i think the best thing to do is go to a camera shop and have a play, thats what i did as tfboy said entry level dslr's are pretty much the same as far as cannon /nikon/sony etc, its down to personal choice i chose a nikon as it felt much more robust and better in my hand

Might want to check the order of grandeur there I suppose it depends on your definition of quality, but there is hardly anything to differentiate all dSLR manufacturers at entry level in terms of quality. Some features will be different, but overall, they're pretty much all the same

Sorry mate it's Canon all the way, I've rarely seen a professional photographer wit anything else but a Canon and my local colleges always insist on a Canon dslr for their courses. If a film format course then it would have to be toss up between Nikon and Canon.

Loz £360 is a good price for the 1000d prices for digital cameras are always dropping due regular updating of the new models. Hope your daughter does well and enjoys her course.

Went into Chester today with my daughter, went to 3 shops, (Jessops,Currys and the London camera Exchange) all the same price - £399,

Looking at the link Canon Cameras - Canon EOS 1000D with EF-S 18-55mm IS Lens Kit

the price is £365 but says IS kit, is it mistaken? I got told this camera does not come with IS?

Sorry mate it's Canon all the way, I've rarely seen a professional photographer wit anything else but a Canon and my local colleges always insist on a Canon dslr for their courses. If a film format course then it would have to be toss up between Nikon and Canon.

No offense, but we can dissagree on this point. There's nothing really to differentiate between them. Each has their quirks and benefits, but I stand by my previous statement.

If colleges are "insisting on a dslr for their courses", then I'd be worried. A photography course teaches you the basic fundamentals of photography, and which tool you use shouldn't really have any impact. If a college insists on one model over another, I'd be a bit worried to be honest as it would tend to indicate that the mentors have limited their knowledge and skills using one brand. Personally, I'd prefer an agnostic course It's a bit like going on a cooking course and the teaching chef insists you use Tefal's collection of pots and pans and any other pan won't do.

Went into Chester today with my daughter, went to 3 shops, (Jessops,Currys and the London camera Exchange) all the same price - £399,

Looking at the link Canon Cameras - Canon EOS 1000D with EF-S 18-55mm IS Lens Kit

the price is £365 but says IS kit, is it mistaken? I got told this camera does not come with IS?

With Canon and Nikon, any image stabilising is in the lens. Canon call this IS, Nikon call it VR (vibration reduction) and Sigma call it OS (optical stabilisation). So your 1000D with EF-S 18-55mm IS lens kit points to the EF-S 18-55mm having IS, not the body.

With the Sony alphas, and I believe Pentax (mr hedge will correct me if I'm wrong!), the image stabilisation happens inside the body so there's no real IS-lens, because the feature is provided by the camera body itself.

Went into Chester today with my daughter, went to 3 shops, (Jessops,Currys and the London camera Exchange) all the same price - £399,

Looking at the link Canon Cameras - Canon EOS 1000D with EF-S 18-55mm IS Lens Kit

the price is £365 but says IS kit, is it mistaken? I got told this camera does not come with IS?

That's similar to the kit I bought. Mine came with an extra lens though and cost more because I'm in NZ!

I'm very pleased indeed with the camera.

Almost all of the photos on my Flickr here:Flickr: RobClubley's Photostream are taken with it, except the Phone Pics set, obviously.

The other lens in the kit I got was a 70-300mm non-IS and to be honest having used it a bit I'd rather have had a cheaper kit and saved for a better zoom lens.

My kit with a 2Gb SD card, spare battery and the two lenses was $1400 which is about 600 quid :eek:

No offense, but we can dissagree on this point. There's nothing really to differentiate between them. Each has their quirks and benefits, but I stand by my previous statement.

If colleges are "insisting on a dslr for their courses", then I'd be worried. A photography course teaches you the basic fundamentals of photography, and which tool you use shouldn't really have any impact. If a college insists on one model over another, I'd be a bit worried to be honest as it would tend to indicate that the mentors have limited their knowledge and skills using one brand. Personally, I'd prefer an agnostic course It's a bit like going on a cooking course and the teaching chef insists you use Tefal's collection of pots and pans and any other pan won't do.

With Canon and Nikon, any image stabilising is in the lens. Canon call this IS, Nikon call it VR (vibration reduction) and Sigma call it OS (optical stabilisation). So your 1000D with EF-S 18-55mm IS lens kit points to the EF-S 18-55mm having IS, not the body.

With the Sony alphas, and I believe Pentax (mr hedge will correct me if I'm wrong!), the image stabilisation happens inside the body so there's no real IS-lens, because the feature is provided by the camera body itself.

I do agree with you that choice of camera should be up to the student/user, but believe me the colleges like to keep everyone on the same equiptment and for some reason n it happens to be Canon. No student wants to turn up on a course and find they are the odd one out because mum/dad insisted I use a xxx brand, I've been in similar circumstances with my daughter and having bought the wrong brand of whatever, i've gone off with my tail between my legs by the wife to buy the correct one, some expensive mistakes i've made too.

Incidently I like your explanation of IS, OS etc. didn't know that myself.

I do agree with you that choice of camera should be up to the student/user, but believe me the colleges like to keep everyone on the same equiptment and for some reason n it happens to be Canon. No student wants to turn up on a course and find they are the odd one out because mum/dad insisted I use a xxx brand, I've been in similar circumstances with my daughter and having bought the wrong brand of whatever, i've gone off with my tail between my legs by the wife to buy the correct one, some expensive mistakes i've made too.

Incidently I like your explanation of IS, OS etc. didn't know that myself.

Fair enough. I suppose these kinds of colleges get grants / sponsorship or special offers from Canon.

It's a bit like going to a driving school with your Fabia only to find out they only use Corsas. It's no different - different tool to achieve the same job. Be proud to be different :P

Fair enough. I suppose these kinds of colleges get grants / sponsorship or special offers from Canon.

It's a bit like going to a driving school with your Fabia only to find out they only use Corsas. It's no different - different tool to achieve the same job. Be proud to be different :P

Again I agree with you,

But wait until you have teenagers mate.

Just as a point of interest, I have a Pentax K-M, which has all the usual shake reduction, sensor cleaning, hot shoe flash mount, remote shutter etc, but also has full metal lens mount, and a stainless steel chassis which give a fairly small SLR a good weighty feel, and great protection for the internals. It does everything that my mates Canon does, and only cost me £349 with the kit 18-55mm and 50-200mm lenses. I bought a 10-24mm Tamron which cost more than the camera, but the image quality with the bosy and Tamron combination is superb!!!

With the Sony alphas, and I believe Pentax (mr hedge will correct me if I'm wrong!), the image stabilisation happens inside the body so there's no real IS-lens, because the feature is provided by the camera body itself.

Correct Xav.

For what its worth I agree that it should be an independant course and not tied to a brand.

Went into Chester today with my daughter, went to 3 shops, (Jessops,Currys and the London camera Exchange) all the same price - £399,

Looking at the link Canon Cameras - Canon EOS 1000D with EF-S 18-55mm IS Lens Kit

the price is £365 but says IS kit, is it mistaken? I got told this camera does not come with IS?

Think there are two kits out there, an non-IS one with the old 18-55mm and an IS one with the newer 18-55mm. As I said, there's not much difference on price - maybe £20 or so. And it'd be £20 well spent

Thanks to all for all the replies and advice, took the plunge and ordered this one

Canon Cameras - Canon EOS 1000D with EF-S 18-55mm IS Lens Kit

Now all she wants is a purple camera case:rotz:

Thanks to all for all the replies and advice, took the plunge and ordered this one

Canon Cameras - Canon EOS 1000D with EF-S 18-55mm IS Lens Kit

Now all she wants is a purple camera case:rotz:

Great stuff! Sure she'll be happy with it

Fair enough. I suppose these kinds of colleges get grants / sponsorship or special offers from Canon.

Might just be they have settled on one brand. No use a student having a Nikon with a kit lens when the school/college has £50k of Canon 'L' lenses to book out. Our Uni has Nikon and Canon kit for the students to use but there's, by far, more choice in what Nikon kit is available. That said; a majority of the students I know on the courses have bought Canons. Go figure :confused:

...when the school/college has £50k of Canon 'L' lenses to book out.

:eek::eek::eek: Some colleges have that amount of gear available???

I want to go back to college! (well, if it was £50k of Nikon goodness )

Well, yeah Perhaps not 50k, but I guess that's less than 50 'L' lenses (not including flashes, bodies, studio strobes etc.) and if you imagine a couple hundred students all after the gear, it's not too far fetched for a decent art college or medium-sized Uni.

Plus, in the current Uni climate, that's less than 5 students' tuition fees through a 3 year BA