Best digital SLR for beginners?

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by tom00_uk

not that worried about being able to film, is that not what camcorders are for?

Yes, but the more bells and whistles a camera has, the better it sells to 'Joe Public'. I predict the next 'must have' feature on a DSLR is the ability to play MP3s - maybe even a mobile 'phone!

Jim

[Boddie]

Originally Posted by Jim Ford

Yes, but the more bells and whistles a camera has, the better it sells to 'Joe Public'. I predict the next 'must have' feature on a DSLR is the ability to play MP3s - maybe even a mobile 'phone!

Jim

I think GPS will be the next big thing on cameras, and by that I mean the ability to 'stamp' the image with the co-ordinates of where the image was taken exactly. I think this will be mainstream fairly soon

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by Boddie

I think GPS will be the next big thing on cameras, and by that I mean the ability to 'stamp' the image with the co-ordinates of where the image was taken exactly. I think this will be mainstream fairly soon

So when we go somewhere a long way from where we last used the camera, we have to switch it on at least 5 mins before we use it, and walk around so it can get a fix on 3 or more satellites!

Jim

[Boddie]

Sounds like you have the same model as I do

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by Boddie

Sounds like you have the same model as I do

My current one is a Garmin Geko 301. My previous one was a Garmin Legend, which I lost!

Jim

[andrewinpompey]

To second what several other people have said already, think about the lenses you want to use (i.e. what sort of photos you will be taking) and spend money on those as much as the camera. If you look through 'Wildlife photographer of the year' books from say five years ago, many of those photos were taken on cameras that would now be seen as completely out of date, e.g. Canon 300D or Nikon D70. But they still got good photos! Lenses (and technique) are so important.

I'd recommend getting a second-hand camera body, and second-hand lenses as well. You can save a lot of money (enough to get an extra lens!). I'd suggest looking into prices for a Nikon D80 or Canon 400D, which are a few years old but will give you everything you need to take great photos. If you get them from a decent camera shop you should get a three or six month warrantee. This site lists places you can buy 2nd hand: Used Cameras from 89 specialist Camera Shops in the UK

Also think about what selection of lenses you will hopefully (realistically!) end up with in a year or two's time. Some brands of DSLR have a more limited selection of lenses, although there are also 3rd party lens brands e.g. Sigma that are good - i.e. you don't just have to buy Canon lenses for Canon cameras, etc.

[epops]

just about to get my 1st i handled and looked at a few in the shops and have settled for a nikon d3000 going to get it on saturday

[thunder]

Originally Posted by Jim Ford

My current one is a Garmin Geko 301. My previous one was a Garmin Legend, which I lost!

Jim

This demonstrates the advantages of a camera with mobile 'phone and GPS. If you lost it, you could just ring it up and ask "Where are you?" and it would know!

henrya

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by thunder

This demonstrates the advantages of a camera with mobile 'phone and GPS. If you lost it, you could just ring it up and ask "Where are you?" and it would know!

Nice - it would report its co-ordinates, so you could find it with a GPS ...... erm, which you'd lost!

Jim

[thunder]

Originally Posted by Jim Ford

Nice - it would report its co-ordinates, so you could find it with a GPS ...... erm, which you'd lost!

Jim

Yep - but you could borrow your mate's GPS and find out whether or not it is true that no two GPS devices give the same answer

henrya