Digital cameras - can you recommend one?

[Mala]

Can someone recommend a digital camera please? Does anyone have an SLR one? Do these take better quality photo's than compact digital ones? Have about £300-400 to spend.

We are currently waiting for a Nikon D50 to arrive - a digital SLR. It is around £380.

We had a fab Nikon SLR before and then a Canon Ixus digital.

That has been great for having in my bag and taking impromptu shots of the children but with a new baby on the way we want something better.

I'll let you know how we get on.

Yes, please do let me know how you get on with it. I was initially thinking canon ixus, but dh says to get a slr one as they are much better. I was thinking canon slr, but again(very opinionated so and so!) he says nikon are a better make.

I have a Canon Powershot which is a small camera and cost just under £100. I got it after looking into it A LOT. It is a fab camera and I would buy Canon next time but if I had £300-400 to spend I would probably go for the Nikon with Canon a very close second. Sorry this is probably no help at all.

TwoToTango sounds like you have got a great deal for £100. I was given the Minola Dimage as a present, but I find that it doesn't take very good photo-hope it's not me!

we have a fab fuji one, cost around £200 from john lewis. you genuinely cannot take a bad photo on it.

It was a good price Mala - it was reduced by about £50 at Xmas at Jessops (also got 50 free photos). They do some good deals in there, worth a look.

I've got a digital SLR. Actually if you search archives on my name and Canon you'll probably find several threads debating / elaborating on snappy vs. SLR etc. etc.

I don't know the Nikon bodies well enough to comment, but the Canon ones are great. It might make sense to make your final choice based on which lens / lenses you think you'll want to use most of the time IYSWIM.

SLRs and snappy cams can be similar beasts to use (you can put the SLR in a fully automatic program mode and the lens in autofocus for example), but I'd say they were actually fairly different and would suggest you try an SLR to see if you can be faffed. If you can you'll be able to gain more control over your photography and take better photos... but don't underestimate the 'schlep' factor of taking a big body with you when out 'n about... a snappy is much easier to put into a handbag / pocket / buggy.

hth.

I'm usually an SLR kinda girl, but it's more of a full-on hobby than just happy snapping iyswim. When I can be bothered I like to develop all of my own prints too. I prefer the artistic input and control you have with an SLR.

I do, however, have a digital camera for messing about with. It's a Konica Minota Dimage 6 and I have to disagree with Mala, it takes excellent pictures and is ridiculously easy to use!

Thanks for all your help. I will perserve with the Minolta, like people mentioned a compact camera is much lighter to carry around everyday. I will research SLR cameras more-I will search the archives for your old message hub2dee. I want to take up photography as a hobby, so want to make sure it is money well spent.

I also highly recomend the canon slr 350 as an entry level slr camera. It's fab and although it's bulkier than a point and shoot it really does take high quality photos

If you're interested in it as a hobby I would suggest an SLR is the only way to go. The EOS 350D Pixiefish mentions is excellent. It has the same imager as the more expensive 20D I've got, so it's shots are fab. It also keeps the more complex controls you're not likely to need straight away a little bit more hidden IYSWIM (the 20D has more manual control available 'out of the box' with direct press buttons, whereas on the 350 they tend to be more in menus). The 350D is also arguably more suited to smaller hands / fingers - I found it a little small to grasp comfortably whilst I found the heavier / bulkier 20D a better fit in my large paws.

hth, and shoot loads of photos !

PS - A great web site is DP Review - it has reviews of the various bodies, disucssions on the lenses etc. etc.

Thanks for that Pikiefish.

Hub2dee-thanks for all the info. it has been really useful. I have spent loads of time on the dp review website-it's fab isn't it. The eos 350 looks great and having stubby little hands will prob. be perfect for me!

Can't wait to get started.

It's a very detailed geeky site, but has amazing product reviews and the chat forum moves v. v. v. fast !

The images from the 350 won't disappoint. Check out the equivalent Nikon SLR too incase you prefer that for some reason.