What camera is right for me?

[Intravenous]

Towards the end of this year I'd really like to get a decent camera...my digital camera does fine for average shots but I'd really like detailed, good quality shots. A few points to be considered:

I am a complete beginner when it comes to cameras so I would need something easy to operate and without too much fiddling.

I would love to be able to take decent close up (macro?) shots (like in focus scale details)

I would also like to take outdoor landscape shots and full body shots of my snakes.

So can anyone suggest something that would fit these criteria? Maybe suggestions of what kind of cameras I should be looking at and maybe a few examples of models?

Thanks :).

[Tula_Montage]

I would absolutly recommend the Nikon D40 (although you might as well get the D40X). It's the camera I use.

It's a cheap (£300) entry level SLR that can be used as a point and shoot, however you still have full manual control over your camera if you want to do that. The 18-55mm kit lens that comes with it can get rather close to snakes as well as being a lightweight and versatile lens capable of everything you mentioned.

The menus are easily accessable and you don't have to trawl through lots of useless features to find what you are looking for.

Bear in mind, the body is not too important on a camera. You will need to buy a macro lens if you want to do macro photography. A crap lens on a decent body is no use. I use the sigma 105mm macro lens and its all I will ever need. While this is not as expensive as others of the same length, it's still in the £350 region. Prepare to spend a lot of money on a camera kit...

Heres some examples of my photography just using the kit lens.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b115/tula-montage/other%20animoz/pussyeye.png

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b115/tula-montage/Scenery/upnorth24.png

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b115/tula-montage/Scenery/upnorth20.png

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b115/tula-montage/corns/portrait3.png

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b115/tula-montage/corns/manual4.png

Or if you are willing to spend a bit more money on the body, I would go straight for the D200 as if you enjoy photography as much as myself, you will wish you had upgraded to that body sooner. But theres no point in running before you can walk eh ;)

[Intravenous]

I'm expecting to pay a fair amount for the camera (its my 21st this year so I'm hoping for a bit of parental contribution as my birthday present since a good camera should last quite a long time :o).

What are the main differences between a D40,a D40X and a D200? And when you say "point and shoot" compared to "full manual control over your camera" what do you mean? You are talking to the person who picks up the camera, looks through the view finder and clicks :rolleyes:. How much, and what kind, of fiddling are you talking about either way?

[Tula_Montage]

"You are talking to the person who picks up the camera, looks through the view finder and clicks" - THAT is point and shoot photography. No messing about with shutter speed or aperture etc. There are wee dials on the camera aka presets like you would have on a compact camera. For example theres a wee flower for "macro" photography.

The only difference between the D40 and the D40X is 4mpx extra. However pixels are not entirley important...

Heres a great review on the D40. Another to consider is the D80 but theres no point when the D200 is already out there. Its a far superior body.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d40.htm

If you dont know anything about using an SLR camera there really is absolutly no point in spending a grand on a decent body when you won't use it to it's full potential. I'll stick with my original recomendation. Spend £300 on the body and pay for a decent macro lens... You can take some oustanding shots with a simple kit like the D40 with the Nikkor 100mm macro.

[Tula_Montage]

If you click on the "see what I see" link that will take you to my deviantart gallery, in which there is a "macro" section so you can see just how powerful macro lenses can be.

[Intravenous]

Yup, I've seen some of your macro shots before :p.

That does kind of seem like the best option (a heap of extra money on features I won't use doesnt sound like a good idea).

Last question for now: how fast does this kind of technology go out of date? I won't be looking at buying until the end of the year so should I be asking again "what model would be best" closer to the time :rolleyes:?

[Tula_Montage]

This sort of technology goes out the window ever year. But why play keeping up with the Jonses'? Every camera does the same job, it captures what YOU see. You will get some cracking shots from the D40 if you use it right. I plan on upgrading in a year or so to the D300 and it will probably be my last camera for a long time.

Why not go into your local jessops and ask to have a play around with the D40? It may be the most basic SLR specifically aimed at people who have never used an SRL before but it's a fantastic camera to learn on. I have played around with D200's before I got my D40 and hated them because I simply didnt understand what to do with all the fancy buttons....

I now use my camera entirley manually, but the presets deffinatley churn out decent pictures in the right conditions too. It just depends on how stylised you want your photography to look.