MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
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Currently have a Minolta 35mm SLR. But only the one lens which is not a reason to get a Sony.
So what would you get with £350-£400 to play with?
To be honest, and its not what you want to hear, but, any.
Any of the big brands, its all a bit like bikes, they make a product for a price range and the features will almost always be similar or the same as the competitors. Best thing i can suggest is going to a shop and having a look and a try. see what comfortable, which ones are intuitive to use, which ones have features that you like etc etc. shop around as there are plenty of deals and old models around for good prices. If you can find a minolta one, the ability to reuse the lens could save you some cash.
I have a Nikkon D90. Its a bit more than your budget but its more camera than I'll ever need!
Wife's got a basic Sony DSLR (A350?) and it's brilliant. Takes amazing photos.
I have a Nikon D70 which is fine - I noticed the biggest improvement however by buying decent lenses.
So keep some budget in mind for that.
meehaja pretty much what I have been reading. So many options but hardly anything to choose between them all.
Maybe I will get a Sony then...
as meehaja says - get along to a shop that has a decent range and have a fiddle. If you don't intend on buying many lenses for specific purposes, then all the manufacturers will have ample lens choice.
When i got my Nikon D80, it was between that and the Canon 350D which was a bit cheaper. I fiddled with them both in the shop & immediately knew the Canon one wasn't for me.
Pentax K-x will blow anything away at that price range
http://snapsort.com/compare/Pentax_K-x-vs-Sony_Alpha_DSLR-A350
This is a particularly good price
350 will get you the single lens kit
We bought a Canon d550 at the weekend. Mainly for my wife, but I'm loving playing with it.
Was taking photos of the stars last night.
That and the lego scenes the girls have been playing with.
Canon because we already have lenses from a film SLR and we like the menu structure. But also we were told in Jessops to get the same level of quality in a Nikon we'd need to spend more money. I'm still dubious about that though.
We could have got a D450 or similar for much less money, but I let my wife persuade me we needed the latest model...
Conqueror Thanks I was seriously looking at that and at that price its now the one I like the most!
When i got my Nikon D80, it was between that and the Canon 350D which was a bit cheaper. I fiddled with them both in the shop & immediately knew the Canon one wasn't for me.
stumpy01 has a good point, in the price band you are looking, all the top, well known brands will produce quality images, if used correctly, but the feel & handling vary quite a bit...
Don't get too hung up on the small speck. differences at this level.
Add the Nikon D3100, to the list above to check out too.
Go on, you know you want to, have a feel 😉
I got a Nikon D80. find it to be pretty good.
I asked my friend who is a pro sports photographer and he recommended the Nikon D10* at the time, but his general advice was to get the best nikon you could afford at the point when you buy it. Have a look around for the previous model year stuff. I think I got mine more or less half price from amazon becuase there was a newer model out.
*May not be a D10 😳
The lens system is an important factor. Bodies change and can be replaced.
If you already own loads of brand A lenses, it makes sense to stick with brand A unless you are made of money. Think carefully which brand of lenses you want to use. Qs like will you have enough money for Sony glass? - its good but pretty expensive options relative to others.
For starting from scratch, for 400 quid with the 2 lenses and that body. I think the K-x is a bloomin bargain. As said above, if you can play with one in a shop it will help. If it feels fine to you it'll certainly trump the others for specifications and it seems a good value lens system.
Here is the comparison against the D3100
http://snapsort.com/compare/Nikon_D3100-vs-Pentax_K-x
I dont own any pentax gear or work for them (ive had panasonic for awhile and got a tough sony compact on the way). But I sure like the look of the K-x and new K-5 (a monster).
Oh and the K-x has in-body image stabilisation. Great for legacy lenses.
Here is the comparison against the D3100
correction, coolpix 3100
Strange how they compared a fixed zoom compact against a digital SLR?
Still, the pentax is a great deal
Heh had to edit the link.. correct link is there.. trying to do things too fast 🙂
S you can compare anything on the site..
Its a good site, for a quick comparison.. Im not sure how they arrive at the IQ number though.. but most of the other comparisions are simple to do just by looking at the paper specs
Conqueror, good advice about the lens too.
I sold a D50 kit recently, which went for only £150 with an 18-55mm lens, silly money, when you think it cost near to £500 a few years back!
There are bargins to be had second hand too, if you look around.
coolpix 3100
That doesn't sound right at all, had one of those about 8 years ago and its a 3.2mp compact
coolpix 3100That doesn't sound right at all, had one of those about 8 years ago and its a 3.2mp compact
Its not right, the D3100 is the Nikon DSLR with Full HD video, good camera by all accounts, might shift my D40 and look at one of those.
The K-x has 710 video which I think will be plenty for the amount I would use it.
If you read the thread.. the link was ammended from 3100 to d3100..
[b]Heh had to edit the link.. correct link is there.. trying to do things too fastS you can compare anything on the site..[/b]
Nikon for big man hands Canon for little lady hands.
Or so I found anyway.
Not suggesting its better or worse than anything else but i am enjoying 'learning' how to use my new Canon 1000d. So many different settings and from what i have seen on the various canon forums capable of some rather splendid shots (Not by me btw).
It reminds me of bikes. A basic £500 bike would achieve everything a £1000 bike would in the hands of a relative novice. A skilled rider would quite easily show up its limitations compared to the better bike.
Personally i went for the canon because i felt comfortable on the forums applicable and felt i would get most feedback using this product.
Because everything in the market is so close to each other especially in the sub 500£ where the competition is just crazy go and try a few. Whichever feels better, looks more logically laid out for you, has the most comprehensive menus just go for.
If you would like something that is not intimidating, almost pocketable yet very capable have a look at the GF2. It will probably exceed your budget but to me it seems the perfect excuse to ditch a point and shoot.
I bought 3 bodies through the years and all three times I chose a Nikon despite playing with at least Canons and more recently Pentax and Sony's. I like the lay out, the menus and how Nikon's feel in your hand.
If I was buying now in your budget I'd get this:
D40 + 35mm 1.8 and maybe a 18-55 for a bit more flexibility, you will have loads of fun and an absolute brilliant lens to play with.
If you want something newer the D3100 with 18-55 kit is just under £500 so overbudget but it is an absolutely brilliant camera to have. Think seriously though of upgrading the lens at some point. It is good but with limitations.
I understand you said play but if you ever imagine yourself getting into photography a bit more seriously maybe consider a D90. You can get a second hand one for less than 500£ new for 560£. Either price is a proper steal.
Nikon for big man hands Canon for little lady hands.
Or so I found anyway.
Maybe the case with the xxxD range, but definitely not with the xxD ones, my 40D is a big old lump and certainly wouldn't suit "little lady hands"
Thanks Conqueror I got the Pentax and it will be coming in a few days! Got £25 off 3% cash back and a free 4Gb card 🙂