Are Canon 300D's any good?

[KITT]

I hope I'm not opening a can of worms, but I notice that Dixon's are offering them with a 18-55mm lens for £500. I've been dieing to get hold of a digital SLR but don't have loads of spare £££.

I'm an SLR newby, so don't really know that much about all the various settings, but would love to learn :D Is the 300D suitable? Or will I soon find it's not up to the job and need to upgrade?

Also, I like taking pics at motorsport events and currently use a Fuji point'n'shoot with a 6X optical zoom. I guess this would mean I need an additional telephoto lens (200mm?). How good are the options with the Canon?

Sorry for all the questions, but any advice would be much appreciated :)

[KITT]

chris.mapey said:

My D70, with the 18-70 lens, has just cost me £594 (after the Nikon chequeback) from Jessops in Ipswich - the price matched a web deal.

I didn't realise there was a cashback offer on the D70. That would actually make it the same price as the 300D if I purchased one here:

www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/40214/art/nikon/d70-af-s-dx-18-70mm-f-3-5.html?srcid=36#fichetechnique

Offer's only on till 19th June though:

www.nikon.co.uk/d70cashback/

Decisions decisions.....

[KITT]

-DeaDLocK- said:

Much faster booting and shooting.

What's the startup time for both of them? This is one thing that annoys me about my Fuji; it takes a few seconds before you can take a pic, by which time the subject is sometimes gone.

Anyone ordered from Pixmania? I'm a little concerned by the spec sheet:

Manual provided in French- the manual can be exchanged for the English version with Nikon in Japan: Click here , offer subject to availability

I'm guessing the camera's not UK spec then? And thus may not be eligible for the cashback offer?

[KITT]

So Canon=Chav and Nikon=dyslexic Well, I can't spell either so perhaps the Nikon's a better bet

Seriously though, I think I need to go and check them out for myself before deciding which to buy.

Going back to my earlier post, has anyone ordered from Pixmania? I'm a little concerned that the manual is French. Will it be a UK spec one and is it still eligible for the cashback offer?