6. Any DSLR will give you 16/20 sharp print without any major issue. More number of mega pixels is better is a myth. It depends on sensor size and it’s processing qualities. A 6mega pixels DSLR will produce way superior results than a point and shoot 6mega pixels camera. Similarly, a 5mega pixels camera of a mobile phone will produce very poor results in comparison. Sensor size is the name of the game.

7. All third party lens makers are making great lens nowadays. Choose carefully before making any investment. You don’t buy lens like buying a pair of shoe.

dude, you better read some professional recommendations before you make such statements.
Nikon D40x
drop to the bottom, read the good news and bad news and then decide :). if you want a second or third opinion, there are places like dpreview and dcresource.

maybe - but the reason for shooting RAW is to go some good post processing like setting correct white balance and noise+artifact removal. And even in newer Nikon's it makes one hell of a difference once you do that (especially high ISO ones).

@Rudra - excellent points. Well said!

:D Thank you very much Rudra!

So is the Nikon 40x really good or not.Shall I go ahead with the Canon EOS 450d?

Thanks

D.V.R

@D.V.R = if you are one budget, buy the D40, If you have money go and get the D90. If you are strictly comparing between D40x and 450D i would tell you to get 450D any day - as its not limited like the D40x.

Checkout reviews, and check out how both feels in your hand. Also read the Ken Rockwell link provided above and check why he provided these recommendations. See if it makes sense to you.

One more thing: when it comes to photography - any of those DSLRs can produce amazing pictures. Despite all those numbers, and tech - its still more of an art. A bad photographer with a D3x is still a bad photographer.

Skywalker,does the 450D come within my budget.Whats the difference between 450d,400d,1000d.

Thanks.

D.V.R