Recommend first slr

[maiajanus]

Why does your friend want a slr in the first place? but since everyone else is making assumptions...

1. DO NOT consider the EOS M as a first SLR(unless all you do is landscape or static objects). I've been trying to offload mine(eos m + 22mm), and the best offer I got was $150(currently msrp is ~$300). That should tell you something already.

2. Newbies will want video, which means contrast-based AF. look for this feature(and supported lens).

3. With newbies, less is more... so rebel with built-in flash and the kit 18-55 STM lens will suffice.

4. I agree with your comment about primes and photography. on a crop, get the old 35mm f/2.

 

[Synkka]

Again thanks everyone for the advice lots of good points.

As to why the want an slr, they have an interest in photography and like most novice users they associate good image quality with slrs and want the best pictures.

Regarding primes, I think they teach some really important lessons regarding framing and depth of field, as well as generally being higher quality then zooms at a comparative price point. Also i think primes are the cheapest way to get the shallow depth of field look to photos that people associate with an slr, particularly when shooting portraits.

I think the video point is a good one, i like both the 600d and 700d for their video abilities particularly the rotating screen.

I will see if they are interested in refurbs, but we don't get many in Australia, but i do rate the 60d quite highly

 

[Hjalmarg1]

Thanks everyone for the advice, I am in Aus actually. I think there is a little flexibility in the budget I was leaning towards the 600d with the new kit lens and a 40 2.8
I will look again at the eos m though.

I will also have a look at the Pentax I haven't seen one in person yet

With a 800$ budget and looking at Canon equipment just go for 700D with the 18-55 STM kit lens. Now you can get good deals at eBay for around $650.
Other alternatives as mentioned by others would be mirrorless cameras (e.g Sony a6000) that offer good quality images.

 

[rado98]

Hey good luck hunting for cameras.

I was in your shoes not that long ago and leaving in Aus mylelf some of these ideas might be helpful.

There are plenty of used 600D/700Ds up for sale on gumtree. I originally bought my 600D (Kiss X5 really) gray fomr digitalrev for $640 in early 2012, which I dont regret at all but I wish I had known then that buying used was a very good option. I would get someone with experience to give me a rundown on how or help testing any used cameras. I did eventually buy a used 7D I am very happy with. A lot fo people simply "graduate" from Rebels or give up DSLRs all together which means (not all obviously) there are plenty of them in great conditions out there.

Before buying a second lens (with its speed limitations the kit one is optically perfectly fine) and specially if you do plenty of indoor shooting (I do, daughters growing up and what not) consider gettign an external flash. Bouncing light of the ceiling and walls will really make the quality of your images skyrocket. No fast lens will never be fast enough for every situation and no lens will make up for bad lighting. I got my 430EXII in excelent condition for AUS$170 on gumtree, there are some $100 third party ones out there with good reviews (make sure it has e-ttl II though)

Regarding the 50 1.8, yes extra light and a shallow depth of field are great, really great buthte auto focus of the two I owned, even after sending them to canon for calibration with my cameral, were really no good, save yourself the frustation I say.

For what it is worth I am looking at adding the Sigma 17-50 2.8 (found it for $400 australian stock online form a shop in perth, not sure If we can give out web addresses here) and he Canon 55-250 STM (found it for $170 gray).

One other thing is, I wouldn,t dont any buy used lenses of any brand if the apperture is 2.8 or greater in case they needto be calibrated to your camera (as the ones you are looking at do not have focus adjsutment)

Cheers

 

[Hillsilly]

Thanks everyone for the advice, I am in Aus actually. I think there is a little flexibility in the budget I was leaning towards the 600d with the new kit lens and a 40 2.8

If you shop around you can get some good deals. CameraPro in Brisbane often have good prices and have a 700D with 18-55mm for $769. (They also have a Fuji X-E1 with 18-55 for $799 which is an interesting alternative - it is a good camera with a good lens.).

FWIW, I've got a 40mm and love it. Mine came from the USA. For most camera items, don't discount the idea of buying from reputable overseas retailers.

 

[tayassu]

Kicking in a little late, but what about mirrorless?

Maybe an OM-D E-M10, a Fuji XM-1 or a Panasonic GM-5?

 

[LovePhotography]

Canon T5i (700D) body with Sigma 18-250mm 1:3.5-6.3 Macro HSM lens. GREAT little walking around camera/lens. For the bucks, takes really first rate pics. Better than the very best cameras from a generation ago. And, as I recall, they took some pretty decent pictures back in the 1990's- early 2000's....! And, then take the money you have left over and buy DxO9 to reduce noise, increase dynamic range, rotate, crop, increase detail, etc. You put a camera/lens as good as that combined with learning how to post-process, and there isn't much you can't do for general photography. Underwater? Ultimate macro? Ultimate birds in flight? Not so much. But, vacations, family, basic sporting events, basic landscape, sunsets, night sky... these three things, T5i, Sigma 18-250mm combined with DxO9 is as much or more than many of the world's best professional photographers had just a generation ago.

 

[Synkka]

Again thanks everyone for the suggestions, Canon just announced the cash back deals, so $150 off 700d is making it the choice of body, just got to work out the best lens

 

[verysimplejason]

My serious choice will be a 5D (or 5D2 or 6D) + 24-105L if Canon. If you want to go for Nikon, a D700 + 24-120 VR. Going FF has its merits but will be dependent on what type of photography you are interested with.

 

[Maximilian]

My serious choice will be a 5D (or 5D2 or 6D) + 24-105L if Canon. If you want to go for Nikon, a D700 + 24-120 VR.

If you can get that for the OPs $800 in Australia I'm with you. But I believe even used it's a little bit out of buget.

 

[verysimplejason]

My serious choice will be a 5D (or 5D2 or 6D) + 24-105L if Canon. If you want to go for Nikon, a D700 + 24-120 VR.

If you can get that for the OPs $800 in Australia I'm with you. But I believe even used it's a little bit out of buget.

I'm an expat that lives here in KL, Malaysia. I can get a used 5D + 24-105 at around RM 2600. That would be around 850. If OP's willing to extend it a bit, I know it's possible. There are some online stores here that allows staggered payment through credit card. I can recommend Shashinki if you can find what you're looking for in there. They give some kind of 1 week to 1 month warranty which I think is good for used equipment. I mean, the OP is spending some money, maybe it's better to spend it with something you would really want for a long time. Sometimes, if you want to be really happy, you will have to go for that extra mile.

 

[Maximilian]

My serious choice will be a 5D (or 5D2 or 6D) + 24-105L if Canon. If you want to go for Nikon, a D700 + 24-120 VR.

If ... I'm with you. ...

... Sometimes, if you want to be really happy, you will have to go for that extra mile.

As I said (and honestly meant) I'm with you.
And although everybody should have a few $ as reserve, I have the goal not to stretch the limits of a given budget. This normally already happens with all the accessories. A memory card, a second battery, protection and/or cpl filter, a bag, etc. and another $100 are gone.
And not everybody is willing to get into second hand equipent with (almost) no warranty.

 

[Sabaki]

Honestly, I would recommend getting a Rebel and say a 24-105.

You can spend time learning how to control various things like aperture, shutterspeed, ISO etc. As the 24-105 is an L lens, you can then save towards buying more lenses.

I did it that way

 

[tayassu]

Again thanks everyone for the suggestions, Canon just announced the cash back deals, so $150 off 700d is making it the choice of body, just got to work out the best lens

As the price over at B&H is (with the rebate) 700$, I think it is a little difficult to find a decent lens for 100$...
How about spending a few hundred bucks more for e.g. the Sigma 2.8-4/17-70?