Any advice and feedback would be appreciated. Looking to get a 'proper' camera! Have enjoyed a couple of Sony cybershot compacts and do like other Sony products, hence considering anything they have. Nikon however seem to be an excellent product and there are some good offers out there, which one though?
Firstly am I right in thinking that a good DSLR at say 6MP will give me better pictures than a £200 compact at 7MP?
I was initiallly onto the Nikon D40 offer from Currys (you get the 18-55 lens and the 55-200) for £399. After looking around I have seen other offers too:
- D40 + 18-55 and 55-200 lens for £399
- D70s + 18-55 lens for £399
- Sony Alpha a100 & 18-70 lens for £470
- D50 + 18-55 and 55-200 lens for £449 (just the 18-55 lens £389)
What are the main differences between the Nikon models - and which of the 4 listed would I be better off getting.
I know what you are going through. Making your mind up is always the most difficult thing I find when researching for a new purchase such as a new Camera, Car, TV or what ever. Just when you think you've got it figured out; from nowhere someone throws a curve-ball in the form of a huge discount on an older or discontinued model, or worse still tells you there is a new and better model / version of the one you have set your heart on coming out in a few weeks and it promises to out perform its predecessor. There are of course no reviews yet; should you hang on and see how good the new model is? Probably not, there are new models coming out all the time. Just be ready to realise that almost as soon as you have made your purchase, it's going to be replaced or bumped down the model range by the next must have offering from the Far Eastern (usually) manufacturer.
My advice on choosing a camera is simple, set a budget, stick to it, and download as many photographs taken on the cameras you are investigating. Make a short-list of 3. Go to a proper camera shop and ask to try them out. Before going to the shop, make a note of the best deals you have seen on-line. It should be fairly simple to decide which camera has the best compromise of comfort and ease of use for you. Once decided negotiate hard with the shop to match the on-line price. If they won't play ball walk away and try he same in another camera shop. Jessops rolled over on a price match and then some on my Nikon D40 I bought in January. Price Matched on-line offer and through in a bag and 1Gb SD card for good measure. So ended up with D40, 15-55 & 55-200 AF-S lenses that I wanted plus the bag and memory card at the price I was willing to pay.
The camera is superb. The photographs it has allowed me to take are beyond my expectations. I am growing into it not the other way round.
The first accessory I would advise anyone with an SLR camera, especially with a long lens on it is to buy a tripod; it's like having a higher resolution camera, because you capture more detail with exposure settings that would be imposable hand-held.
Sorry to waffle on for so long.
Have fun taking pictures with what ever you decide on.