Recommend me a first DSLR...
 

Compact camera is now outdated by my phone, and thats not exactly amazing, so looking for a decent "my first proper camera".

So body and a decent mid range lens I guess?

Anyone got a camera they want to sell? Or recommend something?

What's your budget?

Sorry, obvious question.

Guess around the 500 mark for the lot, however, if there's something more suitable or drastically better for a little more, it can stretch. Buy right buy once style.

If its any help I have a Nikon D80 that you are quite welcome to use for the ring trip to see if you like Nikons. I will be using my d7000 so I can bring it if you want to see how Nikons feel, work etc. I will have a couple of lenses that I use that fit so you can use one of them with it when I am not using the other. Just bring an SD card that way you can take your own pictures, let me know if you are interested.

I will also ring/text to arrange meet time for Friday.

Adam

Canon 550D or 450D should be at your budget amazing piece of kit,check Gumtree,eBay and Amazon for used one


Jura

Try before you buy, I found canons very uncomfortable to hold hence why I use Nikon - do check lens/accessory costs though as I think cannon are cheaper from my purchases of Nikon lenses

Nikon make better lenses, the reason they are more expensive. But canon make better bodies. So it's a bit of a trade off.

I prefer better optics personally, hence the reason I went Nikon.

There is a lot to buy around that kind of price.

Check out the Park Camera's website. Everything you could ever want to choose from on there.

Joel, As per Surrey.

Worzel, Will do, Won't that be new though? Surely better buying second hand?

They do some second hand stuff too. The good thing is their second hand stuff will have a guarantee with it of some sort.

It'll just give you the information that you will need to make the decision.

As Worzel said, i'd recommend popping into Park Camera's new shop (its in Burgess Hill). Big place and you can try the different camera bodies to see how they fit your hands/grip etc. Also good to try different lenses, when i was looking at my first DSLR i had no idea what a 70-300mm lens would do, zoom-wise.

Even if you don't buy, it'll help you decide what you want to target on the second hand market :)

Warehouse express are a great website as are calumet

I buy all my consumables through Warehouse Express. Really good. :ok:

Found this:

Good deal?

Adam - have a nosey here in your lunchbreak...

http://www.harpersphoto.co.uk/

Not far to walk!