First DSLR - I know.................................

[Coneyhurst Blue]

So looking for my first DSLR, I am hoping that it may well turn into for than just a way of recording how the kids looked as they grew up but at the moment I am looking for a reasonably basic DSLR.
Reading all the threads and using the search the consensus seems to be Canon/Nikon and then see which feels better in the hand ?
So which Canon and which Nikon ? As I said for the moment it will probably be left on Auto but in the future who knows !
Canon - 1000d ?
Nikon - d3000 ? (not sure if that is right) ?
Budget, well......... 300-400 ?
What say you wise ones ?

[Chicken Pox]

I bought mine for exactly the same reason and got sucked into other areas. Save your money buy secondhand body (say the Canon 350D I have available ~£150 ) remember you need to budget for lens too, I started with 17-85mm EF-S which served me well on JPEG and AUTO settings, but still has enough when you start experimenting...then the real expense begins
OR
go for a "brige" camera which has a built in lens maybe slightly more limited that full DSLR but if just want to go AUOT there are some good ones in your budget

HTH

Pox

[Hairy Cornflake]

I have just jumped into the DSLR world with a Canon 500d, which with cashback was about £500. Then there were a few second hand lenses, a couple of SDHC cards and a bag to keep them in another £300ish.

I bought the 500d because I thought it was reasonably priced, and if I did not or could not get in to photography I would not have wasted too much cash.

I have had it for a month or so and really enjoying it, learning to take pics and emulate some of the artwork on here.

Enjoy I am, should have bought a DSLR earlier rather than the point and shoot I had. In a way I am a bit sorry I did not buy the next spec up a 50d, but hay ho. If you want advice from a novice buy the best you can, even if it is second hand.

[flat-planedCrank]

Chicken Pox said:

Save your money buy secondhand body (say the Canon 350D I have available ~£150 )

Smooth, real smooth

[RichTbiscuit]

Seconding the, uhm, second hand body, even lenses if you're just getting into it and don't know what your after. The second hand shops seem to carry packages of second hand bodies and kit lenses, if not then they should still be pretty cheap.

[RobDickinson]

Doubt you'd notice a huge difference between a 1000D and a 350D realy.

Both have the same Autofocus, 1000D has a slightly newer 12mp sensor. 350D actualy takes more pics in RAW burst mode.

LCD is better on the 1000D.

Just make sure you get a decent lens (not the old non IS kit lens).

[Chicken Pox]

flat-planedCrank said:

Chicken Pox said:

Save your money buy secondhand body (say the Canon 350D I have available ~£150 )

Smooth, real smooth

• whistles innocently* but seriously not too fused about getting rid of the backup, I bought new as didn't have the knowledge and spent more than necessary on a body rather than the important things like glass and the "bridge" cameras at the time were a bit pants.

[MiniChips]

Chicken Pox said:

flat-planedCrank said:

Chicken Pox said:

Save your money buy secondhand body (say the Canon 350D I have available ~£150 )

Smooth, real smooth

• whistles innocently* but seriously not too fused about getting rid of the backup, I bought new as didn't have the knowledge and spent more than necessary on a body rather than the important things like glass and the "bridge" cameras at the time were a bit pants.

Email sent re:350d