Daughters 18th Wants DSLR HELP Please

cotsvale

My daughter has asked for a Canon 350D for her 18th but once you get the extra lense and bag it's too expensive for us.....but we don't want to let her down...do you experts know if there is a just as good but cheaper different make out there. I know nothing about photography.

As the Canon 400D is the new model do you think the 350 will be cheaper in the January sales?

thanks

cosworth_monkey

morning cotsvale,

if you could let me know you price range and what she will be using it for i can point you in the right direction of a few cameras

Alex

RubyBish

Have a look here for dslr price comparisons:

http://www.camerapricebuster.com/cat1.html

Start with one lens. The budget kit lens 18-55 will handle the majority of photographic situtations. When she is comfortable with the first lens then she can look at buying other lenses.

There are similar budget dslrs from Pentax and Nikon but the prices will not be siginificantly different. The Nikon D50 is £378 with the kit lens.
But make sure she would be happy with another brand as it will affect all future lens and accessory purchases. (Maybe she has a friend with Canon equipment to borrow and swap equipment with?)

For more advise look at the forums at
https://www.dpreview.com

mediaman

Hi
recently spotted the new Samsung Slr , with two zoom lenses for less than £500.(can't remember where sorry) Samsung are new to the digital slr market.

Also check out Olympus E300 there has been some offers for this SLR

Check out tescos direct Samsung GX-1L Digital SLR twin lens kit
Catalogue number: 100-6026 £436 also proper external flashgun available for this model.
Would probably be a good camera to start with and she could upgrade in a few years time if she felt the need.
check reviews here
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2006_reviews/gx1l_pg2.html

Lost_Prophet_2

Cotsvale, If your daughter has asked for a Canon 350D then I think you will make her even happier with the 400D. The 350D is still a fairly new camera so prices haven't dropped too significantly so the new and improved 400D is better value. I would suggest buying the body only of the 400D for around £445 and something like a Sigma 28-300mm lens for around £190-£200. Assuming this is within your budget.

She may also need accessoried like a bag, tripod, filters etc but there is always Xmas for things like that. Or you could get her to buy it herself, she'll be an adult soon.

alric

with canons there is a massive choice of lenses(old and new) with samsung I assume you'd be fairly limited
her'es one at the official canon outlet
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Canon-Outlet-Digital-EOS-350D-BLK-18-55-Refurbished_W0QQitemZ280056100863QQihZ018QQcategoryZ30033QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

r.mac_2

not a technical answer, more of a practical idea.

If you can't afford it in its entirety - even after using the expert help on this board - have you considered getting the gift in conjunction with someone else?

For example - is there a gran or grandpa who normally gives a gift? Could their contribution go towards an item of kit?

Alternatively, very often on birthdays a number of cards arrive with a few pounds in (if you are lucky). As she is going to be 18, I am sure that she would understand if you gave her the camera and suggested that she might like to use any birthday money to buy herself a lense. (not sure if this is practical as no nothing about cost of these things) Just thinking out loud. Afterall I am sure she realises how expensive the gift she has requested is.

Little_John

I would definatly reconsider buying her anything that she hasnt asked for. she will have reasons for wanting that camera, if friends have one she can borrow lenses and save buying them for herself, the fact it is a pretty decent entry to DSLR cameras and has been improved on with the 400D but I have seen pictures from both and I prefer the 350D the self cleaning of the 400D isnt that good either.

As the 400 came out the prices dropped slightly but not by any great amount but you never know what will happen in January. Remember Jessops will price match so if you find an online retailer with a good price then print it out and take it to a store.

Dont buy the samsung camera I would think again about the olympus. Canon and Nikon both do decent entry level DSLR's and have a huge array of lenses to choose from, that should be compatible with anything she may upgrade to in the future. buying an SLR is subscribing to a manufacturer as you dont want to be replaceing al you lenses everytime you buy a new camera which she would need to do if she swaped fron canon to Nikon in a few years.

if cash is really tight buy her the body only and get someone else to buy her a lense. or combine it with a christmas present and push the boat out. If you know anyone traveling to the US they can be picked up over there for quite a bit less than the prices over here check out B&H in New York to get an idea of the prices over there. $620 works out to be about £315 and that is for the body and kit lense. compared to the jessops price of £450 hey if you can get a flight over there for about £250 do your christmas shopping and it can pay for the trip based on those savings if you spend about £700 I think.

I would tell her to buy her own bag and any extra stuff she wants. the camera and kit lense is a fantastic present and she should be over the moon with it. I know I would have been.