laravel check record exists

1$user = User::where('email', '=', Input::get('email'))->first();
2if ($user === null) {
3   // user doesn't exist
4}

1if (User::where('email', '=', Input::get('email'))->exists()) {
2   // user found
3}

1//User::  User is going to be what model you use.
2//$user can be what ever you need it to be
3$user = User::where('email', '=', Input::get('email'))->first();
4if ($user != null) {
5   // Record does exist
6}