Been looking at several dSLRs over the weekend.

Quite tempted by the Sony A77, and I am aware of it's limitations.

I like the idea of image stabilisation being done in the camera body, lenses still expensive though.

Anything new from Nikon or Canon coming out in the near future ?

£1400 range including "kit" lens.

Fast start up time and image aquisition are important to me, like photographing aviation & air shows etc.

Got a Nikon D5100 in the end !

Got a Nikon D5100 in the end !

How are you finding it? Im looking at one for my first DSLR, coming from my canon sx210.

I would've gone for A77. I bought my first DSLR, which was A230 Sony, and last September I was looking to upgrade, as I was selling all my kit, i thought maybe i should go for Nikon, never liked Canon! II bought A580, because it was impossible to get camera which is as good as A580 for that kind of money. Nikon D7000 was the closest, but it was about twice the price.

Only disadvantage is that IF you will look for used lens, it will be harder to find one. But otherwise, it is just brilliant.

Of course, if you are professional, you will get more support from NIKON and CANON, then SONY!

The D5100 worked out at £520 from Argos after £50 Nikon cashback, a bit cheaper than the £1400 Sony A77. Can't really compare them.

I did prefer playing with the Sony A77 but couldn't justify the cost really.

The Nikon came with a 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 lens, I am expecting a 55-300mm f4.5 lens tomorrow.

Fast glass with low f stops cost a fortune.

Early days but it is quite compact and light, enough traditional SLR settings for the purist and a few geeky modes.

3" flip out display is bright and clear.

Plenty of reviews out there.

Give me a few weeks to play with it and take some shots.

Well yes. But both cameras are not comparable. I bought 300mm lens for my A230, but i found it difficult to change lens all the time. So now I have A580 with it lens 18-55mm for wide angle photos (should get 17-50 f2.8) 50mm f1.8 and recently bought Tamron 70-200 F2.8. As it is my hobby, it will probably not change the camera anytime soon.

Best of luck with new camera anyways.

Fuzz,

Dunno if you've had a look here:

http://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/dslr/d5100/index.htm

both cameras has pluses and minuses, depends on what you are using camera for.

I use Sony a700.

Canikon users possibly have a wider range of lenses

But the Sony has the Minolta heritage and there are some fine lenses out there that come with the MAF fitting.

Also Minolta were first with autofocus with the 7000AF and first with antishake. As a maker of sensor chips

their sensor appears in other cameras notably some Nikon.

I rate the antishake as a milestone as my photography went from 10% good shots to over 90%.