Good camera for newbie photographer

[Stephen brown]

Don't get a bridge camera. just don't.

You will get a good used Nikon D50.with a second lense for your budget. It may be a bit dated in terms of megapixels, but you can enlarge to A4 without losing definition. ....

This, only I would suggest a Canon 30 or 40d, by then I'm biased

 

[Stephen brown]

Actually, I think I saw the Canon 1100d on hotukdeals for something silly like £189 recently

 

[Deleted member 23692]

Howz about...

Nikon D80 (£169)- http://www.mpbphotographic.co.uk/used-equipment/used-digital-slr-cameras/used-nikon-digital-slr-cameras/nikon-d80-7/
Nikkor 18-105VR (£144) - http://www.mpbphotographic.co.uk/used-equipment/used-lenses/used-nikon-fit-lenses/nikon-af-s-18-105mm-f/3.5-5.6g-ed-vr-1/

A bit over your budget, but worth scraping the extra together

Even though it's old in digi camera terms (2008) it's still a superb camera, which has more than enough features and manual control for a beginner to grow into over time, rather than grow out of quickly. The lens is one of Nikons better kit lens and the addition of VR (Vibration Reduction) gives a useful helping hand. The lens gives a decent range for a kit zoom too.

Plus being a hardly used second hand, the prices have bottomed out so should it not be for you (or when you upgrade) you can sell it for pretty much what you paid for it... or hang on to it as a 2nd body.

 

[P.H]

Think hard about when and where you're going to want to use it, the old adage that the the best camera is the one you have with you is as true today as when I first heard it decades ago. I've gone from SLR down to compact and back up to Mu43 as a happy compromise. I bought a Panasonic GX1 with a kit lens sixteen months ago, it was worth it then, it's an absolute steal at the moment for around £270.
Have a look on Flicker, you can search by camera model, you'll soon see that the camera plays a much smaller part in the result than the photographer, I've seen some brilliant shots taken on budget equipment and some real dross produced form top kit.

 

[Saluki]

What about:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Canon-100...Cameras_DigitalCameras_JN&hash=item4ac5c21968

 

[ufkacbln]

N+! certainly works.

I have an Olympus E420 which is a proper DSLR, an Olympus PEN which is micro 4/3 for when I want something with a few more features and effects.

I then have an Olympus SZ31 MR which is my touring camera, big zoom compact wwiththe same software as the PEN, and finally my carry everywhere camera is a Panasonic Lumix FT4

 

[Cyclist33]

Just to chuck one in there - gets good reviews, has full manual control, doesn't overdo it on the megapixel front, and a good "fast" lens for a compact...

http://www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/884...&gclid=CPXrn9m-_bcCFWLHtAod0g4A6g#srcid=11270

Stu

 

[Cyclist33]

N+! certainly works.

I have an Olympus E420 which is a proper DSLR, an Olympus PEN which is micro 4/3 for when I want something with a few more features and effects.

I then have an Olympus SZ31 MR which is my touring camera, big zoom compact wwiththe same software as the PEN, and finally my carry everywhere camera is a Panasonic Lumix FT4

Which is your fave??

 

[ufkacbln]

Therein lies the issue!

The E420 has a viewfinder and almost all you need.

The Pen has additional control over the warmth, colour and tint of the images

THE SZ31 as an amazing zoom and good effects.

For churches and indoors the E420 wins with wider apertures on teh zooms, the PEN is second and the SZ31 final

For panoramas the SZ31 is the best, and for landscapes it is a tossup.

For flash, the PEN and E420 take additional flashes with remote on teh E420. The E420 also has IR remote control for exposure and zoom


The Lumix is a good allrounder, with GPS, and more waterproof making it a good always carried camera


So it depends what I am doing which one I take........

 

[WorcesteRob]

Thanks for all your help guys and I've decided to go down the Nikon D3100 route after looking at various others in roughly the same price range.

I've been bitten a few times with second hand on eBay so went with the 0% option offered by Jessops.

Really looking forward to receiving now and having a play around, hopefully some of the results might even be viewable