Which bridge camera?
Discussion
I'd quite like to learn more about photography and buy a decent camera to gain some skills. A budget DSLR is a bit out of my reach so I was thinking about a bridge camera
Not really sure what I'm looking for though? Currently looking at the following:
Nikon L120 - http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5...
Fuji S4000 - http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004G8Q60K/ref=...
Fuji S4080 (I don't know if it's any different to the S4000 to warrant the extra cost) - http://www.jessops.com/online.store/categories/Com...
Setting a max budget of £180, what should I be looking for?
Not really sure what I'm looking for though? Currently looking at the following:
Nikon L120 - http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5...
Fuji S4000 - http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004G8Q60K/ref=...
Fuji S4080 (I don't know if it's any different to the S4000 to warrant the extra cost) - http://www.jessops.com/online.store/categories/Com...
Setting a max budget of £180, what should I be looking for?
The thing is that if you don't really know what you are looking for you have to assume that anything will do.
Once you have anything you will discover what your particular interests are and how what you have satisfies your requirements. Also, possibly, where it doesn't. That gives you a starting point for refining your choice second time around.
On that basis you could consider buying something used and cheap in order to identify what is important to you and with a view to selling on if you find it's too limiting on some way.
On the other hand you sem to have pre-selected the need for a bridge camera so you must have some sort of requirement 'list' in mind even if you are not sure about it. Most of the better camera review web sites will provide comment on commonly required featurs and functions and in reality all you can do is read up on them see what seem to be the most likely choices. If there is not much between a selection of them - and there probably won't be much to choose within a given feature set and price bracket - then probably any of them will do.
Once you have anything you will discover what your particular interests are and how what you have satisfies your requirements. Also, possibly, where it doesn't. That gives you a starting point for refining your choice second time around.
On that basis you could consider buying something used and cheap in order to identify what is important to you and with a view to selling on if you find it's too limiting on some way.
On the other hand you sem to have pre-selected the need for a bridge camera so you must have some sort of requirement 'list' in mind even if you are not sure about it. Most of the better camera review web sites will provide comment on commonly required featurs and functions and in reality all you can do is read up on them see what seem to be the most likely choices. If there is not much between a selection of them - and there probably won't be much to choose within a given feature set and price bracket - then probably any of them will do.
Agree that second hand Canon 350d would be a great start and would give you the chance to properly experiment with the features of a DSLR without spending too much money. The 350d may be getting on a bit now but I have a mate who still uses one and takes some cracking photos with it, much better than me with my fancy new kit!
You could probably get a 400D for about the same sort of money. Still a great body and pretty much the same as the more recent entry level 1000D iirc.
With sensible lenses and half decent light it probably does all you would need.
Of course in the SLR world the camera body is only a small part of the overall package. Lenses are more significant for ultimate image quality (but not necessarily the success or otherwise of a particular image.)
With sensible lenses and half decent light it probably does all you would need.
Of course in the SLR world the camera body is only a small part of the overall package. Lenses are more significant for ultimate image quality (but not necessarily the success or otherwise of a particular image.)
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