Any recommendations as to what Digital Slr camera to get?

[Mummy-D]

As the title says really. I have always liked photography and at the moment i have got a digital camera (panasonic lumix dmc fz-18) which apparently is a bridge camera as in as close to an slr camera as you can get but is only a digital.

I would love to buy an Slr camera, but dont know what kind to go for?

What are the biggest differences between a digital camera and slr camera?

Would i need to get a photoshop software package to get the best use from an slr camera?

What brand to go for? (i am thinking canon or nikon?)

What features to look out for?

How much would i need to set aside for one?

Sorry for all the q's ladies, but i really want to get one and dont want to be dissapointed so as much info would be great!!

Thanks

 

[Urchin]

What are the biggest differences between a digital camera and slr camera? Picture quality, range of photos, amount of settings etc. Then of course, the whole "SLR" bit... you can buy additional lenses to get more varied photos.

Would i need to get a photoshop software package to get the best use from an slr camera? It can help but there are some great free ones out there at the moment, like Gimp.

What brand to go for? (i am thinking canon or nikon?) Yes go for a good decent brand. I have a Canon 400D, discontinued now but replaced by the 450D. I LOVE it.

What features to look out for? Well....theres so much, what lens it comes with, the mega pixels aren't as important as you might imagine, unless you want ENORMOUS photos. I like that mine has "9-point wide-area AF" which basically means there are 9 points on the viewfinder which you can focus in, so for example, if I wanted something far on the left in focus, and everything else out of focus, I can do that. Canons also have a great set of pre set settings, but I don't know what others come with.

How much would i need to set aside for one? In my opinion, the best value at the moment is the Nikon D40, which is a great starter cam, you can pick one up for about £200-£250. After that the Canons start at about £300 I think. If you want to spend more than that have a look round and I can ask my photographer mate for his opinion on your choice if you like. It was him who recommended the Canon 400D to me

 

[daftscotslass]

Aside from what Urchin said I have a Nikon D40, it's fantastic. I would say, though, don't get the silver because the additional lenses only seem to come in black and the silver seems to very easily scraped which is annoying me about my camera now.

 

[Mummy-D]

Hiya!

Thanks for the advice ladies. I had been looking at the canon 450D and the Nikon D40 one!!

Oh decisions decisions! Got a few weeks left before i make my mind up. I want to have one before the baby arrives.

Thanks again