best digital camera for £500~

wijcc · 11 Sep 2009 at 13:25

Whats the best digital camera i could get for about £500 to £600.. a good versatile camera, maybe even a digital SLR one. What would you guys recommend?
THanks in advance guys

jr1104 · 11 Sep 2009 at 13:33

For that price, your definitely into very good bridge and even SLRs. Are you actually wanting an SLR? Because it'll be quite different to just having a point and shoot for some holiday snaps.

wijcc · 11 Sep 2009 at 14:00

well it is for a present (wedding present) combined a few of us are buying together for a great camera..
What cameras would you recommend, if we went to a digital SLD and/or bridge type.. just want a few suggestions.. that I can "float" around to see what they may want.
Is the Canon EOS 450D any good?
Thanks again

MuGeN · 11 Sep 2009 at 15:00

depends if you think they'll take it up and be willing to buy more lenses? if they are unlikely to go down that route you'd be better off with something like the G10 (or is there a G11 out now?) which is a cracking all-in-one

wijcc · 11 Sep 2009 at 15:05

Would a kit package not have a lenses as well as opposed to a body only.
Like the "Canon EOS 450D SLR Digital Camera Kit w/ 18-55mm Lens" pack?

jr1104 · 11 Sep 2009 at 15:08

An SLR kit would come with a lens, but it would be with the idea that you would get more lenses in the future. A bridge camera would offer more versatility out of the box.

wijcc · 11 Sep 2009 at 16:08

cool thanks

Mark A · 11 Sep 2009 at 18:27

What zoom range do bridge cameras have then? An SLR with say the 18-135mm Nikon lens (or Canon equivalent) would be pretty versatile. Plus there is also the option for getting new lenses in the future should they take it more serious.

If not an SLR then I'd go for the G10.

PieEater · 12 Sep 2009 at 11:53

Mark A said:
What zoom range do bridge cameras have then? An SLR with say the 18-135mm Nikon lens (or Canon equivalent) would be pretty versatile. Plus there is also the option for getting new lenses in the future should they take it more serious.

If not an SLR then I'd go for the G10.

The G11 has a 28-140mm 35mm equivalent lens with a 5x optical zoom.
The SX1 IS has a 28-560mm equivalent lens (20x optical zoom) and for me would be the bridge camera I would seriously consider.

m3csl2004 · 12 Sep 2009 at 12:20

You could easily pick up a canon 1000d with a twin lens kit (18-55 and 55-200) for that money.

As well as many other makes as well - always go SLR over bridge if you want quality.

uv · 12 Sep 2009 at 20:21

PieEater said:
The SX1 IS has a 28-560mm equivalent lens (20x optical zoom) and for me would be the bridge camera I would seriously consider.

I'd rather a Panny FZ38 if we're going for a bridge - it's a great lens, and has HD video with stereo audio

matja · 13 Sep 2009 at 09:20

uv said:
I'd rather a Panny FZ38 if we're going for a bridge - it's a great lens, and has HD video with stereo audio

My recommendation too, if you're looking for a camera that does everything and don't want to spend hundreds of pounds on extra lenses. Amazing features and flexibility for the price. Compared pics from someone with one of these that went to the same airshow I went to recently (RIAT) and they were better zoom and just as good quality than my Nikon D40 with 70-300mm lens. I think they do a teleconvertor adaptor for it too, to give you a bit more on the long range.