Can you recommend a DSLR for under £1000/$1500

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Dexter7176

Hi, I normally use camcorders that the university provide. When I finish I will need my own camera, a DSLR for under £1000 would be ideal. I would add lenses later unless I got a cheap camera body. If possible, a camera that's good in low light conditions. Any ideas?
Cheers
 
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Canon T3i/t4i/t5i (in other countries 600D/650D etc) and the Panasonic GH2/GH3 would be your best bet for that price range for a DLSR. I guess you could go for possibly even a 60D or 7D (7D without lenses). There's plenty of threads around here detailing a little more.

Also... A sound guy will probably come along and ask what you plan to do about that. Prepare an answer :P
 
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I would go with a GH2/GH3. I have a hacked GH1 and LOVE it. So versatile. And the fact that just about any glass out there can be used with it (with an adapter) is a huge bonus. I love vintage lenses (and they're cheap).
 
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cameronchapman said:
I would go with a GH2/GH3. I have a hacked GH1 and LOVE it. So versatile. And the fact that just about any glass out there can be used with it (with an adapter) is a huge bonus. I love vintage lenses (and they're cheap).
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Ditto on this. I just got my hands on a used GH1 dirt cheap for my first DSLR. I hacked it and paired it with some old prime lenses and love it so far (although I've only done 1 video with it). I imagine the GH2/GH3 are probably even better.
 
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Hi Dexter and welcome to the forum. If you are accustomed to camcorders, you are probably accustomed to viewfinders, as well as autofocus that continues to work when you're shooting video. You may also be accustomed to a camera with a headphone jack. The only large sensor interchangeable lens camera in your price range with a headphone jack as well as continuous video autofocus and a viewfinder that continues working while you are shooting video is the £893.99 Panasonic GH3.

It is also the only large sensor interchangeable lens camera in this price range that is splashproof, records multiple codecs at bit rates up to 72mbps (straight out of the box), has a built-in intervalometer and wi-fi, and shoots at 1080p and 50fps for in-camera slow motion.

With a £10.11 Nikon to micro 4/3 adapter, a £41 Nikon 50mm f1.8 lens, and a £59.99 Panasonic 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 system lens, you will have the best value for money still/video camera that £1005.09 can buy.

This camera can produce images like these:

Nature: http://vimeo.com/65815978

Concert, low light (with 14-42mm kit lens and 20mm f1.7): http://vimeo.com/62070033

Nature: http://vimeo.com/66435657

Narrative: http://vimeo.com/59543338

Hope this is helpful!

Bill
 
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If you plan to get the Canon, go for the Canon 70D with the kit lens and you should be able to start shooting films with it and have this incredible AF during video, which is suprisingly good. Many blogs and review sites consider the 70D not only a an upgrade to the 60D and it feels to be much better than the 7D.

Remember it IS a cropper sensor but you can't beat the price and what it is featured packed. (I returned my 60D and went with the 70D, so far, I'm enjoying the new features).

Go get the best of that price range on Canon if that's the route you want to go with.
 
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Dexter7176 said:
Thanks everyone some great advice, I will read up on the suggested cameras. Would I be correct in thinking that I can not get a full frame camera for under a grand.
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If you don't mind moire, no video viewfinder, no headphone jack and a 12 minute continuous video clip length limit, you can get a used Canon Mark II body for around £1000 on eBay UK.

If you are willing to work around the camera's limitations, the 5D Mark II's full frame image has some unique qualities that continue to make the camera attractive for some filmmakers.

Here is a Vimeo staff pick from Camille Marotte shot with the 5D Mark II about a year ago: https://vimeo.com/29262251

Here is another 5D Mark II piece from Ned Espeut-Nickless shot last month in Magic Lantern RAW: https://vimeo.com/nedenickless

But you have to be very careful with any patterned subject (e.g., fabrics or brickwork or shingled roofs) with any of the Canon DSLRs (except the 5D Mark III): https://vimeo.com/7590690

The classic 5D Mark II, T2i/550D, GH2 moire comparison from a couple of years ago is at 2:20 in this video: https://vimeo.com/17765301

To be completely honest regarding moire, the GH3 is not as clean as the GH2 was, but it is better than any of the Canons (again, with the exception of the 5D Mark III).

Cheers,

Bill
 
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brunerww said:
If you don't mind moire, no video viewfinder, no headphone jack and a 12 minute continuous video clip length limit, you can get a used Canon Mark II body for around £1000 on eBay UK.

If you are willing to work around the camera's limitations, the 5D Mark II's full frame image has some unique qualities that continue to make the camera attractive for some filmmakers.

Here is a Vimeo staff pick from Camille Marotte shot with the 5D Mark II about a year ago: https://vimeo.com/29262251

Here is another 5D Mark II piece from Ned Espeut-Nickless shot last month in Magic Lantern RAW: https://vimeo.com/nedenickless

But you have to be very careful with any patterned subject (e.g., fabrics or brickwork or shingled roofs) with any of the Canon DSLRs (except the 5D Mark III): https://vimeo.com/7590690

The classic 5D Mark II, T2i/550D, GH2 moire comparison from a couple of years ago is at 2:20 in this video: https://vimeo.com/17765301

To be completely honest regarding moire, the GH3 is not as clean as the GH2 was, but it is better than any of the Canons (again, with the exception of the 5D Mark III).

Cheers,

Bill
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Mosaic Engineering makes an anti-aliasing filter that all but eliminates the moire in the 5D mkII. It isn't cheap, but if you shoot video with a mkII, I would recommend it.

http://www.mosaicengineering.com/products/vaf/5d2.html
 
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ChimpPhobiaFilms said:
Why not the T3i or T2i? They are cheaper and have very few differences.

Actually, the T3i is better in some ways.

http://snapsort.com/compare/Canon-Rebel-T5i-vs-Canon-T3i

$250 cheaper
Better color depth, image quality, dynamic range, and lower noise at a higher ISO level.
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The t3i looks great and it would leave more cash for the glass. I was looking to get the largest sensor as possible to help with low light shooting. I'm just learning about DSLR's so haven't read up much on the glass just yet. Would I be better(in the long run) getting a zoom or a prime lense. Thanks fro the help.
 
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brunerww said:
If you don't mind moire, no video viewfinder, no headphone jack and a 12 minute continuous video clip length limit, you can get a used Canon Mark II body for around £1000 on eBay UK.

If you are willing to work around the camera's limitations, the 5D Mark II's full frame image has some unique qualities that continue to make the camera attractive for some filmmakers.

Here is a Vimeo staff pick from Camille Marotte shot with the 5D Mark II about a year ago: https://vimeo.com/29262251

Here is another 5D Mark II piece from Ned Espeut-Nickless shot last month in Magic Lantern RAW: https://vimeo.com/nedenickless

But you have to be very careful with any patterned subject (e.g., fabrics or brickwork or shingled roofs) with any of the Canon DSLRs (except the 5D Mark III): https://vimeo.com/7590690

The classic 5D Mark II, T2i/550D, GH2 moire comparison from a couple of years ago is at 2:20 in this video: https://vimeo.com/17765301

To be completely honest regarding moire, the GH3 is not as clean as the GH2 was, but it is better than any of the Canons (again, with the exception of the 5D Mark III).

Cheers,

Bill
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Thanks for all your time and the advice it is greatly appreciated, I think the 5d markII would be perfect but I have really been stung before with second hand electricals. (Dodgy laptop). I think it may be best to perhaps go and try all the recommended cameras, to see how they feel. Thanks you have been a big help cheers.
 
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