Im just gettin started into photography & use a Fujifilm Finepix S5700 at the moment, (I know its basic, lol). Its a good camera for the price (Just over £100) but not sufficient for the level of pics i want, shutter speed stops at 4secs. Any help in choosing a new camera wud be greatly appreciated. Willing too spend around £400 or £500. Thanx. Mark

--------------------------------------------------------------
Take a picture......It lasts longer

Hi Mark This will probably rise the age old question of Nikon or Cannon, you will find 90% of users will use one or other, so I will give you my take form Nikon, as I have recently bought my new one (D200) the money you are talking you would be in the range of a new D80 or D40x, but I would advise you to try and get your hands on a good second hand D200 as the price has dropped from the lunch of the D300 and it is a fantastic little peace of kit and built like a tank..lol ,but you may need to up your budget a little !! I could go into boring details but I won’t so see link below of a good review site for all cameras! Oh and If I had to pick from the budget given it would be the D80!! hope this helps. http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs.asp Thanks Martin

--------------------------------------------------------------
What you see depends on what you're looking for!

I'm a Canon man myself - just like Martin predicted - and I would recommend the Canon 400D for the money you mention. You might have to add a few Euro to it. The website he quotes is one I use regularly. The give in-depth review of all the cameras in a techinical way but it's easily understood and comparisons between cameras are easier to make. Paul T.

There are lots of very good cameras in the price range you're looking at.. but they're far from "pro". I'm afraid for the pro end camera's you're looking at multiple thousands of euros, more so than multiple hundreds. Best of luck with the shopping.

--------------------------------------------------------------
The Wonder Of Light http://www.thewonderoflight.com

Ciaran is correct, but if you're willing to settle for a used camera, then a "pro" camera can be had for under €1,000.00 on the second hand market if you look hard enough. But that carries a significant risk as you really don't know the history of the camera and how reliable it is likely to be.

Ask yourself if you really need a pro specification camera in the first place. My suggestion would be to go for a semi-pro body and spend the money on lenses instead. Something like an EOS 40D would be good and don't rule out the 30D either, as this can be had at a bargain price now that it's been replaced by the newer 40D. Or, if your preference is for Nikon, then Nikon have equivalent cameras (I'm just not sure which models).

--------------------------------------------------------------
tmerz@gmx.net

Mark, Hope this helps and does not confuse your decision... If your going to spend money on photography in the future then I would agree here with the 'invest in lens option', good glass is expensive and in the long term a good investment. With £400/500 you will get a good APS-C sensor camera not full frame (35mm) with a body and a couple of lenses. Look for older models usually once the new model appears the price of the previous model drops like a brick. Big money invested in DX lens glass (designed for APS-C sensors)are okay if your sticking with APS-C bodies or if your making money from your work and can afford the price tags. If you decide to go to full frame digital they will become unsatisfactory, the difference will be vignetting or darkening of the edges around the frame due to their design. Dont listen too much to the camera make stuff, all the Canon vs Nikon 'mine's is better than your's' crap that goes on.....I have both and like both..and also have Olympus and Fuji........the bottom line is in what you see with your eye and how your capture that. You dont need expensive (so called pro) gear to make good images.....I have seen £35,000 Hasselblad images that look crap and Fuji Finepix images (4mb) images that have blown my mind!! It all depends in whose hands their held and more importantly with what vision they capture. You can get very good low cost digital cameras capable of slow shutter speeds of up to 30sec and B facility...which you stated you want, for half your budget.

--------------------------------------------------------------
" What does'nt kill me, makes me stronger " ....David Bowling