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Hello all
Im just starting out with photography and cant wait to get started but theres just one little thing stopping me from getting started, I need a camera.
Ive heard lots about Nikon and Canon and that its good to get a camera that can have alot of lenses added to it as you get better.
I was just wondering if you guys can give me your views on the best DSLR for beginners please.
I want to photograph wildlife especially birds of prey and I want to take lots of landscape photos so I need one thats best for these.My budget is about £400.
Thanks very much in advance
Kind regards
Joe.
Quote: My budget is about £400
That would get you pretty much any starter dslr. Some of the best deals around at the moment are from Sony, Olympus, and Pentax.
This ones going for about £350.
e520
Go to a camera dealer and play with each of the makes above plus whichever Nikon or Canon is within your budget. One will feel the most comfortable and the nicest to use. This is the one to buy and then stick to that brand because the good makers keep leap-frogging one another. Each time you change brand you just waste money and have to learn a new and different set of controls.
I have helped a number of friends get started and generally recommend getting something like a canon 350D second hand off ebay. Some people upgrade so quickly you can pick one up in excellent condition, for around £200 - £250. That would leave you enough to get an additional lens too. L 
Thank you all very much I really appreciate your help. Im taking all your advice in and checking out the cameras youve mentioned.Now this may sound dumb but can you explain the lenses to me a bit e.g what does a 18 - 70mm lens actually mean and what is it best used for etc ?
Quote: I have helped a number of friends get started and generally recommend getting something like a canon 350D second hand off ebay. Some people upgrade so quickly you can pick one up in excellent condition, for around £200 - £250. That would leave you enough to get an additional lens too. L
Thanks buddy ive been looking on ebay at the suggestion and ive noticed a great package for the 350d rebel xt/eos that includes extra lens,battery,clean kit,mini tripod and more for £260,is that the one you mean because theres also a 350d listed at £900 ?
When you buy "new" kit from Ebay, do check out the seller. If they ask for payment by Western Union, steer clear. Stick to Credit card for ssafe payment.
With the budget you've set yourself you may have to come back at a later date for a suitable wildlife lens. You're unlikely to get anything suitable including a camera body within your budget .
Hello,
I haven't looked at specific ones on ebay at the moment, but the £260 one sounds about right, I can only imagine they have made a mistake with the listing if there is a 350d at £900. . I've brought about 5 or 6 off there for friends and have had no problems, just make sure the seller has 100% feedback.
'Thewilliam' - I have only used canon and so I can only comment on that make, I've always been very happy with them.
Good luck with your hunt
The best advice I can give is take your time. Yes, forums like this are useful, so are photographic magazines, so are (fewer and fewer now) specialist shops. Remember that lenses for dslrs are particular to the make for the most part, so choosing the make of the body is quite important. Most people are locked into a body manufacturer or face an expensive set of changes of lenses. The feel of the body and the way the controls work are important, especially the weight and size. Some people find a camera body to be too big, for others it would be too small. Listen, be sure what you want to use it for, make your own mind up. Good luck.
Quote: what does a 18 - 70mm lens actually mean and what is it best used for etc ?
An 18-70 lens is a medium zoom lens, typically included as a kit (or 'walkabout') lens. They are good 'do anything' lenses. You may get slight variations on this (I believe Nikon include 16-85 or 18-55 with their kits these days). The figures denote the zoom range of the lens - the 18mm end is quite wide and is typically used for landscapes (although you may want wider if you end up doing a lot of this), whereas the 70 is a shortish telephoto length (meaning it will bring things closer to you).
For wildlife photography, you will want something longer than this (probably in the 300mm or higher range). There are cheaper aftermarket alternative lenses, you don't have to stick with the camera brand (i.e. Sigma make lenses that will fit Canon, Nikon, Sony etc. You just have to buy the right fit.
Nikon and Cannon are good cameras. I've a Nikon D70 bought some years ago now. Stuarty is right, take your time, get a feel and see some first. Took me long, long time to decide between Nikon D70 and Cannon D300(I think) What made my mind up was the larger,clearer rear screen. I have to use reading glasses
Visit a secondhand camera shop to see a few and handle them.
Any of the brands mentioned will do the job. A wild life lens will be far more than the camera.
If you plan on photographing from a hide then you need to think 400mm lens upwards plus converter to photo wild birds and mammals. Garden photography is a bit easier where you could get away with less.
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