£200 - Can I really get started with this?

[Hxc]

Hi all.

I've posted in here before but never got round to actually buying the kit due to car issues that came up at the time... now I'm back in the position financially and would really love to get myself a DSLR camera.

I keep fiddling about with my sisters whenever she is around and I really do have fun with it, she has a Nikon D40 and I do like it, although I also used my uncles Cannon 400D, and found I actually sorta prefered it's setup.

Basically though, due to age various other commitments, my budget isn't huge. I'd say £200 basic...but I'm not sure that this will even get me anything worth having!

I've seen a couple of 350Ds with kit lense go for around this so I'm tempted...or is it worth saving up a bit more?

Cheers

 

[Hxc]

I've decided to try and grab myself a bargain A200 on ebay... tried out a Sony in jessops today and got on very well with the interface... the only thing that concerns me is availability of lenses... can I get a "nifty fifty" for this fairly easily?

 

[Hxc]

See that's what I initially felt but I'm not intending to get ultra ultra serious with photography.. I just want to take nice pictures and be able to do things manually properly. The majority of other places I've asked have suggested I go for the A200 over say the canon/nikon alternative, as it will be years older and not have the same featureset.

I'm buying 2nd hand as it is and as such when selling if I wish to upgrade (probably to a Canon or a Nikon) I will not lose as much money...

In my situation, where money is tight (I'm a 17 year old earning around £350 a month normally, and having to run a car apart from petrol), I am honestly swaying towards the A200 over, say the 350D... would you still disagree?

 

[Hxc]

Arrgh. I'm confused. I'm getting lots of different reccomendations from different places.

I've been told repeatedly to stay away from the D40 due to lack of autofocus motor and the D50 being even older hasn't been mentioned at all....

I'm honestly not sure how much I'm going to get into it, it's something I'm really going to have to see... I will certainly be wanting more than one lens and the price of things Sony wise is putting me off, but as is buying a rather old piece of tech Canon/Nikon wise.

D40 is out of my current budget, I'd have to wait to get it. D50 is probably an option though...

 

[Hxc]

Just been offered a barely used (unwanted gift) Sony A200 in warrenty etc for exactly 200 notes... I'm finding this quite hard to say no to.. :/

 

[Hxc]

Woah! Those are great, what lens are they with?

 

[Hxc]

I really think that the A200 fits for me. I don't mind losing some money buying and selling 2nd hand lenses and don't really mind the slightly higher cost of lenses. and I feel peace of mind buying a practically new piece of kit (not noticably THAT much higher on most of the ones I'm looking at anyway)... so I think I might go for this deal and if I get on with it, we'll see where it goes basically!

Lots of old minolta lenses available... adaptors for the non AF ones too, which is interesting, I've shot in full manual mode before on my sisters camera and I understand the fundamentals, although I'm slightly concerned about using manual diaphram. Perhaps something to try when I'm a bit more experienced, eh!

 

[Hxc]

Genuinely, i see no need to spend more at this end of the spectrum. If you do take it seriously, you can sell up and switch - there are people like the OP who always want to buy a starter DSLR. The Canon/Nikon snobbery needs to die at the entrylevel end of the market (though £200 is tight)

See this is where I've got to myself conclusion wise, which is why I'm going ahead with buying a barely used A200 with lens kit for £200. If I don't get on with it, I lose next to nothing. If I do, I can get some nice lenses (like the minolta above) and have a play for a few years. If I get the itch, I sell it off. I make a loss of money, but hell, I've had fun.

 

[Hxc]

Those shots are ace! Really looking forward to all this!

Picking the camera up tommorrow

 

[Hxc]

Well I got the A200. I really like it.

I'm a complete amature at all this but I've just been taking lots of shots and having a fiddle. One of my favorites so far is this, shame the bloody curtain had to get in the way! (it's heavily cropped, too)

I know it's not great but I am having fun