Some advice needed

C

Creature

Senior Member
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Sep 8, 2008
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512
Hi Guys,

I am very very noob at photography and would like some advice. I am a serious wildlife maniac.. I am looking for a good, inexpensive camera to start off with. Want to be able to zoom in a bit, not too much and take nice high quality pics of the fauna and flora. Don't want to spend too much money as it will be for my own photo albums and not for publishing.

Thanks for the advice guys
 
M

MongooseMan

Expert Member
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Jun 19, 2009
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Give us a ballpark on what you're looking to spend?
"Inexpensive" is a very relative term in photography.
R2000? R5000? R10000? R20000?
You can nice stuff at each of those points, though "nice" is obviously a relative term too :D
 
K

koffiejunkie

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Aug 23, 2004
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"Inexpensive" and "wildlife" don't quite fit in the same sentence.

That said, the cheapest way to get a good distance, IMHO, is a Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO or the newer OS. Don't get the non-OS, non-APO one - it's rubbish. Add this to your entry-level body of choice, and you have your cheapest tele-combo.
 
C

Creature

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Yeah, inexpensive will be around R5000. I know this is like dinky toy money when talking about cameras, but yeah. Not going to do anything professionally. Just want to be able to get better pics than your normal digital thingy. I know I am very noob with this, but please bear with me guys.
 
M

MongooseMan

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Ok, I'm gonna get the Nikon advice out the way before the Canon boys get here ;)

In all honesty, you're not gonna get a new DSLR with a telephoto zoom for R5000.

Best deal I've found thus far is at Makro, where you get the Nikon D3100 with two lenses, a 18-55mm (a "normal" lens) and a 55-200mm (a telephoto zoom lens), for R6999.

I've got the D3100 and am very happy with it. I don't have that telephoto (I've got the 55-300mm) but it'll do the job (until the bug bites, then you're a gonner, just ask Bwana, Dolby, Koffie, etc :D)

If you want to go Canon, then Makro also have a Canon 500D with an 18-55mm and a 55-250mm for R6999. I can't comment on that one, maybe someone else can.
 
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S

saixbot

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@ morpheos - Just my 5c worth.... made me s.n.i.g.g.e.r. [O i see MyBB auto edit thought I was swearing] how times have changed... just proves what inflation has done to all of us :)
 
bwana

bwana

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Creature said:
Yeah, inexpensive will be around R5000. I know this is like dinky toy money when talking about cameras, but yeah. Not going to do anything professionally. Just want to be able to get better pics than your normal digital thingy. I know I am very noob with this, but please bear with me guys.
Click to expand...
A "superzoom" point and shoot might satiate your needs initially but if the bug bites you're going to be right back at the beginning in short order. Perhaps a look through the classifieds might net you a reasonably modern dSLR with a couple basic lenses - then you can always rent longer lenses for those special occasions. I recently saw a Nikon D5000 with 18-55 and 55-300 lenses being sold for R5500.
 
K

koffiejunkie

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To add to what bwana said, don't be afraid to get a second hand telephoto lens. The older film era EF lenses work just fine on DSLR bodies, and can often be had quite cheaply.
 
OMB

OMB

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Quantum Theory said:
For what you want to do and at that budget, SLR is not an option...

This is in your budget of R5000 and looks like a very versatile and capable bridge camera:

https://www.ormsdirect.co.za/photog...ridge-cameras/nikon-coolpix-p500-camera-black
Click to expand...

I was reluctant to move from 35mm SLR to dSLR so before taking the plunge tried the bridge option, worked well for me and not too expensive and got used to something with a bit more oomph than a happy snapper with some amazing functionality that convinced me to move upwards (bought a D90 a couple of years back and haven't looked back since) using it in the Kruger really was the decider in terms of moving up to a full blown dSLR
 
ponder

ponder

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logank said:
You should also consider Sony Hx100v. Do some checking first.
Things that you may find handy, include fast 10fps speeds , gps geotag etc. But, I am new at this, perhaps some experienced people can comment on the merits of these features.
Click to expand...

I don't think the sony goes as wide as the nikon.
 
BigAl-sa

BigAl-sa

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Dec 26, 2006
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Quantum Theory said:
The one I linked to. The only other bridge mentioned in the thread... and ponder is right. When I had a bridge (actually had 2 before I went DSLR) this was one of the most frustrating things.
Click to expand...

missed that (didn't follow the link with no clues from you either ;)). Those zoom ranges are pretty scary!
 
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