Best camera for an a beginning enthusiast?

[sasguru]

Consider the newly annouced Olympus E-620:

http://www.dpreview.com/previews/olympuse620/

If I were starting out, I would certainly be looking at that. The Olympus Zuiko lenses are exceptional optically, and cheaper, smaller and lighter than the equivalent Canon/Nikon/Sony/Pentax offerings - and usually have better build quality for the same price bracket.

Don't get sucked into the 'more magapixels == better' marketing bull.

If you actually want to learn about the craft of photography, you could do worse than pick up a good second-hand manual camera (e.g. Nikon FM2, Olympus OM1, Pentax K1000) and a standard 50mm lens and shoot film.

Hmm that looks nice but expensive/not released yet?

So far it seems the cheapast entry level DSLRs with excellent reviews are the Nikon D40 and the Sony A200. The latter seems to offer more features for the same price, about £250.

I think either will suit my needs very well for now. If I get serious about photography I can of course upgrade in a couple of years, when no doubt there will be more and better innovations.

[sasguru]

Can't decide between the D40 and A200. Think I'll pop into Jessops after work and just see which "feels" better made.

[realityhack]

Don't get sucked into the 'more magapixels == better' marketing bull.

Amen to that.

If you actually want to learn about the craft of photography, you could do worse than pick up a good second-hand manual camera (e.g. Nikon FM2, Olympus OM1, Pentax K1000) and a standard 50mm lens and shoot film.

And that.

Can't decide between the D40 and A200. Think I'll pop into Jessops after work and just see which "feels" better made.

Good decision.

Nikon = better build quality, better range & quality of lenses & accessories, better optics. See for yourself.

[voodooflux]

Can't decide between the D40 and A200. Think I'll pop into Jessops after work and just see which "feels" better made.

One possibly minor thing to be aware of with the D40 is that the camera body doesn't have an autofocus motor in the body, so you'll need to get Nikon AF-S lenses that have the focus motor on the lens itself. This isn't a major problem as the new Nikon lenses are AF-S, but it means that you can't autofocus with some of the older fixed focal length lenses like the excellent 50mm f/1.8 (a great piece of glass for ~£70). Just something to be aware of really.

Not sure if any of this applies to the A200.

[voodooflux]

Don't get sucked into the 'more magapixels == better' marketing bull.

Amen to that.

WTS

[sasguru]

Thanks for all the pointers guys. I've gone from knowing absolutely bugger all to knowing a fair bit in less than a day.

[bogeyman]

Having previously owned Olympus and Sony Kit it was always the memory cards that caused me headaches on that front. On a photog trip round Latin America with Olympus's XD format cards, I was banging my head against the wall more often than not in trying to get back up copies made.

Olympus xD cards are the worst format in the world - they were designed by midgets, for midgets. You could lose an xD card in your trouser cuff.

xD cards are a great example of 'neat engineering' triumphing over what it is possible for a normal-sized human to use, or, indeed lose.

CF card is the only sensible format IMO.

[expat]

Olympus xD cards are the worst format in the world - they were designed by midgets, for midgets. You could lose an xD card in your trouser cuff.

xD cards are a great example of 'neat engineering' triumphing over what it is possible for a normal-sized human to use, or, indeed lose.

CF card is the only sensible format IMO.

The Olympus DSLRs take xD and CF.

[bogeyman]

The Olympus DSLRs take xD and CF.

But why? When they could potentially have two CF slots?

[expat]

But why? When they could potentially have two CF slots?

Dunno. But I'd guess:
1. An xD card is smaller and more convenient to carry.
2. An Olympus xD lets you do automatic panorama stitching.