What's a good entry level digital SLR camera?

Question

I'm looking to buy a digital SLR, and willing to spend up to ?500. For this price what make/model should I consider and what are the main features I should look out for?

Answer 1

Go to www.bhphotovideo.com and check out the Canon XT 8MP kits they offer.

Answer 2

For that price you best bet would be the Nikon 40D. It is an amazing camera at an awesome price. It has many features of a higher end camera but spares you the price. Plus the most helpful feature is just that, the help feature. Any time you get a little confused there is a "?" button that if you press it will easily explain the settings. Also there are some pictures stored to go along with certain settings so you can see the effect that will happen before you do it. Its a great camera that helps ease the transition to SLR. It is one you can have for a long time and it will grow with you. Here are some links that may be helpful. Good Luck!

http://www.stunningnikon.com/picturetown/

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond40/

http://www.nikonusa.com/template.php?cat=1&grp=2&productNr=25420

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16830113037

Answer 3

If your prepared to go for a second hand camera buy a Nikon D100 you can pick one up on ebay for around £250 with lens they're a little more pro than an entry level camera but should you wish to upgrade to a pro camera in the future you'll already be set up

Answer 4

Take a look at either the Pentax K100D or K100D Super. Both are 6.1mp; the Super added "dust removal" for the sensor. Pentax has Image Stabilization (IS) in the camera body. Every K-mount lens ever made will mount on these cameras. They will be manual focus but at least they can take advantage of the IS.

Both models should be dropping in price due to the introduction of the K10D which is a 10mp camera.

Check at keh.com or bhphotovideo.com or adorama.com or abesofmaine.com.

Answer 5

Canon, Nikon, Pentax etc. have pretty good entry level DSLRs. You should look at which lenses you are going to invest your money on. In 3 - 5 years you might want to upgrade the body, if you have Nikon lenses then you would need to get a Nikon body, Canon with Canon etc.
Me? I chose the Pentax K100D Super. One thing good about it is I can use any Pentax lens made for a Pentax, old or new.

Answer 6

You van find variety types of entry level digital camera like Sea & Sea DX-1200HD Underwater Digital Camera at Exspecto UK at Your price.

Answer 7

If you want a good semi-pro digital camera I would have a look round for a reconditioned Canon 30D, It is a slightly old model now but its a great digital beginners camera for your price range and its got a good spec - larger screen, good sensor, exposure control etc..

Try Jessops/Jacobs or ebay :o)

Answer 8

a Cannon EOS400D is a good entry level digital camera, they are under £500 now as well. 10.1 mega pixel gives excellent pictures. i am an amateur photographer and i bought one, very good camera.
you would need a flash card for it though, i have a 4gb i-pro high speed flash card cost £25, takes about 900 pictures at 10.1 mega pixels. don't buy one from a store, they are about £40 for a 1 gig standard speed, total rip off.

Megapixels
Just like standard digital cameras, DSLRs have sensors that capture the image, before the image then gets passed onto and recorded onto memory card.

DSLR sensors are physically bigger than the sensors in standard digital cameras, a key reason why DSLRs can give better image quality.

The average DSLR sensor also has more megapixels than the average standard digital camera which helps if you want to create very large prints.

Image quality
If you attach a high quality lens to a DSLR, you can really maximise the image quality of a DSLR to easily surpass what you can achieve with a standard camera – colours, detail and sharpness will be better.

On some DSLRs, the quality from the usual supplied 'kit' lens is nothing to write home about.

Kit lens
Another limitation of the kit lens is that most of them don’t allow zooming in very far. Even most small standard digital cameras can zoom in further.

These DSLR kit lenses have a good wide angle of view, however, meaning that you can zoom out quite a lot – good for wide landscapes or indoor shots in cramped conditions. You can buy lenses for more distant shots, separately.
Size and weight

All DSLRs, with kit lenses included, are much bigger and heavier than small standard digital cameras, but they're not necessarily heavy in their own right. Some are even lighter than the heaviest standard digital cameras.

However, as you might be carrying more than one lens around with you, or you might be using a bigger lens than the kit one supplied, things can get quite heavy. DSLRs tend to have good handgrips, so holding them is usually comfortable.

Shutter delay and speed
Shutter delay is an issue on DSLRs too, but less so. DSLR shutter delay is usually pretty quick (often well under 0.3 of a second). Start-up time and shot-to-shot time are also quicker with a DSLR.

Viewfinder and LCD Screen
DSLRs have viewfinders which are accurate and clear. Unlike standard digital cameras, most DSLRs do not allow you to compose your pictures on the LCD screen. Usually, the LCD screen is used to review your pictures, and to display shooting and setting information.

Control
DSLRs are a bit easier to control than standard digital cameras. There’s a ring on the lens for manual focussing, and many buttons on the back so it’s quicker to choose settings, rather than having to go into lots of electronic menus as is the case with many standard cameras.

Easy to read displays give shooting and setting information. In auto mode, they’re as easy to use as standard digital cameras.

DSLRs have more controls and settings than standard digitals helping you to be more creative and take the good shot that you want to take.

Video recording
At the moment, no DSLRs can record video.


try these links

http://www.jessops.com/Store/s35964/1-5731-5732/Home/Christmas/Digital-SLRs/Canon/EOS-400D-(Black)-%2b-EFS-18-55mm-Lens/details.aspx

http://www.currys.co.uk/martprd/store/cur_page.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1927992603.1196334082@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccdcaddmjgdfmhgcflgceggdhhmdfof.0&page=Product&sku=357388

http://www.memorybits.co.uk/shop/compact-flash/integral-4gb-compact-flash-ipro-40x-high-speed-card-camcf4gbipro/4243

Answer 9

Nikon D-40 is about the only thing in your range.

Answer 10

Samsung GX10 good camera