So good I posted it twice.

Hope someone maybe able to give me a bit of guidance about buying a dslr. I have been looking on + off at getting one a for a few years now and lost my bottle last time I bought a camera and went with a bridge instead.

I know I'm going to end up rambling here, so bear with me, I'll get there in the end.

The trouble I'm having is the more I read the more I read, I find myself backing out of a particular choice. With the Canon's, the 550D, 600D and 60D all seem a bit similar (I think I'm right in saying all three have the same sensor and processor?) and although the 60D does have extra fuctions / selling points, is it worth the extra? Also the 60D has been out a little while now, will Canon be looking to replace it anytime soon? The 600D is said to just the same as the 550D but with the articulated screen + better movie mode. The Nikon D5100 seems to get decent reviews for image quality, but almost all reviewers say people will quickly grow out of the camera and its not very intuitive to use. Then I was looking at the Sony A65 with seems to have a lot of good features but low light performance is supposed to be very bad - with noise showing at even low ISO's.

The Nikon D7000 looks to be a great camera but a little more expensive than what I wanted to pay. I think the problem is that unless you've got a serious amount of cash to spend, there is never going to be the perfect choice and at the entry / upper entry level maybe there's not going to be a great deal of difference in what you buy? I think what doesn't help though when making a decision is that both Canon and Nikon cameras only seem to have very short life span of being the current model. The 500D was only out 12 months before the 550D came along + that was only out 12 months before the 600D arrived. Nikon's D3000 was only out 12 months before the D3100 arrived. So with a few of the current models now being around 12 months old or more, how long before the new models come out?

If people out there had a budget of say £800 max (for a body + lens) what would you go for? IMO there seems to be a bit of a price gap between the entry level + the more advanced cameras and £800 isn't really going to get me anything more advanced than say the 600D which is currently around the £580 mark.

Well I have a Canon 50D so I'd probably go with a 60D for the more fps. That was the reason for my choice as at the time my main photography was rugby, but all round its a fantastic camera.

Cheers for that, the 60D certainly seems the best reasonably priced Canon so will probably end up going for that or the Sony. Just wish the Sony SLT cameras didn't have a few issues such as questionable jpeg performance + low light performance. In decent light and shooting in raw, the image quality is supposed to be great. Shame there is not much choice in the Nikon range as the D5100 with lens is around £580 whilst the next model up, the D7000 with lens is around £1020 with nothing in between.

Have you considered buying a good used "pro" camera?

Forget all the chasing the megapixels bollox, you'll often get better results from a camera with fewer mp but a faster and more robust sensor.

Quote ="Diavolo Rosso"Any resident owners of a Fujifilm or Olympus point and shoot camera? My Panasonic has died and since it will cost £75 to repair I'm inclined to buy new. Wondering if anyone has any particular comments to supplement other research. Specifically looking at this sort of spec as I want decent optical zoom and HD video (preferably 1080p). www.amazon.co.uk/Fujifilm-FinePi ... 588&sr=1-3 www.amazon.co.uk/Fujifilm-FinePi ... 588&sr=1-9 www.amazon.co.uk/Olympus--10-Dig ... 88&sr=1-10 www.amazon.co.uk/Olympus-SP-610U ... 94&sr=1-29'" I bought a [url=http://www.fujifilm.eu/uk/products/digital-cameras/advanced-compact/model/finepix-f500exr/overview/this Fujifilm camera[/url about 6 months ago, so I could take some decent pictures of my sister getting married in the US. I'm really impressed with it here's a few pictures i've taken using it. It's a pretty high spec for a point and shoot and less bulky than the ones you've put up.

Quote ="Diavolo Rosso"Any resident owners of a Fujifilm or Olympus point and shoot camera? My Panasonic has died and since it will cost £75 to repair I'm inclined to buy new. Wondering if anyone has any particular comments to supplement other research. Specifically looking at this sort of spec as I want decent optical zoom and HD video (preferably 1080p). www.amazon.co.uk/Fujifilm-FinePi ... 588&sr=1-3 www.amazon.co.uk/Fujifilm-FinePi ... 588&sr=1-9 www.amazon.co.uk/Olympus--10-Dig ... 88&sr=1-10 www.amazon.co.uk/Olympus-SP-610U ... 94&sr=1-29'" I bought a [url=http://www.fujifilm.eu/uk/products/digital-cameras/advanced-compact/model/finepix-f500exr/overview/this Fujifilm camera[/url about 6 months ago, so I could take some decent pictures of my sister getting married in the US. I'm really impressed with it here's a few pictures i've taken using it. It's a pretty high spec for a point and shoot and less bulky than the ones you've put up.

Quote ="Diavolo Rosso"Any resident owners of a Fujifilm or Olympus point and shoot camera? My Panasonic has died and since it will cost £75 to repair I'm inclined to buy new. Wondering if anyone has any particular comments to supplement other research. Specifically looking at this sort of spec as I want decent optical zoom and HD video (preferably 1080p). www.amazon.co.uk/Fujifilm-FinePi ... 588&sr=1-3 www.amazon.co.uk/Fujifilm-FinePi ... 588&sr=1-9 www.amazon.co.uk/Olympus--10-Dig ... 88&sr=1-10 www.amazon.co.uk/Olympus-SP-610U ... 94&sr=1-29'" I can vouch for Fuji, I have had the F11 for about 5 years, I use it for underwater shots mainly and it has been a great bit of kit. I had the F10 before it, but my case flooded and kn@cked the camera.

Quote ="Diavolo Rosso"Any resident owners of a Fujifilm or Olympus point and shoot camera? My Panasonic has died and since it will cost £75 to repair I'm inclined to buy new. Wondering if anyone has any particular comments to supplement other research. Specifically looking at this sort of spec as I want decent optical zoom and HD video (preferably 1080p). www.amazon.co.uk/Fujifilm-FinePi ... 588&sr=1-3 www.amazon.co.uk/Fujifilm-FinePi ... 588&sr=1-9 www.amazon.co.uk/Olympus--10-Dig ... 88&sr=1-10 www.amazon.co.uk/Olympus-SP-610U ... 94&sr=1-29'" I can vouch for Fuji, I have had the F11 for about 5 years, I use it for underwater shots mainly and it has been a great bit of kit. I had the F10 before it, but my case flooded and kn@cked the camera.

Thats certainly something I would consider. Is there a best place get a decent used camera? Would be a bit wary of buying 2nd hand off somewhere like ebay.

I bought my Olympus E1 off eBay over two years ago now and it hasn't missed a beat. There's also Bristol Cameras, Park Cameras etc

I must be lucky, everything I have bought off e-bay has been as described. I bought my Pentax SLR from e-bay and its superb.

Will have a look on ebay and see if there is anything that stands out. I suppose the good thing with items like dslr's, most people who have been prepared to spend a lot of money on them, will have (hopefully) looked after them well. The only worry would be shelling out a lot of money then 2 or 3 months down the line it stops working. Anyone had to have any repairs done on a dslr? I take it could be expensive?

Quick question for some advice - my dad is looking at a Canon EOS 1100d twin lens kit or 500D twin lens kit - which would be best for him? This will be his first DSLR...

Depends on the price and what lenses, the 500D is quite old now with both 550D and 600D having superseded it but the 1100D is a basic entry model.

Can anyone recommend a good tripod for around £100 (with a head !!), got a night shooting session with a pro bought as a prezzy.

Get the best [url=http://www.warehouseexpress.com/brand/?manfrotto&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=manfrotto%20tripods&utm_campaign=Tripods%20/%20Photography%20Tripods&cm_mmc=google%20Warehouse%20Express%20-%20Bags%20%26%20Tripods-_-Tripods%20/%20Photography%20Tripods-_-Photography%20Tripods%20/%20Manfrotto%20Generic-_-manfrotto%20tripodsManfrotto[/url you can afford

Think the deal is £500, for an 18-55mm and 75-270 or 300mm lens, with a carry case, memory card, filter and something else. Thats on the 1100D. Entry level would be perfect, I just don't want him spending more than he needs to really.

Either would be a decent buy at that price, not an earth shattering deal but good all the same. Personally I'd go for the 1100D due to its newer tech but they are both great cameras.

How does that work?

BG quotes a post before it's been made?

I have a Giotos MTL9351B which with a head would be in the £120-130 range if you can afford the extra. It's legs are independently adjustable in three positions and the column is two way adjustable. This makes it great for macro work as it allows you to get low down and close up to your subject like in my bluebell shot below.

I've noticed BG do that a few times, psychic innit.

Thanks, will take a look.

Excuse me a moment.

What's a "Night photography course"? I've visions of a course aimed directly at taking photos at night time although it's probably just a photography course, ran at night.

In answer to your question, I used to have a manfrotto that I'd paid good money for, It got stolen at a classic car show so I replaced it with Jessops own, was about £90. I've also a £15 one I picked up in asda in desperation that I don't mind leaving about at car shows, It's not half bad actually.

Quote ="rover49"Can anyone recommend a good tripod for around £100 (with a head !!), got a night shooting session with a pro bought as a prezzy.'" If you have a Calumet near by then their own brand are made by Monfrotto, if not you can pick up a decent Manfrotto or Giotto and head for around £120 new, less on eBay. tiny.cc/tripodsonebay

Quote ="rover49"Can anyone recommend a good tripod for around £100 (with a head !!), got a night shooting session with a pro bought as a prezzy.'" If you have a Calumet near by then their own brand are made by Monfrotto, if not you can pick up a decent Manfrotto or Giotto and head for around £120 new, less on eBay. tiny.cc/tripodsonebay

Its a session with a pro photographer taking photos of the sights of Liverpool at night.

I think the Manfrotto is a bit too much for me at the moment, I looked at several review sites and there are some good reports on other brands for around £100 to 130 (including heads), which would be around the £250 for the Manfrotto. I don't know if I will use it often enough to justify the extra, but they do look the biz

If you are paying £250 for a Manfrotto you are shopping in the wrong places.
A second hand one would be great value, they are built like tanks.