finally im getting a new camera, what to buy thread

[The Tea Boy]

Hi guys, after using a normal point and shoot, i feel the time has come to move up it up a step, looking for a DSLR for upto about £300ish (not the best budget i know) have been looking at the Sony A200K http://www.comet.co.uk/shopcomet/product/488992/SO... and the D40 http://www.comet.co.uk/shopcomet/product/489085/NI...


so which do i put on the xmas list? or are there any other choices out there with in the budget? any help would be great as im thinking that my photos have come on really well and would like to start using some better kit.

Regards
Matt

[andy-xr]

Nikon D80

More lenses to choose from, no auto focus hassle

[SamHH]

andy-xr said:

Nikon D80

More lenses to choose from, no auto focus hassle

Out of budget though, no?

[andy-xr]

Ah

Yeah, sorry

In which case go for the D40 or D60. There are AFS lenses available fairly cheap (55-200 was £140, 70-300 was £350) but can be a bit clunky. There's more to the D80 but nothing wrong with the 40 for most day to day stuff.

Edited by andy-xr on Thursday 20th November 19:34

[SamHH]

I don't have experience of those cameras but two of their respective weaknesses are as Andy alludes to: 1) the selection of lenses and accessories available for the Sony is not as good as for cameras from the market leaders, Canon and Nikon and 2) the D40 doesn't have an autofocus motor, meaning that it can only autofocus with lenses with their own internal motor. For Nikon's own lenses this is ones designated AF-S and AF-I and whilst there is a large selection of these lenses, there are still quite a lot of Nikon lenses that rely on the camera having a motor. The other main option around that budget is the Canon 1000D. It's more expensive but worth considering.

Edited by SamHH on Thursday 20th November 18:13

[valve bounce66]

i have recently got d40 and a 50-200vr lens of e-bay,i am well impresed with the kit,camera was £265 a while ago from tesco and the lens was £115 delivered,i find the camera easy to use and works fine at motorsport events.

[Holst]

For an amateur I dont see that the D40's lack of focus motor as a major problem. Your probably going to be happy with a selection of nikon lenses, and you wont need compatability with any old lenses (as you dont have any)
For the money they are a great camera.

Personaly I find an SLR too large to carry around.

[GolfGT]

I just got the A200 last saturday, they are doing £30.00 cash back on those and £50.00 cash back on the A350. I wanted to get camera that was easy to use like my compact T100, and I love the A200, ok I am female but the settings are so easy to use, and with the standard lens the camer isnt to heavy. I am now looking into getting a more depth lens.

[CivicMan]

A D40 from Dixons, currently £214 with the 18/55 lens, and a 55/200VR off Ebay for about £110. Super combination, cracking images.

[Deluded]

Nikon D40 or Canon 1000d. Maybe an olympus E510 or E420 if you can find a very good deal.

I bought a 450D recently and am very happy. I was very close to buying the 1000d indead but opted to pay the extra £70 for the 450d instead.

Edited by Deluded on Thursday 20th November 23:27

[thinfourth2]

The big names at this price range are pretty much of similar abilities So ignore the buy a brand shouts and do something sensible

Wander down to your local camera specialist, hopefully an independent and pick up each one you are interested in and have a play and a chat to the staff who should have a brain.

As each make is a different shape so while we may say that at that price range a nikon is better then a sony it is no use if you discover that your hand is actually sony shaped.

Yes you will pay more from a decent shop then on the internet but you will of got some good advice which is worth paying for

[beano500]

thinfourth2 said:

...some very sensible stuff...

A camera which you don't use much, because it's not comfortable to use/doesn't make you want to keep picking it up, is a waste of money. My first dSLR was nowhere near as ergonomically good as my previous film SLRs (as well as other shortcomings) but my current one has everything literally at your fingertips and feels just right to wield about.

No real substitute for trying out first.

[Mr Fenix]

I'm looking to upgrade to a decent DLSR and the models I'm considering are the Nikon D80 and 300D. The wife is into photography (well used to be before Vet school) and wants something she can enter competitions with and take excellent pictures.

Anyone have anything to say above the above models or should I think about Canon/Sony/Pentax ?

[VxDuncan]

Mr Fenix said:

I'm looking to upgrade to a decent DLSR and the models I'm considering are the Nikon D80 and 300D. The wife is into photography (well used to be before Vet school) and wants something she can enter competitions with and take excellent pictures.

Anyone have anything to say above the above models or should I think about Canon/Sony/Pentax ?

I've owned both (D80 and D300). See my gushworthy D300 Fanboy post a few days ago to see how much I love the D300. The D80 is still a bloddy good camera, really it is. It's not as good at high ISO (ie in really low light) and the AF isn't quite as reliable, but it's a perfect first DSLR. The D300 maybe a little to heavy / large unless you're commited, and you loose the creative modes so the learning curve is a lot steeper.

I'd say D80(/90?) and good fast F2.8 lenses over a D300. Once happy you know that inside out maybe go for one of the pro-sumer DSLRs.

[Simpo Two]

Mr Fenix said:

wants something she can enter competitions with and take excellent pictures.

That's likely to be more to do with the skill of the user, not the number of buttons on the back.