Novice need advise on SLR please

Bibiana

Bibiana

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Bibiana
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Hi
I have been taking pictures for years with just compact and bridge cameras. I would like to now get to know more about photography and learn how to do it the properly ;). I am off to Luxor in March and am looking for my 1st SLR camera (seconds hand ) budget up to £200-250 what would you guys recommend.
I have been looking at the following Nikkon D40/D60 and Canon 350D, 400D but really have no idea which one to go for.
Any advise would be appriecated. Thank you
 
I can't speak for Nikon as I have no knowledge of the inferior brand (I jest of course!) but I would wholeheartedly recommend something like the Canon 30D or (40D if you can find one in your budget). The xxD range is a bit more robust than the xxxD range. In very basic terms, the smaller fewer the digits, the higher up the scale the camera is and the bigger the number, the newer it is. i.e a 30D is "better" than a 300D and a 50D is newer than a 40D and so on.
 
May I suggest looking at a used Nikon D3000, great little camera with an in built guide mode to help newcomers. This has since been replaced with the D3100 but that will be out of your price range.

You may also be able to stretch to a Canon Eos 450D, or 1000D both are solid choices.

Just bare in mind once you choose a brand and start buying bits and bobs thats the brand you will usually be sticking with, if you have any friends and family who already own a brand of camera may be an idea to go the same way, that way you can not only tap into their experiences and knowledge but may also be able to share kit. Just my thoughts.
 
Thank you for your advice will have a look those models. Richep I know what you mean with sticking to the brand.I work with 2 guys one is Nikon fun the other one is Canon ;-)
 
I was recently in a similar position but keen to buy something new rather than used - everything Nikon seemed well out of my price range but I was thinking about an 1100D (Canon's cheapest entry level).

In the end I discovered Canon's "outlet" store on eBay - seller id canon_uk1 - which sells off a lot of refurbished kit. I bought a 500D with lens for £330 and I'm very happy with it - it was absolutely mint in box, the only thing "refurbished" about it was the fact the box had been previously opened, checked over by Canon and resealed. It also came with a years Canon warranty. The 500D is the immediate predecessor to the current 550D, identical build and fairly close on spec - but the 550 kit sells for around £550.

Anyway that might still be out of your price range but my point is their listings are worth a look - I think they also have 1100d's for around £260.
 
when I was looking a dslr a few years back I did the research, found those in budget that did what I needed, then went and tried them at jessops.

at the time it was between the E4, 350D, 100K and D40, the canon was a bit pricey and felt fiddly, the olympus was almost there, the pentax felt cheap even though it had the best set of features and then the nikon, which had the fewest features yet felt right in my hands. I never expected to get it but never regretted buying the nikon it was the right one for me.

the moral of the story, do the research and keep an open mind till you try them.

they all do the same sort of thing, but also have their own quirks.

if you go second hand don't go for the entry level models go a step up, a d70 would be a good starting camera, but even though it may push you new has it's advantages.

the important thing is to get it and use it, so you have to feel comfortable with it.

have fun.....
 
so how much difference is there between nikon d40 and d70.I have been reading about d40 and it has great reviews.Is the D70 older model?
 
the d70 is older I think than the d40, but it more that the d50 followed by the d40 are entry level, the d70, d80 and now d90 are mid range. d200 then d300 are high entry, then you move to full fram.

though what is entry level? it's all about what you do with your camera.
 
Thank you guys I went for Canon 30D... cannot wait to learn so exciting
 
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