Advise Please.

[blackpool rocker]

Hi Guys,

Looking for a little advise. Looking to get into the digital
age with my camera. I have about £550.00 to spend and would like
to get a digital SLR and good lens to start.

Just wondering, what is the best to buy in my price range and
what you guys using?

Everyone here seams to be so knowledge able i thought i would
ask real world users before reading the 'arty' photograpy
magazines.

Thanks!

[Gemm]

Kit lens (18-55mm) is a good enough lens to start with (although others may disagree with me!), so we are probably talking about Canon 400D or 350D (or Nikon equivalent). You may want to add another lens (longer zoom) depending on what you are planning to photograph.

Or you could get the body only and add a better lens, but I think it would go over £550 with this option.

Edited by Gemm on Wednesday 10th January 11:04

[_dobbo_]

As Gemm says, you are probably looking at either a canon 350D, or a Nikon D50/D70

I'd go and handle both in a shop to get a feel for which one fits your hands better, then buy that one.

[trixr4kidz]

I'm quite new to this as well and I went for the D50. Although I'm still getting to grips with it, it seems a pretty decent camera for the money.

[andybuk99]

yep agree with gemm but please please if you are buying from the high street check the lens as there are some good and very bad samples out there.

[bulb763]

trixr4kidz said:

I'm quite new to this as well and I went for the D50. Although I'm still getting to grips with it, it seems a pretty decent camera for the money.

seconded

[Furyous]

If you have a hunt round, you should be able to find one of the last of the Nikon D70S kits in the shops for that dollar,including a cf card.They are getting short tho, I struggled to find one and had to travel a bit.
F

[Gemm]

And remember to include a CF card(s) (or SD depending on the model), spare battery(ies), card reader, etc in your budget if you don't have one already.

[CarMac]

bulb763 said:

trixr4kidz said:

I went for the D50. Decent camera for the money.

seconded

Thirdededed.

SD cards are relatively cheap too!

[blackpool rocker]

...Great information, thank you.

Looks like Canon or Nikon unless anyone
else says differently..?

Rob

[_dobbo_]

For a little bit over your budget you could look at a Sony Alpha. Very well received by the press, but doesn't have the selection of aftermarket lenses and products that you would get with a Canon/Nikon.

[Marc W]

The reviews I've read of the Sony rate it below the Nikon and the Canon. I'd go to a camera shop and have a demo of the cameras to see which one you like the feel of. I've got a couple of canon SLR's myself (EOS 300D and 400D) and I've been very happy with them, but I know some people prefer Nikons. I had a look at the Sony last year and decided it felt very cheap and I didn't think it would be very hard wearing. All the Professionals I know use either Canon or Nikon Cameras.

Edited by Marc W on Wednesday 10th January 12:47

[V6GTO]

Canon or Nikon...just try them in your hands first as they handle very differently, and there's quite a bit of size/weight difference too. Don't be guided by the "I love my Canon/Nikon so it must be the best" brigade. If you can try them out sid by side I'm sure it will be obvious which one feels "right".

Enjoy

Martin.

[Podie]

Was nosing through this month's Photography Monthly magazine... seem to be pleanty of offers about... some including twin lens kits for about £550-600.

In fact Warehouse Express are doing the Nikon D40, with 18-55 and 55-200 lenses for £539.

As mentioned, check out the cameras, see what you like the feel of, then hunt down a deal.

[VxDuncan]

I guess it depends if you think you are going to be investing any more money in the future (ie more lenses etc). Bare in mind when you buy a camera you are really buying into that manufacturers product line. Between canon and nikon there isn't much difference, though cheap canon stuff is quite poor, it is less money than the cheap nikon kit (which tends to be slightly better quality. An expample of this is the kit and 70-300 lenses. The nikons tend to be slightly better at the entry level, though they cost more.

I had a Canon 300D with a couple of lenses and swaped to nikon D80 - mainly for build quality issues / shutter life. The Nikon IMO is far better built, but is no where near as easy to use. That said the D40 is getting great reviews and is good value for money. Personally I'd get one and try and get either the kit lens or the sigma eqiv. plus something like the sigma 70-300 APO.

I had a look at the sony and went into the shop to buy one. Picked it up and took an instant dislike. The precieved build quality wasn't good and the lack of lenes concerned me. Take a look on ebay - a while back it was flooded with used a100's. I can only think this was bacause the owners didn't like them.

[wyvern971]

VxDuncan said:

I guess it depends if you think you are going to be investing any more money in the future (ie more lenses etc). Bare in mind when you buy a camera you are really buying into that manufacturers product line. Between canon and nikon there isn't much difference, though cheap canon stuff is quite poor, it is less money than the cheap nikon kit (which tends to be slightly better quality. An expample of this is the kit and 70-300 lenses. The nikons tend to be slightly better at the entry level, though they cost more.

I had a Canon 300D with a couple of lenses and swaped to nikon D80 - mainly for build quality issues / shutter life. The Nikon IMO is far better built, but is no where near as easy to use. That said the D40 is getting great reviews and is good value for money. Personally I'd get one and try and get either the kit lens or the sigma eqiv. plus something like the sigma 70-300 APO.

I had a look at the sony and went into the shop to buy one. Picked it up and took an instant dislike. The precieved build quality wasn't good and the lack of lenes concerned me. Take a look on ebay - a while back it was flooded with used a100's. I can only think this was bacause the owners didn't like them.

Can't comment on the Alpha as I've never used one, I bought my ex a Nikon D50 as it's a reasonable quality entry level DSLR, I bought my little sis a Canon 400D for christmas (As I use Canon so she can use my lenses) the D50 is a bigger camera and is nicer to hold if you have larger hands, whereas the 400D is smaller and can be uncomfortable after long periods.

Best advise go to a shop and hold them, don't get one that feels uncomfortable to hold as in the long run it'll put you off using it.

I would avoid the D40 personally as it lacks a focus motor built into the body which is a major disadvantage, as well as this I far prefer having the settings displayed on the top LCD of the body (as on my 5D) to the rear LCD (as on my sisters 400D) (The D50 has a top LCD). Also as the D50 seems to be on the way out as it were there are a fair few bargains to be had with it.

The Canons all use Compact Flash (Bar the 1 series which is out of your price range) the Nikons use SD (just something to possibly bear in mind.

[Furyous]

As far as I know,its just the D40 and D80 that use SD, all the others use CF.

F

[GetCarter]

Furyous said:

As far as I know,its just the D40 and D80 that use SD, all the others use CF.

F

...and the D50

[SGirl]

Sonys still use Memory Sticks, don't they? Which is the biggest PITA going when you then want to upgrade your camera and buy something other than a Sony.