Looking to step up from a Fuji s3500 advice needed

[Dancov]

Im looking at purchasing a new digital camera with a budget of around £450-£500 im drawn towards the Fuji s9500 but ive heard so many conflicting views as to its suitability.

Usually I photograph motorsports and ive had good results from the camera ive got so far but im looking to step up a level with some better quality pictures and a camera that doesnt suffer such bad shutter lag.

[beano500]

Everyone must be down the pub!

Usually somebody would have shouted "Panasonic?" by now....





....or be trying to convince you a dSLR was affordable.


personally I wouldn't be tempted by a dSLR if you're squeamish about dust, and as it's going to eat up your budget without a lens, it's probably out. Plus you'll want a few £££s for some more memory if your looking at 9MP jobbies.


How about browsing www.dpreview.com/ for Canon Powershot S2 or Pro1 and Panasonic DMC-FZ30 models? I think those might be in my short list.

>> Edited by beano500 on Friday 11th November 14:54

[GetCarter]

Totally Ignoring Beano...

For that money I'd buy a Nikon D50 DSLR - more weight, but MUCH better photos. (For motorsport I suggest the 70-300)

Steve

>> Edited by GetCarter on Friday 11th November 14:51

[beano500]

GetCarter said:

Nikon D50

£392 even at www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/107442/art/nikon/d50_black.html?srcid=36



See, you're going overbudget!

[Dancov]

oh dear! the D50 is tempting although im guessing lenses is gonna set me back a small fortune

[beano500]

Well £199 for a s/hand example of the 70-300. (MXV have two on offer.)

Actually, maybe Steve's right!

You could be only £91 over budget. What's a few weeks on dry bread and stale cheese?????

Go for it!!!!!







Look - Beano's quickest U-turn of the day!

[GetCarter]

Dancov

Motorsport isn't really my photo thing, but I took all these with the 70-300

www.stevecarter.com/track1/track1.htm

(says he trying to push him over budget )

Edited to add.. the top pic wasn't with the 70-300

>> Edited by GetCarter on Friday 11th November 15:23

[Dancov]

I think it'll be worth getting a bottom end SLR like the D50 and building up the lenses and such rather than having to buy another camera in a year or two.

[GetCarter]

Dancov said:

I think it'll be worth getting a bottom end SLR like the D50 and building up the lenses and such rather than having to buy another camera in a year or two.

Indeed

[simpo two]

D50 with 18-55 kit lens and 70-300 'G' lens for £99 max. There's no point in saving £100 if you get kit that doesn't do what you want it to do. All you have to do is bring forward a small part of next year's toy budget

[karlosfandango]

I've lifted this from one of my haunts..

Mastercard promo - you get £100 back on any Canon 350D purchased in the UK between October-December. Eg Jessops price of £524.95 becomes £424.95 (send the purchase details to Mastercard and they'll eventually give you £100 back).

Canon (08705 143 723) confirmed its a legitimate offer - needs to be purchased in the dates specified, from a UK merchant and with a Mastercard.

Nicked the info from www.hotukdeals.com/Article2300.phtml



Theres also a Canon promo to get up to £100 off lenses/accessories
www.canonextrapromotion.com/intro.aspx
Havent read the smallprint, dunno if you can combine the two promos (they're from different companys, so maybe!)

I bought a Minolta D5, but if you can get any of these SLR's for under £500 you should be set up for quite a few years.

[Dancov]

Would this package be suitable?

Nikon D50 body
AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED lens
AF-S DX 55-200 mm ED
lens

www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/107523/art/nikon/d50-black-af-s-dx-18-55-m.html

I think the kit lens is equivelant to a 2x zoom

[simpo two]

Good suggestion. For anyone coming from 35mm film, remember that a 200mm lens on a D50 gives the same field of view as 300mm would on your film camera. '50% extra free'.

Dancov said:

I think the kit lens is equivelant to a 2x zoom

55/18 = 3.05x zoom. The zoom ratio has nothing to do with actual focal lengths and so is of limited use in SLR land

NB Pixmania are French-based so you may well get a French manual. To get the best out of a DSLR you *will* need to read it So if this bothers you (there are English PDFs to download but a half-inch thick wad of A4 is not too handy) see www.warehouseexpress.co.uk as well.


>> Edited by simpo two on Saturday 12th November 12:00