What is the BEST Digital SLR camera for beginners that have awesome results..?

55 Comments

1. flyguy says:

   May 18, 2010 at 12:51 am

   almost anything with the canon name. try at least for 4 to 5 megapixel. some type of zoom ability. a 1 gig memory card (they are actualy cheap now),and most important of all. purchase some type of adobe program to enhance,and size your photo’s. good luck,you sound like a great parent.
2. anthony h says:

   May 18, 2010 at 1:39 am

   It takes more than just an SLR. You need to also have good lighting and good lenses, as well as appropriate skills for composing a photo.

   What I would suggest is a Nikon D40, paired with a basic 18-55mm or 18-70mm lens.

   I would then add a basic Alien Bees studio lighting setup, available here: http://www.alienbees.com Look for the “Basic Bee.”

   Finally, you’ll need something to trigger the lights. Try an infrared sender like this one:
   http://www.adorama.com/JTIRTE.html?searchinfo=infrared%20sender&item_no=2

   Or you can put a hot shoe to PC cord connector in the hotshoe, which is cheaper.

   Essentially, then, you’d have a camera with a good lens, and a lighting setup. Now, what you’d have to do is either 1) learn how to use a flash meter or 2) do some trial and error. I suggest that it’s cheaper to do 2).

   Set the Alien Bee to a relatively low power, set your camera to manual and f/8 at 1/125 at ISO 200 and take a photo. Adjust your aperture if it’s too dark or too light. And note your settings for future photo sessions.

   If you get the photo bug, take some classes and learn how to meter flash and position lights.

   This can get expensive BTW, but since you asked….there’s your answer.
3. Sandra W says:

   May 18, 2010 at 1:48 am

   Try Canon..
4. George Y says:

   May 18, 2010 at 1:53 am

   You sound like a candidate for a Nikon D40 or D40x.

   http://www.stunningnikon.com/picturetown/?fromlanding=true

   As your little girl and your skills grow, so can your camera system as the Nikon system is widely supported with more and more optics joining the list.
   http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d40.htm

   Check out what some D40 photographers have posted here, under the subject of “babies”, “kids”, and “children”. Enter other subjects and see some typical results.
   http://www.flickr.com/search/?cm=nikon%2Fd40&q=babies&m=text
   http://www.flickr.com/search/?cm=nikon%2Fd40&q=kids&m=text
   http://www.flickr.com/search/?cm=nikon%2Fd40&q=children&m=text
   I hope you find this helpful.

   p.s. I’ve recorded my two girls from birth to today with my Nikons and have never been disappointed by the results! (and they’re in their 20’s now!) In fact, for my daughter’s first DSLR, I bought her a D50, the predecessor to the D40.
5. Rene B says:

   May 18, 2010 at 2:42 am

   TRy the Canon Rebel XTi. Short of a digital SLR, try the Canon S5IS. I have both and I am very happy with them.
6. ISBN51499 says:

   May 18, 2010 at 2:56 am

   Pentax K100D or Super with a Pentax SMPC-FA 50 f/1.4 and buy the book “Understanding Exposure” by Bryan Peterson.