Advice req'd for total novice.

[siannn]

hi new on here (:
studying media at school,
always used digital instant cameras before,
i'm now looking to start using a digital SLR camera,
but i don't know where to start.
i obviously want a decent but not overly expensive one,
to start with that I can build up as my skill level improves.
i dont mind wether its new or second hand as long as it's decent quality.
i'm interested in macro photography.
i'd want a reasonable body with good lenses.
i've got approx £600 for just the camera.

[rtjdesign]

I would say go for a Nikon D60, and get some extra lenses, bag, tripod and your off!

[RichardC27]

So you're looking to spend 600 on the camera body alone, and then you have a seperate budget for lenses?

[siannn]

oh right sorry, £600 for both.

[trinitronfan]

D60 or D40 and some more lenses.

[will69]

Go for a second hand Canon or Nikon, the Nikon Dxx range or the Canon xxxD range are the ones to look at.

Both Canon and Nikon make great dSLR cameras, but remember you are buying into a system and the lenses and flashes are not interchangeable between brands.

[inaneredstripe]

i know a few student media/photography types.
most of em seem to have 350D's.
if you can get a better lens than the 17-50(i think ) lens. all the better.
theyre pretty cheap second hand too.
£600 should get you a pearler and a couple of lenses.
a lot go for the nifty fifty for low light. and maybe something longer for distance stuff.
28-200 sigma?

[inaneredstripe]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Canon-EOS-350D-SLR-35-70mm-lens-1gb-bag-boxed-NR_W0QQitemZ260379991872QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Came rasPhoto_DigitalCameras_DigitalCameras_JN?hash=ite m260379991872&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1690%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C 240%3A1318

[ding76uk]

Second hand Canon 350 or 400D body. (around £300 or so)

50mm f1.8 lens for low light (around £80)

Tamron 17-50 f2.8 (approx £200 second)

Leaves £20 for memory cards etc.

Nice starter setup, great lenses, decent camera and room to expand from there. Macro could be done by the Close up filters (raynox I think do the best, sure someone else will know) and you are set, but thats just my opinion.

Canon or Nikon, it really doesn't matter (no matter what some say, lol) when you are starting out. Both do great cameras, and both have a lot of different lenses available to you at reasonable prices, and both will give great results.

[david1701]

go try nikon and canon offerings in shops to see what you like the feel of.

If you decide you want a canon (look i didn't pressure him aren't I sweet) then I have a 450d kit for sale in the for sale bit.

I would consider a speedlight of some sort also, but that depends on what you want to do.

Buy an slr and kit lens to let you do most things, then the next three things are generally a telezoom a 50mm fast prime and a speedlight. depending on what and how you shoot

[siannn]

sorry havn't been on here in ages.
been very busy, school and stuff.

thanks for all the advice (:
i went to a shop the other week and tried some out,
i prefered canon to nikon,
nikon felt too big for me (:
also im a she lol.

i'm not sure if i should get the 350D or 450D?
if there much difference between the two?

[Strolls]

i'm not sure if i should get the 350D or 450D?
if there much difference between the two?
The 3500D is an older model - they were discounting it when I got mine in late 2005. I'm still using mine, and I think it's quite good enough. These go for a little over £200 on eBay, I think.

The 450D is pretty much the current model - the 500D has been "launched" but has not started arriving in the shops yet. It has a few more megapixels, the display on the back is much nicer, I think it will give better images at high ISOs (i.e. in low light).

If you're on a budget then I would go for a secondhand camera and spend your money on glass. You'll get better results than you do will an expensive body & cheap glass.

Secondhand, the 350D will do you fine, but you'll probably get a 400D for very little more, so I'd probably look around for one of those.

Stroller.

[Strolls]

Reviews: 350D - http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneos350d/
400D - http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneos400d/
450D - http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneos450d/
500D - http://www.dpreview.com/previews/canoneos500d/

I should add these cameras aren't competitors to each other - each is the successor to the previous one. They're "basically the same camera", just updated every 18 months, but the above reviews show image samples & comparisons in the later pages, and you should be able to see that the differences are pretty small. (Although I have to confess I haven't compared the later cameras to mine, only mine to the previous model).

[siannn]

sorry haven't been on in ages,
i've got my camera now, a canon 400D with the kit lense and EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III USM.
thankyou for all help. :]

[chrisuk]

sorry haven't been on in ages,
i've got my camera now, a canon 400D with the kit lense and EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III USM.
thankyou for all help. :]

I have the same setup plus a 28-135mm f/3.4-5.6 IS USM

I love the 400D, I'm sure you will enjoy your purchase! Don't forget to post pics :)

[Jaffster]

There's always good old Sony camera's *hides*

I picked up my A300 with 18-70mm lens, a telephoto 55-200mm lens, a 4GB CF card, a bag and tripod for £500.

EDIT: You bought one, ignore me!

[ClickClocks]

great good choise

[lazaroonie]

yes, excellent choice :)