First SLR

rabbitinlights

Hello,
Im getting an SLR for my Girlfriend for her birthday, I have a Sony T1 and ive never used an SLR before so i know nothing about them, I have a budget of E350 - E400 to spend on it, I Dont know what to be looking out for and what not to get, she had an old SLR a few years ago but it got mould on it from traveling. Shes doesnt know alot about current models but im sure she knows whats good and whats bad.

Ill be looking to buy it online to save some money and get the best deal.

Any recommendtions?

Sean

FinoBlad

giving a camera for a present is pure class.

are you looking film or digital, new or secondhand?

George_h

A good camera might be the fuji s5000. Look at www.bhphoto.com for a price in your range. Its not a true slr as such, but its good at that price. Otherwise they have a large range of cameras and at good prices as well

DiscoStu

for a real slr in that price range you cant go wrong with the nikon f55. its a very nice consumer aimed slr. for a digital around the same range the fuji s5000 is a very good choice(if you can find any in stock anywhere). its got the features of a camera that is usually twice the price.

bringitdown

My first SLR was an Nikon F55 and I love it, very easy to use, consistently good quality despite my amateurish knowledge.

All it is missing is a depth of field preview, but for a beginneer it is not overly necessary.

Raskolnikov

FinoBlad wrote:

giving a camera for a present is pure class.

are you looking film or digital, new or secondhand?

I doubt he'd get a digital SLR for only €450 so he's best opting for a film camera.

The F55 is a grand old camera, another one for you to consider is the Canon Eos 300. You should be able to get either for €300 or so, which allows you a seperate flash gun (because the onboard flash is a little weedy on both models).

Raskolnikov

DiscoStu wrote:

for a digital around the same range the fuji s5000 is a very good choice(if you can find any in stock anywhere). its got the features of a camera that is usually twice the price.

I don't think that Fuji jobby is a true SLR though, is the image seen through the viewfinder the same as what's seen through the lens? Also, that has a fixed lens, not very flexible.

Paddy20

Do a search for "Single lens reflex cameras", and then a search for "Digital single lens reflex cameras" on www.kelkoo.co.uk/

Usually produces a wide selection of online retailers at all price ranges, including the cheapest/best deal.

rob1891

Don't buy a zoom. From the Canon world the cheapest zoom worth buying is 24-85mm f3.5-4.5 which is around 350 euro. Even then you are better off spending a 100 euro more for an Image Stablized zoom.

Nikon 50mm f1.8 AF-D (130e) is a very good lens & it's cheap. Stick it onto the most expensive Nikon body you can afford. Alternatively buy a Canon 50mm f1.8 II (100e) and stick it onto the most expensive Canon body you can afford. The Canon lens is also good, but perhaps not as good as the Nikon.

Problem is cheap bodies that would keep you under your 400e limit aren't very good. You'd be better off going for a Nikon F80+50mm (521e) or Canon EOS33+50mm (446e). Prices from www.ny-camera.com

I don't know which of those two I'd choose. F80 has some features missing on the Canon, but for the future purchases Canon has some great affordable lenses like the Image Stablized one I mentioned. I'd probably flip flop for a month and end up on the Nikon, but it is 120 over budget compared to 50 ...

Ask again if you are interested in the differences between the two.

Rob

DiscoStu

Raskolnikov wrote:

I don't think that Fuji jobby is a true SLR though, is the image seen through the viewfinder the same as what's seen through the lens? Also, that has a fixed lens, not very flexible.

i know, ive got one the point is that for 400 you simply will not get a digital slr. the s5000 is pretty much as good as you can get in the price range and is _far_ more versatile than most digitals on the market wether they are more expensive or not.

DotOrg

most important question is what will she be taking pictures of.
then get an average body, canon or nikon, second hand with a decent guarentee and then spend as much as you can on good lenses

Krusty_Clown

Raskolnikov wrote:

I don't think that Fuji jobby is a true SLR though, is the image seen through the viewfinder the same as what's seen through the lens? Also, that has a fixed lens, not very flexible.

Not an SLR, but it does feature an electronic viewfinder, which means you don't have to rely on the LCD display for taking photos which feature Zoom etc.. It also supports (using an adapter) wide and telephoto lens.

It's a decent consumer camera, that you can pick up very cheaply now..

mrhappy42

Digital SRl cannot be got for under $800. You need to buy in the states and have it shipped to a friend who can then bring it in so as to avoid the VAT.

Been looking around a while for Digital SRL and for the money your talking you should look at SLR like camara's like FinePix 7000 type.

However if its not digital then go for the make that you will end up going Digital with so that you already have all the lenses.

The options are changing every day as the market for digital cameras is being taken over by a new range of companies...just look at how badly the Pentax *istD is doing...

Go for a cheap Canon SLR non digial and then wait to by a second hand 300D or 10D in about a year or so from now...e-bay has good links to most companies.

Merrion

Pop down to the Dublin camera exchange and see what 2nd hand SLRs they have in. I got an EOS10 body for about €200 last year and a 75-300 lens for about €150. Now that people are switching to digital SLRs there are some great trade-in bargains to be had.

rom1

I started off with a Canon EOS3000; It was cheap and perfect for my needs.

You can now get the newer EOS 3000V with a lens for about EUR300.

You can build-up your collection of lenses and buy a Canon digital SLR when you have more cash