i want a camera....

[matty-hodgson]

i get paid tomorrow and that means i'll have about £400 to spend on a camera..
will be able to stretch to £450 if i really need to.

i want something like this



wanna be able to take good quality shots and hopefully buy more lenses for it and stuff, once i can afford them.

so really, i just want someone to suggest a decent camera for a total novice.. the most i've ever done is take pictures of a few rally cars on the Grisedale stage with a digital camera.

[TheAnimus]

the 450D and stock IS lens is kicking in at about £430 if you look hard enough.

However that lens does suck monkey balls, or rather i found it did!

What is it your wanting to shoot? I really would recommend going to a good store, and playing with a lot of the bodies, i thought i really prefered the Canon range until i saw what else i could get for my budget.

[Guy]

Get a second hand EOS400D, then you'll still have monies left over for some accessories/maybe even another lense

[ToGGoT]

I have been pleased with my sony a100. To be honest though, having played with some others since, they is a lot of good kit kicking about in your budget.

You might be just as well off looking at second hand stuff first if you havent done much photography before - then you arent losing so much if you decide it isnt your thing

[BUFF]

Unfortunately you aren't going to get a D700 for £450 ...

There isn't a bad current production DSLR so get to a shop & handle them to find the 1 that best suits you within your budget.
having said that imo it's hard to beat a Sony A200 for vfm & for your budget you should be able to get the body c/w with kit 18-70mm, a 70/75-300mm for £380-400 leaving some cash for compact flash (e.g. 4gb Sandisk Extreme III ~£20).

[tigerboyce]

On your price range your going to have to decide between a Nikon D60/Cannon EOS400D/Sony A200


I went for the D60: http://forums.hexus.net/photography-...lp-thread.html

[matty-hodgson]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MINT-Canon-EOS...3A1|240%3A1318

found that.. seems like a decent price.
i don't understand all the jargon about lenses though
wth does "18-70mm, a 70/75-300mm" mean?

[BUFF]

focal length of the lenses.
In those cases lenses with ranges between 18mm & 70mm & 70 or 75mm to 300mm.
that would basically cover you from 18mm upto 300mm which would cover the vast majority of need s for most people.

why pay £309 for s/h when you can get new for less?
http://www.dixons.co.uk/product.php?...#37;20Bargains

[matty-hodgson]

why pay £309 for s/h when you can get new for less?
http://www.dixons.co.uk/product.php?...DVD%20Bargains

just been looking at that.
if i went for that camera, would i be making a mistake or would it be a good camera to have a play with at first?
and maybe then buy some better lenses and stuff for it?

[Bobster]

i have a photographer m8 who's selling a 40D (body only) for 485+ P+P

[BUFF]

just been looking at that.
if i went for that camera, would i be making a mistake or would it be a good camera to have a play with at first?
?

As long as the handling suits you (true of any camera) it's a very good starter DSLR - indeed it won the TIPA (big European industry body) 2008 Entry Level DSLR award.

[matty-hodgson]

Bobster - that's far too expensive
what do you think of the Sony A200 though? is that a decent camera for a beginner?

also.. lenses, i like landscape shots and i like close up shots.. so what sort of lenses do i wanna be buying?
bearing in mind i'm a total novice atm

[BUFF]

also.. lenses, i like landscape shots and i like close up shots.. so what sort of lenses do i wanna be buying?

landscape shots tend to use the wider types of lenses but the 18mm of the standard kit lens may be adequate for your needs.
by close ups I suspect what you mean what is known as Macro - there are a couple of ways of doing this depending upon your budget but the cheaper ways are by things like extension tubes, reversing rings or a conversion lesn (Raynox).

I suggest that you walk before you run.
Whatever camera that you buy spend some time getting to know what it can do with what you have.
This will also tell you what you want to do but can't with what you have & therefore what you need to buy.

[Stringent]

Just remember when buying into an SLR you buy into their 'system'. So for me its Nikon (D90) with their lenses. Same would be with Canon. I think the D60 is in your budget range.

[tigerboyce]

I suggest that you walk before you run.
Whatever camera that you buy spend some time getting to know what it can do with what you have.
This will also tell you what you want to do but can't with what you have & therefore what you need to buy.

This.

Just stick with the stock 18-55/70mm lens until can really decide on what type of photography you enjoy.

Then go about deciding on what type of lens you might want to upgrade too.

[matty-hodgson]

decided i'm gonna get the A200 on my way to school tomorrow.
Argos have 2 in stock
maybe post some pics up tomorrow and show you my 1337 sk1llz