Beginner First camera

[Tilz]

Hi
I'm looking for some advice on the sort of camera I should be looking at. I have a standard fujifilm digital camera that I've had for years and would like to get a better camera to do some more serious photography.
I plan on taking pics of the outdoors like scenery, animals and nature really. I'd like to use the camera for other things too but these are the things of life to start out photographing.
I've looked at a few camera's online which are the Canon EOS 1100D and the Sony A290. Would either of these camera's be a good starting point for me or should I be looking at something else.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Craig

 

[realspeed]

Judging by the canon you mention the price range is somewhere around £150 I guess and that is a used camera no longer in production.

My only advice if buying a used camera is to find out how many shutter actuations the camera has done. Some might be at the end of working life therefore a lot cheaper but wouldn't touch.Bit like a car, all shiny on the outside but with a clapped out engine.

Check prices here

http://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/

 

[Tilz]

Thanks for the advice realspeed. What would you recommend the max shutter count be under approximately? I've had a look on that website you suggested and there are 3 of the Canon camera's and the shutter counts are 296, 11410 and 9000. The site recommends the one with 9000 as it's in excellent condition but from the pics they all look fine to me

 

[Mark twiglet]

Any of those as they are all low! Basic cheap bodies will have a life of 80-150,000 and a pro body can do 500,000 without a service! I bought a cheap d700 nikon with 160,000 on it and it's still got plenty of life in it!

 

[Nostromo]

I bought a Canon 50d, with 12,000 shutter count, off of mpb for £199. I much prefer it to my 1100d, there's no great difference in image quality, but the 50d has better ergonomics.

 

[Tilz]

Thanks for that, I'd be impressed if I manage to take that many photo's. Could u recommend a lens or the sort of thing to look at. What's the difference between 18-55mm and 55-200mm? I know the longer the lens the more zoom it has, my dad has a canon camera from when he used to go to the F1 in the 80's that I've used before.
Thanks again for the advice