If you've just started to venture into photography, then it's highly advised you start off with a compact. If you want to jump.. you can get a prosumer, but you should not get a DSLR as a start to photography.

For compact cameras, you can choose any. Just cut your budget by a lot.

For prosumer, it's highly advised to get a Panasonic Lumix LX3. King of all the digital cameras.

But, if you still want a DSLR, then get the Nikon D60/D80 or the EOS-1000D. These are the best of the pick - since your budget allows the purchase of the above.

1. Canon EF lenses are easier to find, and thus has a larger range.

2. Sony is a newbie to the DSLR market, so they do not have a big market of lenses available yet, and thus it'll be hard to find lenses. Also, later on when you want to upgrade, the a900 is the highest you can go. And the a900 can NOT be compared to the Canon EOS-1D Mark III or the Canon EOS-5D Mark I/II. These two are the leaders of the DSLRs.

I advice you to go with the 450D.

I think you should get a D80 body and ask that guy who offered you that price to give you the 18/105 cheaper. Best choice.

Oh...

Well, the D40 ain't the best entry-level DSLR, and why opt for it when you can get a better one?

Anyway, good luck finding your deal then.

RM1000-2000 is quite enough for an entry-level set.

E-420 is RM2k for kit, if I'm not wrong, the E-520 is much more expensive. I'd recommend you to go with the D60 or the 1000D as these are the best of their range. Also, it'll help you later when you want to change camera bodies and have the lenses. All EF lenses are compatible with any model, and EF-S lenses can be used on APS-C size sensors. Nikon has a similar set up. Olympus and Sony are kinda newbies to the DSLR market so it isn't recommended to get them just yet.

IS is in lens for the lenses I think.

Anyway, Zuiko lens is EXTREMELY unpopular. Even Olympus DSLR users opt for other 3rd party lenses like Sigma or Tamron because of the unavailability of lenses, and they aren't as good compared to the Canon or Nikon lenses, that's why we recommend you to get a D60 or a 1000D.

Olympus is an ok-ok brand for digital cameras, but a no-no for DSLRs.

Better to get 1000D to start off, and get another lens.

Given time, you have mentioned it. Anyway, I do not base my statements on what I believe only - I have read about these before and thus then only I can comment.

Talking about the present, there's not a wide range of Zuiko lenses and you can see that it is still very unpopular as 99% of the shops I walk into don't sell those lenses. What's for the future, happens in the future.

Sony + Olympus, the lenses are hard to get as they're newbies to the DSLR market. Settling with Canon or Nikon would be better as you can upgrade later on without any worries.

Get the Panasonic Lumix FZ28. Best for your budget. If you can fork out RM300+- more, you can get an LX3.

Sifu here

We cannot help you la. If you like point A of product A and point B of product B, you'll just have to compare the pros and cons already.

A good thing to do is to list out what you think is good in the 1D MkIII, and then the 5D MkII, and then compare both lists. Which one has more advantages? Are these advantages beneficial or just for showing purpose? Are they really going to help you make the most out of your lenses?

You have to do the thinking on your own because it's your money.

SLR? To point and shoot?

I'd recommend you go for a prosumer first, get used to it, get fond with it, get experience from it and then only consider a DSLR.

In my opinion you should get a Lumix FZ28, or if you can increase your budget a bit, get the Lumix LX3.

1000D is RM2k, street price is RM1.9k. Lucky buyers might even score RM1800-RM1900 range. (lucky me)

You'll need a SDHC card if you plan to shoot continuous shots. If you're not, a normal SD will do.

Sony's range of lenses are smaller, while Canon's lenses have been since 1980s so there'll be a wider range. Sony's a newbie to the DSLR market.

Superzoom? Get a DSLR and a 400mm lens then.

Well, if you want a prosumer, try the LX3. Suits your budget perfectly. Best prosumer of the prosumers.

If you want to shoot macro photography a DSLR is highly recommended... but in this case I think you should settle with the IXUS 80. The IS is desirably better and helps a lot.

I think you should settle with the FZ28, or if you can increase your budget, get a LX3.

RAW shots are normally able to be processed by a few applications... I own a DSLR but I haven't played around with RAW yet so I can't really tell you how.

Anyway, RAW files are pictures taken raw (no touchup done on the camera, just the picture which was captured by the sensor) so it's easier to edit and touchup the picture to your liking.

Lumix LX3. Undoubtedly the best of its kind.

Nikon D80. Canon EOS-450D. These two are direct competitors for this price range. D80's body is cheap, and 450D is a rank up from the 1000D.

If you want you could settle with the 1000D too...

D80 body is around RM2k+-.

450D kit is around RM2.7k. Should be lower in terms of street price.

1000D is RM2k, lower for street price.

40D? It's around RM2k I think (not in shops anymore), while the 50D would be around RM5k for a new set. Depends on which kit you get.

Price is still too high for what it has to offer? You should really get a hands-on of it. I don't think so many people will buy it (look at the LX3 thread in this forum) if it isn't on par with its price.

I think you should go for the 40D. Or if you can, 50D.

Also you left out one choice - Nikon D80. A very desirable brand/model too.

a350 is hard when it comes to buying lenses. PQ.. you'll have to make the decision on that yourself because no one camera is best in all aspects. There are some that wins in MOST of the points though.

Nikon D60. Best value. Used set though..

If you want you might try to get a used 1000D set too.

In my opinion, it's going to be a hassle when you want to get lenses for a Sony.

PQ for the Canon is desirably better, but if you want style and average PQ, go for the Sony.
Canon or Nikon. EOS-1000D or the D60.

Both are recommended for your stated price range.

Nikon is more expensive because of many factors, most we do not know of. But Nikon DSLRs in general perform very well.

All DSLRs are expensive, and Nikon is quite moderately priced already. Same goes for Canon. These two are the recommended brands for each price range and they don't fail to amaze even with their entry-level cameras.

It isn't rubbish. When you want to upgrade to a full-frame DSLR you'll feel the pain because the a900 won't even go near the 1D/1Ds Mark III.

On the other hand, Canon EF lenses are used for every kind of body, whether cropped or not. Full-frame can use it and APS-C sensors can use it too.

Base your statements on a foundation before criticizing.

So, let's allow you to tell me - are Konica Minolta lenses common in Malaysia?

I'm not 'rejecting' other brands as you say, but purely pointing out the downsides.

Body doesn't matter - the lens matters most. For long range lenses, the cheapest you can get is the 55-250mm EF-S one. Rm1k+- around there. If you want you'll have to increase your budget a bit though - long range zoom lenses are well over rm2k... probably you might be able to hook up a good deal on the 70-200mm's (f4l or f2.8)... but that'd be rare.

If you want a cheap alternative then go for the Tamron 70-300mm Di Macro.

Anyway, for the body, since you've been using a D40 already, you should be able to grasp the tactics so I think you should go for the 450D. If your budget doesn't allow, then get a 1000D. If you can further push your budget, get a 50D.

450D is around RM3k+- for new kit (not sure) and 1000D is RM2k in shops but street price is RM1.8k-RM2k.

450D is in the same category as the D80. D60 is more to the 1000D's category.

Pixelated? Usually pictures won't get pixelated in any circumstance, even if your lens is fully extended. First time hearing someone ask this question - so I guess I'm a bit dumbfounded.

Anyway, that deal.. is around market price. Try searching for camera or photo shops and ask them to offer you a price la.. And ask them to throw in some freebies too.

Under 1k? Fairly impossible.

If you ask me - I think you can settle with two cheap setups: a 1000D with EF 50mm f/1.8 (for shooting macro, landscape, the kit lens will help you do portrait and the holiday taking ones) or

Sony a200 with a 50mm f/1.8 too. If I'm not wrong though, Sony's 50mm f/1.8 is a bit expensive.

EDIT: Left out another choice - D60 with 50mm f/1.8. Fairly expensive setup though.

Then tell me - where do you look for those lens? See anyone selling it in Garage Sales? Does Fotokem carry it? Does individual photo or camera shops sell it?

If you're mentioning other countries like Singapore, maybe they do have... but we're in Malaysia (don't know about you) so we have limited access to lenses like that.

Go read a few reviews on Sony DSLRs and compare them with Canon or Nikon's reviews. DPreview will help you a lot. When I was choosing my DSLR I had my eyes on the a200 at first because it was impressively cheap, but in the end I settled for the 1000D because of the pros and cons that have outweighed my need to save RM600 and buy the a200.

I'm not trying to leave out Sony - I'm a big Sony fan myself, besides - I'm typing on a Sony Vaio, using a Sony Ericsson, watching TV on a Sony Bravia with a Sony home theater system, and I use Sony car audio systems too. Got a problem?

This post has been edited by TheWandererX: Dec 17 2008, 11:22 AM

A300 is RM2k-2.1k, D60 is RM2k, 1000D is RM2k. If you're lucky you might find deals (probably they give you a lot of freebies, or they sell it to you at a dirt cheap price). It depends on how much you surf around and explore shops.

For closeup, you need macro lenses, and the cheapest one is RM300 for Canon, while for Nikon, I'm not sure.

Since you're a beginner and you PREFER Canon or Nikon (just emphasizing, if not I'll get flamed by somebody here), you can choose from the D60, D80 (body) , 1000D or the 450D.

D60 and 1000D is RM2k+-, the 450D is RM3k for the kit, and the D80 is around RM2k for the body.

The extra money (if you buy the D60 or 1000D) can be used to buy a good macro lens, either the EF 50mm f/1.8 or the f/1.4. While if you get the D80 or the 450D you might have to push your budget up a wee bit more.

If you're able to increase it, go for a Canon EOS-40D.. gives you value for price... but it's most probably used and only the body will be sold..

Go for the LX3.

Really? My friends don't own an Alpha so, I'm sorry if I gave any biased statements.

D40 used set... it's a really old model already though so I don't recommend getting it.

There's another option though - a new Sony a200. RM1.4k if I'm not wrong.

Yeah.. that'd be good. If you're on a budget though you should make the most out of your kit lens - I'm overseas right now and only equipped with my 18-55 kit lens... take my case as an example.

Oh. Thanks mate. Enlightened me a lot on macro.

For your budget you can opt for the 1000D, D60, D80 body, a200, a350.

1. High end compact cameras, or known as prosumers, can bring you a long way - but if you do acquire the budget later on, you'll have to sell it off and buy a new DSLR and lens - which would kinda cost you time. Prosumers are like stepping stones into the DSLR world - and trust me, once you play with one for a while, you'll want to change to a DSLR.

Pros can make full use of the 18-55 provided with the 1000D better than a newbie can do with a 1D MkIII and L lenses... so it's all up to your own skill. It takes time to learn how to make full use of a single lens - but it's worthwhile. Gives you more things to tinker around with too.

2. AF points .. yes, that is a bit of a letdown - but it's a minor thing to people who know how to control and grasp hold of their DSLRs. If you ask me I'd focus on the subject with AF (aim on the subject first), then switch to MF and fit the whole picture in.

Spot metering... I have no idea on that, while CMOS sensor vs CCD sensor... to me that's minor too.

The most important thing is that when you want to upgrade to a better DSLR body, what can you do? The a900 can hardly compare with an EOS 1D MkIII. Maybe with the 5D/50D...

Also, lenses are also quite a considering option for a DSLR. Currently Sony does not have an extensive option of lenses available to consumers - most probably due to their new entry into the DSLR market, so it's advised to stay with the big guys.

Overall, it does make a minor difference - but it can be made up with the other things Canon has to offer.

You also can choose to get the a350 for Rm2k. Anyway, try reading around for reviews - and you'll know that price is a factor that NEEDS to be considered - not to be taken like a secondary consideration. The more expensive a camera is, the better it is. (in most cases, and also in different ways)

I personally recommend you to get the 1000D or the D60. These two should serve you well as your start-off.

Try YL Camera. They should be able to provide you with an astounding price.

You could get a used 40D/50D set with this amount of money. Try reading around though - I don't know much about the a700 and it might be better than the 40D/50D, I have no idea.

Lowepro backpacks should serve you well. Also, what do you want to add to your setup? What do you want to use your DSLR for? Low light photography? Macro? Telephoto?

In my opinion, get the 1000D or the D60 - it'll provide you with a good start off to the DSLR world and at the same time you can accumulate lenses for the future.

D60, 1000D, a200, a350.

For prosumer, LX3, but with your budget I'd recommend you to get a DSLR.

Read the stuff I've mentioned about Sony/Canon/Nikon up there. It'll help. Also, read a few reviews to get a rough view of what's good and what's not for each DSLR.

D60, D80, 1000D, 450D, a200, a350, E-520.

Something with perspective? I don't really understand this. =/

Anyway, I recommend you to get a 1000D/D60 and keep the spare change for lenses later on. I don't think you should get 2 lenses at once - you'll have not enough time to learn each lens' pros and cons.

D60/1000D, in my opinion. These two should get you to a good start in DSLR photography.

@blynn123:

True what your friends said - but some point and shoot cameras have a higher pixel count than DSLRs. Just because they're big black boxes doesn't mean that they have very high pixel counts. Take the 1000D for example. It has a 10.1MP CMOS sensor.

Go for the Lumix FZ28 or a Sony a200 for 1.4k. Should get you contented. If you can increase your budget then get a Lumix LX3.

I'll catch up with the others later.

You'll have to increase your budget or you can't get a new 1000D/D60. Both are about Rm2k for their kit set.

If you want to lower your budget you can get a Sony a200. Or a used set.

Oh, and if you're lucky you might find a shop selling 1000D/D60 for RM1800 or RM2000 with lots of freebies. Depends on your luck.

1000D/D60 is the best choice for a beginner with your budget.

I suggest you read a few reviews about these two before making your decision - because if you ask me which to choose I'd say 1000D, because I'm using it now.

I think you can get the Lowepro Slingshot 100 AW.. perfect for your gears. I'm not sure whether it has raincover though...