Can you recommend a good digital slr?

Question

I'm looking to spend a few hundred so no real pro stuff please

Answer 1

Everyone is gona give you a different answer because we are all different.
We all like different things and want and expect different things from our cameras.
I have a Canon EOS 400D and it is amazing but I know for a fact that some of the Nikons etc are just as good. It is all down to personal choice.
Read some reviews, here :
http://www.ciao.co.uk/Digital_Cameras_5220847_2-digital_slr_camera

Go into a shop and have a look at a few different one's. You'll know which one you want.

All slr's are good. I don't think you really need any advice, just buy whatever you like, whatever you think is good. A photograph is a photograph, no matter what it's taken with.
I'm a Photography student and I can honestly say that sometimes some of the most beautiful pictures produced in my lectures come from little compacts.

Good luck with whatever you do buy :)

Answer 2

If you limited in budget to a few hundred, you probably need to consider a used camera. Maybe a Used Nikon D50... you can get them for less than a D40 and they actually have an advantage of the D40's in that they don't require expensive autofocus lenses with the motors built in. They can autofocus with all Nikon autofocus lenses not just the expensive ones. Now some may tell you that you can alway do manual focus, and while it is true - the finders in the lower end DSLRs is not only too dim in lots of situations but also lacks a good split screen so that manual focusing can be a gamble at best. I would never recommend one of the less branded cameras like an Olympus, not because they are bad cameras for a starter but because the lenses you get for that starter camera can also be used on the next step up camera you get in the future and so you are really making a decision on the brand of camera you will hopefully be happy with for many cameras to come.... Nikons and Canons are going to be around for follow up cameras when your first camera wears out, who knows about Olympus, they could be the next Minolta to vanish.

Answer 3

The one that I would want if I was getting a decent basic DSLR is the Olympus E510. It has excellent lenses and includes Image Stabilization, Dust Reduction and Live View modes. Many people prefer Canon or Nikon but I find the Olympus cameras to have excellent optics, and to be better constructed, smaller and lighter than the "Big Names" so they give more value for the $.

A good source of reviews and comparisons of various cameras is Steve's Digicams. Every camera review has a section called Steve's Conclusion which gives a good, objective summary of his evaluation of the camera.

Email me if you have specific questions.

Additional Comment: The person who suggested that Olympus may be the next Minolta to vanish doesn't know very much about the companies or markets of the camera manufacturers. Olympus is a leader in consumer electronics AND cameras and also has a major market in medical optical equipment and devices. Konica/Minolta concentrated it's efforts in its photo copying and abandoned the only segment of the consumer market they were involved in to concentrate on business customers. Olympus has a leg up on many of the other camera makers because they were already experts in compact electronics (I have a twenty year old Olympus pocket tape recorder for making memos on) and have been experts in optical miniaturization for 50 years. They also have a long history as quality camera makers (Since about1923 if I recall correctly).

Answer 4

I'm gonna have to go with the Olympus E-Volt 510. It has some great features like a "Live View" LCD screen that is usually on very high end cameras. You can usually get one for under $700 or so as a two lens kit package.

It's a 10mp camera as opposed to the Nikon suggested above which is a 6mp.

Answer 5

Nikon D40 kit. It comes with two Lenses. About $699.00

Answer 6

Stick to Canon.

Answer 7

nikon D40

Answer 8

I have the Nikon D40x and I love it! Its light weight and fast! Takes great photos!!!!!!!!!!!!!!