Digital photography

You mean I shouldn't have brought my sister a Nikon D40 with stock zoom lens in the first place because she'll never buy new lenses and never use the Nikon to it's full potential because i's always on Auto?? shit man, you're right, I could've gotten her a shitty digital compact instead!

yah dude, you could've saved yourself some ££ and got her a bridge camera, i am sure that the outcome pictures would be the same.

If she will never use it on any other setting or change any lenses then whats the point?
It's like paying extra to have a 9 speed cassette but only riding a bike in one gear, ya know what i mean?

But anyway, dude if you are set on buying a DSLR then buy the Nikon D40...its just absoultely best value for anything, and it has been calibrated much better than it's older brothers (D50/60/70 and possibly D80)

mate to be quite honest, it's a bit snobbery saying that, like saying riser shouldn't be on track bike because it's not right!

it's an single lens reflex camera, you don't need to be an amateur to use it.

it's an single lens reflex camera, who doesn't like looking through the lens unlike those bridge camera where all you see is an pixelated screen?

This is where the devision between "I am interested in taking photographs" and "I just need to quickly and easily take a photo of this" comes in.

but point taken, as I said I before, my vote goes to Nikon D40 as far as budget DSLR's go

Also, for Macro photography on a budget, if you just want to get real close up images you can buy such things as Macro Extension tubes. They are simply little magnifying lenses that screw on before your actual camera lens. They are really cheap and will add optical zoom to get up close in your photos.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Macro-Extension-Tubes-4-NIKON-D40-D60-D70-D80-D90-D300_W0QQitemZ350125235445QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Photography_CameraLenses_Lens_caps_hoods_adaptors_ET?hash=item5185171cf5&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1690|66%3A4|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A200

it will look something like this if you buy loads of them

This is the sort of thing you can achieve (it will simply give you more zoom)

OK good advice maybe on bridge cameras and I take the point that I may learn more going down this route than straight into DSLR.

So any good bridge cameras in same sort of budget? Cheers all

if you can stretch to buy the Canon Powershot G10 (around £350ish) it will be worth it. Ive seen photos produced with that camera and they blow me away every time.

It's got 14.7megapixels and a massive 3" screen on the back to preview your photos. Super-sharp
This is like the semi pro, easy to use-produce brilliant photos camera. It even has a slot for an external flash on the top.

You can check out random photos from what people have uploaded that they took with this camera HERE just as a bit of example.

Always google some reviews about cameras to see what people who actually own them have to say and whether that crosses with what YOU want

use the money to buy a shark

use the money to buy a shark

then give the shark to me and I'll knock it off a wall and break it's fin.

Olympus SP-565,
Olympus SP-590,
Panasonic DMC FZ28,
Fuji FinePix S100fs,
Fuji FinePix S2000HD,
Sony Cyber-Shot DSC H20,
Sony Cyber-Shot DSC H50.

Some cameras for comparisons. But, as suggested earlier, google a few reviews of each camera, to find out if any match your ambitions.

Cheers all good, thanks a lot.

MrsSmallfurry bought a Nikon DSLR (D70 maybe) after her Nikon SLR was stolen. She used it for wedding photography, to take the acton shots during the day (medium format for posed photos). I forget which wide range lens she was after, but at the time appropiate Nikor lens was impossible to source. So she bought the cheaper Sigma version and has reggreted it ever since. The excellent body and flash (SB 800) are wasted because the lens lets them down.

So if you do invest in a DSLR, decent lens and flash are a must and can really add to the cost. I'd look around for a good package deal.

Personally Id go for a DSLR over a bridge camera as they are more versatile, and you can upgrade the package bit by bit. I'm not the photographer of the family but find the mrs's camera easy to use on various levels (although the flash has far too many buttons, I mean its a light FFS).

Get a DSLR over a bridge camera. They are pretty much the same price and you can lenses and bodies as you can afford it and as your skill level rises. D40 is a brilliant camera to learn on, and I'm sure that the Canon equivalent (400D or something) would be, too. Sure, if you're talking 'true' 1:1 macro photography then lenses are pricey but, as a learner, you can get good close-up results with most kit lenses.

then give the shark to me and I'll knock it off a wall and break it's fin.

That story makes my teeth hurt.

Get a DSLR over a bridge camera.

Why get a 'over a bridge camera' when you can get an 'off wall camera' for the same price ?

The thing is, with your budget you can either get a great bridge camera (as far as those are concerned) or a bottom end DSLR body. The reason I emphasize body is because the real investment at most levels that any photographer makes is in his lenses.
I agree that the D40 or any other DSLR could potentially be used by an amateur. The truth is it depends on how much the photographer plans on investing in the hobby and how extensive his/her needs are.
The way I see it, you may get the bridge camera and be happy with what you have. You might get the D40 and be happy with what you get but if you don't plan on taking your photography any further than the D40 package, I say you should have gone for the bridge.

The way I see it, you may get the bridge camera and be happy with what you have. You might get the D40 and be happy with what you get but if you don't plan on taking your photography any further than the D40 package, I say you should have gone for the bridge.

Good point.

But had we been discussing a bike purchase everyone would be advising purchase of the upgrade worthy frame over the OTP. Claiming that when they get more into cycling they can invest in better wheels.

Somewhere out there, on the big old tinternet, there's a bunch of photographers having the 'wait + build up a bob jackson' or 'just buy a Bianchi pista' debate.

^ good analogy and valid point! I must admit, although a bridge camera is tempting because of lower learning curve, I do think a DSLR might be better to grow into gradually, non?

^ good analogy and valid point! I must admit, although a bridge camera is tempting because of lower learning curve, I do think a DSLR might be better to grow into gradually, non?

The learning curve will be *exactly *the same. Both will have auto and various other programme modes if you are inclined to point-and-shoot, and both will have full manual.

At this point you might not know if you plan to take your photography futher than the D40 (for example) and kit lens, but having the option to change lenses makes it a smarter purchase in my view. The only reason to buy a bridge camera over one is portability.

The Nikon D40 or D40x are great, light, full enough featured cameras perfect for a beginner.

Since they are no longer produced, when you find a new one it will be way under budget.

A quality used one with a guarantee even cheaper.

And if you want their current replacement, the D60, that can be had for £400.

Lots of people here are saying D40 and for a good reason.

You can grow into it if you're adventurous, or just point and shoot and still take superb photos.

It's just what you need.

g10 all the way, every photographer i know carries one with their kit, lovely images from them and they fit in your pocket, if you have big pockets.

buy a Nikon FM2 for £50 on ebay.

^I was actually considering suggesting film SLR...but the learning curve is slooooow. Better to get into once you know how to opperate the basics in harmony: shutter speed, film speed and aperture.

If you thinkg you are going to start photography as a hobby, go for the D40.

'Tis fair and valid to say if you're going to upgrade, go for a dSLR. Another thing to watch out for though, is that with the D40, D40x, and D60, which are within your budget, they only take Nikon AF-S type lenses (those with a built in autofocus motor). That sounds confusing, but what it essentially means is that you are limited to newer Nikon lenses, or much newer third party lenses, rather than being able to pick up old Nikkor AF-D lenses and older third party (Tamron, Sigma etc) for less cash. On a better current body (D90, D300), you could do this, or on a secondhand older body (D80, D200, even a D50) you could do this. Nikon have slightly crippled their low-end offerings, which makes the bodies cheap but the expansion of kit at a later date much more expensive. I may come back and edit this later as I wrote it quickly and it might be a bit esoteric. HTH

buy a Nikon FM2 for £50 on ebay.

aaaand bingo, if people want to learn photography, start again with film, learning curve can be quick once you get used to it.

as for just taking photos, just get a cheap DSLR, as they're good enough as it is for the normal individual.