Advice on camera

[Physicist]

Used to have a fuji s7000, but dont have it anymore could you recommend a sub £500 digi camera for general use with the possibility of advancing with it. i know that some of you have canon cameras so some advice about those would be gratefully recieved.

[{Marsh}Bounty]

... sub £500 digi camera for general use with the possibility of advancing with it.

Well, if by "advancing" you mean moving on from just taking snap shots of events and family you will probably need to go the digital slr route.

My advice, given your budget, would to look for a second-hand 300d on eBay. These are currently going for between £300-£400 with the kit lens. Don't let the second-hand bit put you off, ALL of my kit is second-hand and it all arrived in mint condition and works perfectly. If you went this route you would probably have enough spare from your budget to get a second lens as well.

The 300d has recently been replaced by the 350 which has a few improvements and slightly higher resolution. This shouldn't be a problem though as I've had shots from my 300d enlarged to 30in x 20in and they look great!

On the minus side:
It won't be brand new.
Probably won't have a warrenty. (though the refurbished ones from Canon do)

On the plus side:
Very cheap.
If you find you don't like photography and want to sell later you will lose very little money, you might even make a few quid.
Any lens or extra kit you buy will fit a newer body if you decide to upgrade later on, (if you stay with canon obviously)

Here's an example (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Canon-300D-28-80mm-Lense-BOXED-MINT_W0QQitemZ7564699237QQcategoryZ30020QQrdZ1QQcm dZViewItem)

And another (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Canon-Outlet-D-SLR-EOS-300D-W-EF18-55-LENS_W0QQitemZ7565913311QQcategoryZ30020QQrdZ1QQcm dZViewItem)

This one even comes with an external flash! (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Canon-EOS-300D-digital-SLR-kit-1-start-No-Reserve_W0QQitemZ7564801836QQcategoryZ30020QQrdZ1Q QcmdZViewItem)

[Vale]

I have used Canon equipment for years so its canon all the way imo..

£500 is a fair budget, but since the rise in digi cameras its not going to get you the same quality dSLR as it would get you a filmSLR (still paying for tech development and new technology markup).

In terms of dSLR's £500 isnt going to buy new kit just yet. However you would be able to get a referbished Canon EOS 300d (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Canon-Outlet-D-SLR-EOS-300D-W-EF18-55-LENS_W0QQitemZ7565913311QQcategoryZ30020QQrdZ1QQcm dZViewItem) from ebay for less than £500. Yes referbished, but they do come with a years warranty.. Also if your lucky there are some second hand ones

Other than dSLR's £500 will get you some impressive kit.. The 2 cameras that I would recommend are:

1. Canon G6 (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canong6/page2.asp)

It is a good camera, allows you manual operation too for when you want to really move on and learn the art/science of photography.

2. (and this is what I would really recommend m8)
Canon s80 (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canons80/)

I used to have the s45 (the predecessor of this) as a back up. It allows full manual operation again, but is uber compact. Its an excellent camera..

[Bobster]

i've been looking @ a 2nd 300D / 10D on ebay and they're going for 350-400..