Camera £500

[Petrol Only]

Hi im looking for a Camera for the missus for Christmas. She is new to photography. She mentioned SLR?

Id also be looking for a beginners course in the East Midlands area.

Were going on a 4 week euro road trip next year and she wants to be able to take lots of photos.

Any help or where to start would be great.

Cheers

Petrol

[Simpo Two]

I'd say the first thing is to decide wether the budget is for body + one lens (typically kit lens) - or choose a lower spec body and have more lenses, or tripod, flashgun etc. In other words, is £500 the end point or the beginning of greater things?

[Petrol Only]

Hmm camera with one lens?

I was guessing it would be sensible to start with a decent(ish) camera and add bits if she really takes to it?

[Lukhash]

I`m as a Pentax user would suggest u the Pentax K30 http://www.bristolcameras.co.uk/p-pentax-k-30-body...
£319 after cashback is amazing deal + lens with it.
+ i can get that :
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tamron-AF-17-50-f-2-8-XR...

A bit over £500 but would be a great set.

Or that from canon :
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Canon-EOS-kiss-x4-550D-1...

[Lukhash]

or u can get the K30 with standard lens http://www.bristolcameras.co.uk/p-pentax-k-30-18-5... and it will be less then £400 after cashback+ get some accessories

[ChipsAndCheese]

Personally I would look at the offerings from Nikon and Canon, purely because as the market leaders, they have the greatest selection of lenses available both new and second hand.

From Nikon, £500 would easily get you a D3100 (the older version of Nikon's entry level DSLR), or the D3200 (the D3100's successor). You would also be able to get a D5100 (which is the next model up), as the D5200 comes out soon so prices for the D5100 have come down. Each of those would come with a kit lens within your budget.

I have a Nikon D5100, and I love it. It is a great camera, and you won't go wrong with it.

From Canon's offerings, your budget would get you an 1100D (Canon's entry level model), or a 550D/600D (the next model up, both are essentially the same except that the 600D has a flip out screen like the Nikon D5100).

Probably best to go into a store and check them out to see which you think your missus would get on best with.

[TooLateForAName]

Another K30 Vote.