D3100 £295 w/ cashback.

[Terbinator]

Is there a better deal around the same price?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...&psc=1&s=photo

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

This deal was epic:

http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/2-le...garden-1398813

[Terbinator]

Doesn't really help me though.

[kalniel]

It's an OK deal, but nothing unexpected. I'd wait till the "boxing day week" sales from Amazon starting 25th. You can usually get a low end DSLR and kit lens for around £260.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Doesn't really help me though.

Get a D5100 instead:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...m-21/ref=nosim

It is £365 with cashback.

I would still get the Pentax K30 over it though:

http://www.wexphotographic.com/buy-p...&utm_source=aw

It is £350 with cashback.

There is a kit with the weathersealed standard lens:

http://www.wexphotographic.com/buy-p...-lens/p1531082

It is £400 with cashback.

The K30 has a glass pentaprism and the body is weatherproof. You also can get weathersealed lenses for the system too. The camera can also use AA batteries via an adaptor.

[Terbinator]

I'll wait then - i just wanted something to play with on Christmas day

Do you think the same kit will drop to around £260?

Get a D5100 instead:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...m-21/ref=nosim

I would still get the Pentax K30 over it though:

http://www.wexphotographic.com/buy-p...&utm_source=aw

The K30 has a glass pentaprism and the body is weatherproof. You also can get weathersealed lenses for the system too. The camera can also use AA batteries via an adaptor.

How much does that come in at with cashback?

As for the Pentax, i was just going to stick with Canon/Nikkon due to the more ( i' under the impression, at least) heterogeneous lens ecosystem?

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

I would spent the extra on the D5100 or K30 TBH. Both have a better sensor and better autofocus. The fact the K30 has a pentaprism for under £400 is amazing. After using penamirrors for years,I won't touch them with a bargepole now.

Edit!!

For the amount of time you keep an SLR,the extra investment in the body is worth it.

[TheAnimus]

You also can get weathersealed lenses for the system too. The camera can also use AA batteries via an adaptor.

The included kit lens is weathersealed too! Nice thing about the pentax kit lenses is you have something to use when you take the camera paintballing.

[kalniel]

As for the Pentax, i was just going to stick with Canon/Nikkon due to the more ( i' under the impression, at least) heterogeneous lens ecosystem?

Not really. They have the most choice across old, new and professional systems, but unless you're a pro or have some arcane kit you won't be for want of lenses with any of the main modern makes (Canon, Nikon, Sony, Pentax, Oly/Pany m43rds). If you think you are going to go pro then £260 is nothing worth worrying about as a starter system to throw away/sell/use as backup.

While you're waiting for the sales get down to a camera shop to try some models - how the camera's handle in everyday use for you is nowadays more important than make, and the different makes/models do have quite different philosophies.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

I'll wait then - i just wanted something to play with on Christmas day

Do you think the same kit will drop to around £260?


How much does that come in at with cashback?

As for the Pentax, i was just going to stick with Canon/Nikkon due to the more ( i' under the impression, at least) heterogeneous lens ecosystem?

All the major focal lengths are covered by both Pentax and independent lense companies. You are talking dozens of lenses.

Also,due to the fact that Canon and Nikon need to have stabilisation in the lense unlike the Pentax,you can end up paying a premium for some lenses:

http://www.srsmicrosystems.co.uk/492...-SPECIAL-.html

http://www.srsmicrosystems.co.uk/680...n---SALE-.html

Also pentaprism vs pentamirror is no contest.

You have to be careful of Jessops as they get funding from Canon and probably Nikon too,and don't tend to want to push other companies as much. A well known trick is when they "lose" the batteries for their Pentax and Olympus cameras.

Now the D5100 is a lovely camera,but IMHO the K30 is more like half way between a D5100 and D7000 in level.

The included kit lens is weathersealed too! Nice thing about the pentax kit lenses is you have something to use when you take the camera paintballing.

Recently,there has been a cheaper kit with the bog standard kit lens which is not weathersealed. However,with cashback that is £350 or with the weathersealed version of the standard lens it is £400.

[Terbinator]

Not really. They have the most choice across old, new and professional systems, but unless you're a pro or have some arcane kit you won't be for want of lenses with any of the main modern makes (Canon, Nikon, Sony, Pentax, Oly/Pany m43rds). If you think you are going to go pro then £260 is nothing worth worrying about as a starter system to throw away/sell/use as backup.

While you're waiting for the sales get down to a camera shop to try some models - how the camera's handle in everyday use for you is nowadays more important than make, and the different makes/models do have quite different philosophies.

I had a quick handle in Jessops of a few yesterday and was just erring towards the Nikkon as i felt a bit more at home with the Ui and so on as it isn't that far away from my P310. I had a quick blast of my Grandad's Canon (550D maybe?) over the weekend as well and for me personally, i can't say i'm that much fussed either way.

All the major focal lengths are covered by both Pentax and independent lense companies. You are talking dozens of lenses.

Also,due to the fact that Canon and Nikon need to have stabilisation in the lense unlike the Pentax,you can end up paying a premium for some lenses:

http://www.srsmicrosystems.co.uk/492...-SPECIAL-.html

http://www.srsmicrosystems.co.uk/680...n---SALE-.html

Also pentaprism vs pentamirror is no contest.

You have to be careful of Jessops as they get funding from Canon and probably Nikon too,and don't tend to want to push other companies as much. A well known trick is when they "lose" the batteries for their Pentax and Olympus cameras.

Now the D5100 is a lovely camera,but IMHO the K30 is more like half way between a D5100 and D7000 in level.



Recently,there has been a cheaper kit with the bog standard kit lens which is not weathersealed. However,with cashback that is £350 or with the weathersealed version of the standard lens it is £400.

I'll look at the Pentax offering a bit more then.

[TheAnimus]

Recently,there has been a cheaper kit with the bog standard kit lens which is not weathersealed. However,with cashback that is £350 or with the weathersealed version of the standard lens it is £400.

Really? I'd be suprised. The plastic cheapo £50 18-55mm has always been weathersealed, it has a green ring.

OP, if your looking to stretch to £350, the K-30 simply wipes the floor with the 5100. The A390 (sony) is worth considering too, but is a bit more expensive. I'm not sure its worth it.
http://snapsort.com/compare/Nikon-D5100-vs-Pentax-K-30
There is no way objectively someone can say that the Nikon is a better choice. The other thing is the build quality of the camera is so much better, Bob will appear soon to say that doesn't matter.

But that is assuming your wanting to go that far with budget. The main reason for doing so would be:
Low light performance - Miles ahead, the body has stabalisation that is often better than a lot of the lens stablisation (see Sigma/Tamron reviews people have done). This is the sort of stuff you have to pay £100s extra for in Canikon. It will make pictures indoors much better.
Pentaprisim - lets you see 100% of the image for composistion.
Weather sealed - won't grow mouldy and you can take to the beach without worry.
Faster - It can take more shots per second, good if ever your doing sports or even just children.
More X Focus points - Easier to get the shot you want.

Seriously to choose the D5100 above the K-30 is nuts.

However I worry this is academic as it is out of your budget. Unless you care to increase it

[Terbinator]

P, if your looking to stretch to £350, the K-30 simply wipes the floor with the 5100. The A390 (sony) is worth considering too, but is a bit more expensive. I'm not sure its worth it.

I'd probably go up to £350 given the performance difference between it and the 3100, but i'm unless i'm missing a glaringly obvious link, £350 is just for the body. With the cheapest kit lens it's £446 on Amazon, or is that what you was getting at in terms of em upping my budget?

[TheAnimus]

I'd probably go up to £350 given the performance difference between it and the 3100, but i'm unless i'm missing a glaringly obvious link, £350 is just for the body. With the cheapest kit lens it's £446 on Amazon, or is that what you was getting at in terms of em upping my budget?

http://www.srsmicrosystems.co.uk/775...A-BATTERY.html

I like the guys at SRS microsystems too, if your near Watford you can have a play before you buy. So at time of posting thats £399.99 with kit lens, and an extra battery. With £50 cashback from Pentax (make sure you do this! as will all cashback they hope you don't!).

The kit lens is naff, but will get you started happily. It turns out as Cat said the kit lens is no longer WR They have doubled the price of the old kit lens, which is gutting because I sold mine only a year ago, but to a fellow hexite, and I know he is enjoying it. I would say it is not worth paying the extra £50 for the WR kit lens, at all, because when the kit lens is only £50, just buy new. £100 for the kit lens is extortionate. You can get some loverly glass for not much more.

They also have other colours if that is your thing.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

TBF,the K30 is much cheaper than it used to be,so the £350 price with cashback is probably down to the cheaper kit lens. However,after cashback it is still £400 with the weathersealed lens.

I'd probably go up to £350 given the performance difference between it and the 3100, but i'm unless i'm missing a glaringly obvious link, £350 is just for the body. With the cheapest kit lens it's £446 on Amazon, or is that what you was getting at in terms of em upping my budget?

WEX is a major online camera retailer and are probably the biggest in the country. They are also known as Warehouse Express.

Here are the links:

http://www.wexphotographic.com/buy-p...&utm_source=aw

http://www.wexphotographic.com/buy-p...-lens/p1531082

You get £50 cashback. SRS Microsystems are quite good too and you get an extra battery too with the basic kit.

Seriously for the price the K30 is ATM,it is great value IMHO. The cheapest Nikon camera with a pentaprism alone is the D90 which is ancient and still costs around £400 for the body only.

[TheAnimus]

Cheaper at SRS, well you get a spare battery.

Cat: I still don't approve of what they've done with the Kit lens, as the old one only used to cost £69 on its own.