digital slr ?

[jjdevon]

Hi all. I am new to photography and i am thinking about getting a digital slr camera, i have a compact digital camera at the moment but belive i could get closer to the action using a slr camera. The problem is with my limited knowledge i dont know where to start. do i get a basic slr? mid range? or spend alot of money and get a top slr. i would like to photograph wildlife such as deer/stags etc but they dont really understand me when i say "stay there so i can take a picture"

could i use a digital camera with a zoom or should i pay out for a slr??

any comments/help would be appreciated.

jason.

[Boddie]

Yep, go DSLR, big lens and big macro. There are many threads on this subject in the photography forum.

If you tell us how much you want to spend we will be only too happy to spend it for you and tell you where to shop. Cant say fairer than that

[jjdevon]

thanks boddie, could probably afford around the £600 mark but as allways if you are set on a price you allways get a better deal paying a little more, so i am fairly flexible. ( well, my credit card is anyway )

[Boddie]

Go Cannon EOS 350D and a nice Sigma 105mm macro lens. Use these to develop your skills then invest in a bad boy Bigma at a later date for your telephoto shots.

Nice

[matt_xyz]

well, in an ideal world you'd go for a DSLR, but to get a good long zoom is going to cost you at least £500 - £700 in addition to the camera itself (which typically only comes with a very short zoom or 50mm lens).

If £600 is your maximum spend you could do worse than buy a Panasonic FZ30 which is a long zoom SLR style compact. You can get them for less than £400. A teleconverter on top (e.g. an Olympus TCON17 for around £90) will give you a very long zoom (over 700mm equivalent). The shots in my Gallery below were all taken with an FZ30 and either a teleconverter (birds) or close-up lens (insects).

So, as usual it all comes down to how much you want to spend.

Matt

[petermallett]

Like Boddie I would say if you are on atight budget go for a 350d and then save hard for a good lens. For wildlife photography the lens is more critical than the camera and good glass costs money.

Peter

[jjdevon]

Thanks matt, you have alot of great photos.

[Ollie]

Originally Posted by petermallett

Like Boddie I would say if you are on atight budget go for a 350d and then save hard for a good lens. For wildlife photography the lens is more critical than the camera and good glass costs money.

Peter

As Peter says, I would go for a 350D if you choose the SLR route. Most of the budget DSLR's are capable of taking great shots. It's more to do with the lens you match it up with than the camera itself.
Roger

[Boddie]

I think you get what you pay for. Get a decent DSLR and work your way towards the accessories when you become more familiar with the camera body. I agree, the recent investments I have made in glass have really opened up what I am able to do. I bought an upgraded body too but the best investments were in lenses. Get a good body, such as a 350D and develop your hobbie by adding lenses at a later date, as you progress. This way you always have something to work towards

[jjdevon]

Thanks guys. all the info has been great, i didnt expect it so quick .