new to dslr cameras, best one for under £500

[chippy17]

probably been asked before but have searched and cannot find a thread, as per title and to include a lens

thanks

[K12beano]

Can you share why you want a dSLR; and what sort of thing you are intending to photograph with it?

My idea of "best" might be a lot different to the next

[Gad-Westy]

Obviously you're going to want a Nikon. I mean that's just a given isn't it

Seriously though I know naff all about the other brands but this looks pretty damn good value.

http://www.jessops.com/online.store/products/84411...

[markmullen]

Go to a good camera shop and try them, TBH I don't think there is a bad dSLR on the market but they all feel different to use, I for example can't get on with Nikons (which is a shame as a D800e look attractive) but Canon suits me. Canon and Nikon are the two biggest brands with the most kit available second hand but other manufacturers such as Sony, Olympus and Pentax are doing some good innovative stuff at reasonable prices.

[K12beano]

That doesn't look a bad package.


Obviously everyone wants a Nikon


Nikon make cameras
Canon make photocopiers
Sony make TV screens
Panasonic make camcorders
Leica make jewellery
Olympus make bribes to third world countries
Pentax make medium format
Hasselblad make things for the moon
Zenit make stuff to shoot Russian Dissidents (allegedly)
Sigma make mathematical functions which are too complicated for mere mortals
Kodak don't make anything anymore
Alpa make Swiss Cheese
Minox must make things that are so small we can't see them any more
Seagulls want your chips
Yashica make things which vaguely sound like they should be on a race circuit, but aren't
Minolta and Konica don't seem to get along anymore
Linhof build architectural statements
....


....who have I missed?

[chippy17]

K12beano said:

Can you share why you want a dSLR; and what sort of thing you are intending to photograph with it?

My idea of "best" might be a lot different to the next

it is actually for my wife for her birthday, she is very artistic and has a great eye for taking a pic but would like to take it to the next level and get a decent camera, I did not want to go mad so thought a beginners slr would be the way forward

she had a fab little Konica Minolta digi a while back that took truly great snaps and it showed that she had'the eye'

Edited by chippy17 on Tuesday 27th March 15:52

[chippy17]

K12beano said:

That doesn't look a bad package.


Obviously everyone wants a Nikon


Nikon make cameras
Canon make photocopiers
Sony make TV screens
Panasonic make camcorders
Leica make jewellery
Olympus make bribes to third world countries
Pentax make medium format
Hasselblad make things for the moon
Zenit make stuff to shoot Russian Dissidents (allegedly)
Sigma make mathematical functions which are too complicated for mere mortals
Kodak don't make anything anymore
Alpa make Swiss Cheese
Minox must make things that are so small we can't see them any more
Seagulls want your chips
Yashica make things which vaguely sound like they should be on a race circuit, but aren't
Minolta and Konica don't seem to get along anymore
Linhof build architectural statements
....


....who have I missed?

[chippy17]

markmullen said:

Go to a good camera shop and try them, TBH I don't think there is a bad dSLR on the market but they all feel different to use, I for example can't get on with Nikons (which is a shame as a D800e look attractive) but Canon suits me. Canon and Nikon are the two biggest brands with the most kit available second hand but other manufacturers such as Sony, Olympus and Pentax are doing some good innovative stuff at reasonable prices.

thanks good advice

[steve2]

chippy17 said:

K12beano said:

That doesn't look a bad package.


Obviously everyone wants a Nikon


Nikon make cameras
Canon make photocopiers
Sony make TV screens
Panasonic make camcorders
Leica make jewellery
Olympus make bribes to third world countries
Pentax make medium format
Hasselblad make things for the moon
Zenit make stuff to shoot Russian Dissidents (allegedly)
Sigma make mathematical functions which are too complicated for mere mortals
Kodak don't make anything anymore
Alpa make Swiss Cheese
Minox must make things that are so small we can't see them any more
Seagulls want your chips
Yashica make things which vaguely sound like they should be on a race circuit, but aren't
Minolta and Konica don't seem to get along anymore
Linhof build architectural statements
....


....who have I missed?

Ricoh

[Gad-Westy]

K12beano said:

That doesn't look a bad package.


Obviously everyone wants a Nikon


Nikon make cameras
Canon make photocopiers
Sony make TV screens
Panasonic make camcorders
Leica make jewellery
Olympus make bribes to third world countries
Pentax make medium format
Hasselblad make things for the moon
Zenit make stuff to shoot Russian Dissidents (allegedly)
Sigma make mathematical functions which are too complicated for mere mortals
Kodak don't make anything anymore
Alpa make Swiss Cheese
Minox must make things that are so small we can't see them any more
Seagulls want your chips
Yashica make things which vaguely sound like they should be on a race circuit, but aren't
Minolta and Konica don't seem to get along anymore
Linhof build architectural statements
....


....who have I missed?

I think this looks like a comprehensive, unbiased summary.


FWIW I do agree with Mark above. I don't really remember reading any reviews of recent DSLR's from any manufacturer that have been anything other than positive. Some do things that others don't but they all seem to offer some advantage somewhere. Ideally she'd go and pick one for herself but if this is a suprise, I'd look for a decent deal with a company that has a good returns policy just in case.

[K12beano]

chippy17 said:

it is actually for my wife for her birthday

Yup - what Gad-Westy pointed out Whilst nothing in this world is ever "perfect" a little deal like that is probably as good as any. Unless you're about to build an incredible system next month the current manufacturers don't make "bad" cameras, so it'll be about getting a good value starting point, and I take it you've discounted some of the other non-dSLR formats from the likes of Sony, Panasonic etc.



You do realise that this is just the start of a slippery and potentially expensive slope though, don't you?

Enjoy this Forum in the meantime.....

[K12beano]

steve2 said:

Ricoh

Bless you! Here, have a hanky......

[chippy17]

K12beano said:

Yup - what Gad-Westy pointed out Whilst nothing in this world is ever "perfect" a little deal like that is probably as good as any. Unless you're about to build an incredible system next month the current manufacturers don't make "bad" cameras, so it'll be about getting a good value starting point, and I take it you've discounted some of the other non-dSLR formats from the likes of Sony, Panasonic etc.



You do realise that this is just the start of a slippery and potentially expensive slope though, don't you?

Enjoy this Forum in the meantime.....

thanks guys and yes I guess you saw that one coming, but apart from her awful habit of dropping things, she really is quite good at it and I would like to encourage her I am awful but i will make sure it is kept in good nick and polished occasionally

I know but seeing as she hates jewellery and all thinkgs of that nature this is my only choice for her 40th!!!!

[hazzel_frazzel]

Check out the Canon Ebay store, they sell refurb cameras, so they come with full warranty etc. I recently ordered a 500D and I am really pleased with it, no way of knowing it wasn't brand new.

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/canon-outlet/Canon-EOS-SL...

If you wait a bit, then more 500D's should come up, they sell them for £330, or they sell the 1000D and 1100D for slightly less. With the change from £500, you could get the lovely Canon 55-250mm IS lens and a decent SD card!

[chippy17]

hazzel_frazzel said:

Check out the Canon Ebay store, they sell refurb cameras, so they come with full warranty etc. I recently ordered a 500D and I am really pleased with it, no way of knowing it wasn't brand new.

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/canon-outlet/Canon-EOS-SL...

If you wait a bit, then more 500D's should come up, they sell them for £330, or they sell the 1000D and 1100D for slightly less. With the change from £500, you could get the lovely Canon 55-250mm IS lens and a decent SD card!

thanks for that, although thanks to above posts have been completely put off Cannon!

[markmullen]

chippy17 said:

thanks for that, although thanks to above posts have been completely put off Cannon!

Why? Canon is very very good kit.

[Gad-Westy]

chippy17 said:

thanks for that, although thanks to above posts have been completely put off Cannon!

It was all tounge in cheek. There really is nothing to choose between any of the manufacturers at this level. Whilst that may make your buying decision tougher, on the plus side, you really can't go wrong.

[marcosgt]

Don't ignore Pentax, they make some pretty good DSLRs and you can often find similar spec for less than the cost of Canon or Nikon.

That said, if I was buying completely fresh today, I'd probably be looking at Canon first.

M.

[chippy17]

markmullen said:

Why? Canon is very very good kit.

i took the above posts perhaps too seriously and then I thought of the truly awful fax machine I bought for the office that was a Cannon!!

[chippy17]

Gad-Westy said:

It was all tounge in cheek. There really is nothing to choose between any of the manufacturers at this level. Whilst that may make your buying decision tougher, on the plus side, you really can't go wrong.

bugger now back to square one