problem is too much choice!

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wolfytom

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I've got £400 to spend on a Nikon dslr and lens(es).

My choices are these

D3200 with an 18 to 55 - £360 after cash back
or
D5100 with the same lens - same price
or
a used D3200 with an 18-55, a 55 to 300, an ss400 flash, extra batteries and a battery grip off eBay for £430
or
a D3100 with both lenses for £370 from curry's. (includes an o2 priority moments voucher for £20).

What should I do?
I'm a relative newcomer (returning to the hobby - previous camera was a Ricoh KR5) and interested in producing professional looking records of our journeys to India as well as the usual family stuff.

Andy
 
i would think the d5100 and get an extra battery
though the currys deal is also worth thinking about
but id still go with the d5100

cheers Steve,
 
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have you held both canon and nikon, they have different handleing, which suits different poeple , its an individual choice.

when i go my nikon it was how it felt in my hand thay made me get it.

i would try a canon and a nikon in a local camera shop , before you buy.

Cheers Steve
 
I've handled and played with, all the leading makes (except Pentax) and prefer the ergonomics of the nikons.
My problem is deciding on the best offer - the eBay buy it now offer has gone.
 
steve_lyt said:
i would think the d5100 and get an extra battery
though.
Click to expand...

An extra battery is absolutely not a necessity. The likelihood of needing one, as you are obviously not a professional snapper, is unlikely. Something for later.
 
If it were me, id go for a D3200 body with a 35mm f1.8 lens. Its a great combination, one which I owned myself until a few days ago. Obviously with being a beginner you wont know if a 35mm lens is good for you or not but the kit lens doesnt do the D3200 justice. From my research before buying the D3200, I found the D3200/D5100/D3100 were all fairly similar.
It might also be worth looking into a used D90 or similar.
 
Thrash said:
If it were me, id go for a D3200 body with a 35mm f1.8 lens. Its a great combination, one which I owned myself until a few days ago. Obviously with being a beginner you wont know if a 35mm lens is good for you or not but the kit lens doesnt do the D3200 justice. From my research before buying the D3200, I found the D3200/D5100/D3100 were all fairly similar.
It might also be worth looking into a used D90 or similar.
Click to expand...

Plus one for the D90. I started as a complete novice with one of these and a 50mm. It's a cracking camera with some easier (to access) controls. It has a built in motor so you have access to cheaper lenses as well.

Try the cameras out in your hand, get a feel for them and take it from there. Don't discount other brands - go with what is comfortable and has a decent range of accessories (flash/lenses) available.

S
 
Thank you for all your responses!

So far we've nailed it down to the following:
The D5100 with an 18 to 55 - 1 vote
The D3200 with a 35mm - 1 vote
The D3200 (used) with 2 lenses from eBay - 1 vote
The D90 (used) - 2 votes

This camera-buying isn't easy is it?

I've spent today trying them out again and now I'm even more confused as the Canon's were quite acceptable this time round.

Generally, how safe am I buying used from ebay or gumtree?
There are a lot of used 600's and 60d's on there - worth considering?
 
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wolfytom said:
This camera-buying isn't easy is it?

I've spent today trying them out again and now I'm even more confused as the Canon's were quite acceptable this time round.

Generally, how safe am I buying used from ebay or gumtree?
There are a lot of used 600's and 60d's on there - worth considering?
Click to expand...

Its not, theres plenty of choice out there but just do your research and see what you think is most important to you.
When buying my first DSLR I bought a used Nikon D3000, after a few weeks I realised that it wasnt such a great camera and for slightly more I could get a Canon 500D which was much, much better and I really loved using it.
I went Canon because the lenses were cheaper, after using that for a good 6 months I decided to upgrade again to something with better low light performance and image quality which led me to the Nikon D3200. Its aimed at beginners but the image quality is incredible and I had no hesitations putting the ISO up to 1600. I also realised that the cheap Canon lenses were pretty rubbish and I didnt really need more than a prime and a zoom, also after using a 35mm on the Nikon it was the perfect focal length for me and Canon dont do a 35mm f1.8 only f2 which is significantly more expensive than the Nikon f1.8

Most of the above is probably irrelevant but I thought id throw it in there anyway. You wont go wrong with any of the cameras suggested (D3200, D3100, D90, D5100, 600D, 650D or 60D) as theyre all very capable of taking great photos. The Nikon D3200 felt great in my hands, its nice and small and just felt comfortable to hold, my previous cameras didnt feel as nice in the hand but you get used to it anyway, it doesnt make too much difference. Buying used on eBay is fine, ive never used Gumtree but when using eBay I tend to stick to eBay shops as opposed to private sellers as I know I have some comeback.
 
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