First of all decide your budget - it is really easy to get carried away buying this stuff. Second - secondhand kit is often worth considering, especially if from a shop offering some kind of warranty.
As regards lenses, focal lengths of 28-200mm (35mm equivalent) will cover most situations for general photography - certainly well enough to get you started. 'Third party' lenses ie not companies that make bodies eg canon/nikon, as perfectly adequate and a lot cheaper than canon/nikon as well.
Lastly dont write off film - there are some very cheap (<£100) entry level film slrs around. The drawbacks of film are cost of developing, and a slightly slower learning curve as you dont get that instant feedback that digital can give. (And you would need a scanner to digitise your shots for computer/internet use). Drawbacks for digital are peripheral costs - computer, imaging software, photoprinter etc. It soon adds up to a lot of cash. Then of course there's the amount of time you spend in front of a monitor fiddling with your shots...
Most importantly, get your hands on the camera before buying it - control layout, size, weight etc all make a big difference to how suitable a body is, and that is an entirely individual choice.
|