www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Hi all,

I've been asked the following question, but am out of touch with the entry-level DSLRs. My "hunch" is that something like a Canon G10 or Canon 1000D might fit the bill, but the cost is a big factor. All thoughts welcome!

"Hi Pete - I'm hoping you can help me make a decision on some camera equipment. I'm looking to purchase a digital SLR which I can use to take both groups of people and close-ups of butterflies and plants. I realise this is a tall order, especially as I think I can only afford one lens! But perhaps you can suggest some specifications that would be important for me to consider or even a brand recommendation? The budget is £300 max."

Cheers,

- Pete

I'll go first if I may.

You can get Olympus or a Sony lens kit for under £300, the big boys, Canon and Nikon, come in £80 ish over budget. You also have Pentax, and Panasonic, Panasonic don't seem very competitive at entry level, in fact the cheapest Panasonic lens kit is £129 over budget.
For £300 your only going to get a lens kit, and that usually means a wide angle bottom of the range lens, that will be next to useless for close up work.

Unless the person asking for your advise Pete, has a basic knowledge of photography, and deep pockets, then I would steer them away from a DSLR.

Something like this http://www.amazon.co.uk/Panasonic-Lumix ... 655&sr=8-4

For someone with limited funds, and in need of a versatile camera, it would probably be better.

If they must have a DSLR, here are some entry level models

Canon EOS 1000D Lens Kit (EF-S 18-55 IS) £ 384.99

Nikon D3000 Lens Kit (18-55mm II non-VR) £ 369.00

Olympus E-420 Kit (14-42mm lens) £ 289.99

Sony Alpha A230 + 18-55mm Lens Kit £ 299.99

Pentax Pentax K200D + 18-55mm Lens £ 389.99

Panasonic Lumix G1 Black + 14-45mm Lens £ 429.00

I personally would only consider the top two, but at £ 289.99, the Olympus looks a great deal.

Kind Regards Gruditch

Thanks Gary!

Cheers,

- Pete

I second Gary's advice of the Lumix.
I suggested a guy at work get one, and it is a fabulous bit of kit.
He is delighted.
Unless they are going to be super keen photographers - then it is a wise choice.

Otherwise go Canon 1000D, kit lens, and save for a Sigma 150.

HTH

If I were starting out and wanted a Canon, I'd opt for Canon 400D, rather than 1000D. I know the 1000D is newer, but the Canon 400D IMO is better. Both have 10.1 mp and apart from Live View and Digic III processor, the 400D has:

3fps with up to 27 frame burst
9-point wide-area AF
CF Cards

but the 1000D has:

7-point wide-area AF
Up to 3 Frames
SD Cards

But I am not sure which is better CF or SD/SDHC... I have had issues with SD/SDHC cards failing on me at time (stopping working, or files on them being corrupt without any issues with card having viruses etc...) But not ha issues with CF cards. The 400D can cost a little less than 1000D if you know where to look. I found one for £295.00 with 18-55mm lens on Amazon. So apart from non IS for lens, its cheaper than what Gary said for 1000D and 18-55mm IS lens £384.99. But I know it costs more for an IS lens. But its good for starting out and its aroundthe £300 budget.

If you look hard enough, you may even get the camera body cheap. I found one here: http://greatdigitalart.com/index.php?di ... uct_id=382 for Canon 400D body £80

Hi Dave, You probably know all this, but for those that don't.

Although you can probably still pick up a new ( I wouldn't buy used ) 400D, they actually went out of production at the end of 2007. They were superseded by the 450D and then the 500D.

Canon now class the 300D and all its successors 350D, 400D, 450D, and 500D as mid range. Only the 1000D is considered entry level, and that has been in production since February 08, so is up for replacement any time now.


Kind Regards Gary

A used 20D might be the right price even with a kit lens, but that would still require a macro lens, which would double the price. Compact is the only option for that budget.

Dave McCormick wrote: If you look hard enough, you may even get the camera body cheap. I found one here: http://greatdigitalart.com/index.php?di ... uct_id=382 for Canon 400D body £80

Mate, there's no such thing as a free lunch (unless you're dealing with Sussex BC it seems!). Everyone would like a 400D for 80 quid.

Alexander

Yeah Alexander, that's one very dodgy site, they have a Canon 1000D, an SLR, but state that it has 3x optical zoom.

If I were to buy used, I would only use a high street shop like London Camera Exchange.
http://www.lcegroup.co.uk/Secondhand_Re ... p?PageNo=3 127 used modles in stock.

Regards Gruditch

Yeah Alexander, that's one very dodgy site, they have a Canon 1000D, an SLR, but state that it has 3x optical zoom.

Yeah, meant to say that if you do see something like that, or are buying online, you have to be careful where you get things from. That being one such place. It may be too easy to find something like this and get ripped of and so on. I can see the 1000D is probably better option for Canon. Its hard on a £300 budget. YOu can get your camera, but you'd need your Macro lens, and it will come to more than £300