SLR Xmas present advice

[mat59]

Hello. I'm after some advice. I have very little understanding of cameras so please be gentle.

My better half has been on about getting a good quality camera for some time. She intends on taking up photography as a hobby in the future and wants a camera that allows different lenses to be fitted. I have been doing a little research and it would seem she is after a SLR type camera (?). If I am correct I would like some advice on which model to go for. I'm on a budget so i don't want to spend too much. Ideally close to £300 or less would be ideal. Is this achieveable? If not I'll get her a new vacuum cleaner and iron...

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks Matt

[GetCarter]

I would suggest that most in here would be looking at a Nikon or Canon. If you want to stay under the £300, then I'd suggest the Nikon D40 with 18-55 lens (with cashback)

http://www.warehouseexpress.co.uk/?PHOTO/digicamer...

If you can stretch to £369... I'd go for this:

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/?/photo/digicamera...

(It's a better camera with less 'issues' - adding lenses could be cheaper to this body)

...but many prefer the feel of the Nikon - so have a walk down to Jessops and hold them both.

Good luck... you won't go wrong with either of these for the money.

Edited by GetCarter on Thursday 6th December 20:42

[mat59]

Thanks for the advice so far.

Just had a look on ebay and i think I can get a Nikon D40x or Canon EOS 400d from Hong Kong or the USA for about £300 with some extra kit. Do you know if these will work in the UK. They seem to sell quite aloy of units to internatonal buyers. There's a 350d on US ebay with loads of kit new for less than £250.

The other half had been planning on getting one in New York when we go there in April anyway. Therefore, I presume it should work. Only need a power converter and then there is the warranty issue. I preume i could send it back to the original country if needs be.

Matt

[GetCarter]

You can buy from HK (I have before) and they work fine. It'll take some time to get here. If it goes wrong, you've only got the manufacturers warranty to fall back on, plus you may well be hit with a bill for import tax (I'd assume that you will - although it'll still work out cheaper).

Do you feel lucky?

[mat59]

What do I have to lose?

They say the last postal date for delivery before Xmas to UK is on Saturday so i think I may just go for it.

Matt

[GetCarter]

mat59 said:

What do I have to lose?

Matt

As I say... if there is a problem or fault, HK won't want it back to repair or replace so you'll have to go to the manufacturer (which will almost certainly take months) - but as you say, it'll work out cheaper and many of us have done the same and not been dissapointed.

Good luck

[Road2Ruin]

GetCarter said:

You can buy from HK (I have before) and they work fine. It'll take some time to get here. If it goes wrong, you've only got the manufacturers warranty to fall back on, plus you may well be hit with a bill for import tax (I'd assume that you will - although it'll still work out cheaper).

Do you feel lucky?

You will get hit with a nice VAT bill before they will part with the goods (the post ofice that is) but check the transformer that come with it will work on UK 230/240volts as the US is 110volts.

[GetCarter]

Road2Ruin said:

GetCarter said:

You can buy from HK (I have before) and they work fine. It'll take some time to get here. If it goes wrong, you've only got the manufacturers warranty to fall back on, plus you may well be hit with a bill for import tax (I'd assume that you will - although it'll still work out cheaper).

Do you feel lucky?

You will get hit with a nice VAT bill before they will part with the goods (the post ofice that is) but check the transformer that come with it will work on UK 230/240volts as the US is 110volts.

Re VAT... yes, but when I got mine they (HK) valued a £1000 lens at £25 for customs purposes. I think it's common practice.

[ehasler]

GetCarter said:

Re VAT... yes, but when I got mine they (HK) valued a £1000 lens at £25 for customs purposes. I think it's common practice.

Quite common for the HK sellers, but the US sellers are less keen to do this, and in my experience you're much more likely to get hit with customs charges buying from the USA.