So I'm looking at getting into photography..

[ajstan]

High quality pictures, plenty of zoom, ability to have a wide angle lens and enough features to keep a beginner happy.

Edit: Higher quality images than my cheap, but still very good Samsung S760

 

[p0ss3s3d]

1 - What do you want to shoot?

2 - How much can you spend initially?

3 - Will you be looking at developing a system for the camera?

4 - Are you going to be processing shot's using photoshop/Lightroom?

5 - Will the camera be used in low-light/indoors using only artificial light?

 

[Rojin]

I went for a bridge camera over a DSLR back when he 350d was released. The FZ30 was a cracking camera to be honest but I didn't really get into photography until I went the DSLR route (ok, having a daughter to take loads of pics of may have kick started it a bit!), be warned though, if you do get into it, it's a slippery expensive slope!

 

[ajstan]

1 - What do you want to shoot?

2 - How much can you spend initially?

3 - Will you be looking at developing a system for the camera?

4 - Are you going to be processing shot's using photoshop/Lightroom?

5 - Will the camera be used in low-light/indoors using only artificial light?

1. Cars, people, landscapes
2. Up budget to around £220 but I'm fine with going 2nd hand
3. What?
4. Yh photoshop
5. Dout it

 

[ghop]

One of the best options, as long as you don't mind 2nd hand kit, is to buy an older professional SLR, such as a 30D. This way you'll end up paying less than a new entry level whilst having the control and feel of a more expensive SLR.

 

[Mr Jones]

One of the best options, as long as you don't mind 2nd hand kit, is to buy an older professional SLR, such as a 30D. This way you'll end up paying less than a new entry level whilst having the control and feel of a more expensive SLR.

Agree BUT with the OP's budget and range he's going for, I'd highly recommend looking around for second hand Olympus E520, this has IS in body and the double kit lens will as p0ss mentioned, cover you between the 28-300mm range with cheap, affordable but optically good lens.

The Olympus E410 and E420 is recommended by me too BUT the lack of IS for the longer range shoot like 200mm+ might be an issue if you're not getting fast enough shutter speeds or sturdy hands.

As it stands, you can get this

I am selling an Olympus E520 with 14-42 and 40-150mm kit lenses, includes Olympus camera bag, spare battery, charger, 2x 4gb CF cards, 1x 2gb CF card, 1x 2gb Olympus XD card.With manual, leads etc. Included is set of close-up lenses, skylight filters on all lenses.

That for £320 initially but it's been reduced to £260 thus far. Abit of a push and you'll probably can haggle it down to or near your budget. A bargain IMO for a starter kit.

 

[ajstan]

Agree BUT with the OP's budget and range he's going for, I'd highly recommend looking around for second hand Olympus E520, this has IS in body and the double kit lens will as p0ss mentioned, cover you between the 28-300mm range with cheap, affordable but optically good lens.

The Olympus E410 and E420 is recommended by me too BUT the lack of IS for the longer range shoot like 200mm+ might be an issue if you're not getting fast enough shutter speeds or sturdy hands.

As it stands, you can get this

That for £320 initially but it's been reduced to £260 thus far. Abit of a push and you'll probably can haggle it down to or near your budget. A bargain IMO for a starter kit.

Any chance you could email me a link?

 

[Mr Jones]

On it's way~