Recommend me a £300 DSLR

[swanny78]

Having spent all my digital camera life with cheap Digital comact cameras, im lookinng to upgrade to a DSLR. I have about £300 to spend. Im looking for a camera that will take pictures of family and kids and the odd nice landscape.

Im pretty basic when it comes to photo taking..point and click with auto settings. Having looked at some photos on here I think I would like to have a play with different settings and see what happens.

Ive seen a Sony Alpa 200 ver cheap £299 http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/0561329/Trail/searchtext>SLR.htm


Any way, look forward to hearing from you.

[smokescreen]

Do you have any friends who also have DSLR equipment? If so, maybe first worth trying the cameras out, but the main reason will be so you can swap lenses.

I'm probably stating the real obvious here, but do remember these cameras are far bigger than your normal cheap compacts, so it would be worth going to Jessops or a friends to try one out and see if its your thing.

[pixelpixel]

You can get the Canon 400D for £328.99 from Morgan Computers you can also get cash back from that.

Go to Jessops today and have a play

[xcitant]

You really can't go wrong with any of the entry level DSLRs being sold at the moment. Although I'm more into Canon DSLRs, nowadays I tend to recommend an Olympus E420 with kit lens to someone getting into DSLRs. It's currently the smallest DSLR and takes great photos with either the kit lens or the tiny pancake lens!

I do recommend going to a hight street shop and trying them out - some just feel more comfortable to hold and use than others.

[social_lurker]

Either way, get yourself down to Jessops or suchlike and have a play with them all - there isnt really a bad camera at this price range, but if you don't like the feel, the menus, the settings you wont use the camera.

At this price range there are loads of options: the Sony Alpha 200 you mentioned, the Nikon D40 (with cashback option too), the Olympus E410, the Pentax K100 (i think).

[Yandros]

I'd say Sony A200 or Nikon D40.

Dixons have the D40 for £266, (£236 with cashback!)

http://www.dixons.co.uk/product.php?...d=DVD+Bargains

As already stated, go have a play before you make your choice.

[swanny78]

Thanks for all the replys guys. Went into Currys today and the advisor (who actually sounded like he knew what he was talking about) say the Sont alpha 200 was good. But If I could push another £98 I could get the Canon 400D. I had a hold and a play and it felt alot better than the Sony. It also has £45 cashback as a promotion that Canon are doing.?

Do you think its worth the extra outlay?

[pixelpixel]

Originally Posted by swanny78

Thanks for all the replys guys. Went into Currys today and the advisor (who actually sounded like he knew what he was talking about) say the Sont alpha 200 was good. But If I could push another £98 I could get the Canon 400D. I had a hold and a play and it felt alot better than the Sony. It also has £45 cashback as a promotion that Canon are doing.?

Do you think its worth the extra outlay?

I would have either but read the above again......

Thats what counts.....was it cheaper than the Morgan price ?

[springtide]

Sounds like a decision has been made! Get the 400D - it's a great camera and most important you like the feel of it!

[icemanonline]

Canon is a good camera but I would prefer the Sony.

Built in antishake and its a bit bigger than the Canon.............which I find a problem holding. My hands get stuck in-between the grip. I still use the A100 which is bigger again than the A200 because it easy to hold for me.

But If the Canon does it for you bud go with it......

icemanonline

[xcitant]

As already mentioned, nothing beats physical contact! Good choice!

[Yandros]

You may've been lucky and got a salesperson who knew more than the blurb on the ticket, but that'll make 'em something of a rarity

I'm curious now - what did he say were the advantages of a 400D over the A200?

Is it worth the extra £98? In case you're a petrolhead, it's a bit like asking "Is a Porsche Cayman worth the extra money over a Nissan 350Z?" Porsche has the badge and the pedigree, but 350Z owners will tell you then although the plastics are a bit rubbish in the interior and the engine note isn't as nice, they've got an equally good drivers car for about half the money...with extras that don't require a second mortgage.

[Pirate!!]

Alpha A200K from Argos now under £300.00. Other deals online if you look.

[DamianP]

If you don't mind a used camera, you could get a Canon 350D on eBay and still have enough left over for a semi-decent lens. Now that the 400d and 450d are out, the 350d price has dropped like a stone.

[social_lurker]

If your looking for the 400d check out dixons: £376 ish and then the £45 cashback means about £330, so not that much above budget.

Also look at www.camerapricebuster.co.uk for a good idea on prices etc.