[Jan20]

I have just ordered a 400D with kit lens from Tesco Direct for £359, with the voucher and Quidco wil hopefully be under £300 but I've already got buyers remorse Hoping you experts will put my mind at ease
I will mostly be taking photographs of my three young children, in fact my iphoto makes rather dull viewing for anybody but me and the wife as its just photo after photo of the kids. As my requirements are so limited would I be best just sticking with my little Casio P&S or will we certainly see the benefit of the DSLR?

And finally, should I get the nifty fifty as I have read it is a great lens for portraits.

[stevegreen]

You will not regret buying into a DSLR as you will be able to take more creative shots of your kids and with a higher quality than a normal P&S. The 50mm f/1.8 is a cracking little lens for the price too.

If you are new to DSLR then it might be an idea to invest in this book which will help you get the most out of your new camera

[Yandros]

Originally Posted by Jan20

I have just ordered a 400D with kit lens from Tesco Direct for £359, with the voucher and Quidco wil hopefully be under £300 but I've already got buyers remorse Hoping you experts will put my mind at ease
I will mostly be taking photographs of my three young children, in fact my iphoto makes rather dull viewing for anybody but me and the wife as its just photo after photo of the kids. As my requirements are so limited would I be best just sticking with my little Casio P&S or will we certainly see the benefit of the DSLR?

And finally, should I get the nifty fifty as I have read it is a great lens for portraits.

No need for buyer's remorse DSLRs focus faster and more accurately, cope with dodgy lighting better, and don't suffer from shutter lag and low shot-to-shot times. I got thoroughly cheesed off with my last camera at always being a fraction of a second too late, or slightly out of focus. DSLRs solve those both of those problems very effectively.

Have a play with your kit lens and see what focal length suit the sort of photos you take before adding more lenses. Indoors the 50mm will probably be head and shoulders portrait use mostly. The shallow depth of field, low light capabilities and sharpness make it a real bargain, and you'll get shots that are totally unlike the sort you can get with a P&S.

[JohnG]

Yes, I agree with the above posts, you shouldn't regret buying. Just persevere with it as it can be a bit of a learning curve to start with Having said that, you can always rely on some of the auto modes at the start and they will give you great results.

[taposh]

One of the main reasons I bought my 400D was to take pictures of my 1 year old (at the time) as my P&S just wasnt fast enough. Was also confident enough I would use for other reasons as well.

Havent regretted it ever. Even though it was £500+ when I bought it.

[Jan20]

Brilliant! Thanks very much for the replies, showing the wife these has really improved my case and made me very impatient for it to arrive. I'm going to order the book suggested by stevegreen as well. Cheers to all who've helped me no end in this thread and all the threads I've read this last few weeks

[salubrious_k]

My sister is not into her photography whatsoever, however she does have three (fast moving) kids under the age of five.

Recently she was lent a DSLR and instructed to take some photos at a friend's wedding, and since then she's been saying how easy she found it (compared to her compact) to take photos of the kids, and how she wants to get one herself.

Hope that helps you justify your expense! (You won't regret it!)

[Geordie Jester]

Im sure you will be fine with your new purchase !

Steve's suggestion for the book is a good one. I found it a bit short, but very well written.

It will encourage you to get your camera into manual mode and understand photography. It then means you can use auto modes without being surprised at the decisions the camera makes and understand why !

Post back once you've had a play !

[senu]

Now did you really expect us to say otherwise?

FWIW, the absence of shutter lag and ability to "catch" the kids in motion ( as they are bound to be) alone makes it ideal for you
Even if you start by using it in P&S auto mode, you can gradually " lose the fear" and let curiousity get the better of you to see how much more you can get from it.
Dont be put off by technobabble, DSLRs can be as easy to use or as "techy" as you make it. And dont forget £50 gets you a 50mm 1.8 which you will ( I certain) love.
In terms of cost, you are paying for a very decent DSLR now about 1/3 to 2/3 the cost of a High end compact a few years ago , and certainly way less than the earlier generation DSLRs cost then

Good luck with it