DSLR for a novice

[tinytom]

I bought a Kodak DX7630 about 15months ago just so I had a resonalble camera for general use. But as hobbies do its got me hooked and the limits of this camera have been reached now so Im looking to upgrade to something that I can start to really learn with. Why Ive joined the forum is to try and get some feedback from people with abit of experience!
Can anyone suggest a good book to read that explains the features of DSLR's and how to get the most out of them.
The Camera Im looking at is the Samsung Pro 815, is this a good camera for me to start with? Are the accessories readily available for it?
Ive only got £400 to spend and thanks to the wonders of ebay the samsung falls in my price bracket, would you suggest a different camera?
Any feedback welcomed, thanks for taking the time to read this hefty post!

[mcenut]

I'm not sure DSLR and novice can even be used in the same sentence. By definition a DSLR camera means that the user knows something about them and photography.

Why not purchase a good quality point and shoot with manual settings. Ask around or visit a good Camera store (the place the pro photographers visit) and find a point and shoot that allows for manual Aperture and Shutter control. Once you have mastered that camera, then it is time to move up to DSLR.

[tinytom]

The Kodak has manual controls so thats why I want to move up. I do alot of freeride and downhill mountain biking so need a camera with a faster shutter speed and mainly take sunrise/set photos and my kodak doesnt have any scope for adding filters ect. Im no master but do want to learn and try to get better photos?

[mcenut]

Well then you aren't a novice, just new into the DSLR game.

Knowing that, I can honestly say that I can't recommend any DSLR not made by Nikon or Canon. Sorry, but when you are in that arena you want the backing of a company that is known for quality SLR. Others may offer a nice camera, but what do they have to back it up? Are they going to be around in the years to come? A DSLR carries with it a significant investment in lenses. You are going to want to be able to upgrade your camera body in the future without the expense of the lenses too.

Aim for a used entry level Canon or Nikon to start out with and you will never have regrets.

[AlexMonro]

The Samsung Pro 815 you mention isn't a DSLR. It's an ultrazoom bridge camera, with a non-interchangeable lens and a viewfinder that uses a small LCD screen that gets the image from the main sensor, which is only 2/3" in size (8.8x6.6mm). A DSLR will have interchangeable lenses, an optical viewfinder that uses a moving mirror to give a view through the main lens, and a an APS-C sized sensor (18x12mm or larger).

The 815 is still a good camera if it fits your needs, however. It has a a long range zoom lens, from a usefully wide 28mm equiv at a relatively fast f/2.2 to a long tele 420mm equiv, still faster than some at f/4.6. It also has a huge 3" rear LCD - personally I found it too big, getting in the way of using the electronic viewfinder. Other features include a wide range of scene modes, a live histogram, and the ability to save uncompressed TIFF and RAW format image files. It doesn't have any form of image stabilisation, and since the maximum sensitivity is only ISO400 it might be difficult to make use of the full tele without a tripod in anything other than bright daylight.

I'm not sure if this would be the best camera for mountain biking pictures - perhaps the Fuji S6000 with ISO3200 might enable fast enough shutter speeds to avoid camera shake and freeze the action.

[fionndruinne]

Personally, I'd avoid an ultrazoom or SLR-like camera style for mountain biking. They're just not as durable as any decent SLR would be.

I think Nikon or Canon would be best for you, as well. They both have some excellent basic SLRs, such as Canon's XT or XTi, or Nikon's D40, or upcoming D40x. There are things to be said for each specific model. The XT and D40 are of a comparable price range, while the D40x and XTi are the next step up price-wise. In both cases, the Nikon will be somewhat cheaper, up to $100 in most cases.

Now, I know some people dislike the D40, but it is the camera I shall be going for, as its downsides are really rather minor, such as only having a 3-point AF. What it does have is a better (more solid, feel them in-store) body than the XT, and a customizable menu, meaning that you can place all your favorite features at the most accessible locations. Also the help system that is built-in, while it won't be something you always need, can be quite helpful as you learn. Excellent ISO performance, and also it's quite a bit newer than the XT, therefore being able to take advantage of technological improvements.

Try them out in-store. I think you'd be happy with any of these, but it's a question of which precisely serves your purposes. Personally I don't see the need for the D40x or XTi's 10MP; that's a bloody huge image, but if you crop a lot it might come in handy.