I have been thinking about learning abit about taking good photos and photography etc, but not really sure whats a good camera to start with, i have been told I need an SLR camera, max budget for a camera would be about 250-300, does anyone have any recomendations? is this a good model to start with? http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nikon-D40-Di.../dp/B000KIX65S

 

D40 is fantastic, but bear in mine photography can (most likely will) be an expensive hobby.. soon you start to crave insane lenses that cost Ł800 upwards.

However, and this is true, if you have a natural talen for it (once you learn the ropes), then you should be able to take great photos with any old crap to be honest. I like to read www.kenrockwell.com - he's fairly honest about stuff.. Otherwise there are some nice guides on www.photo.net

 

I bought a Canon EOS 400D, it's a lovely camera for circa Ł400. I had always anticipated buying at least one additional lens to the 18-55 kit lens, but didn't realise how quickly I would find the limitations of it. I'm now looking at a minimum of Ł400-500 to buy a decent second lens really, which I really can't buy yet, so the camera is getting very little use as a result.

It's a really good camera, but it depends on what you want to photograph.

 

I have my reasons for not always recommending a D40/D40x/D60 (one major one), it does depend on what you want to photograph, and how involved you think you'll get in photography. It can in some cases be a waste of money to buy these budget DSLR's that fail to offer some of the basic features someone wanting to get into photogrpahy would need.

 

Like what, DOF preview? I don't know anyone that actually uses it!

My initial choice between Nikon and Canon was down to the physical size of the unit. The Canon 350D (at the time) was to small for my meatcleavers, however I believe the D40 is smaller than my D50 so I probably wouldnt like that either now

 

cheers for the replies, i would like to just like to be able to take good quality photos of my kids when i take them out, take good pictures at the car shows i go to, nothing really exciting, but i would think once i start to take good pictures i would start getting more in to it,

 

d80. fantastic camera. i do it professionally for weddings etc and i have a d80 and a d300. bear in mind its going to cost you thousands if you start to enjoy it too much.. have you thought about a flash?

 

I think you'll be better off with a decent compact camera.. because you need a long zoom lens to do photos of cars on tracks, but a completely different lens for taking pics of your kids at home..

However, a really good compromise is a Nikon D40 and a Nikkor 18-200 VR lens.. but that little package is knocking on Ł800

 

I have an SB-800 for sale if you're interested

 

Nothing to do with the DOF button, i hardly use mine also.
No internal focus motor drive
No top LCD
Only 3 AF points

All these make a big difference i feel, especially the first one as it limit's the lenses you can use in autofocus. Most primes are out of the question.

How much for the SB-800? I have one but looking for a cheap second.

 

Ł175.. it's in as-new condition. Boxed etc. Only used a few times. I'm replacing it with an SB-400!

 

Why?
I'll pass on it thanks, i know someone who may be interested though.

 

Have a look at this matey

http://www.canon.co.uk/for_home/prod...5_is/index.asp

 

They seem to go for Ł150-180 on ebay, so I priced mine accordingly to it's condition Let me know if your friend is interested.

I just want the SB-400 for some fill, don't really need the range of the 800.

 

I don't think it's overpriced, just more than i'm prepared to spend right now is all.

 

hmmm tempting.. iv got the 400 but after my last wedding over the weekend i was considering the metz digital flash. 500+quid but one event will pay that easily.

 

I bought a Metz 58 before the SB800 and it broke on day 2, so I took it back and got the Nikon

 

i was thinking more like this http://www.metz.de/typo3temp/pics/9af6aaf441.png

 

I am new to Dslr cameras having only ever used the standard point and shoot digital cameras. I went for a Sony A200 as it was 10 mega pixel camera which meant I could do A3 prints, it also has built in anti camera shake which works with any lens and is a must when uses a long lens without a tripod, and the main point: There is a lot of 2nd hand minolta gear available on ebay for not a lot of cash that works with the Sony range. This meant I could get into photography for not a lot of outlay and if I didnt like it, then I had not wasted Ł1000,s.

I think you can get the Sony A200 for about Ł250 now, a lot of people recommend the usual Nikon and Canon models and while they are very good, if you do your research you will see they are far from flawless.

A good website is www.cameralabs.com

 

...............

 

Price is miles out! I've just bought my first DSLR last week, a Nikon D60 with 18-55mm VR lens and an additional 55-200mm VR lens, with 4GB SDHC card from a UK seller on ebay for 489.99 delivered to my front door

Been out with it a couple of times recently, and i love it

Some of my photo's if anyones interested http://www.flickr.com/photos/30990332@N02/

 

Go look how much the Nikon 18-200 lens is

 

Yeah its just over 300 quid on ebay, could have the camera body and lens for around 650.

I just didnt take in the fact you were on about the 18-200mm lens and not the 18-55mm and 55-200mm package for some reason

Having the one lens to cover the 18-200mm would make using the camera loads better too, not having to change lenses at crucial times etc.