Help with deciding camera!
 

I'm seeking a dslr that can take really good quality stills, I'll not be printing any bigger than A4 so I guess mega pixels are not that big of an issue.

This will be my first dslr and I am not bothered about recording capabilities at all. I most like photographing nature, animals and such so I would like a camera with a good zoom.

The problem being I have a budget of only £300. I would really appreciate any advice.

Thanks in advance.

At £300 you will probably have to be looking at second hand as most of the entry level dslr's come in at around £400 including a lens.

If you don't intend saving that extra, try and find a shop that deals second hand cameras and go and handle a couple of the models that they have to offer to see which has the functions that you require and more importantly which feels most comfortable to you.

If you do want to save the extra, excellent entry models are the Nikon D3100 and the Canon D1100. Again go to a shop and handle them for comfort.

Don't forget that you will need money for memory cards and possibly a spare battery (always recommended).

When you get the camera home, have a good read of the manual and get plenty of practice, even if it means shooting in the living room, just to see what the camera can do for you.

High prices do not mean a trouble free camera . Just read somewhere a user complains about the rubber hand grip on his Canon camera has come loose. Apart from the silly comments made, it seems a weakness with Canon cameras . Take for instance Canon 5D mk1 , complaints concerning mirror falling off. I know Canon will repair it gratis, they said it was the wrong type of adhesive. My god, a camera that cost about £1800 . Personalyy I would not purchase another Canon, unles it had an 5 year guarantee

Well from your last comment it looks like you will be going for a second hand Nikon.My friend has the D5000 and is very happy with the quality.

Des

Amazon are selling the nikon d3000 slr new with vr kit lens £300 this should be a great first camera, and will print a4 with no problems at all. You will get nikons 2 year warranty.

[QUOTE=WillowRhone;65789]I'm seeking a dslr that can take really good quality stills, I'll not be printing any bigger than A4 so I guess mega pixels are not that big of an issue.

This will be my first dslr and I am not bothered about recording capabilities at all. I most like photographing nature, animals and such so I would like a camera with a good zoom.

The problem being I have a budget of only £300. I would really appreciate any advice.

Thanks in advance.[/QUOTE]

Same here but I think I have put my question into the wrong forum, oh sugar!

[QUOTE=thefonz78;66508]Amazon are selling the nikon d3000 slr new with vr kit lens £300 this should be a great first camera, and will print a4 with no problems at all. You will get nikons 2 year warranty.[/QUOTE]

What's the difference between the D3000 and the D3100 please? And does it have scean Mode?

Yes it has scene mode it will not be much different. I would imagine it's essentially the same camera with a new sensor. You will get a better high iso performance from the newer camera that will be about it. The 2 sensors compared below.

[URL="http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/Cameras/Compare-Camera-Sensors/Compare-cameras-side-by-side/%28appareil1%29/664|0/%28brand%29/Nikon/%28appareil2%29/623|0/%28brand2%29/Nikon"]http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/Cameras/Compare-Camera-Sensors/Compare-cameras-side-by-side/%28appareil1%29/664|0/%28brand%29/Nikon/%28appareil2%29/623|0/%28brand2%29/Nikon[/URL]

[URL="http://snapsort.com/compare/Nikon_D3000-vs-Nikon_D3100"]http://snapsort.com/compare/Nikon_D3000-vs-Nikon_D3100[/URL]

[URL="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOgC9Gp1oaM"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOgC9Gp1oaM[/URL]

I would buy a second hand Nikon D90. It is still an excellent camera and i know they are this sort of money. They are great cameras and will more than do what you are asking. The likes of the Canon 1100d and Nikon D3100 are great but if you go second hand you will get so much more for your money and the likes of the D90 are built to last a little longer. It also has a bonus of being able to shoot HD video but hey, we take photos right!!