Digital SLR help

Hi all,

A little advice please. I am by no means a photographer, but i have always loved taking pics at events and when out and about etc. but have only ever had compacts.

So i think time has come for me to experiment a little, and to push the boat out to a DSLR.

I know nothing about them on the whole, just how to roughly use them.

What i am looking for is a good stater camera. something that will help me improve my skills, and learn all the basics of photography on SLR's, but not the large price tag that goes with some of them!!

I have seen the Sony Alpha a200. What do people in the know think?

i have seen a 18-70mm kit lens package for around the £400 mark.

That is the price i think i would like to spend. And the reviews that i have seen so far seem to say that it is a good bet.

I wont be getting it till the new year, and not in a real rush so if people know of new models that are due out that will be worth holding out for again i will be willing to wait.

Cheers in advance.

Plus side with sony is that you can use loads of cheap minolta lens's and it has built in image stabilisation, although it isn't very effective on longer lenses which is when its needed the most

The down side is they are built like crap and aimed at people that want a automatic point and shoot camera which will limit your ability to use it manually due to the awkward control and menus

I would personally stick with canon or nikon

[anna]

To be honest this subject has been covered extensively on this forum.

If you search SLR Im sure you would come up with at least five threads dedicated to the information that you are requesting.

Originally Posted by anna

To be honest this subject has been covered extensively on this forum.

If you search SLR Im sure you would come up with at least five threads dedicated to the information that you are requesting.

I am aware of this, and did search prior to poasting, however i found nothing relating to the Sony that my post was asking about in particular, and most the threads that i found are talking through cameras that are at a much higher budget to what i am looking at!

Originally Posted by grimey121uk

Plus side with sony is that you can use loads of cheap minolta lens's and it has built in image stabilisation, although it isn't very effective on longer lenses which is when its needed the most

The down side is they are built like crap and aimed at people that want a automatic point and shoot camera which will limit your ability to use it manually due to the awkward control and menus

I would personally stick with canon or nikon

Cheers grimey,

After a little (and quick) research on that i have found the Canon EOS 550D. Seems to be quite a lot more camera for the small inc in money.

So would you say probably a better bet than the sony?

[anna]

Originally Posted by Jimmy2Feet

I am aware of this, and did search prior to poasting, however i found nothing relating to the Sony that my post was asking about in particular, and most the threads that i found are talking through cameras that are at a much higher budget to what i am looking at!

I beg your pardon then.

I would say though that what ever you wish to buy purchase it prior to the VAT hikes in the new year.

The reason why people advise on the Nikon or Canon are because they are the best in the market right now. For a starter photographer they offer you the chance to get used to the camera and how to compose your shots etc, but also when you have learnt that you wont have outgrown the camera, so to speak.

The body of the camera´s are not that expensive compared to the lens´s infront of the camera, most of the bodies now come with a kit lens of 18mm-55mm depending on the camera that you get.

You might want to have a look around at some of the deals that are offered at places like Jessops etc to see if they have a package deal that might suit you.

I am not able to say anything about Sony cameras as I have never used them, I am a Nikon owner and started out knowing next to nothing and have learnt with it and enjoyed every second of it. I know similar stories with Canon owners.

The Nikon D3100 might be in your price range? £475 + kit lens on www.graysofwestminster.co.uk

Originally Posted by Jimmy2Feet

Cheers grimey,

After a little (and quick) research on that i have found the Canon EOS 550D. Seems to be quite a lot more camera for the small inc in money.

So would you say probably a better bet than the sony?

Yeah, way better.

[flymo]

Originally Posted by Jimmy2Feet

Cheers grimey,

After a little (and quick) research on that i have found the Canon EOS 550D. Seems to be quite a lot more camera for the small inc in money.

So would you say probably a better bet than the sony?

I have a 550D, its one hell of a camera but I wouldnt have put it in the cheap bracket at nearly £600. The only issue that I found really quickly, and its not a fault of the camera, is that the kit lense is limited for distance shots. A cheaper bridge camera can give you a better range of shots in general that a DSLR with only one small lense but the quality and controlability of the SLR far exceeds the bridge.

I'm adding a telephoto zoom lense at christmas but theres another £350 already!

Great camera though, no doubt about that.

Originally Posted by anna

I beg your pardon then.

I would say though that what ever you wish to buy purchase it prior to the VAT hikes in the new year.

The reason why people advise on the Nikon or Cannon are because they are the best in the market right now. For a starter photographer they offer you the chance to get used to the camera and how to compose your shots etc, but also when you have learnt that you wont have outgrown the camera, so to speak.

The body of the camera´s are not that expensive compared to the lens´s infront of the camera, most of the bodies now come with a kit lens of 18mm-55mm depending on the camera that you get.

You might want to have a look around at some of the deals that are offered at places like Jessops etc to see if they have a package deal that might suit you.

I am not able to say anything about Sony cameras as I have never used them, I am a Nikon owner and started out knowing next to nothing and have learnt with it and enjoyed every second of it. I know similar stories with Canonn owners.

The Nikon D3100 might be in your price range? £475 + kit lens on www.greysofwestminster.co.uk

Cheers anna that is really helpfull. i will look at the D3100 as well, not seen anything about that yet. As far as my understanding goes 18-55mm lens kit will be good enough to get started yeah? i havn't yet even started looking into lens' and the differences between!!

i thin kit will still be in the new year that i will end up getting it, as the £12/15 increase in the cost doesn't boter me too much, and i am hopefull of being able to get some deals with more than the £15 off in the sales after xmas.....i hope anyway!!

[flymo]

also, this is a great website for getting started....

http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/

and this one for price comparison on equipment...

http://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/index.html