Digital Camera Experts

[CoccoBill]

Get a Nikon D3100 with the kit lens, add maybe a 35mm f/1.8DX fixed focal lens and you're all set, those should be around $600-700 total and excellent to start out with. The next option up would be the Nikon D7000 which is spectacular in every way, but will cost about twice as much.

The major differences between Nikon and Canon are ergonomics, so go try both and see which you prefer, both make excellent and very equal cameras. Also Nikon's kit lenses tend to be way better than Canon's.

[Ash256]

Get a Nikon D3100 with the kit lens, add maybe a 35mm f/1.8DX fixed focal lens and you're all set, those should be around $600-700 total and excellent to start out with. The next option up would be the Nikon D7000 which is spectacular in every way, but will cost about twice as much.

The major differences between Nikon and Canon are ergonomics, so go try both and see which you prefer, both make excellent and very equal cameras. Also Nikon's kit lenses tend to be way better than Canon's.

Great advice here. I'm not sure your level of knowledge but I'd just like to add a couple of things:

- With DSLRs you zoom manually using the lens itself. Divide the top number by the bottom number to get an idea of how much you can zoom. Therefore your standard 18-55 kit lens is equivalent to basically 3x zoom. If you want to take closeups of, say, the moon, animals, or your favourite girl as you lie behind the bushes in her garden, then you need a telephoto lens like this one: Sigma 70-300mm f4-5.6 DG Macro For Nikon Digital & Film: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics.

- Use this website: Digital Cameras: Digital Photography Review, News, Reviews, Forums, FAQ. It has absolutely amazing reviews. Just bear in mind that sometimes Canon's model numbers for cameras differ between the UK and the States.