Camera help please

brightlight

DH and I currently own a samsung compact digital camera. We went away with friends in the summer who own a Sony Digital slr .Dh was amazed he said you can truely capture the moment with them where as with ours the moment is sometimes gone.

I have spent ours this evening reading threads on here and googling and can't decide and really don't have a clue. I have looked a bridge cameras and Dlsr's and am still non the wiser.

We do take the camera most places so it would be used alot.I would prefer something not massively bulky.

We have a budget of aaround £350 and Dh is enroling on a photography course in the New Year.

Any help would be appreciated.

Oneday77

I am a little out of touch so I can't be too specific.
However you would be best to go with a Canon/Nikon DSLR. Some people will disagree and say go with Olympus or Sony. The Olympus lenses are expensive and the Sony uses Minolta fit lenses. Whilst the Sony gear is good your more limited later on.
Canon and Nikon have many accessories and there are compatible accessories from various manufaturers.
Just bear in mind that you will need to factor a case and memory into your budget. Make sure the memory you get is of a high speed variety, DSLRs can create large files per picture and they can take an age to write to the storage if the memory is slow.
As I said I am a little out of touch but look to see if you can get a Nikon D40x or a canon 450D still going about. Should fit your budget.

CvPiper

I recently bought a used Olympus E500 from eBay, mainly because it had the kit lens 14-45 mm and the 50 - 150 mm lens. This came to about £250 with a load of memory cards, batteries etc. The reason I did it that was is th current E520 or an equivalent will costs you £400 plus £100-150 for a second lens, and thats before you think about the small things that will add up quickly, filters, tripod, spare battery, memory cards etc.
So it was a cheap way to get into SLR photography, and if I enjoy it, which I do currently I can then get a better Olympus body, or sell it on and buy again.

One benefit of the Olympus, they have what is called the Four Thirds system, basically for the user, this means a smaller body due to smaller sensors etc, that is lighter to carry around, and an ever growing availability of lens etc as about 5 manufacturers use the same system.

Good luck looking, the choice is bewildering, but an SLR is way better than a compact as it provides quicker focus, shutter speed, depth of field which you don't get ona compact but enhance the photos you take - and thats before you learn about it an get the camera out of auto mode.

Anne_Marie_2

I recently bought a Pansonic Lumix DMC-FZ38 and have been very impressed with it. I bought extras such as filters, tele lens and batteries on Ebay as they were far cheaper.

http://www.panasonic.co.uk/html/en_GB/Products/LUMIX+Digital+Cameras/Super+Zoom/DMC-FZ38/Overview/2718819/index.html

http://www.trustedreviews.com/digital-cameras/review/2009/07/28/Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FZ38/p1

Bowling_4_Gold

My mate has the Panasonic Lumix FZ-28. It is not a full SLR, so you can't change the lenses, but it is a good camera if you are just starting out. ]

A._Badger

DSLRs are really intended for users who are willing to take a lot of time and trouble learning how to drive them. The respond well to expert use, but not so well otherwise. They are also intended to be used by people who own several lenses, which they will switch between, depending on the picture they are trying to take,

From what you say, I doubt that you fall into either category - which is fine, because there are some fabulous compact cameras that will give you excellent quality results without you needing to become an expert photographer, or buy a bagful of additional lenses.

Look for something with a good zoom range from, say, Panasonic, Canon or Olympus and you are very unlikely to go wrong.

Hope that helps.

Farway

A._Badger wrote: »

DSLRs are really intended for users who are willing to take a lot of time and trouble learning how to drive them. The respond well to expert use, but not so well otherwise. They are also intended to be used by people who own several lenses, which they will switch between, depending on the picture they are trying to take,

From what you say, I doubt that you fall into either category - which is fine, because there are some fabulous compact cameras that will give you excellent quality results without you needing to become an expert photographer, or buy a bagful of additional lenses.

Look for something with a good zoom range from, say, Panasonic, Canon or Olympus and you are very unlikely to go wrong.

Hope that helps.

Have to agree, but would add Fuji to the list

A._Badger

smokey123 wrote: »

I disagree with this, as you don't need to spend a lot of time, neither go through trouble to use a DSLR, you can start using your DSLR straight away because it has an AUTO moddes for the people who don't know anything about DSLRs which works exactly the same as any point and shoot camera (or compact camera). You can then slowly learn the manual modes which will open a new world for you but only if you are interested to learn otherwise it will still take FAB pictures in auto mode.

You also don't need to have a lot of lenses to start using a DSLR as the kit lens which comes the camera is more than enough for you to take great pictures.

You will only need more lenses if you start taking photography seriously which is entirely upto you.

I would personally get a used Nikon D40x with 18-55 kit lens and it should be under your budget, try ebay or amazon.

I can assure you it will be much better than your compact camera and you will love it.

Yes, you can use a DSLR in auto. You can also buy a Ferrari and never take it out of second gear. DSLRs are large, awkward to carry around and expensive.

Don't get me wrong - I use DSLRs and used their film equivalents before them - but it's horses for courses. I wouldn't recommend one to my mother.

The D40 series is fantastic, I agree - but that 18-55 range is the flaw in your argument. A superzoom compact will offer the user (in 35mm terms) from 28 or 35mm to over 200mm reach in a package they can carry in their pocket, without extra expense, backpacks, dust on the sensor and all the other fun stuff of owning a DSLR.

For the average casual user, a DSLR is just more hassle than it's worth.

eyeinthesky

You can get an entry level dslr within your budget, look here http://www.warehouseexpress.com/category/basecategory.aspx?cat03=3065 I would also recommend canon or nikon, you can get loads of lenses and stuff for them, some of which is made by other companies like sigma. I personally use a canon and love it to bits. Good luck!

A._Badger

smokey123 wrote: »

I wouldn't also ask someone to go and buy a skoda if they want to have a mercedes just because you think its a big car and they will have trouble parking it?

Well I think Brightlight mentioned in post that her H is going to have photography lessons so one would say they are more than just average casual users as not many casual users do have photography lessons, well I dunno many anyway!

A D40x is not really heavy and the only reason I recommended because of its light weight plus they are actually looking for a DSLR?

Actually, the OP said she as none the wiser, having read-up on the subject. She didn't say she was looking for a DSLR.

I use a D40 as a backup to my main SLRs and love them to bits. But when I go out for a walk, I take a Canon A650IS. It's just a lot more convenient to have that reach in your pocket. A D40 banging round your shoulder, with a maximum range of around 80mm is, I find, a lot less convenient. 8

Judging by the sales of compacts, I suspect a lot of others agree.

Your mileage may, of course, vary. I still think DSLRs are for people who are willing to put a lot of effort in. The OP may be in that camp. Only she and her spouse will know.

knightstyle

Just bought a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38 and am very impressed. Light powerful Leica lens, easy to use manual settings or several automatic modes. Even the instructions are easy to understand.