Decent digital camera for sub-£300?

Solari

Solari

Solari

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I've been meaning to get my old Fuji FinePix fixed but seeing as i was quoted over £100 I'm looking at treating myself to a decent digital camera.

Any recommendations at all? I'm not looking for anything over the top, but I may want to look at getting some extras later on if I really start getting on well with it. :D
 
You could get an entry level DSLR for little over £300 if you could/intrested in stretching that far?

TrUz
 
TrUz said:
You could get an entry level DSLR for little over £300 if you could/intrested in stretching that far?

TrUz
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I was thinking DSLR but are they really practical to lug around? I do quite a lot of driving around the countryside some weekends so would just like the convenience of being able to pull over and grab a few snaps, rather than having to wrestle with some behemoth? :)
 
I have just got myself my first DSLR (D40x) and while it is a little larger than you normal point and shot cameras is pretty light and not a problem for walking about with. Obviously if you stick on some big glass then you might find it a bit of an issues.

TrUz
 
Solari said:
I was thinking DSLR but are they really practical to lug around? I do quite a lot of driving around the countryside some weekends so would just like the convenience of being able to pull over and grab a few snaps, rather than having to wrestle with some behemoth? :)
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They are more than portable (as far as DSLR's go they are rather small) :).
 
they are no bigger than some bridge cameras. having had the fuji s6500 before i can say they are quite easy to use and a good camera to learn with as i found. the s9600 has a few more extras but i think is still in your budget.
 
benneh said:
Go and have a play with the Nikon D40 and Canon 350d, then choose one and buy it from the bay of E :).
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Hrm that seems a no brainer as the D40 is 6mp and the 350d is 8mp? I'll pop into a camera shop or something and take a look at both anyways :)
 
I was going to get the D40 but I spotted the D40x in Dixons tax free at the airport, bought it there and then. :)

I did play with the D40 and the 350D before hand, I prefered the feel and the menu system of the Nikon.

Go play with both cameras before you decide. Once you start buying lenses there is no going back really unless you are prepared to buy again.

TrUz
 
TrUz said:
I was going to get the D40 but I spotted the D40x in Dixons tax free at the airport, bought it there and then. :)

I did play with the D40 and the 350D before hand, I prefered the feel and the menu system of the Nikon.

Go play with both cameras before you decide. Once you start buying lenses there is no going back really unless you are prepared to buy again.

TrUz
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Holy crap - the D40x is 10mp! Not sure if I could stretch that far though unless I arrange a day trip across the channel/weekend away or something!?
 
Lol your putting too much emphasis on megapixels, the Nikon D70 is 6mp and it is better than the D40x. There is much (much) more to a camera than megapixels. If I were you I'd look second hand, the D50 and Canon 350d are available very cheap in very good condition on some auction places. You have to remember though that SLR = separate lenses = lots of money. You could always go for a bridge camera with a nice zoom ala Fuji 6500 or a decent compact like the Canon G7.
 
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Sol said:
Lol your putting too much emphasis on megapixels, the Nikon D70 is 6mp and it is better than the D40x. There is much (much) more to a camera than megapixels. If I were you I'd look second hand, the D50 and Canon 350d are available very cheap in very good condition on some auction places. You have to remember though that SLR = separate lenses = lots of money. You could always go for a bridge camera with a nice zoom ala Fuji 6500 or a decent compact like the Canon G7.
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Yeah I'm a noob.. however the larger resolution is handy if I wanted to crop out a bit of a photo and still have it high enough quality to print decently :)

With the SLR, will I not get away with the standard lens that comes with it for most purposes? I'm not planning on doing anything that requires massive magnification. I just want a camera that's decent enough to shine in picture quality... when I came back from Thailand/Aus, I looked at a lot of the pictures I'd taken and was annoyed at myself in that I hadn't put the money up front for a decent camera :(

Thanks muchly for the advice though - this thread has given me plenty to look at!
 
Solari said:
Hrm that seems a no brainer as the D40 is 6mp and the 350d is 8mp? I'll pop into a camera shop or something and take a look at both anyways :)
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MP isn't everything.

You sound a bit like I me from a couple of months ago. You want more than a compact, but less than a DSLR and all the extra lenses etc that come with it.

Check out a decent bridge camera (Fuji S6500fd or S9600). Very versatile, one (very good) fixed lens, but look and handle like a DSLR. Both are fully automatic, fully manual and anywhere in between and can produce cracking shots. Without sounding big headed, check out my flickr page for examples of the quality the S6500 can produce (even if the images aren't that interesting to you!)
 
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Sol said:
Lol your putting too much emphasis on megapixels, the Nikon D70 is 6mp and it is better than the D40x.
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Its not better, its just different. In terms of noise handling, IQ and menu layout the D40x is far, far superior to the D70. The D70 how ever has more lens and accessories choice, and more functions.
 
In terms of noise handling I would agree with you (although even the D200 has worse noise handling than the D40x) but I do not believe there to be much in terms of IQ (certainly not far far superior) and the menu layout is perfectly fine on the D70; it has more functions built into the body to further negate the D40x's supposed superior menu system. The D40x has a better viewfinder however.

The D70 is 10x better built, feels better in the hand, probably meters more
accurately, supports things that the D40x doesn't ie autofocus on non dx lenses which would personally peeve me off.

If it was between the D40x, D70 and the D50 I would get the D50 simply for the functions advantage, the difference in price and overall a superior camera imo.

Going back to the ops needs, you would get away with the 18-55 for most use yeah but you will probably want something a bit longer than 55. You can get a 18-55 and a 55-200 pretty cheap and it would be good for starting out with or you could just see how you got on with the kit lens and move your feet as required. Get down to a shop and try out some bridge cameras as well as some DSLRs and see how it goes. You can't go wrong tbh with either Nikon or Canon, there are pros and cons to both.
 
I'd recommend the Canon Powershot S5IS, or the Canon G6 - the flip-out screens on them are really useful. Canon are releasing a couple more for around £300 too...but I can't remember what they're called...
 
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