Which camera for me?

Hi guys,

Not been on for a good while but hoped you could help me.

I've been given money for my birthday in order to get myself a decent camera. Now, I don't know anything about the photography... and I don't have time to learn all that much and really invest time into becoming a fantastic photographer but I would like a decent camera to take some nice shots.

I would like it to have a multishoot function, a fast shutter speed to catch moving objects in nice stills (my subjects are almost always animals!) and maybe a camcorder function but this isn't essential.

I generally want to be able to take good quality photos and catch movement as my little camera always blurs.

My budget is around £250 - £300 mark (the lower end, preferably!) and someone did tell me to get a slightly older model as it will be cheaper and still do what I require. I don't mind not having top of the range, would just like something to suit me.

Any ideas please??

Well, if you can get a Nikon D80, it's a camera I have been very happy with - but you will have a tough time finding one now. It's not as limiting as the slightly lower spec ones, but then, if you've not the time to really go into photography in a big way, then you can get away with going even lower spec, and getting a D60 or perhaps a D40 or D40X

Then of course there are other brands, but I don't know anything about them to be honest

Hope that helps a bit?

xx

I dont think you will get a Canon for that sort of price Lottie, you have to consider the lens aswell in SLR photography, whilst you will struggle to get a body for that price, the lens will add another £100 or so. Have you considered a bridge camera? they are similar in size to an SLR but without the removeable lenses, you may get one in your price range. Otherwise i think you will have to think about second hand.

For the record, I was also thinking that about Nikon - I had a quick scout, but they're all £300 + at the moment :/ As Dawn said, there are some fab bridge cameras

xx

Thanks guys.

What's the difference between bridge and SLR? Just the lens? I wouldn't know the first thing about changing lenses etc. so am I better off without a SLR?

I'm not against going second hand but of course, probably better to have a new one with a guarantee for the first year or so?

So I've looked up Bridge cameras and yeah, you're probably right - I'd be better off with one of those!

They also look less confusing to use than a DSLR (and I don't particularly want to get into buying new lenses for it).

So... which one?

Bridge cameras offer a fair amount of flexibility and you can achieve a fair bit with them but they won't offer exactly the same as a proper DSLR. Typically you will get an electronic viewfinder rather than optical which is harder to compose a picture on and crucially the sensor size is smaller meaning image quality particularly in low light isn't so good. A Nikon D40 is quite often on offer around £230 on places like Amazon if you wait a while and you would still have money to spend on a telephoto lens to play with (approx. £70). The D40x is a little better. A DSLR is generally seen as a start of a system and does require some discipline in use and cleanliness, it is also bigger and bulkier with extra lenses so it really depends on if you think it will take off as a hobby! Most of the people hanging around photography websites have a DSLR or are beginners hoping to aspire to one shortly, often frustrated by bridge cameras...will that be you?

A very good point - go for the very best you can afford, to save disappointment later

xx

Nikon D40 or Nikon D60 - both excellent cameras offering super value for money Most of the pictures in my profile album were taken with a D40

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...r-21/ref=nosim

http://www.jessops.com/online.store/...3578/Show.html

No video function tho at that price in a DSLR.

I had a D60, before I sold it to my boyfriend a couple of months ago to upgrade to the D300, and found it really easy to use, and did 90% of what I wanted it to do, so it was great as a beginners DSLR.

I've seen some amazing results from them, and for that price it's probably the best you can get spec-wise, and is easy enough to use straight out of the box, but has enough features to really help you learn as well.

I only upgraded mine as one of my main interests is photographing birds in flight, and this was probably the main area it fell short in.