trying to decide on a new camera

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HanaPIE

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im currently having to borrow a friends camera but have finnally saved up around £400 to buy a new one for myself
only just starting out in college so i don't want anything thats to over complicated
im used to using nikons (nikon d50 inparticular) but alot of people i have asked have said i should go for a canon
wondering if anyone had any ideas of a good starter digital slr camera for around £400 (dont really want to go over that)
thanks :)
 
If you like the D50 buy a used D70s (about £220-250 used); 6mp, good build quality and super-fast (1/1000s) flash sync speed that will come in very useful if you want to do outdoor flash work. Then get something like a 18-70mm AF-S DX f/3.5-4.5, probably the finest kit lens about - these are about £130 used.

Alternatively, stretch that little bit more and get a D200 (£400 body-only - 10mp, pro-spec build) or a D80, which is a D200 in a smaller body but with very good build quality and IQ. They are about £300 used.

On the Canon front then there's the 30D (and updated version of the 20D) - 8mp, good build quality, poor handling.

On the new kit front for £400 you have a few options but it's best to look on www.camerapricebuster.co.uk for current prices. The Olympus and Pentax/Samsung bodies offer good value with good lens options but are probably playing second-fiddle to Canon and Nikon these days. Sony is the dark horse of the bunch and produces some brilliant kit; I had a play with an A230 today (£330 with 18-55mm lens) and have to say it shook my confidence in Nikon and Canon budget gear - it's very, very, very good for the money.
 
specialman said:
On the Canon front then there's the 30D (and updated version of the 20D) - 8mp, good build quality, poor handling.
Click to expand...

Excuse me, the handling of 30D is very good, only AF isn't what it should have been. Nikon has everything in a wrong place, and the old ones come with terrible high ISO noise.
 
Horses for courses I suppose.... I mean in reference to the D50 the OP has used before.

Canon's in general are smaller in size when you get to the mid-range (40D V D300 for example) so do feel a bit cramped at times.....

Shame Canon never bought into the idea of having TWO control wheels AND a D-pad though....;)
 
daugirdas said:
Excuse me, the handling of 30D is very good, only AF isn't what it should have been. Nikon has everything in a wrong place, and the old ones come with terrible high ISO noise.
Click to expand...

Sorry, but having always used nikon, I find the handling of all canons very poor. The point I am making is that the op needs to handle different cameras as you always get the canons better, no wait nikon's are better arguments, neither company make bad cameras, it just comes down to what people prefer.
 
thanks for all the help guys
i know im working with very little money but it is a student budget!
thanks especially specialman, going to have a look into some of the camera's you meantioned. probs going to go for a cheeper camera to the one's ive been looking at and try and build up my lens collection first.
 
Here is a sony with 2 lenses for £430

http://www.jacobsdigital.co.uk/index.php?target=products&product_id=10734

All of the cameras can take good pictures, you make them great.

By all means listen to opinions and read reviews but always remember they are "personal opinions".

You must go to some dealers and handle the cameras yourself, as it is you that will be holding it and using it not someone else..
There are many brands/models for a reason.

Welcome to TP:)
 
Get yourself to a second hand camera store and see what they have. Handle as many as you can and see if they can power them up for you.

If the have the ability ask em for test shots with kit lenses as you take and get them to offload to your phone (ensure raw files or high quality jpegs).

Also mention that you are only looking for now... Stops them pushing for a sale. If they are too pushy, leave the store n go to another.

Main thing is to try as many as you can.

Personally I was a fuji bridge, to minolta (end of line 5d) to a nikon d300 (liked a d200 I handled and the d300 was impressive).

Second thing is whether the second hand place might do a deal on a decent lens to go with it instead of a kit lens. That depnds on what you enjoy taking pictures of.
 
I'm selling my D70s and 18-55 VR in the classifieds section... ;)
 
thanks for all the help guys its come in very hand :)
think im going to go for the D70 then have a shop for a new lens and flashgun to go with it (hopefully save put alittle more for these)
any ideas of a good all round lens to go with this? as im in college i take all kinds of images so need something sharp and versitile
only have a fisheye lens for a nikon atm
 
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