I've always taken loads of photos, wherever I go it seems to be all I do. But I've never owned an SLR camera, so I thought I might give it a try.

I've looked at various reviews, and I'm fancying the Nikon D40 (not that I really know what I'm looking for, but it seems to be highly recommended for beginners) but I'm worried that I might be being somewhat naive. I realise it's not just the camera I'll end up buying, but lenses, filters, memory, cases, tripods, and anything else I've missed there, and all that lot won't come cheap.

I don't mind this so much, as I'm certain I'll get use out of it, but the question is, do I need to kit myself out with all the good equipment at once, or is there a "basics kit" I will need, which I can then add to as I become more experienced?

Any recommendations/advice will be most welcome.

Shop around the D40 is an excellent camera but a little out of date now,so a new one can be bought cheaply,most nikon add ons will fit.If new all guarantees will apply.
But if you must have the latest shop around.
Also look at Canon,Sony,Fuji,Olympus etc.
I have had a d40 for a while now and have had no problems so far.
Go some where like Jessops and get the feel of some.
PS this thread may be of interest.
http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=445747

Hya Johnny

Canon, Nikon and Sony all do entry level DSLR's that will include one or two lens bundles which will include av 18-70 and 70-200 or 300 zooms to get you going.

They all do the same basic things and have their pro's and con's. One thing to do is to pick out cameras in your price range and research the models on the net, spend a week or so reading expert and user reviews to get a fair idea of how well the models work.

Then nip down to a couple of shop's and test drive the models and ask for help, best time to do this is through the week, it's less busy and the assistants will be willing to spend more time with you to get a sale. The main thing though is to do your research. I personally took this approach spending a couple of weeks researching three models before buying the Sony A300, and one deciding factor was that the Sony felt better in my hand. I picked the Canon up and put straight back down all because i didn't like the way it felt. Alot is all down to personal preference.

Asking members here for recommendations will guide you to what they use and their own manufacturer.

Here is a site i use alot for comprehensive reviews http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond40/

Hope this helps and the very best of luck in your choice. Let us know how you get on.

Cheers, H.

I can't really comment on the Nikon D40 as I'm in the Canon camp myself but basically Nikon and Canon are pretty much of a muchness - each one keeps leap-frogging the other with each new model.

The simple answer to your question is 'no'. You don't need to buy loads of kit at once to get started. You'll need a bit - the camera of course and a lens - many come as a kit with a mid range zoom - around 18-70mm or similar - and then you'll need a at least one memory card. Preferably more than one if you're as prolific as you say. The camera usually comes with a battery and charger but you might want to think about buying a spare battery too.

You'll need some sort of image processing software to make the most of your images - cropping, resizing, and generally fiddling with colour balance, density and the like if that's your thing. Most of the pros use Adobe PhotoShop (VERY expensive) and/or Lightroom (less expensive but also less functional) but there a loads of cheaper packages - and some free ones, like the Gimp (Google for them).

That's the basic kit to get you going.

Later you might want to consider a longer lens - perhaps a 70-200mm or 70-300mm, or a wider lens - Sigma's 12-24 is well spoken of, or maybe a fast lens for low light - a 50mm f1.8 or f1.4 (the 'nifty fifty'). Many SLRs have a built in flash, but they're not much use other than fill-in to be honest, so you might want to consider a flashgun with a tilt & swivel head for bouncing. And depending on what you like to photograph a tripod and or macro lens might be handy. And if you want prints you can consider buying a printer - which gets expensive on inks, paper and time, or just get them printed at Jessops or wherever once you've processed them.

Just remember a camera is not just a big hit on your bank balance - it's an ongoing drain as well!

Hi Johnny, I can't comment on the Nikon either however I love my Canons... (I now have 3). I first used a DSLR /SLR in March 2004... now I earning living taking pics.

I started with a Canon EOS 300D with the 18-55 lens kit... these days though like has been mentioned you can get some good lens bundles. One thing to remember when buying a lens is the sensor size on your camera... there may be a multiplication fact or consider when working our the 35mm equivalent e.g. when using my 20D with any lens other than the EFS lenses you have multiply the focal lengths stated for the lens by 1.6. In effect a 18-200mm lens translates to 28-320mm.

Another thing to consider how the camera feels to hold... like driving a car if you use it a lot you want it to be comfortable. I find the full bodied cameras too heavy as I have a dodgy wrist due to a couple of operations.

I can vouch for the Canon manuals too as they are a great starting point. I hadn't got a clue what I was doing when I bought mine and had no idea how to use it... I don't regret buying it though (obviously).

If you get a lens or couple of lenses that cover a decent range then you can find what areas of photography you like and then buy new equipment accordingly when you can justify it.

Pop into Harrisons on Abbeydale Road and they'll help you out (I'm guessing they are still there (Its been a year or so since I visited Sheff).

If you are going to buy online check out for problems with suppliers that other may have had... Alternatively there are a fair few people on here who could recommend online shops.

Good luck... you never know where it will take you...

Apart from Canon,Nikon and Sony , there is also Pentax cameras which are backwardly compatible with all the old Pentax lenses , which could be a factor in the future if you want to expand your lens collection. There is also the Olympus system which has got a good quality lens selection . The choice is endless - you make the choice , but which ever system you decide on , you are sure of a great time ahead

Hi I have the d40x, same as the d40 but 10 megapixels instead of 6.something. Im just starting out too and im finding it very user friendly. From what I have looked into for add ons it seems to be pretty good. Id recommend it. That or the d60. Have fun choosing one!

Hi
I bought my first DSLR in 2006, a Nikon D50 kit (camera body + 18-55 lens) and I still have it. It's been my first Nikon and I'm loving it. If I were to buy a more pro camera I'd surely go for Nikon again. After a few months I purchased a tripod from ebay for a ridiculous price and after year or so I bought 2nd hand SIGMA tele lens. So I built up my little kit during the years also adding some filters from Cokin or Hama just to have a bit more fun. They're also easy to find on ebay or @Jessops if you don't mind spending £17 for each of them. Just don't rush buying everything, you'll have enough to do practicing with your new camera in the first months although I recommend buying a tripod at once.

I also think you should go for an updated entry level camera like Nikon D60 instead of a D40.

I quote the user who said that buying a camera is an ongoing drain. After a year with your 1st DSLR you'll be tempted to buy a pro camera... I'm fighting the thought just because my bank account is shameful.