Advice Needed on buying my first SLR

[Click123]

Dear All, l am a complete novice in the world of photography and would like your advice on my first SLR camera. I am looking for a modern,value for money,easy to use camera. All advice would be fantastic. Dont really want to spend any more then £400 and looking for a package deal, with memeory and camera case?

Looking for to hearing from you with your advice and guidence.

regards

Click123

[rbarry]

Have you seen anything within your budget that you need advice on?

You may pick up a bargain from old stock/last year's model at that price, it's down to individual retailers offers. You may be better off looking at second hand equipment, because the amount you spend on a camera body will soon pale into insignificance once you start buying lenses and accessories!

[jet_kit]

Hi Click,
Good advice, but to get yourself started you might be better off looking at a bridge camera. These are similar to DSLR's except they don't have interchangeable lenses. As a consequence they normally have super zooms and built-in macro facility so you never need to think of other lenses. They also have the advantage of Auto, Semi-Auto and Manual operation so, as a novice you could start with everything in automatic while you get used to your camera, then as you get more proficient and learn more (in these forums) you could start taking more control.
Finally, Bridge cameras are a lot cheaper than DSLR's
DSLR's today are a plethora of switches, menus and buttons and can be pretty daunting to someone starting out. Being realistic, it's going to take you a while to pick up the basics and be comfortable with a camera in your hand and a bridge will help you all the way. At the end, when you're ready for your DSLR, you'll know what to look for and what to buy with it.
We can't tell you what to buy - some will say Nikon, others Canon or Sony - all have their good (and not so good) points. But, until you're familiar with the world of Photography you won't necessarily know what's important to you and what system you feel most comfortable with.

[markgozz]

Chris I couldn't agree more , I moved on to a DSLR after a number of years with a bridging camera and still I made the mistake of thinking that because it was a DSLR I would be taking amazing shots right away ( not the case ) .
To get the full potential out of your camera takes a lot of hard work and patience and can be very frustrating at times but at the end of the day also very rewarding , also the cost can be mind blowing with an all purpose lens like a Sigma 18mm - 250mm costing £400 ( your hole budget ) a bridging camera will cover all of this and more .

Good luck

Mark

[thefonz78]

Its a good start. The Fuji film bridge cameras are great value. My dad has one which i used to borrow this got me started.

[rbarry]

Not sure how keen Click123 is over all this advice....

[jet_kit]

You can only do what you can do. We were asked for advice and we gave it, and there it stops.
I used to know an old Jewish lawyer in my youth and he would say, "give someone free advice and they think it's worthless and will ignore it. Make them pay for it and they follow it to the end."

[xavier]

I know this may sound silly but regaurdless of the camera you buy get spare batteries for the camera. Its just that I was out one day going snap happy, as you do, and as you may guess the battery as I came across a beutful old tumble down old farm house

[xavier]

Sorry ishould have put in the battery died

[jet_kit]

You're right Xavier. Carry spare everything if you can manage it.