[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.

[Pirate!!]

Pentax K100D Super + kit lens @ Argos £279.99. Bargain!

Pentax Specs. v1.02 firmware.

[Rex Hunt]

Its abit over your price range but you do get two lenses and its got built in antishake, i myself went for canon 400d got currys to price match tesco direct price which was around £360 at the time and also got the £45 cash back the only thing i was dissapointed in was the Tamron 70 -300
lense i got with it wish i'd gone for the canon 50 - 250 is oh well you live and learn.


http://www.ebuyer.com/product/133784

[swanny78]

Originally Posted by Yandros

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

Is.

The guy said that Sony use Carl Zeis (sp?) lenses on the compact cameras but on the SLR's they have developed there own lenses which are very good. But Canon ones are better and there are a huge amount of Canon lenses you can swap with at a later time if I wanted too so more flexible. He did say the aniti shake on the Sony was good but the canon image processor was better than Sonys.

[coolxz]

hello all...

been in the similar position...and have to say it is a real journey to get an entry DSLR!....my thoughts:

1. i am beginner and won't know what i really really want...hence it won't be a long term one....
2. because of 1, don't want to spend a lot ...max £300...

been looking around and narrowed down to either Canon 400d, sony a200 and olympus E510 (fit into my budget)...left out Nikon as i find their entry DSLR don't have a many features as the other brands....talking to friends (who are more expert than me), nikon higher range DSLR is the best..

all 3 are really good camera...of the 3, i left out olympus because of its relatively less lenses option...so now 400d v a200...i am sure lots of people have the same life-defining decision to make as me...and finally i bought a200. agreed a200 doesn't have as many lense options as canon...nowhere close in fact...only Carl Zeiss, Sony and Sigma brand lenses....but do notice Tamron is coming out with 1 or 2 lense for Alpha range...
weighting the various options, i went for a200 primarily because it is slightly cheaper and also the lenses are cheaper than Canon (partly because the a200 lenses don't have built-in image stabiliser whilst canon's lenses are more expensive...but probably better though)....

there i thought my life is now sorted after deciding to get a200 but bang....need to find the best deal!....after doing lots of research, the cheapest single lense bundle a200 is around £289.99/£294(dixon)....so if i use quidco (3% discount) and AmEx card cash back (5% discount first 3 months), i got it down to approx £270....not bad I think...but still need get minimum accessories, i.e. bag and UV filter (to protect the lense)...and hence i finally decided to buy it from jessops! the deal is:

£299.99 for single lense A200 bundle. (online price - pick up from store)...
Free Lowepro bag (apparently worth £39.99) - big enough for 1 camera + 2 lenses.
use promo code 'summer25' (£25 off) to buy Hoya UV filter Free (apparently worth £15.99).....

and with quidco (3%) and AmEx (5%), it ends up around £278.. for a200+lense+bag+uv filter....

very happy now...think i have tried my best to get the best deal...but if you can get another deal, let me know please! can still refund it!

[shakesc]

Went through this myself,my choices were
a) Sony A200
b) Canon 400D
c) Nikon D60

Going partly mad reading various reviews (www.dpreview.com). Having had 35mm SLR's before had a feel for what I wanted but things had moved on somewhat technology wise

Finally went for the Nikon , with extra bank holiday cash back and quidco came in around £330

It felt better in my hand. I also liked the upgrade path to the D300

The Sony was attractive for the Carl Zeiss lenses but these are SO expensive, like buying into the Canon L series

[swanny78]

Father in law bought me one in the end to mark the birth of my daughter. Went for the Sony alpha 200 with lens kit. Really really please with it so far. Still to have a real proper play but I am impressed.

[ben2579]

hi shakesc

where did you get Nikon D60 from and what sort of deal if you don't mind me asking.

Also stuck between a few entry level models

[psenior1]

Originally Posted by ben2579

hi shakesc

where did you get Nikon D60 from and what sort of deal if you don't mind me asking.

Also stuck between a few entry level models

I've recently got a D60 with non VR 18-55 lens kit from PC world online delivered for £320 inc Nikon cash back and 5% online discount code YAWJUN08....