We've all been in this position at some point. Whether it's a long term fixation with compacts or a new interest there comes a time when you have to take the leap to a DSLR if you're serious about photography. Don't get me wrong, there are some truly fantastic compacts out there and if you're simply fed up with the shutter delay on your trusty camera then DSLR's aren't the right move! If you're passionate about getting into photography, as a hobby or a possible career, then a DSLR is essential. DSLRs are magical, from the moment I heard the shutter go on my first DSLR I was hooked, but I was also becoming trapped. From that moment on I was a Canon user. And with every lens I bought I became more and more tied to the brand. Don't get me wrong, I love Canon, and love every camera I've owned, however it's worth remembering that this first camera could well mean you end up backing one brand for the next 20 years or more.
Maybe you've got some money set aside for your first camera, £500 sounds like a good number, but as you've probably noticed by now you'll need a lens to go with that and some memory for that matter. I'm going to look at what that money buys you when looking at Nikon, Canon and Sony. All three manufacturers have great offerings around this price which are the perfect step into DSLR photography. The cameras I have picked to look at are the Canon 600D, Nikon D3100 and the Sony A55, all with 18-55mm kit lenses.
Sony SLT-A55
I've been very impressed with Sony over the last few years and to my mind they have made huge steps in bridging the gap between the big two - Canon and Nikon. The Ziess name has been famous for its optics even before the invention of interchangeable lens cameras, with a now world famous pedigree when it comes to optical quality. Canon and Nikon make superb lenses, but there's no arguing the quality of the ever expanding lens collection available for Sony systems.
In 2010 Sony's SLT-A55 hit the market. Cameras in this price range are the most commonly released across the manufacturers, so it's difficult to stand out and really make a mark. The A55 did this in magnificent style with the groundbreaking SLT technology. Traditionally a single lens reflex camera operates with a mirror at a 45 degree angle reflecting the image through the viewfinder. When the shutter is pressed the mirror lifts and the image is projected onto film - later changed to the image sensors we find on modern DSLRS. SLT - Single Lens Translucent - camera's work differently. As the name suggests the 45 degree mirror has been replaced with a translucent mirror at the same angle. This way the image is reflected up to a second image sensor linked to the digital viewfinder, but is also able to pass through the mirror onto the cameras main image sensor.
To cut a long - and techy - story short, the mirror in SLT cameras does not have to move. In this way the life of the camera should be extended, not to mention the added bonus of faster frame-rates and the ability to continuously focus (unlike DSLR cameras which have to stop focusing to take a shot) All in all the SLT technology is extremely exciting and Sony seem to be pricing their camera's at the lower end when pitted against similar cameras.
The A55 sports a 16.2 megapixel sensor which is a considerable step up from the A33's 14.2 sensor also found on NEX models. Autofocus is supported by a 15 point system - more than enough to get you going. The camera also offers a blistering 10 frame per second burst rate which is actually faster than the £4000 Nikon D3S! Another nifty addition is the inbuilt GPS which can automatically location tag your photos.
Canon 600D
With a long held reputation for high quality camera's - bettered only by Nikon - Canon are always going to be in the running whichever price range you are looking for. Their G12 compact is widely regarded as one of highest quality camera's in its range. It was also the first compact whose files were accepted by Getty images. In the DSLR market their full frame 5D MKII remains a huge success with a range of users, possibly most notable for its video capabilities. Canon's entire range now offer some form of Video recording and is a format being widely adopted by low budget film makers worldwide.
The Japanese firm have released quite a range of lower end DSLRs over the last few years and many have been incredible cameras. Perhaps the most incredible - certainly my favourite - was the 550D released in 2010. This relatively budget DSLR came equipped with the exact same image sensor as the critically acclaimed 7D (Sporting a £1000+ price tag I might add) simply running on a single channel rather than the 7D's dual channel processor. All this really means is the 7D shoots at 8 frames per second, a little more than double the 550D's 3.7. In 2011 the 600D was released to sit alongside the 550D. Offering a few minor changes including an articulated screen, although the changes weren't huge there is currently only a £20-£40 difference in price between the two models, and it seems just as well to spend the little extra for those few occasions you'll use the screen.
Canon have a huge selection of incredible lenses as your photography progresses, and they are a brand - like Nikon - you can feel extremely confident in backing. Unlike the A55 the 600D does not have any real standout unique selling points, instead the standout feature on this camera is the sensor it's-self. This 'cheap' camera offers image quality surpassed only by the £1500+ 5D MKII along with the even more expensive 1D series cameras.
Nikon D3100
2017 will mark the 100 year anniversary of Nikon Corporation, one of the largest imaging names in the world. Their name represents decades of selling some of the highest quality camera's, from rangefinders, to SLRs and DSLRs. Recently Nikon became the first brand to introduce video recording to its DSLRs, all major brands following their lead in what has opened up a huge new market. Much like Ziess, Nikkor lenses have been regarded as some of the best available and are a brand that will almost certainly be around for as long as photography.
The flagship D3S (soon to be replaced by the D4) is one of the most highly rated DSLRs currently available. Nikon have most recently updated their lower and entry level cameras with the D7000, D5100 and D3100 in the last two years. Looking at Nikons timeline over the last few years they do tend to bring out a new entry range DSLR every year so we may well see the D3100 replaced in the coming year, but at this point the calibre of these 'entry level' camera's is so high the average enthusiast is able to keep using the same camera for a good few years.
Like the A55 Nikon's D3100 was launched in 2010 sporting a 14.2MP sensor and 3 frame per second shooting speed. It is worth mentioning that the D5100 is available for a bit over the £500 budget but comes with features - such as an improved 16.2MP sensor - more in line with the Canon and Sony. As it is the D3100 lacks the articulated screen seen on the Sony and Canon models and has the lowest pixel count of all three models. Despite this the camera offers great image quality for the money as well leaving you safe in the knowledge that Nikon offer some of the best glass in the business. Investing in Nikon is always a safe choice and it's useful to know that be it lenses or bodies, you'll always have some great upgrades available to you!
Performance
All three camera's perform exceptionally well for the price when it comes to image resolution. The Canon's huge 18MP sensor delivering the most detail and largest images, while the Sony's 16.2MP sensor - although smaller - is more than good enough for pretty much everything you could want. Even the 14.2MP Nikon offers as much as you'll need when it comes to image quality and size. If you are purely looking at resolution and pixel count, the Canon wins this round hands down boasting a truly stunning sensor that produces absolutely professional quality images.
In film photography the term ASA is used to describe film stock. The higher the ASA the more silver halides in the film (Small dots that pick up the light) the downside of this is that the more silver halides the more noticeable 'grain' in the image - lowering the quality. ISO is effectively the same thing, pushing up your ISO will allow you to shoot in darker conditions but the image quality will suffer. All three cameras perform well up to 800 ISO, however at 1600 and 3200 the Canon and Nikon really start to pull away and although it's a close one, once again the Canon just inches this round. Both the 600D and the D3100 produce completely useable images at 1600, but 3200 becomes more of a stretch, especially for the D3100.
In terms of speed the Sony wins by the largest margin yet, an absolutely incredible 10FPS against Canons 3.7 and Nikons. If you're shooting sports or events then the Sony is light-years ahead. In the world of wedding photography we find the faster the better, maybe not for the whole day, but for those crucial moments the extra shots can really come in handy!
Looking at the rest of the camera specs the Sony comes out top with regards to autofocus, sporting 15 AF points to Nikons 11 and Canon's 9. It also certainly leads the way in terms of 'added extras' offering the inbuilt GPS tagging and constant focusing. It is worth mentioning the simply stunning LCD screen on the 600D which offers a higher resolution than the other two on test.
So now the important part, the price! The Canon 600D is currently on sale for around £549 brand new including 18-55 kit lens, a bit of Ebay searching and you're talking about £400-£500 depending on where you go, don't forget to check how much the camera has been used if possible. Although you cannot check the number of actuations, try to question the owner on how it's been used before. Don't forget to be a little cautious when buying camera's from abroad, they might be a bit cheaper but the warranty can be a lot more hassle. The only 'grey import' we've had has ended up eating batteries far faster than its UK siblings! There are some great bargains to be had, but check the seller out and try to get a seller warranty if using Ebay. The Sony A55 is available for a similar price, I found a grey import on Ebay for £495 with 8gb memory card, 18-55 lens and what looks to be a decent seller warranty! The Nikon D3100 comes in cheapest available for around £400 with 18-55 kit lens.
I feel in this test Nikons D3100 really comes out the weakest, with the D5100 being far more on a par with the A55 and 600D. The problem is the price, as much as I tried I couldn't find the D5100 for below £580 with a kit lens, however if you're leaning towards the Nikon, I would definitely try my hardest to wait until I could get the D5100! The Sony and the Canon lead the way for me in this class of camera with two very different performers. If you are looking for pure image quality then the 600D is the way to go, offering incredible images that - were it not for metadata - would be easily mistakable for the 5D MKII at lower ISOs. The Sony however offers a truly outstanding frame rate that is unmatched by any camera's even close to this price range.
It's easy to get carried away early on, wanting the very best cameras and the best lenses but in all honesty these three are a great place to start. The kit lenses aren't going to win any awards, but they'll get you started enough to take some great photos and most importantly to learn how the camera really works. What's more these are all camera's that can really last, each capable of producing great images that you can blow up as large as you'd ever need to. This will give you a little time to invest in some glass to really last you!
A fact that many overlook when shopping for their first DSLR is the quality of the used market. However tempting that shiny new camera is, it's worth noting that the quality of these 'entry level' machines is more than enough for most people. Camera's like the Pentax K-r and Canon 500D can be picked up for below £300 used offering those on a lower budget a great chance to take stunning images with both camera's offering a lot of bang for your buck. Couple this with the perfect upgrade from your kit lens, the Tamron 17-50mm 2.8 - available used for under £200. As mentioned before do be careful when buying used, look for warranties if available and view the items yourself if at all possible. That said, there are some fantastic bargains out there and used gear is available at some retailers with 3 month warranty so keep your eye out for a bargain!
Whatever you chose I've no doubt that you'll love your new DSLR, hopefully that sound will be as magical for you as it is for me and I'm sure that you'll fast become a diehard fan of whichever brand you back!
Chris Sansom runs and owns Sansom Photography with his wife Verity. With 7 years professional experience in digital photography Chris and Verity spend their spare time collecting Vintage cameras and learning more about their trade. Although specialising in Wedding Photography Leeds Chris has photographed throughout the UK and Yorkshire working heavily on Wedding Photography York
