What do I want?
Discussion
I want a DSLR that will grow with my skills, what I'm trying to avoid is buying one now that in a years time I'll discover isn't capable of half the things I want to do... only I don't know what those things are yet 
I like most sorts of photo's - portrait, nature, macro and motorsport are all area's I get really frustrated with point-and-shoot (most notably frustration is with motorsport) but it's been so long since I used a proper camera I can't even remember what I'll need.
Price range around £400 for body give or take a bit, with a lens basically just to get me started.
I like most sorts of photo's - portrait, nature, macro and motorsport are all area's I get really frustrated with point-and-shoot (most notably frustration is with motorsport) but it's been so long since I used a proper camera I can't even remember what I'll need.
Price range around £400 for body give or take a bit, with a lens basically just to get me started.
I've got a Canon 450D which is great for me, and I'm in very much the same boat that you are (or at least I was 9 months ago). Doubtless people will pop up to tell you about the equally good Nikon options shortly!
The main advice I would give is to try one out physically before you buy. I hated the house-brick bulk of the 40D, for example, yet others love it, and found the 450D too small for them.
The other main advice is that you will find every spare bit of cash you have going on lenses and other accessories for the foreseeable future!
The main advice I would give is to try one out physically before you buy. I hated the house-brick bulk of the 40D, for example, yet others love it, and found the 450D too small for them.
The other main advice is that you will find every spare bit of cash you have going on lenses and other accessories for the foreseeable future!
Kermit power said:
The other main advice is that you will find every spare bit of cash you have going on lenses and other accessories for the foreseeable future!
That's actually one of the reasons for getting one - every birthday / christmas I get moaned at by everyone saying I'm too difficult to buy presents for - now they can all club together and get me a lens / accessory - give it a few years I should be fully kitted up Davi said:
Kermit power said:
The other main advice is that you will find every spare bit of cash you have going on lenses and other accessories for the foreseeable future!
That's actually one of the reasons for getting one - every birthday / christmas I get moaned at by everyone saying I'm too difficult to buy presents for - now they can all club together and get me a lens / accessory - give it a few years I should be fully kitted up Davi said:
Kermit power said:
The other main advice is that you will find every spare bit of cash you have going on lenses and other accessories for the foreseeable future!
That's actually one of the reasons for getting one - every birthday / christmas I get moaned at by everyone saying I'm too difficult to buy presents for - now they can all club together and get me a lens / accessory - give it a few years I should be fully kitted up SamHH said:
For £400 you're restricted to the entry level cameras from most manufacturers, but even they are pretty capable.
Problem I'm finding is that every manufacturer seems to have several entry level camera's within a few quid of each other, and little indication going of what benefits there are of one over the other!I'm in the same position and after a lot of advice from here and all over the net I decided to go for the Canon 400d. I managed to get a brand new one for £300 with the lens. I know they have released the 1000d to take over from the 400d and there is the 450d which is better but more expensive and there are arguments that you should buy the body only and and then buy a good lens. Also the argument about the 1000d having an IS lens is fair. But at the end of the day I'm a newbie to SLR and for the budget it seemed the best option.
But there are another host of guys who will argue I'm wrong and should have done this or Nikon that but you could go on forever.
Just my pennies worth
But there are another host of guys who will argue I'm wrong and should have done this or Nikon that but you could go on forever.
Just my pennies worth
Davi said:
SamHH said:
For £400 you're restricted to the entry level cameras from most manufacturers, but even they are pretty capable.
Problem I'm finding is that every manufacturer seems to have several entry level camera's within a few quid of each other, and little indication going of what benefits there are of one over the other!I've just been to the local camera shop - the D40 and D60 have had the autofocus drive removed from the body, so you can now only autofocus with lenses with built in motors.
Not sure how much of an issue that is yet - just looking for price differences / spec between motored / non motored lenses.
Not sure how much of an issue that is yet - just looking for price differences / spec between motored / non motored lenses.
Davi said:
I've just been to the local camera shop - the D40 and D60 have had the autofocus drive removed from the body, so you can now only autofocus with lenses with built in motors.
Not sure how much of an issue that is yet - just looking for price differences / spec between motored / non motored lenses.
Wont be much of an issue if you're buying new lenses as all of them except maybe 2 or 3 primes come with AF motors.Not sure how much of an issue that is yet - just looking for price differences / spec between motored / non motored lenses.
The 400D is pretty-much discontinued now new...be hard to find one. And I'm not convinced the 1000D has enough functionality to 'grow' with someone's skills.
So if that's your maximum budget, I'd look at 2nd hand lenses:-
- Refurb'd 400D will be in your range. Essentially a 450D without live-view and a couple of non-essential megapixels.
- Refurb'd or 2nd hand 30D. Bigger, heavier, better built. Lacks the sensor self-clean, but has a greater fps rate and a couple of other tricks. I prefer the feel and the heft, but as said above others prefer the 400/450.
- 2nd hand 40D maybe? Should be around that price now. Has the sensor self-clean and a large display screen. Very happy with mine.
Re refurbs - got my first D-SLR (20D) from the Canon outlet on eBay and it's still going just fine 3 years later...albeit as a back-up body for the last 6 months.
Can't speak for Nikon but wouldn't buy one of the entry-level ones without the AF motor in the body.
So if that's your maximum budget, I'd look at 2nd hand lenses:-
- Refurb'd 400D will be in your range. Essentially a 450D without live-view and a couple of non-essential megapixels.
- Refurb'd or 2nd hand 30D. Bigger, heavier, better built. Lacks the sensor self-clean, but has a greater fps rate and a couple of other tricks. I prefer the feel and the heft, but as said above others prefer the 400/450.
- 2nd hand 40D maybe? Should be around that price now. Has the sensor self-clean and a large display screen. Very happy with mine.
Re refurbs - got my first D-SLR (20D) from the Canon outlet on eBay and it's still going just fine 3 years later...albeit as a back-up body for the last 6 months.
Can't speak for Nikon but wouldn't buy one of the entry-level ones without the AF motor in the body.
Anything from Nikon that has AF-S on it, or Sigma that has HSM on it will be fine with a D60
D90 doesnt have that limitation but it's pricey new compared to the 60
Second hand D80 on the other hand, best of both worlds. Check out ebay 260366449118 and 280317246657 and that will focus with the 50mm which is worth getting for £90
D90 doesnt have that limitation but it's pricey new compared to the 60
Second hand D80 on the other hand, best of both worlds. Check out ebay 260366449118 and 280317246657 and that will focus with the 50mm which is worth getting for £90
havoc said:
- Refurb'd 400D will be in your range. Essentially a 450D without live-view and a couple of non-essential megapixels.
I'd suggest there is rather more difference than that. Other features that the 450D has which the 400D lacks include the following:- 3" screen (up from 2.5")
- Spot metering
- High ISO noise reduction
- Larger capacity battery (roughly 30% higher)
- SD/SDHC cards rather than CF (may be relevant if you've already got lots of one or the other)
- Stabilised kit lens
- Improved AF system (although not having tried a 400, who knows by how much?)
Can you tell I went through the same decision-making process when I got mine?
After much discussion I've decided it's going to have to be the D60 afterall (due to the fact I can borrow lenses of someone...)
Now all I need to do is find somewhere that does the bodies at the prices they were a few weeks back rather than the somewhat inflated prices they are this week!
Now all I need to do is find somewhere that does the bodies at the prices they were a few weeks back rather than the somewhat inflated prices they are this week!
http://www.camerabox.co.uk/product1.asp?ProductNam...
See if you can get a leadtime from them though, I'm having problems buying a couple of new Nikkor lenses. I think they've been pulled because of curreny rate differences and people need to shift bits of paper or boxes around
See if you can get a leadtime from them though, I'm having problems buying a couple of new Nikkor lenses. I think they've been pulled because of curreny rate differences and people need to shift bits of paper or boxes around
andy-xr said:
http://www.camerabox.co.uk/product1.asp?ProductNam...
See if you can get a leadtime from them though, I'm having problems buying a couple of new Nikkor lenses. I think they've been pulled because of curreny rate differences and people need to shift bits of paper or boxes around
hmmm I've taken an instant dislike to them, as I know for a fact the current (new) RRP of the D60 body is £399 not the £499 they saySee if you can get a leadtime from them though, I'm having problems buying a couple of new Nikkor lenses. I think they've been pulled because of curreny rate differences and people need to shift bits of paper or boxes around
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